Buying A Guitar Amp For Beginners ##VERIFIED##

Many experts recommend choosing a guitar amplifier to match the guitar you play. For example, a vintage electric guitar may sound better on a tube amp rather than a solid state. Consider taking your guitar to your local music retail store, where a sales representative can help you pick the perfect amp.

buying a guitar amp for beginners

First, consider the type of music you play. Is there one genre you love more than others? Do you usually play with a band, or solo? Do you play mostly electric guitar or do you use an amplified acoustic model? Each of these factors can influence your choice in guitar amp.

When it comes to selecting your first guitar amp, choosing the best size is a great place to start. When it comes to sizing, guitar amps range from tiny micro amps to giant rigs with multiple speaker cabinets.

When you are just starting out on guitar, a small practice amp will be all that you generally need to get started. Because of their smaller size, these amps are also great for musicians who travel for whatever reason, either on the road or to their next band practice.

Most amps sound best when they can be turned up about halfway. If your guitar amp never gets turned up past 3, you should probably use a smaller amp. You want to make sure the speakers are rated for the amount of power the amp will produce.

If you want to use your amp in a recording situation, smaller is usually better. For instance, Jimmy Page used a small 15-watt Supro combo amp in the studio to create the huge guitar sounds on the early Led Zeppelin records.

Another feature that some guitar amps have is the ability to switch between two or three channels that feature different types of sounds. This is usually achieved through the use of a foot switch that allows you to toggle back and forth between the channels. Some single-channel guitar amps also have a foot switch that will turn the effects on and off.

While all these extra features are fun to play with, the overall quality of the guitar amp is a very important consideration. Trusted guitar amp manufacturers such as Fender make great quality amps with a wide range of prices and features.

When buying a modeling amp, choose one that has a wide variety of modeling, ranging from clean Fender-type tones to more aggressive Marshall high-gain tones. Likewise, look for a nice variety of effects that include reverb, delay, phaser, flanger, and tremolo.

There are many amps dedicated to just acoustic guitars and live, onstage performance. These amps allow you to use effects with your acoustic guitar in the same way you would with your electric guitar. They also allow you to add some sounds to your acoustic guitar that could normally only be produced with an electric model.

For recording your electric guitar at home, you can use amp simulation software. This also allows you to practice silently through headphones or through computer monitor speakers. Some bands even use the amp simulator software in their live shows rather than using amps.

At School of Rock, our instructors walk with you step by step to teach you how to play guitar with skill and confidence. We make learning an instrument fun so you can get up onstage and rock in a band.

If you are new to the thrilling world of electric guitar, then you may be looking at the multitude of black boxes on the market with an air of confusion. The sheer amount on offer can leave you scratching your head, wondering which of these mysterious units is the best beginner guitar amp for you. Well, you needn't worry, as we are here to help put you right.

Here at MusicRadar, we've been fanatical about all things guitar related for decades, so we feel we are best placed to steer you in the right direction when it comes to choosing your first-ever amp for practice. We've decided to primarily focus on small to medium-size amps that won't take up too much space - and as an added bonus, they happen to be easy on the wallet as well. We have quality, affordable options from the biggest names in amplification, with clever amps from Positive Grid and Boss, killer-sounding combos from Fender and Orange and even a wireless option from Harley Benton.

If you are completely new to electric guitar and all the accompanying accessories, then we've even included in-depth buying advice at the end of this piece to help you make an informed decision when purchasing your first amplifier. Better yet, our intelligent price widgets have scoured the internet for the best prices out there to ensure you bag yourself a bargain.

In terms of the guitar amp that offers the most bang for your buck on this list, it has to be the Positive Grid Spark Mini (opens in new tab). This pint-sized amp may be the little brother of the Spark 40, but don't let that fool you, this little guy sounds enormous! As well as coming fully loaded with thousands of amp models and effects it also features clever learning aids such as an auto chord function, backing tracks and smart jam option that are a beginner's dream - couple all that with a very attractive price, and you have one of the best beginner guitar amps for sure.

For those looking for something a little bigger, that can also keep pace with you as you progress on your guitar-playing journey, then the Boss Katana 50 (opens in new tab) is arguably the best option. Brimming with legendary Boss effects, very usable amp models and a simple user interface, this amp is perfect for newbies looking for killer guitar tones in any genre.

In a relatively short time, Positive Grid has established itself as one of the most innovative brands in the guitar space. Their powerful guitar VST, BIAS FX 2 and Positive Grid Spark 40 practice amp were complete game-changers upon their release and the new Positive Grid Spark Mini is continuing that trend.

Okay, there's a reason the Boss Katana features on so many "best amplifier" lists, it's simply brilliant. Boss is a powerhouse in the world of guitar effects pedals and the Katana series puts these renowned stompboxes into a humble practice amp.

Now, don't get us wrong, the Crush is still a fairly versatile combo amp, with the dual channels - Clean and Dirty - able to produce everything from sparkling cleans to over-the-top filthy rock tones. So if you are looking for simple yet effective, then the Orange Crush 20 may be the best beginner guitar amp for you.

Blackstar's ID:Core range follows a very similar approach to the problem of a beginner-friendly guitar amp as the Boss Katana and Positive Grid Spark by giving budding guitarists a simplistic user interface, easy-to-dial-in effects and a stellar group of core sounds.

The Fender Mustang amps have been a staple of guitar stores and beginner guitarist's bedrooms since they launched in 2010, and it's not surprising why. The original Mustang amps offered players access to scores of classic tones in a neat and inexpensive package - and the new Mustang GTX50 continues Fender's winning streak with an amp that pushes the boundaries of the GT series without losing the features players loved.

Now, as well as this group of essential tones, it's also beneficial to have at least a few effects to play around with. Reverb and delay will have a sense of space to the tone, chorus and phaser will add movement, while distortion and fuzz will send your electric guitar tone into the stratosphere.

We also think a headphone output is a mandatory feature as in the early stages of your development, you'll want to practice in peace while you slowly work on your technique (check out our round-up of the best guitar amp headphones for that).

I'm a Senior Deals Writer at MusicRadar, and I'm responsible for writing and maintaining buyer's guides on the site - but that's not all I do. As part of my role, I also scour the internet for the best deals I can find on gear and get hands-on with the products for reviews. I have a massive passion for anything that makes a sound, in particular guitars, pianos and recording equipment. In a previous life, I worked in music retail, giving advice on all aspects of music creation, selling everything from digital pianos to electric guitars, entire PA systems to ukuleles. I'm also a fully qualified sound engineer with experience working in various venues in Scotland."}; var triggerHydrate = function() window.sliceComponents.authorBio.hydrate(data, componentContainer); var triggerScriptLoadThenHydrate = function() if (window.sliceComponents.authorBio === undefined) var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = ' -9-5/authorBio.js'; script.async = true; script.id = 'vanilla-slice-authorBio-component-script'; script.onload = () => window.sliceComponents.authorBio = authorBio; triggerHydrate(); ; document.head.append(script); else triggerHydrate(); if (window.lazyObserveElement) window.lazyObserveElement(componentContainer, triggerScriptLoadThenHydrate, 1500); else console.log('Could not lazy load slice JS for authorBio') } }).catch(err => console.log('Hydration Script has failed for authorBio Slice', err)); }).catch(err => console.log('Externals script failed to load', err));Daryl RobertsonSocial Links NavigationI'm a Senior Deals Writer at MusicRadar, and I'm responsible for writing and maintaining buyer's guides on the site - but that's not all I do. As part of my role, I also scour the internet for the best deals I can find on gear and get hands-on with the products for reviews. I have a massive passion for anything that makes a sound, in particular guitars, pianos and recording equipment. In a previous life, I worked in music retail, giving advice on all aspects of music creation, selling everything from digital pianos to electric guitars, entire PA systems to ukuleles. I'm also a fully qualified sound engineer with experience working in various venues in Scotland.

Ignoring some of the newer digital modelers which we will cover shortly. Generally speaking, to get sound from a guitar amplifier you need 2 parts: the amplifier itself which takes your guitar signal and, you guessed it, amplifies it so it can be sent through the second part which is the speaker cabinet. 041b061a72