So, you’re set up with your first electric guitar. Now it’s time to pick out your first amplifier! Guitar amps come in all shapes and sizes, with many options to choose from. Are you going to be jamming at home or taking the show on the road?
In this guitar amp buying guide, School of Rock breaks down the basics of amps so you can find the perfect amp for your needs.
Before we get started, let’s look at some basic things you’ll need to understand in order to find the best guitar amp that fits your needs. When searching for their first guitar amp, it’s best for beginners to start with what’s known as a combo amp.
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Combo amps combine the speakers with the preamplifier and the power amplifier. The preamp shapes the tone of the guitar, and the power amp pushes the sound to the speakers.
Of course, that's just the basics when it comes to guitar amps, and there are many factors to consider when selecting one that best fits your music style and preferences.
As noted above, combo amps combine the amp, preamp, and speakers in one unit. The other main configuration is to have a separate “head” (the electronic component of an amp, minus speakers) hooked up to a separate speaker cabinet.
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Combo amps tend to be smaller in size but packed with added features, such as headphone jacks and input jacks that will allow you to play along with your favorite recordings.
. When buying a guitar amp, bring your guitar to the store so you can test it out first. After making sure your guitar is in tune, ask your local music shop to help you set up the amp so you can try it before you buy it.
Guitar and bass amps are two very different pieces of equipment; each is designed to optimize their respective instruments. A guitar amp can’t reproduce the very low frequencies generated by a bass guitar, and bass amps tend to make guitars sound lifeless and uninteresting. A dedicated guitar amp will produce tones that sound better and inspire you to practice more.
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There are a lot of factors to consider when purchasing your first guitar amp, and you want to make sure that you’re making a good investment. Let’s look at some of the features you’ll want to look for so you can pick the best guitar amp for beginners.
When it comes to selecting your first guitar amp, choosing the best size is a great place to start. When it comes to sizing, guitar amps range from tiny micro amps to giant rigs with multiple speaker cabinets.
When you are just starting out on guitar, a small practice amp will be all that you generally need to get started. Because of their smaller size, these guitar amps are also great for musicians who travel for whatever reason, either on the road or to their next band practice.
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When choosing your guitar amp, two factors to take into consideration are the wattage of the amp and the configuration of your speakers.
There are many misconceptions about the necessary wattage needed for a guitar amplifier. Most “pro” amps are 30-100 watts. Loudness doesn’t double when you double the number of watts. A 30-watt amp is only 5 decibels quieter than a 100-watt amp.
Most amps sound best when they can be turned up about halfway. If your guitar amp never gets turned up past 3, you should probably use a smaller amp. You want to make sure the speakers are rated for the amount of power the amp will produce.
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When choosing your speaker configuration, two factors to take into consideration are the wattage of the amp and impedance. Popular speaker configurations include one 12-inch speaker, two 12-inch speakers, and four 12-inch speakers. For most gigs, one 12-inch or two 12-inch speakers are fine. Remember: In most cases, your amp will be connected to the PA system.
For home use, you really don’t need a guitar amp that uses more than 20 watts of power. Having a high-powered amp at home is like having a race car that you can’t drive over 20 mph. You don’t need a lot of wattage to sound good.
Likewise, most practice amps have a single speaker between 8 inches and 12 inches in diameter. The practice amp is for practicing at home at a reasonable volume — save the big amp for the stage.
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If you want to use your guitar amp in a recording situation, smaller is usually better. For instance, Jimmy Page used a small 15-watt Supro combo amp in the studio to create the huge guitar sounds on the early Led Zeppelin records.
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Some guitarists will use multiple amps in the studio and blend their sounds to get the perfect tone. The possibilities are endless.
The same pretty much holds true for playing live: Gigantic guitar amps are no longer needed, as most venues use microphones on the amps to better control the sound that the audience hears. You’ll usually also have onstage monitors that will provide sound to you and your bandmates. The only real consideration is being able to compete with the natural volume of the drum set.
When you see bands play arenas, they often use dummy cabs onstage for looks — most don’t even contain speakers! The most power you’ll generally need to play live in most situations is 30–50 watts. A cab with one or two 12-inch speakers will probably be fine for live shows.
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For really big venues, a 4x12 cab is sometimes used, especially for heavier bands. Save the full stack 100-watt amp and multiple cabs for when you hit the big time!
The kind of music you want to play will affect what kind of guitar amp you want to buy. A basic understanding of amp tones and effects can help you make your final decision.
All guitar amps will have some sort of “equalization” (or EQ) built in. These controls are usually labeled treble, mid, and bass. These controls help you achieve your desired tone. EQ is an important part of any amp. These controls will help you sound good in any environment, as you can shape the amp’s frequencies to sound best in whatever room you’re playing in.
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Most guitar amps will have a gain knob. This controls the amount of distortion in your sound. For instance, heavy metal and punk bands usually have a thick, distorted tone.
Reverb is a standard effect that sounds like an echo in a big empty room. While not every guitar amp features reverb, it can be found on most practice amps.
Effects can be a useful feature in many different guitar amps, but it’s best for beginners not to get carried away. Eventually, though, guitarists may have a need for them. Some amps feature an array of digital onboard effects that you choose from. Many professional players use pedal boards that they customize with several effects pedals.
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Having digital effects built into the guitar amp allows you to experiment with several effects without having to buy the pedals separately. Then when you’re looking to upgrade to a bigger amp to play live, you can pick and choose exactly what effect pedals you want to use.
Another feature that some guitar amps have is the ability to switch between two or three channels that feature different types of sounds. This is usually achieved through the use of a foot switch that allows you to toggle back and forth between the channels. Some single-channel guitar amps also have a foot switch that will turn the effects on and off.
While all these extra features are fun to play with, the overall quality of the guitar amp is a very important consideration. Trusted guitar amp manufacturers such as Fender make great quality amps with a wide range of prices and features.
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Fender is a GearSelect partner of School of Rock, and we use their amps extensively in our schools and recommend them to our students. Fender guitar amps are well-built and sound great, which makes practice a breeze. Many vintage Fender amps from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s are still in use today, which speaks to their durability and quality.
Another important consideration is the style of music you’ll mostly be playing. The best guitar amp for practice will be able to cover a wide array of musical styles, from metal to country to jazz. Some more experienced players with a more narrow focus may opt for a “one-trick pony” amp that nails their desired tone. For beginners, it’s best to select the best guitar amp for them that provides the flexibility to experiment. This is usually better than being stuck with one sound, and can make practice more fun.
There are many different types of guitar amps on the market. The two main types
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