Best Guitar Amp – Which One Should You Choose?

After all, why waste your time with anything but the best, right?

Well, there really is no such thing as a single, best guitar amp. The best amp is really the one that is best for you and your needs. If you only plan on playing at home, then buying a Marshall head and 4×12 cabinet might not be the best move. On the other hand, if you plan to gig regularly in a band that specializes in heavy metal then a small 1×12 combo won’t really suffice either. Always buy the gear that suits your needs.

As you’re shopping for a guitar amplifier, then, keep the following in mind.

(1) How Much to Spend?

Don’t spend more than is necessary. Just because your hero “Johnny Guitar” plays a $3,000 amp stack with fifty built-in effects doesn’t mean you need to go out and buy it. Even if you have a very limited budget, you can get a good-sounding practice amp that you can still use once your budget can accommodate something more expensive.

(2) Solid State, Modeling, Tubes, or Hybrid?

You’ll need to decide if you want a solid state amp, modeling amp, tube amp, or hybrid amp. It used to be the case that only tube amps really got “the sound” most guitar players wanted. While most high end guitar amps are still tube amps, it’s definitely possible to get a good sound from non-tube amps and many professionals even use them today. A solid state amp (such as a Tech 21 Trademark) uses traditional analog circuitry to get its sound. A modeling amp, such as a Roland Cube 80XL, uses digital modeling to approximate the sound of tube amps. Hybrid amps, such as a Line 6 Spider Valve, use both digital modeling and tubes for tonal versatility.

All amps have their pros and cons. Tube amps sound amazing, but require significant upkeep. Modeling and solid state amps are known for their reliability, but don’t quite have the organic feel that tube amps offer. In the end, choose the amp that best fits your need.

(3) Combo or Head/Cabinet?

You’ll also need to decide if you want a combo amp or a separate head/cabinet amp. Again, both options have pros and cons. A combo amp has the amp and speaker built in, so you only have to transport a single item. That’s not a problem with smaller combos; however, some larger tube amp combos can weigh close to 100 lbs. That’s not a big deal if you have roadies, but if you transport the gear yourself, but if you do carry your own gear (especially up and down stairs), the weight can be a real issue, as can sending gear in for repair. A separate head and cabinet might not be as convenient, but you get the plus of using the cabinet you like plus having gear that’s easy to carry.

The Bottom Line

In the end, the best guitar amp is simply the best one for you. It might be a Marshall stack or a Roland Micro-Cube. Just buy the gear you need, not necessarily the gear you want, and you’ll probably be much happier. Some popular brands to consider are Bogner, Carvin, Dr. Z, Fender, Line 6, Marshall, Mesa/Boogie, Peavey, Roland, and Vox.

If you are looking for the best guitar amp for your needs, you should visit JustGuitarAmps.com today where you can find the best prices on cheap guitar amps. They offer expert reviews on numerous guitar amps and help you find the best prices available anywhere.

 

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Marshall MG30DFX Guitar Amplifier

Tags: guitar amp kits, guitar amp parts, guitar amp tubes, guitar amplifier, guitar amps

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 at 7:54 am and is filed under Vintage Electronics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.