Guide to Guitar Amplifiers

1. Amplifier Types

You may be aware that there are, broadly, two main types of guitar amplifier – (a) valve / tube amps and (b) solid-state amps, some of which have ‘modelling’ capability.

(a) Valve amps use vacuum tubes to amplify the guitar signal. They generally provide a richer, more responsive and warmer sound than solid-state amps, and of course have a romantic association with traditional analogue gear.

They are also typically more expensive than solid-state. They can get very loud, even the low wattage ones, so if you are looking for the natural “edge of breakup” tones, this sometimes means you will need to accept quite a bit of volume as well.

Also, bear in mind that they tend not to have lots of effects built in so, if you want the full range of overdrive, crunch & distortion sounds, you might also need external pedals or effects.

(b) Solid-state amps use transistors to amplify the guitar signal, instead of valves. Modelling amps are solid state, but use software and digital processors to emulate the sounds of desirable amps and effects. Whilst subjective, guitarists generally find that these amps lack some of the the classic valve amp warmth, despite the dramatic improvements in sound quality over recent years.

However, they are usually less expensive, lighter, and more reliable. They often have more options for built-in sounds and effects, which can be helpful in creating an all-in-one setup. The output wattage ratings do not really correlate with the ratings on valve amps – a solid-state amp will often have a much higher wattage rating to achieve a similar output to a valve amp. So expect a 15 watt valve amp to have a similar volume output to a 50 watt solid-state.

2. Suggested Amplifier Models

Below are some suggestions of low to medium budget options for the home guitarist. We have not tested all of these amplifiers, and so this is not intended to be a review of their quality, rather than an indication of some popular and well received models to explore.

(a) Valve Amps

These are suggestions for small, affordable, low-wattage valve amps, suitable for home use. They can still get loud! If you are looking for a bigger amp, capable of playing with a band, then all of the brands below produce larger equivalents.

Marshall DSL 1CR 1W

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https://www.andertons.co.uk/marshall-dsl1r-1w-combo/

Marshall DSL5CR 5W

Fender Blues Junior (this would realistically need pedals to achieve significant overdrive)

Supro Delta King 12

2. Solid-State / Modelling

3. Line 6 Catalyst

   1. Boss Katana 50 Gen 3

   2. Blackstar ID X 50w

   3. Blackstar ID Core V4 20w - note, this is quite a small amp