Combo

An amplifier with the preamp, power section and speaker all mounted in one cabinet, so the whole rig is a single box.

Combos are lighter and faster to set up than a head and cabinet, and because the speaker shares the box with the chassis, the valves and the driver interact through vibration in a way that often adds a little liveliness. The compromise is servicing: everything is packed tightly and the valve chassis may sit close to the speaker magnet. Size and wattage vary from one-watt practice boxes to large twin-speaker designs used as a main gigging amp.

Example: a small valve combo has enough output for a club gig, needs one hand to carry and one trip from the car to the stage.

Combo

See also