Why do so many people buy stacks?

[jon1]

I have seen many people around here (tulsa, ok) buying half/full stacks and saying that they're the best purely because of their size. My friend has a solid state Marshall full stack. To me this sounds like overkill. My Marshall AVT100 combo is barely useable in my house without someone getting mad at me. However, this amp is perfect for small or medium sized gigs. I think it is the same mindset that people have, where more watts in an amp makes it automatically better. Why could any non-touring musician need to have such a large amp?

[zeppelin101]

haha well i guess the solid state is why it doesnt sound good haha

but in all reality its not entirely neccessary but they do sound good and a cranked Marshall tube stack will sound like nothing else

[diceman]

A solid state Marshall half stack is like a 3 cylinder full sized van. Too big and no balls.

I'll take damn near any reasonable tube combo over that hunk of crap - and it will put out more actual volume as well.

As for full stacks - most of the time it is penis envy. I'll never buy another 1/2 or full stack again.

Boles has penis envy - he'll chime in very soon, and lie - telling you that it is the tone he is after.

But seriously - some nice tube half stacks put out great tone, despite being too loud for most applications to include small venues. Solid state half and full stacks? I call that a terrible use of hard earned money, and a bigger concern over looks than functionality or tone.

[jon1]

Fully agreed.

[Shithead]

Originally Posted by diceman

A solid state Marshall half stack is like a 3 cylinder full sized van. Too big and no balls.

I'll take damn near any reasonable tube combo over that hunk of crap - and it will put out more actual volume as well.

As for full stacks - most of the time it is penis envy. I'll never buy another 1/2 or full stack again.

Boles has penis envy - he'll chime in very soon, and lie - telling you that it is the tone he is after.

But seriously - some nice tube half stacks put out great tone, despite being too loud for most applications to include small venues. Solid state half and full stacks? I call that a terrible use of hard earned money, and a bigger concern over looks than functionality or tone.

I will agree to disagree. I have heard and played through my cousins and others full 100 watt S/S double stacks. Then we played through both 100 watt double stacks patched together and for a family jam session or a bar gig i will say that those S/S amps WILL go above and beyond the call of duty!!

YES TUBE AMPS HAVE A SOUND OF THEIR OWN ,BUT THE S/S AMPS CAN ROCK AND WILL DELIVER WHEN NEEDED!! I have no probs with a S/S amp after what i experianced this weekend!!

[PINKBITS]

A half or full stack looks cool and I don't have to bend over to change the settings

[jon1]

Nice traditional, by the way.

[Shithead]

I too use a half stack, with a Line6 head And a line 6 XT Live
I can hear the h8'er's now,but it works for me. I would love to have a Marshall double stack,but i don't need it right now.
I guess to each his own would be accecptable here.

[b-squared]

I got a Marshall stack (JTM45) because I've always wanted one.

Back in the 80s I had a SS full stack (LabSeries) and it rocked...I used an MXR Distortion + in front of it.



BB

[guysmiley]

I use both of these for live shows. JCM800, Musicman HD130 + 4x12 and another Orange Cab.



Why? Nothing gets me the same tone for heavy loud music. You would be surprised how quiet I can get with this rig, I like having that control in music I make. Do I hate to load this stuff? Hell yes, but I have nice band mates to help me. And casters help big time.

I don't use this setup for other types of music though. It woudl be over kill. I stick to a smaller 30w Fender combo for everything else.

[diceman]

Originally Posted by PINKBITS

A half or full stack looks cool and I don't have to bend over to change the settings

I'll miss my Laney Stack - dearly - but it was more than I ever needed...

[BMS]

Stacks at my back is the only way to go!

[xsouldriverx]

a 2x12 does me just fine and my vht fatbottoms have the same amount, or even more low end than my 4x12 i sold.

but stacks and half stacks are pretty cool...

[zontar]

I never got one--mostly for financial reasons, but now I'm glad I didn't.

I neither have the space, nor the inclination to store or move around a huge stack.

Even a lot of combos are too big for me these days.

But hey--if you have the space, cash, and ability to move it around--go for it.

[PINKBITS]

Originally Posted by diceman

I'll miss my Laney Stack - dearly - but it was more than I ever needed...

It's like having a 10 inch dick though Dice. More than you need but you can still find a use for it

[jon1]

Well, I guess what I was really asking is why anyone actually has a practical need for one. But, hell, who doesn't have a list of things they would love to have but don't need.

[PINKBITS]

Originally Posted by jon1

Well, I guess what I was really asking is why anyone actually has a practical need for one. But, hell, who doesn't have a list of things they would love to have but don't need.

Correct, I would love a 10 inch dick

[Boleskinehouse]

Because I damn well can.








That's why.

[brettk7]

Go big or go home! If you need a reason, then you obviously don't get it. Big, loud amps is rock n' roll.

Plus, nothing really brings out the bottom end like a 4x12 cab. And if your playing actual venues (not just joe blows bar room fiasco), you may actually need to move that much sound. I can think of SEVERAL occasions where I was glad I had the 4x12 instead of the 2x12. I've only honestly played in one place where I was just way too damn loud... And you know what, sure didn't bother me any! But, you know what they say... I'd rather have than not need it, than need it and not have it.


Ahhh, this guy right here. We get along real well.

[brettk7]

Originally Posted by jon1

Well, I guess what I was really asking is why anyone actually has a practical need for one. But, hell, who doesn't have a list of things they would love to have but don't need.

I honestly think I have a practical need for a 4x12 cab.

For one, I thought I was going to be playing some dates on last summer's Warped Tour. You sure as hell are not going to get by with a little combo there!!!

We ended up not doing it, and instead doing what a lot of bands do, and just played a lot of shows in a lot of different places. Sometimes, we were in great clubs with awesome PAs. Sometimes we weren't (like the time we played a show on a farm... Outdoors, unmiced. Who here has gigged a 100w JCM900 at full-power/volume through a 4x12? I have ). All in all, I think if you are playing in a band, and by band I mean a band that isn't a cover band (those guys actually get paid, they always have sound guys... They have it made!), a 4x12 is neccasary. It's the perfect size, not too big, but definitely not too small.


That is my claim, and I am sticking to it. And hey, cover-band dudes, home players... It is NEVER wrong to own or operate full-stack! Except... A Marshall MG one that is a complete failure.

[alligatorbling]

my 100 watt windsor half stack will eat you alive, it goes to 12. lol

[jodymauk]

Originally Posted by zeppelin101

haha well i guess the solid state is why it doesnt sound good ha ha

[Nigel T.]

My idea is that a combo is good enough. I have a 50 Watt combo with 2 x 12" on order right now. That will suffice in the environment that I play, clubs mostly followed by rehearsal studios and home. If 50 Watt isn't going to cut it... Hey, that's what they invented P.A. Systems for.

I still have 3 Marshall stacks in storage from the 80s when it was the hip thing to do, but these days I think the combo is enough.

[jodymauk]

I like the feel from a 4/12 other than a 2/12..I have both, Same model amp, Same wattage...
The 4/12 breathes better..

[alligatorbling]

Originally Posted by jodymauk

I like the feel from a 4/12 other than a 2/12..I have both, Same model amp, Same wattage...
The 4/12 breathes better..

pushes more air... better response

[Deftone]

Perhaps it's over compensation for shortcomings in other areas.

j/k.

[BMS]

Originally Posted by Deftone

Perhaps it's over compensation for shortcomings in other areas.

j/k.

We have armadillos in our trousers. It's quite frightening really.

[alligatorbling]

Originally Posted by PINKBITS

A half or full stack looks cool and I don't have to bend over to change the settings

i really do enjoy that feature lol, you just walk over and tweak it.

[Birdy]

I'd rather look at a 1/2 or full stack in my place than some finger painted mess that everyone says is *art* and just hangs on the wall.

[lucidspoon]

Originally Posted by brettk7

Sometimes, we were in great clubs with awesome PAs. Sometimes we weren't (like the time we played a show on a farm... Outdoors, unmiced. Who here has gigged a 100w JCM900 at full-power/volume through a 4x12? I have ).

Exactly. I want to get a 2x12 combo at some point for bars that have good sound systems, so I don't have to lug around my DSL half stack when it isn't practical, but the last show (which was too long ago) was outside, and I had to crank my SS half stack at the time. The two times before that were at a small bar (with the same SS half stack), and there was a sound guy, but he sucked and didn't have me nearly as loud as he should have. He was one of those sound guys who wanted me on 1. If I would have had my DSL at the time, it wouldn't have been a problem.

EDIT: That being said and having gone from an SS half stack to an actual half stack, SS half / full stacks just seem pointless to me. Sure, maybe you're louder and pushing more sound, but not in the same way.