Sound Shapers

Zilla Cabs’ Paul Gough demystifies the humble baffle, and explores how different types can affect your combo’s sound

Back in the early stages of guitar amplification, in the days of the Fender Tweed amps, combos were the norm. Later, with the advent of increased power and the need for volume, the head and cab came into being. It is this period that I find most interesting as the difference between combos and head‑and‑cab amplifiers seems to go on two different paths. Here, I want to briefly explain how a few key design features can vastly change how an amp sounds in the room. The rule of thumb when pitting a combo