Got to compare the 112 combo and the 5153 mini head and 2x12

[guitarplayer]

So at GC we set them both up right next to each other.

I started out with the 112 combo first.

The clean channel?????? Uh, is there a clean channel? Couldn't get a very good clean tone. Oh well, on to the Blue channel.

Blue channel: OH MY!!!!!! Deep, thick, massive, musical, fully saturated! The power scaling is phenomenal! Full on massive sounding gain at whisper levels. Adjusting the presence and resonance knobs add more tones. The 112 sounded like a 2x12! I could live on this channel forever. I got goosebumps.the gain was fully saturated at below the halfway mark. I didn't even bother with the red channel. I was shocked.

Now the Mini head and 2x12 cab. Clean channel....same deal.....eh.
The Blue channel: I set the knobs identical. Hum, much less gain than the combo. I had to move the gain knob about a quarter turn to equal the gain of the combo. The guy said the Fender rep told him that the combos have a little more gain. Showed me the Elderly demo video and the rep said the same thing.

Got to say, the combo sounded better. The power scaling sounded amazing. Anyway, Didn't have any cash with me. I'll get it tomorrow.

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

Good deal you got to do a side by side. I own the 2x12 combo and the clean is killer....maybe it's the greenbacks? When I first bought it(second hand), I went to the guy's house with my axe...he fired it up and had it on the blue channel. flipped the reverb on and i busted into "Hang em High." I knew right then and there I'd buy it. The blue channel i live on too. But all channels are great. I never thought I'd buy a combo, and i know it's heavy, but so is my mutha fuckin splawn 4x12...It's lighter than that beast. Plus, it's my at home amp...so all i care about is fun, and tone...in which it has!

On a side note, my buddy Mike just bought the 1x12....he loves it.

 

[guitarplayer]

Im sure when I get it home tomorrow I'll spend more time figuring out the clean channel. I'll dream about that Blue channel tonight!

 

[Lampshade1973]

The 1x12 combo is awesome, not sure if its the speaker in there or what but I agree with your assessment, I run the head through a 1x12 with a v30 and I love it, just got done playing it actually....

 

[marshallmel]

If I didn't already own the head and 2x12 cab, I'd be all over the 1x12 combo. Awesome amp for sure.

 

[matt]

ugh...you're inducing GAS. I still regret getting rid of the 5153 50w.

 

[jinch0]

ugh...you're inducing GAS. I still regret getting rid of the 5153 50w.

Me too I might pick another one

 

[matt]

So you're saying the combo sounds better at low volumes than the 50w head and 2x12? That's one of the things I loved about the 50w, it was the best sounding bedroom volume tube amp I've played. If the combo is even better, I'm sold.

 

[napalmdeath]

ugh...you're inducing GAS. I still regret getting rid of the 5153 50w.

I'm on my third, and selling again. Awesome amps, but I want an Engl.

 

[matt]

ugh...you're inducing GAS. I still regret getting rid of the 5153 50w.

I'm on my third, and selling again. Awesome amps, but I want an Engl.

Shit man, cant blame ya there. GAS is an epidemic!

 

[guitarplayer]

So you're saying the combo sounds better at low volumes than the 50w head and 2x12? That's one of the things I loved about the 50w, it was the best sounding bedroom volume tube amp I've played. If the combo is even better, I'm sold.

Yes at low volume it wasn't even close. However I'm sure at gig volume the 2x12 and head would probably kill it.

 

[matt]

So you're saying the combo sounds better at low volumes than the 50w head and 2x12? That's one of the things I loved about the 50w, it was the best sounding bedroom volume tube amp I've played. If the combo is even better, I'm sold.

Yes at low volume it wasn't even close. However I'm sure at gig volume the 2x12 and head would probably kill it.

Well I'm a bedroom wanker for the foreseeable future so the combo would probably serve me better. I already have a 6505+ combo that I'm not too fond of but it still has the crappy stock speaker.

 

[PBGas]

I'm borrowing a friends 2x12 combo while I wait for it's big brother to arrive. It's a great amp!

 

[bumrush101]

What's the speaker in there as stock?? Didn't really see using a 1x12 for this kind of wattage rating...

 

[guitarplayer]

It says for the 112 a special designed Celestion. The 2x12 says a pair of G12H.

I'm thinking the 112 is a 70/80. A cheap general speaker I think.

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

The 1x12 has blown me away. Blue channel is unreal! The red channel is so easy to play! Love the power drop and headphones out. it sounds beyond big and focused!