GUITAR AMplifiers 

In addition to the type of guitar, the Amplifier will have a dramatic affect on the tone of your instrument. There are three main types of amplifiers, Tube/Valve Amplifiers, Solid-State Amplifiers, and Modeling Amplifiers. Each of these amplifier designs are unique and come with their own benefits and drawbacks.

Tube Amplifiers were the earliest amplifier design, and were powered by Vacuum Tubes (or Valves as they are called in Europe). Although vacuum tubes are no longer used in most electronic devices, they are still used in modern guitar amplifiers. 

To most guitarists, these amplifiers have the most natural, responsive sound out of all of the amplifier designs. Despite the fragility of their design (tubes often need to be replaced as they wear out over time) and the elevated cost, many guitarists prefer these amplifies because of their sound. 

Solid-State amplifiers offer a lower cost alternative to tube amps, and provide decent tone and features for a relatively low cost. Although not as responsive as tube amplifiers, Solid-State amplifiers have greatly improved in the past few years, and many players enjoy the unique sounds of these amplifiers. Due to the lack of volume tubes, Solid-state amplifiers are extremely reliable and require very little maintenance, which makes them ideal for working guitarists who don’t want to spend a lot of time maintaining their amplifiers. 

In recent years, a third kind of amplifier has emerged and gained popularity with guitarists because of its “swiss-army knife” versatility. These new, “Modeling” amplifiers use computer software to emulate the characteristics of many different kinds of amplifiers and put them into a single, relatively inexpensive amplifier. This allows for players to switch between several different amplifier types and sounds with just a single amplifier, and can be extremely useful for players that switch frequently between different musical styles.

With so many amplifier choices available at a fraction of the cost, these amplifiers have become extremely popular, and as technology improves, have be able to effectively replicate the characteristics of tube amplifiers to the point where it is getting harder and harder to tell the difference between the two. 

The Big Question: Which Guitar and Amplifier Should I Buy? 

This is a hard question to answer, as each guitar type and amplifier type has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Hopefully, the above information will help you in deciding which type of guitar and amplifier is right for you, and you can always add to your collection of instruments later on. 

The best advice is to try each of these types of guitars out at your local music retailer, as it is very important to get a “feel” for the instrument. How the guitar feels in your hands, if it’s comfortable to play both standing up and sitting down, and the cost are all factors to consider when purchasing an instrument. 

A great way to get started with purchasing a guitar and/or an amplifier is to listen to some of your favorite guitarists and find out what kind of guitars and amplifiers they used. While you might not be able to afford their exact setup, there are lower-cost alternatives that will get you stated that you can upgrade later on. 

Not all guitars are the same, and so it is extremely important to purchase a guitar that you’ve actually played (or if you are buying a guitar online, make sure the vendor has a return policy that allows you to try out the instrument for a few days first). 

Make sure you love your instrument before spending money on it, and buy the best instrument you can afford, as no one likes playing a guitar that is hard to play. Saving money on a bad instrument will cost you in the long run in frustration in trying to play it, and investing in a quality instrument will last you a lifetime of enjoyable playing when properly cared for. You can always add new guitars and amplifiers over time to your collection!