How to Choose a Guitar Amplifier
- 1). Determine the size of your expected audience. An amplifier that will only be used in the home for personal use would be impractical for large audiences. Only once it is determined what the intended size of the audience will be can an appropriate guitar amplifier be chosen.
- 2). Decide how much power the amplifier should have. This is directly related to the size of the expected audience. The power output of an amplifier determines how loud the amplifier will be. The power output of an amplifier is expressed in watts. Playing for a few people at a time may only require a 10- to 15-watt amplifier, while playing for audiences of over 100 may require an amplifier of at least 100 watts. Choose carefully, as an increase in the number of watts usually results in a higher price.
- 3). Determine the appropriate physical size of the amplifier for your intended use. Amplifiers are manufactured in a variety of sizes and weights. Some amplifiers are relatively small and light, while other amplifiers are bulky and can easily weigh more than 100 pounds. Choose an amplifier that you can reasonably transport and have storage space for.
- 4). Determine whether to choose a tube or solid state amplifier. Tube amplifiers contain several glass tubes, commonly associated with old television and radio sets. Although quality of sound is subjective, tube amplifiers generally have a better tone than solid state amplifiers. However, tube amps are usually heavier and more expensive than a comparable solid state amplifier. There are many quality solid state amplifiers manufactured on the market, though, so be sure to try a few out in the store.
- 5). Determine whether to purchase a combination amplifier or a head unit and speaker cabinet. All guitar amplifiers have two components to produce sound: an amplifier and a speaker. Combination units contain both. The other setup is a head and speaker cabinet. Here, the amplifier, or "head," is purchased separately from the speaker cabinet. Only if you intend to perform in front of a large audience should a head/speaker setup be considered. For the vast majority of players, a combination unit is suitable and is less expensive than purchasing a head unit and speaker cabinet separately.
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