【Gear Lab 03】Electric Guitar Beginners, how to choose the Amplifier (AMP)

Last Updated on 2024-07-25

In the previous article【Gear Lab 01】, I have introduced some basic musical instruments of electric guitar.

As a beginner of electric guitar, as long as the “5 basic musical instruments” are prepared, you can start to play the electric guitar:

✅ Electric guitar

✅ Amplifier (AMP)

✅ Cable 1/4″ (6.3mm)

✅ Pick

✅ Tuner

Among the five instruments, the most essential element of “affecting the quality of the tone-color” may be considered to be the electric guitar…

But actually...

 "Amplifier(AMP)" plays the most essential element!

When you choose the appropriate “amplifier (AMP)“, it will significantly improve the sound quality and bring you a better playing experience.

Next, let Blues-Feng take you to know this vital instrument – AMP !

1. Usage of Amplifier (AMP)

# 1.1. Volume Amplification

When you only use the electric guitar “alone”, you will find that the volume produced by plucking the strings of the electric guitar is even lower than the volume of the acoustic guitar.

This is because the body of an electric guitar is usually “solid structure”; while the body of an acoustic guitar has a “hollow structure (for natural resonance)”.

If you want to use an electric guitar to play correctly, you need to connect the electric guitar to the amplifier (AMP) through the cable.

At this time, after plucking the strings of the electric guitar, the volume can be amplified by the circuit structure of these devices, and finally the amplified sound will be emitted from the AMP.

This is actually the purpose of the “electric guitar” was originally invented – to apply the “volume amplification” of the electric guitar to large-scale band performances; and at this time, “amplifier (AMP)” will be needed to achieve it.

# 1.2. Quality of Tone-color

It was mentioned at the beginning that among the 5 basic musical instruments, the “amplifier (AMP)” plays the most essential element in “affecting the quality of the tone-color” .

Of course, this is not to say that other instruments are not important, but to remind electric guitar beginners who are “ready purchasing instruments”：

“Choosing the amplifier (AMP)” is an important concept that is very easily overlooked.

First, let’s consider the following two combinations:

1️⃣ High-end electric guitar + poor quality AMP

2️⃣ General electric guitar + excellent AMP

Let me talk about the conclusion first. Under the premise of limited budget, I will choose the second combination of “General electric guitar + excellent AMP” .

Regarding the above two combinations, I will give a brief explanation here, and I will arrange other articles to discuss them in depth.

2. Types of AMP

# 2.1. Tube AMP

“Tube amplifier” uses the structure of vacuum-tubes to amplify the sound of electric guitars.

This kind of amplifier has a “warm & full tone” and is therefore highly favored by many professional guitarists.

The downside of Tube-AMP is that they are usually more expensive than other types of AMP.

The “output power” of Tube-AMP is usually not the type of AMP with the highest volume, so it is more suitable for “small performances” or “studio recording” .

In addition, Tube-AMP also need to pay more attention to “instrument maintenance”, otherwise there may be a possibility of malfunction.

# 2.2. Solid-State AMP

“Solid-state amplifier” uses a solid-state circuit structure to amplify the sound of an electric guitar.

This kind of AMP usually has the characteristics of “clean, less biased towards a specific tone” ; therefore, it is usually suitable for jass and blues.

In terms of price, Solid-State AMP are generally more affordable than Tube-AMP.

In addition, compared with Tube-AMP, “Solid-State AMP” are usually relatively stable equipment, which also allows you to spend relatively less time on “instrument maintenance”.

# 2.3. Hybrid AMP

“Hybrid amplifier” combines the application of “Tube-AMP & Solid-State AMP” .

“Hybrid AMP” usually use a hybrid structure of a “Tube Pre-amplifier“ plus a “Solid-state Power-amplifier” .

Therefore, Hybrid AMP” has both advantages of warm tone (Tube-AMP) and more affordable price (Solid-State AMP) .

At the same time, “Hybrid AMP” usually have higher output power , which makes them more suitable for large venues.

3. Main Spec

If we want to understand the product performance of an “AMP of electric guitar”, there are usually some “specifications and parameters” worth referring to.

They can often be used to aid in your “quick judgment” of the sound characteristics of the AMP.

# 3.1. Output Power

Output Power determines the upper-limit of this AMP’s volume.

For the specific parameter of “output power”, you can refer to the “watt” of this AMP.

The product labeling may be different, and the common ones are “watt, wattage, W” ─ the higher the value, the higher the volume limit can be provided.

If you are planning to buy an AMP, you usually need to consider your own factors such as your “playing space” and “playing genres” for the specification of Output Power.

✅ For example: Assuming that your AMP only needs to be used for practice in bedroom, then you will not use a 100-watt AMP (for large-venue performance).

# 3.2. AMP size

Due to the physical characteristics, the “AMP size (dimensions)” can be said to directly affect the “quality of tone-color”.

Generally, “large-sized AMP” will have a more rich sound quality ; this is usually difficult for “small-sized AMP” to reach the same level.

BTW, the “AMP size” usually also affects the upper-limit of the Output Power.

In a small venues, “small or medium-sized AMP”would be more appropriate ( because it’s hard for you to take advantage of the “large-sized AMP” )

Relatively, if you have performance needs in a large venues, then maybe you will need “large-sized AMP”.

# 3.3. Built-In EQ & Effects

Generally, the AMP itself will have an EQ knob (EQ = equalizer ; adjusting the gain of the “specific frequency band” of the sound).

In addition, there are also AMP that have built-in “tone-color effects” , such as: Reverb, Delay, Distortion, …

Q: Does the AMP need to be equipped with a built-in “EQ or tone-color effects”?

A: Regarding this point, it actually varies from person to person; it is completely based on “your preferences, personal practice planning, budget” and other factors to make a decision.

Some guitarists like the convenience of having EQ and effects built into the amp .

Relatively, there are also guitarists who prefer to “combine with other effect-pedals” to achieve the tone-color they pursue.

4. How to Choose the AMP

After you know the “Types“ (Tube-AMP, Solid-state-AMP, Hybrid-AMP) and “Main Spec“ (Output-power, AMP-size, built-in-EQ&effects) of electric guitar amplifiers.

Then for “purchasing the AMP”, you should have learned some clear concepts. Next, let Blues-Feng take you to learn the other factors that can be considered as well.

# 4.1. Music Genres

For the style of music you play, if you prefer genres such as rock or metal.

Then Tube-AMP may be a good choice.

Because the Tube-AMP has a warmer and fuller tone, it can have a delicate sound quality when playing with a highly distorted tone.

💡Tips: This is one of the reasons why many guitarists love Tube-AMP. Because the distortion sound of Tube-AMP is very “natural, even sometimes sweet”, which is an irreplaceable charm of this type of AMPs.

If you prefer genres such as jazz or blues.

Then Solid-State AMP can also be one of your choices.

Solid-State AMP usually have the characteristics of “clean, less biased toward a specific tone”; therefore, they are quite suitable for the above-mentioned genres.

💡Tips: To date, there are a lot of AMPs on the market, you don’t need to refer to the above-mentioned music genre considerations.

Because you can combine the sound of your own instruments according to your personal preferences, and this is one of the fun points about playing the electric guitar!

# 4.2. Venue

As mentioned earlier, we can determine the “AMP-size” according to the “venue” where you play the electric guitar.

In addition to the aforementioned “watt” of the AMP, the “Output-power and AMP-size” will also be related to the “Driver-size” of the AMP.

You can refer to the following basic suggestions:

# 4.3. Effects of Tone-color

As mentioned earlier, whether the AMP needs to be equipped with a built-in “EQ or tone-color effects” depends on “your preferences, personal practice planning, budget”.

For electric guitar beginners, I suggest giving priority to the AMP with “built-in EQ and effects”.

Of course that it’s cool to combine the guitar-effects-pedals!

But the “beginner stage” is usually still in the status of learning the effects of tone-color. At this time, you may not be clear about the characteristics of effects-pedals.

Then the AMP with “built-in EQ & Effects” can be used as a starting point for “letting you get a preliminary understanding of the tone-color”.

This is one of the AMPs I often use. As a beginner’s “home practice AMP”, the【YAMAHA – THR30II Wireless】has complete functions such as built-in “EQ or tone-color effects”.

You can also click the store link below to learn about the product specs.

5. Extra Consideration

Generally, the aforementioned purchase-concepts will be the most important consideration for the “sound quality” of the AMP.

However, according to my experience, there are also a few points below that are the purchase elements that guitarists often consider in “daily life”.

# 5.1. Portability

If you often need to go to “different places” to play, then the “weight, size, and ease of carrying” of the AMP will become your focus of consideration.

If you only need to use AMP in a “fixed location”, then you can consider choosing “good sound quality, even if it is large, heavy, and difficult to carry”.

# 5.2. AMP Brands

If you still have some hesitation about the selection of AMPs, you can also give priority to “well-known AMP brands” such as Marshall, Fender, Vox and other brands.

In my opinion, this is not really a superficial brand-myth when it comes to musical instruments.

After all, musical instruments are “very professional” equipment. Those AMP brands with a long history and “trusted by many musicians” are definitely not a coincidence in terms of “instruments quality”.

# 5.3. Budget

Finally, there are very practical consideration, that is – your “total budget” and “budget allocation” when purchasing basic instruments.

“Total budget” is easy to understand, so I won’t explain it further! If it weren’t for the limitation of the total budget, I would of course see a AMP and buy a AMP …

When considering the common budget of ordinary people, “budget allocation” will become a very important consideration.

For beginners of electric guitar, it may be very enthusiastic to directly put all the budget in the “electric guitar”.

But from the perspective of “long-term practice and performance”, it is very worthwhile to allocate “more budget” to high-quality AMP at the beginning .

This consideration should be very easy for beginners to overlook, so it has been emphasized many times in this article.

⏯️ Experience： I can understand this very well, because I almost bought a low-quality AMP at the beginning (but after careful consideration, I chose to buy a VOX Tube-AMP)

6. Conclusion

Among the basic musical instruments of electric guitar, “AMP” can be said to be the most critical element “affecting the quality of the tone-color”.

Therefore, it is highly recommended that when purchasing musical instruments, you can spend more thought and even allocate more budget on the AMP.

Before the end of the article, let Blues-Feng take you to quickly review the key points of this time!

Amplifier (AMP) of electric guitar :