how does an amp stack work?

fenderboss7 · 04-09-2011, 03:12 PM

i'm one of those people who like to know stuff....so i was wondering how those amp head cabinet stacks work?

Stratopastor · 04-09-2011, 03:26 PM

to be heard you (usually) need an amplfier and a loudspeaker. IN a combo you get both in one box. We might call it an amp but strictly speaking it's a combo.

With a stack you have the amplifier in one box (called the head) and the speaker(s) in more boxes. Your classic full stack is a head standing on two speaker cabinets each holding maybe four 12" speakers. Sometimes a head on top of one such cabinet is called a half-stack.

You don't want one. OK, maybe you do.

fenderboss7 · 04-09-2011, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratopastor

You don't want one. OK, maybe you do.

no i don't...i just wanted to know how it works.....

r there tubes in the head?

and how does the head get connected to the cabinets?

**Rainer.** · 04-09-2011, 03:35 PM

There might be tubes in the head, if it is a tube amp.

Basically, look at your amp. Imagine taking the speaker out of your amp and putting in a separate box. And then making the cable that connects your speaker to the rest of your amp longer. That is a stack.

Speaker cable connects the speaker to the amp.

fenderboss7 · 04-09-2011, 03:45 PM

cool....learn something new everyday haha
thanx...u have quenched my curiosity

Plexi8759 · 04-15-2011, 05:29 PM

Yes you want one : ) in my experience a stack offers some flexibility in the ability to experiment. Speakers are a major component of your tone and the box they are in effects their eq response. Let's say you have an amplifier (head) .... You can hook up an array of different types of speaker cabinets loaded with different types of speakers usually one or two at a time. Actually many combo amps also have extension speaker jacks too but in either case you should be careful to match the proper impedance selection for each cab you use.

1/2-Fast Player · 04-15-2011, 06:25 PM

It's worth having a full Marshall stack if only for the look of terror in a little old blue-haired lady's eyes when you haul it into a church.......

For large amps, having the head and cabinet separate makes transport easier. Imagine a bolting a Marshall head to a half-stack cab and trying to carry it like a combo.

Plexi8759 · 04-16-2011, 01:30 AM

Yes ... TERROR!!! ... Bwahahahahaaa...