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I would always recommend you go out and try as many amps as you can and get a feel for what might suit you. This is great fun but
don't get carried away with all singing all dancing amps with zillions of effects. You're better off putting your money into a
quality little amp rather than spending your cash on amps with cheap effects which actually sound bad anyway. You can always add
sweet sounding effects pedals at a later date when you know a little more about styles you want to play.
Try asking yourself these questions:
Will I be mainly
playing at home and practising?
If you are playing at home and need a
guitar amp for practice sessions, then a low power guitar amp with a built in speaker normally referred to as a 'combo' is what's
needed.
Most practice amps have a power output in the region of 10 to 20 watts which is more than sufficient for home use
and is more than capable of producing enough volume to drive your neighbours mad. In fact I came across the smallest and
cutest valve amp head (no speaker cabinet) I have ever seen the other day made by ZVEX which is only half a watt, but what
a brilliant sound – quite expensive though.
If you're playing at home then it's great to have a
headphone socket on your amp but not all amps have them. Don't play too loud with headphones, you can easily damage your
headphones and ears!
What style of guitar
will I be playing?
Your style of guitar playing will influence the type
of amplifier you buy. Maybe if you're just starting you're not about your style yet, but if you're into rock you'll undoubtedly
want some great sounding distortion and sustain, so look for an amp with an 'overdrive' facility.
If you want to play acoustic, jazz or folk style then
'overdrive' probably isn't for you, you'll be looking for a good clean sounding amp.
Which Effects are worth
considering?
Which ever style you play, a guitar amp with 'reverb'
(echo) is worth having. It'll add some extra warmth and depth to your sound. You'll come across two main types of reverb though,
digital reverb where the reverberation is produced electronically by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) which is ok, but can sound
harsh, or 'spring reverb' where the reverberation is produced by springs and pick-ups which gives a much cleaner and pleasant
sound.
Another nice effect but not essential by any means is
'Chorus' or 'Delay'. This effect gives a very full sound as though there's more than one guitar playing. If you're a beginner
then this will add quite a boost to the sound you make, not to mention your confidence : )
How much money do I
want to spend?
Well this is slightly tricky. practice guitar amps
start from about $40.00 or so but I would always recommend a recognized make like Fender e.g. Frontman 15G at $79.00 or Marshall e.g. MG10CD at $69.00. It's best not to go for some unheard of make which turns out to be unreliable, uses
poor quality components and speaker, and is impossible to fix should the need arise. Most cheap amps are made in Malaysia
or China but if it's a good brand then at least the build quality should be ok.
Should I buy new or second hand?
You can buy used or second hand guitar amps, but there are problems related condition and reliability
involved. You'll find a useful article on buying a used guitar amp which I suggest you take a look at before parting with your
cash.
Important
If you're a beginner or not confident to
play in the shop, then ask one of the staff to demo it for you, then buy the amp you like the sound of. By all means take
advice from other people, it would be silly not to, but it's your amp and your sound.
It's a personal thing so trust your ears.
I hope this helps you find the practice amp for you! Check the
article about the completely powerless personal practice
amp.
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