What is an amp head? (or cab) what ever?

Question

Ok i'm new to amps and everything, so yes im asking a dumb question

What is an amp head? What do they do? Do they bring different tones? Harder distortion? What exactly do they do, cause i already know the amp im going to buy, i was just wondering if i buy an amp head for it. Will it be a good investment?

Please be detailed.

Also what is a cab?
Thank you people

Answer 1

It's not a dumb question - nobody is born knowing this stuff. :)



A "head" is the amplifier - the equipment that processes the input signal from your guitar and outputs a new signal based on your dial settings.

A "cab" or "cabinet" is the box with the speakers in it. You need both of these to get your sound.



When you hear people speak of an "amp", they're typically referring to a combo amp. These are very common, and are the all-in-one combination of amp + cabinet.



So you either need:

1) a combo amp, or

2) an amp head, AND a cabinet.



As a beginning/intermediate player, it's almost never worthwhile to buy a separate amp head and cabinet, unless you come across them used and inexpensive.



And just to be perfectly clear: You never need both an amp head, and combo amp. It's redundant.



Here's an explanation in pictures:

Combo amp (both the amplifier and speakers): http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Frontman-212R-100W-2x12-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=481601



Amp head (requires a cabinet): http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Marshall-JVM-Series-JVM205H-50W-Tube-Guitar-Amp-Head?sku=481671



Cabinet (requires an amp head): http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Marshall-Vintage-Modern-425A-or-425B-4x12-Extension-Speaker-Cabinet?sku=480773

Answer 2

A cab (short for "cabinet") is a speaker cabinet. that's fairly lots in basic terms a wood container with audio equipment in it. An amp head is the powered digital area which you plug the guitar into, and has all the sound controls on it. the pinnacle could be plugged into the cab to generate sound. diverse heads supply you diverse tones (as do the cabs). the main person-friendly amps are called "blend amps" because of the fact it includes the two the amp head and the speaker interior the comparable container, it quite is possibly what you have been taking part in or gazing. if it quite is so which you do no longer prefer a head or cab (needless to say).

Answer 3

OK Amp =amplifier. There are 2 sorts. 1. Combo (combination) where the amplifier and speaker are all in one unit. All practice amps ae like this and so are a lot of performance amps for smaller venues.

2. separates. These involve having the amplifier and speakers in separate boxes. The traditional Marshall stack for rock is a good example. you have a speaker "cab" (cabinet) containing

speaker(s), while the amplifier is in a box known as the head. This will have all the inputs, circuitry, valves/transistors, controls etc. and will have a lead from an output on the back to the speaker cabinet. These setups tend to be more powerful.

Hope this helps