Amps and Heads ...

[Arfa Daily]

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and called it a
"head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because it had a preamp in
it, and a head has only line level inputs.

Today, I was looking on the site where I get all my Marshall info -

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#M2000

- for schematics for a 2195, which is a guitar amplifier with a preamp in
it. Interestingly, that site calls this amplifier - and indeed anything that
is not a "combo" - a head ...

So now I won't feel so wrong continuing to call these amps heads, as the
muso who owns the shop where I get most of this work from does too, and has
for as many long years as I have known him.

Arfa

 

[jakdedert]

Arfa Daily wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and called it a
"head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because it had a preamp in
it, and a head has only line level inputs.

Today, I was looking on the site where I get all my Marshall info -

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#M2000

- for schematics for a 2195, which is a guitar amplifier with a preamp in
it. Interestingly, that site calls this amplifier - and indeed anything that
is not a "combo" - a head ...

So now I won't feel so wrong continuing to call these amps heads, as the
muso who owns the shop where I get most of this work from does too, and has
for as many long years as I have known him.

Arfa


Okay...to pop in with the Colonial perspective: a PA 'head' I would

imagine as box, shaped like a guitar amp 'head', with several input
channels and a power amp...usually low-end stuff. Preamps would be
required for this, of course. Anything without would just be an 'amp'
(no 'head', at least IME).

I'd call any guitar amp, that didn't include speakers, a head. Any with
speakers would properly be termed a combo, as you said.

jak

 

[Arfa Daily]

"jakdedert" <jakdedert@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
newsE79l.952$e13.615@bignews5.bellsouth.net...

Arfa Daily wrote:
A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and called
it a "head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because it had a
preamp in it, and a head has only line level inputs.

Today, I was looking on the site where I get all my Marshall info -

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#M2000

- for schematics for a 2195, which is a guitar amplifier with a preamp in
it. Interestingly, that site calls this amplifier - and indeed anything
that is not a "combo" - a head ...

So now I won't feel so wrong continuing to call these amps heads, as the
muso who owns the shop where I get most of this work from does too, and
has for as many long years as I have known him.

Arfa

I'd call any guitar amp, that didn't include speakers, a head. Any with
speakers would properly be termed a combo, as you said.

jak

Yes Jak, that had always been my understanding too, until I got picked up on
it ...

Arfa

 

[N_Cook]

Arfa Daily <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:aH69l.22604$2w.14265@newsfe28.ams2...

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and called it
a
"head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because it had a preamp
in
it, and a head has only line level inputs.

Today, I was looking on the site where I get all my Marshall info -

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#M2000

- for schematics for a 2195, which is a guitar amplifier with a preamp in
it. Interestingly, that site calls this amplifier - and indeed anything
that
is not a "combo" - a head ...

So now I won't feel so wrong continuing to call these amps heads, as the
muso who owns the shop where I get most of this work from does too, and
has
for as many long years as I have known him.

Arfa

I would have thought it was quite simple. If speaker cabs were placed on top
of amps then the amp would be called a foot. They are placed on top so they
are called a head.


--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/

 

[Gareth Magennis]

"Arfa Daily" <arfa.daily@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:aH69l.22604$2w.14265@newsfe28.ams2...

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and called it
a "head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because it had a preamp
in it, and a head has only line level inputs.

I have never heard that definition of "head" before. Your understanding of
the term has been unwaveringly mine for as long as I can remember.
A head is a stand alone box with knobs on, doesn't matter whats inside.



That does remind me of a funny phone call I once had from a customer
enquiring about his repair. I was living in Glasgow, and this guy had a
very strong Scottish Accent. He asked whether "Ma'ampheed" was ready. I
had no idea what a Ma'ampheed was so asked him to repeat it. Again,
Ma'ampheed. I asked him to repeat it again. After the third time it was
just getting embarrasing, I had no idea what he was talking about and had to
tell him so. Eventually he had to spell it out in his best English accent,
which was of course "My amp head".




Gareth.

Today, I was looking on the site where I get all my Marshall info -

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#M2000

- for schematics for a 2195, which is a guitar amplifier with a preamp in
it. Interestingly, that site calls this amplifier - and indeed anything
that is not a "combo" - a head ...

So now I won't feel so wrong continuing to call these amps heads, as the
muso who owns the shop where I get most of this work from does too, and
has for as many long years as I have known him.

Arfa

 

[Meat Plow]

On Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:41:09 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
<arfa.daily@ntlworld.com>wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and called it a
"head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because it had a preamp in
it, and a head has only line level inputs.

Today, I was looking on the site where I get all my Marshall info -

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#M2000

- for schematics for a 2195, which is a guitar amplifier with a preamp in
it. Interestingly, that site calls this amplifier - and indeed anything that
is not a "combo" - a head ...

So now I won't feel so wrong continuing to call these amps heads, as the
muso who owns the shop where I get most of this work from does too, and has
for as many long years as I have known him.

Arfa

Been working on amp "heads" for 30 years. I've never nor have any of
my associates been picky enough to discriminate them as you've
described.

 

[Ron]

Meat Plow wrote:

On Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:41:09 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
arfa.daily@ntlworld.com>wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and called it a
"head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because it had a preamp in
it, and a head has only line level inputs.

Today, I was looking on the site where I get all my Marshall info -

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#M2000

- for schematics for a 2195, which is a guitar amplifier with a preamp in
it. Interestingly, that site calls this amplifier - and indeed anything that
is not a "combo" - a head ...

So now I won't feel so wrong continuing to call these amps heads, as the
muso who owns the shop where I get most of this work from does too, and has
for as many long years as I have known him.

Arfa


Been working on amp "heads" for 30 years. I've never nor have any of
my associates been picky enough to discriminate them as you've
described.

I reckon someone got confuzzled betwixt 'head' and 'slave'

Ron

 

[jakdedert]

Ron wrote:

Meat Plow wrote:
On Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:41:09 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
arfa.daily@ntlworld.com>wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and
called it a "head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because
it had a preamp in it, and a head has only line level inputs.

Today, I was looking on the site where I get all my Marshall info -

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#M2000

- for schematics for a 2195, which is a guitar amplifier with a
preamp in it. Interestingly, that site calls this amplifier - and
indeed anything that is not a "combo" - a head ...

So now I won't feel so wrong continuing to call these amps heads, as
the muso who owns the shop where I get most of this work from does
too, and has for as many long years as I have known him.

Arfa

Been working on amp "heads" for 30 years. I've never nor have any of
my associates been picky enough to discriminate them as you've
described.

I reckon someone got confuzzled betwixt 'head' and 'slave'

Ron

That's a term I've not heard in this context for years. Yeah, there

used to be these PA heads, for which you could also purchase identical
boxes that were termed 'slaves'. They had only contained a power amp.

I'd forgotten about them; but the original complainer apparently didn't,
but got the terminology backwards. Seems I recall these also described
as 'slave heads', which would also negate the original complaint, though.

jak

 

[Ron]

jakdedert wrote:

Ron wrote:
Meat Plow wrote:
On Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:41:09 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
arfa.daily@ntlworld.com>wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and
called it a "head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head,
because it had a preamp in it, and a head has only line level inputs.

Today, I was looking on the site where I get all my Marshall info -

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#M2000

- for schematics for a 2195, which is a guitar amplifier with a
preamp in it. Interestingly, that site calls this amplifier - and
indeed anything that is not a "combo" - a head ...

So now I won't feel so wrong continuing to call these amps heads, as
the muso who owns the shop where I get most of this work from does
too, and has for as many long years as I have known him.

Arfa

Been working on amp "heads" for 30 years. I've never nor have any of
my associates been picky enough to discriminate them as you've
described.

I reckon someone got confuzzled betwixt 'head' and 'slave'

Ron

That's a term I've not heard in this context for years. Yeah, there
used to be these PA heads, for which you could also purchase identical
boxes that were termed 'slaves'. They had only contained a power amp.

'Invented' as I understand it by Charlie Watkins back in the swinging
60`s Tho it was quite commom for the preamp and power amp sections of
commercial 'cinema' amps to be separate way way back

I'd forgotten about them; but the original complainer apparently didn't,
but got the terminology backwards. Seems I recall these also described
as 'slave heads', which would also negate the original complaint, though.

I expect the most common, certainly in the UK would be the H-H MA100 and
SA100 from the early 70`s

Ron

 

[GregS]

In article <2g23fo.qks.17.3@news.alt.net>, Meat Plow <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote:

On Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:41:09 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
arfa.daily@ntlworld.com>wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and called it a
"head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because it had a preamp in
it, and a head has only line level inputs.

Today, I was looking on the site where I get all my Marshall info -

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#M2000

- for schematics for a 2195, which is a guitar amplifier with a preamp in
it. Interestingly, that site calls this amplifier - and indeed anything that
is not a "combo" - a head ...

So now I won't feel so wrong continuing to call these amps heads, as the
muso who owns the shop where I get most of this work from does too, and has
for as many long years as I have known him.

Arfa


Been working on amp "heads" for 30 years. I've never nor have any of
my associates been picky enough to discriminate them as you've
described.

A head sits on top speaker cab. It can have anything in it. It does not matter.

greg

 

[jakdedert]

Ron wrote:

jakdedert wrote:
Ron wrote:
Meat Plow wrote:
On Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:41:09 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
arfa.daily@ntlworld.com>wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and
called it a "head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head,
because it had a preamp in it, and a head has only line level inputs.

Today, I was looking on the site where I get all my Marshall info -

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#M2000

- for schematics for a 2195, which is a guitar amplifier with a
preamp in it. Interestingly, that site calls this amplifier - and
indeed anything that is not a "combo" - a head ...

So now I won't feel so wrong continuing to call these amps heads,
as the muso who owns the shop where I get most of this work from
does too, and has for as many long years as I have known him.

Arfa

Been working on amp "heads" for 30 years. I've never nor have any of
my associates been picky enough to discriminate them as you've
described.

I reckon someone got confuzzled betwixt 'head' and 'slave'

Ron

That's a term I've not heard in this context for years. Yeah, there
used to be these PA heads, for which you could also purchase identical
boxes that were termed 'slaves'. They had only contained a power amp.

'Invented' as I understand it by Charlie Watkins back in the swinging
60`s Tho it was quite commom for the preamp and power amp sections of
commercial 'cinema' amps to be separate way way back


I'd forgotten about them; but the original complainer apparently
didn't, but got the terminology backwards. Seems I recall these also
described as 'slave heads', which would also negate the original
complaint, though.

I expect the most common, certainly in the UK would be the H-H MA100 and
SA100 from the early 70`s

Ron

I had in mind various offerings from Sunn, Kustom and Peavey; but those
were the US offerings.

jak

 

[Arfa Daily]

"GregS" <zekfrivo@zekfrivolous.com> wrote in message
news:gk5n8i$mr0$1@usenet01.srv.cis.pitt.edu...

In article <2g23fo.qks.17.3@news.alt.net>, Meat Plow <meat@petitmorte.net
wrote:
On Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:41:09 -0000, "Arfa Daily"
arfa.daily@ntlworld.com>wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and called
it a
"head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because it had a preamp
in
it, and a head has only line level inputs.

Today, I was looking on the site where I get all my Marshall info -

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#M2000

- for schematics for a 2195, which is a guitar amplifier with a preamp in
it. Interestingly, that site calls this amplifier - and indeed anything
that
is not a "combo" - a head ...

So now I won't feel so wrong continuing to call these amps heads, as the
muso who owns the shop where I get most of this work from does too, and
has
for as many long years as I have known him.

Arfa


Been working on amp "heads" for 30 years. I've never nor have any of
my associates been picky enough to discriminate them as you've
described.


A head sits on top speaker cab. It can have anything in it. It does not
matter.

greg

Thanks all. I feel totally vindicated in my original post, now ... d;~}

Arfa

 

[Tim Phipps]

Arfa Daily wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and called it a
"head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because it had a preamp in
it, and a head has only line level inputs.

I think you may have got a little mixed up as this was the correction
you received from Graham at the time:
"It's not a 'head', it's a 19" rack mounting pro power amp with line level
inputs."
Nowhere in that does it say that a 'head' has only line level inputs,
rather it suggests the opposite.

Anyway, as I've always understood it, a head is an amplifier (guitar,
bass, whatever) that typically would sit on top of a speaker stack. If
someone was to mention a PA head I would think of something like my old
HH MA100 with 5 channels, high and lo-z inputs and all on 1/4inch jacks.
Maybe it's a pro-audio vs muso terminology thing but I would never
call a rack mounted power amp a 'head'.

BTW are you still after that C-Audio RA series schematic? I have a PDF
I can send you.

--
Tim Phipps

replace "invalid" with "uk" to reply by email

 

[Tim Phipps]

Ron wrote:

I expect the most common, certainly in the UK would be the H-H MA100 and
SA100 from the early 70`s

Ron

Yep, I have one MA100 on VERY long term loan from a friend and another
that I found abandoned in a very poor state. I had started restoring it
but haven't had the time for a good while to look at it.

--
Tim Phipps

replace "invalid" with "uk" to reply by email

 

[Eeyore]

Arfa Daily wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and called it a
"head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because it had a preamp in
it, and a head has only line level inputs.

No, a head has instrument level inputs.

A PA amp has line level inputs if professional, or could be anything down to mic
level if a mixer/amp.

Basically a 'head' usually lives on top of a speaker stack, often behind a
guitarist.

Graham

 

[Arfa Daily]

"Eeyore" <rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:497E6B00.8574D40B@hotmail.com...

Arfa Daily wrote:

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a schematic for a PA amp, and called
it a
"head" on here. I got told that it wasn't a head, because it had a preamp
in
it, and a head has only line level inputs.

No, a head has instrument level inputs.

A PA amp has line level inputs if professional, or could be anything down
to mic
level if a mixer/amp.

Basically a 'head' usually lives on top of a speaker stack, often behind a
guitarist.

Graham

Yeah. Sorry. I think I got my knickers in a twist here. I finished up
misunderstanding not only what you said, but what I was saying myself. Yet
more examples of senior moments. Oh how I hate getting old ...

Arfa