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Post subject: Why a half stack??
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:36 pm
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I looked at some prices for different amps and there combo and stack versions. Combos are almost always less money. So why do ppl want to buy halfstacks besides that they look cool?


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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:33 pm
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Answer: Because they are more modular and flexible

A good example is going to jam with some friends. If your bud has a spare cabinet, all you need to take is your git, head, and ... ummm ... beer.
Or, when you outgrow or fry the head, the cabinet can go on with you forever.

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Post subject: Re: Why a half stack??
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:54 pm
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Rock*Star wrote:
So why do ppl want to buy halfstacks besides that they look cool?


A half-stack would also have more speakers (more paper moving air).

A full-stack has even more paper!

One rule of thumb: Big sound requires big paper.

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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:56 pm
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The way I describe it is that a 4x12 speaks with more authority than an open back combo cabinet.

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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:03 pm
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A 4x12 cabinet can also generally carry more wattage than a combo can. My Marshall amp for example can only send half it's power (75 watts) to the internal speaker, but I paid for 150 watts.

So if I want the full 150 watts, I unplug the internal speaker, and run a cable into the external speaker jack, and into an extension cabinet. (sometimes two)

So it's like I have two amps, with varying powers for different venues.

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Post subject: Half stacks
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:05 pm
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Most half stacks have closed back cabinets which will normally extend the lows. On bigger stages this could be a desired effect if you like the sonic difference.


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Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:42 am
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I can only assume people want half stacks because either they look impressive, or they need the volume for playing large venues. Most of us dont really "need" a stack.


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Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:44 am
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It's all about volume. More speakers = Louder.

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Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:38 am
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It was on sale with the Vetta I HD when the V I was being discontinued some years back.

Oh, and a half stack raises the controls to a convenient level.

And sounds perfect for a wide variety of musical genres.

No regrets at all.

That said, the even older Cyber-Twin is a combo and continual source of pure joy.


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Post subject: Re: Why a half stack??
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 4:29 pm
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orvilleowner wrote:
Rock*Star wrote:

A half-stack would also have more speakers (more paper moving air).

A full-stack has even more paper!

One rule of thumb: Big sound requires big paper.


totaly true. Open backed combo's disperse sound from all directions away from the combo. A good 4 or 2x12 pushes sound primarily through the grille cloth making the sound hit the wall opposite (very good for larger venues)
Full stacks just hurt your ears, the first time i used one it near took my head off. so now i use 2 4x12's each side of the stage and a 1x12 pointing at the drummer.

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Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:03 pm
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One of my favorite amp speaker cabs is the old Marshall model 1965B. They're closed back, 4X10 Celestions (35 W each, total 140 W per cab), have more sound dispersion than a 2X12, the cabinets are made from birch ply (particle board adds weight), AND I can carry one in EACH hand. Avoid the 1965A 'slant' cab as the top is just too narrow to put most amp heads on. At my age, the ability to carry gear around is important. A full stack may look manly. Going to the Chiropractor isn't so much.

Old Fender Blackface 2X12 cabs (the small ones) are good, they're made from solid pine, but they definitely are heavy.

My very favorite amp speaker cab is from my '61 Tremolux, it has a 'tone ring' baffle construction (basically, it has a double baffle-one baffle is 'floating' like the old Tweeds-front ported baffle, the 'tone ring' seems to only act as a spacer/port between the baffles, to me), and it has a original 1X12 (most are 1X10) speaker configuration. I have a Weber C12N clone speaker in mine, and not only is it LOUD, but the low end is amazing, it almost sounds like a 1X15! Lightweight, too! The cab alone was worth the price of purchase, even though the head sounds great! I wonder why more makers don't pursue the 'tone ring' construction, hearing one is believing!

Of course, people can always go with the Kiss route-supposedly, back in their early days, they wanted to look BIG, so supposedly many of their amp cabs/stacks (and they had a lot of them) didn't even have speakers!


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Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:15 pm
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i use a Marshall half stack and a VOX AD100VT-XL with a Marhall cab.
it has plenty of power and its plenty loud to.


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Post subject: Re: Why a half stack??
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:14 pm
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Rock*Star wrote:
I looked at some prices for different amps and there combo and stack versions. Combos are almost always less money. So why do ppl want to buy halfstacks besides that they look cool?


Because they have a roadie or a friend who will carry the amp for them...

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