Author: Tyrone Holman
The first thing you should think of before buying a guitar amplifier is the kind of sound you want to get; this should be one of your major decision factors.
You will enjoy playing your guitar much more if you enjoy the sound your guitar amplifier creates. If you take a low class guitar amplifier that cannot do what you want it to do, then you probably never want to touch the guitar again.
The first question when selecting an amplifier is the tone. What kind of tone should your guitar amplifier create? Should it create a more classic tone or maybe a modernized digital sound? This is especially important when you play a lot with distortion. Also if you play just with clear strings you need to know what kind of tone you would like to get from your amplifier.
Personally I can get the exact tone I want out of any guitar amplifier. This is because I have created my own guide and rules which help me to tweak the knobs of any amplifier. In other words, over the past years I, like many other guitar players, have created the perfect settings for a guitar amp in my mind.
Another decision factor in the selection of the perfect guitar amplifier is the number of speakers in the amplifier as well as the size of these speakers. If you are looking for a practice amp then a simple 10 inch speaker amp will work very well, though I recommend you going with two, 12 inch speakers. This is a pretty standard size and does not cost much extra compared to the 10 inch version. The reason for this upgrade is simple: if you are going to spend money on a practice amplifier then you might as well spend a couple of hundred more to get a full amp. Most likely you end up doing this somewhere down the road anyway.
An excellent amp to get you started with is the Marshall MG250, this amplifier has two, 12 inch speakers and has 50 Watts of power. 50 Watts doesn't sound that much, but you can take my word on it; this amp can generate a decent amount of sound, while at the same time it has a diversity in settings.
A lot of guitarists are very strict about tube amplifiers vs. Digital amplifiers, and I cannot do anything else than agree with them. You get a much better tone out of a tube amp. However, these guys where using the famous and expensive Mesa Boogie half stack set up. I don’t think you should go that far, unless you have a few thousands to spend and can find a dealer who carries Mesa Boogies.
It is a fact that you can get an excellent tone out of any commonly played standard guitar amplifier, the tone is really up to you can with all the effects and accessories available on the market you can get your desired sound with any amp.
I said this because if you are buying your first guitar and amplifier, it's very important that you do not start with a bad experience. I don't have any doubt that there is a thing like the holy grail of amps, but don't attempt to pursue that kind of amp until you have a bit more experience under your belt.
Another good amplifier is Crates, it creates an excellent sound. The only turn side of this amplifier is that they go south around the two year mark. I have had four of these and they all went out of the window at round the same time period.
If you are not that picky regarding a digital processed sound then I recommend you the amplifiers created by Line 6. They have a good range of models as well as a good price range. All of Line 6 their amplifiers come with an excellent effect feature that can create either a clean or distorted playing effect. Currently the Line 6 Spider III 75 1 x 12 amp cost you around three hundred which gives you a fun amp to play with.
My advice is that if you are looking for a professional good amplifier then stay with the big names such as Fender, Marshall, Vox and Line 6. They all produce excellent guitar amplifiers for the beginner and professional while at the same time provides a diverse range in price classes.
My final advice to you is that before you buy any amplifier, go to some stores and try a variation of guitar amplifiers. Play around with the settings and be sure to experiment with the effect setting as well. It's common for guitar and bass players to walk in a store and try out the gear.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/how-to-find-the-best-guitar-amp-2129107.html
About the AuthorHello, my name is Tyrone, I am a profesional guitar player and I am a big collector of guitars and amplifiers.
