subject: Choosing The Best Guitar Amplifier [print this page] Choosing The Best Guitar Amplifier Choosing The Best Guitar Amplifier
Choosing the best guitar amplifier for your specific needs can turn out to be trickier than you might realize. Often times the main focus is on what guitar can give you the best sound, which guitar looks and feels the nicest, all without much thought being put into the lowly amplifier.
This could turn out to be a big mistake because the bottom line is that someone may have a mid-range to lower end guitar being played through a nice amp, making it sound somewhat descent. Whereas even if one plays a high-end guitar it will still sound awful through that bad amplifier.
Some things to consider if you are looking at purchasing a new guitar amplifier would obviously be price. Guitar amplifiers can range anywhere from under $100 all they up into the thousands of dollars. A common 15-watt amp is what many settle on when they pick out their first amp. Due mostly to the lower price.
While cheaper ones will make adiquite practice amplifiers for students, I would still recommend looking around at the next step up in quality, and here is why.
If you have never had the luxery of pluggin into one of the better model guitar amplifiers I would strongly urge you to head down to your local music shop and ask an employee to help set you up on one to try out. I can understand if you would be shy about it if you aren't comfortable with your skill level on the guitar but trust me, if you can swallow your pride for even a little bit while you test it out, you will be more discerning in your taste.
The basic models usually just don't cut it compared to most of the better amps. The sound could be said to be "tolerable" and that is about it. Subconciously a newer guitarist could become frustrated having the frame of mind that "nothing they play ever sounds good" all because the amplifier doesn't kick out nice tones.
Another problem to add to the list is that as a guitarist improves on their skill, they will most likely want to start jamming with other musicians including drummers. And we all know how loud percussion instruments can be. Smaller amplifiers simply won't have the power to give off higher levels of volume to keep pace with the drums.
Make sure when you are shopping around, especially if this is your first guitar amplifier, that you try out as many as you can. Try also using the same guitar played through many amps, as well as testing them with high and low volumes to get a good feel for each amplifier. Many things come into play that will have a dynamic effect on the sound you get. Things like string gauge, the action on the guitar, and even the pick you are using.
Don't be afraid to research any amps you have your eye on either. There are a lot of great resources on line.
In conclusion, don't go out and spend thousands of dollars on an amplifier, unless you have some experience under your belt and you know what you want. It really won't hurt to spend a bit extra though, and get a nicer amplifier that you will love for years to come.
