i am looking to get an old marshall tube cabinet. can i use just a pre amp or do i need to use a power amp too? thanks
You mean you're looking to get a tube head, right? The cab only contains speakers and won't do anything without the amp.
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I'm not sure you have the terminology quite right (this happens quite a lot, actually)
Amplifier head:
Takes signal from your guitar and amplifies it so it can drive a speaker. Contains no speakers. Contains pre-amp, and power amp sections, which might (or might not) have separate controls. May (or may not) also contain some effects.
Cabinet (AKA speaker cabinet):
contains speakers only. Needs an amplifier to be useful.
Combo amp:
Contains both amplifier and speakers. May (or may not) also contain some effects.
Nothing else required.
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