If you have an electric guitar, you’re going to need an Amplifier to really hear what sound it has to offer.

Amps come in various sizes to fit every need, from small practice amps designed for playing at low volumes, to refrigerator sized full stack amps designed for playing with a band.

There are also digital (solid state) amps, or analog (tube) amps to choose from.

Tube amps have a warmer sound but can be less durable and more expensive.

When buying an amp make sure to try as many as you can in your price range to find the right fit for you.

Guitar Amplifiers

Here are some popular models of guitar amplifiers and a little bit about each one. Which one do you own?

The Combo Amp

• Easily portable
• Best for small to large ensemble playing
• Cost: $$→$$$

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Full & Half Stack

• Not easily portable
• Best for large ensembles and arenas
• Cost: $$$→$$$$

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Tube Amp or Solid State?

Should you use solid state or tube amplifiers? This is a hot button question for alot of guitarists with passionate supports on both sides. I suggest playing through each option yourself before deciding.

As with most things, there are pros and cons to both tube and solid state amps. Tube amps are preferred for their rich, warm sound that is often missing in the more accurate, colorless reproduction of solid state amps. On the other hand, tube amplifiers are more expensive to buy and maintain, and far less reliable, particularly for traveling musicians.

Do you need a tube amp to get a tube sound? Generally speaking the answer is no. Most people won’t hear the difference between a tube pre-amp running into a solid state amp, and an all tube amplifier.

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Tube Pre-Amps

• Rich, warm sound
• Reliable
• Cost: $$→$$$

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