In today's lesson, we are going to learn what to look for when buying a guitar amplifier. This will help you to increase your musical knowledge, and make a better buying decision.
What is the role of the amplifier?
The role of the amplifier is to enhance the signal that is coming from the guitar. When you play the guitar, the strings vibrate. This signal is picked up by the guitar pickups (hence the name) and the signal is sent through the guitar and out to the amplifier.
The amplifier then takes the signal and boosts it to the point it can be heard quite loudly. Amplified if you will. This is then sent to the speaker, where it is projected so that you can hear its wonderful sound. Quite a revolutionary invention when it first came out.
So you see, the amplifier is quite important in your overall sound, and that's why it's important to consider a few things when purchasing it. That is what we will learn about in this lesson.
#1: What is your musical style
Your music style can make a huge difference in the type of amp you decide to purchase. If you like to play with a clean type of sound, then choosing an amplifier that has a nice clean sound to it is what you are after. All amps have a natural clean sound, but I think some models sound better than others. As they are built for that type of sound.
If you like to play with some overdrive on your guitar, or possibly distortion, then maybe a different type of amplifier might be in order. Depending on the type of overdrive tone you'd like to have will also determine which amp to buy. That is why it is so important to do research and try to a few at the local music store.
No matter what amplifier you choose, you want to consider your playing style. This will determine which amplifier has the sound that will work best for you when you plug into it. Believe me when I tell you, the right amplifier will inspire you to practice when you plug into it.
#2: What type of amplifier?
When it comes to amplifiers, there are many. Too many to mention here in this lesson, but you can put them into 3 classifications. Tubes, solid-state, and modeling. They also come in combo amp style as well as stacked. Combo is like the picture at the top of the post, and a stacked amp is like the one seen here. Both can be a great choice.
Tube amps:
These types of amps are considered the holy grail of amplifiers. The reason for this is that they use vacuum tubes and transformers to create their sound. This type of technology gives your guitar signal the best chance at rendering a natural sound.
The downside to these types of amps is that they are more costly to maintain, and due to the transformers, are quite a bit heavier to transport. They also sound better when you turn them up. So this can be a bit of a problem in smaller areas.
Solid-state:
These types of amps are similar to tube amps except they use a different type of technology. They use transistors and a circuit board.
This type of technology allows for more features than tube amps do, so you can expand what the amplifier can do and the type of sounds that you can get with it. Since it has transistors instead of tubes and transformers, you can add effects to enhance your guitar tone. It is also much lighter to transport due to no transformers.
The downside to these types of amplifiers is that they don't have the same sound as the tube amps do. They sound different. All you need to do is plug in to both, and you will see what I am talking about. But maybe, due to your playing style (like mentioned before), this kind of amp will work best for you.
Modeling:
A modeling amp is the type that has the most bang for the buck. These types of amps model other types of amps and speaker cabinets. Which means that you can get a wide range of sounds from the amplifier. It's like you have a wide variety of different amps and speakers all in one. You can mix and match and create whatever you want.
It's like you have not only the amplifier, but also the speaker cabinet and an assortment of guitar effects pedals. With this kind of amplifier, you can create whatever you want. These can also be controlled by your phone. You can download guitar tones from your favorite guitar players and sound just like them when you play their songs.
No matter what type you choose to use, they all can be beneficial to whatever you are trying to create. If you just want to plug in and play, I recommend a tube amp. If you want a little more diversity, then choose a solid-state amp. And if you want maximum bang for the buck, go with a modeling amp. They all have their ups and downs. It's just up to you to choose.
Combo amps:
These have the amplifier and speaker together in one unit, which makes them easy to carry and maintain. These can be very beneficial for playing at home or in the studio. Some of them are big enough and loud enough to play on stage as well. So, a good combo amp in tube, solid-state, or modeling can be a great choice.
Stacked amps:
These types of amplifiers have the amp and speaker separate. These can be beneficial in the fact that you can mix and match different amps and speaker cabinets. Which will give you a completely different sound. A 1x12 speaker will sound different than a 2x12, or even a 4x12. This option allows you to customize your sound more than with a combo amp.
#3: Where will you be playing it?
Where you will be playing will have a huge difference in which type of amplifier to get. Although they can all do the same thing, you want to consider this. If you're going to be mainly playing in your bedroom, then a small combo amp might be a good choice. Not too loud but still produce a good sound.
If you're going to be recording in a studio, then you might want to go up a notch or two in price and get one that produces a nice quality tone. Recording will bring out everything the amp has to offer. Good or bad. So consider this as well.
And of course, last but not least, playing on stage. If you plan on playing in a band on stage, then you might need to get an amp that can be heard over the other musicians. This might take a few more watts or a microphone placed in front of it. Regardless, you want to consider this as well when it comes to choosing the right amplifier for your guitar playing needs.
#4: What are the features you're looking for?
Features are to be considered as well. Like I mentioned with the modeling amp, you've got features galore. So many, you might be spending more time choosing and testing out features than actually learning to play your guitar. So watch for this, as this can happen.
Most amps will have your standard volume, gain, treble, mid, and bass for shaping the sound. And if this is all you need for your playing style, then get an amp that has a few knobs and keep it simple. But if you need reverb, make sure that it has it built in. Or you'll need a reverb pedal to produce that sound.
If you are going to be playing a lot of different bands' songs, then maybe a modeling amp is the way to go. This type of amp has all the features you could ever need. So, make sure to consider this as well when choosing your amplifier.
#5: What is your spending budget?
Of course, the main thing to take into consideration is your spending budget. This will have a huge impact on what type of amplifier you'll get. This is why all the other things I talked about can make a difference. If you know your playing style, what features you are looking for, and where you will be playing it, you can choose an amp that will give you what you need within your budget.
This is why it is so important to do research and look at reviews. Luckily, with the power of the internet and YouTube, this can be done from the comfort of your home. Although I do recommend going to your local music store and plugging into a few different ones and checking them out for yourself. You might find something you hadn't considered.
Additional help is available if needed
If you take your time and do your due diligence, you'll be fine. And if you have any questions about what I've taught in this lesson, feel free to reach out. That is what I'm here for. In addition to teaching lessons on my blog, I also offer authored method books and private guitar instruction.
These can help you to progress faster and develop a better understanding. Whether you are learning from me or one of my books, you will acquire an enjoyable personalized learning experience. With a step-by-step process that caters to your interest and skill level, you are guaranteed to excel at playing the guitar. Of course, that is if you choose to practice daily.
My books can be found on Amazon and where all books are found. My private guitar lessons can be found on my website. Just contact me there, and we'll set up a time to talk on the phone and meet in person, or online.
Thank you for your time, and keep practicing.
Until our next guitar lesson, take care.
Sincerely, Dwayne Jenkins
