What is an amp/head/combo/cabinet/cab?
Technically, “amp” is short for amplifier – the electronics that amplify the guitar (or other) signal to the point it can drive speakers at useful levels (where “useful is in the ear and mind of the hearer 8^). Cab is short for cabinet, which is a box containing the amp, speakers, or both. The cabinet is usually made of wood or a wood product, and may be finished with a natural finish, a fabric covering, or in rare cases, paint. (A new, tough, painted on “fabric” is also possible.) You can have a speaker cabinet or a combo cabinet with amp and speakers. You can even have an amp head cabinet. You decide what is really meant from context.
Technically, “amp” is short for amplifier – the electronics that amplify the guitar (or other) signal to the point it can drive speakers at useful levels (where “useful is in the ear and mind of the hearer 8^). Cab is short for cabinet, which is a box containing the amp, speakers, or both. The cabinet is usually made of wood or a wood product, and may be finished with a natural finish, a fabric covering, or in rare cases, paint. (A new, tough, painted on “fabric” is also possible.) You can have a speaker cabinet or a combo cabinet with amp and speakers. You can even have an amp head cabinet. You decide what is really meant from context. Usage probably breaks down like this: 90 – 95% : speaker cabinet 5 – 9% : combo cabinet .1 – 1% : amp head cabinet But when musicians use the term “amp”, it may mean an amp head (just the amplifier in a box), or a combo (amp plus speakers in a box). It can’t legitimately just mean a speaker cabinet (box with speakers in it). I’d guess that most guitar a
