If you are looking to purchase an electric guitar or have recently purchased one, then you probably already know that you want an electric guitar amplifier. Electric guitar amps come in all shapes and sizes, and of course, have different capabilities when it comes to sound levels.
When purchasing electric guitar amps, you have to think about what you need it for. If you are in a band and will be traveling a lot, you want to look at electric guitar amps that are loud enough for a big show, but also are not too big that it will be impossible to carry. I was in a band in high school and had an amp that was bigger than I was. This was great for band practice, but when it came time for a weekend show, it was not worth the hassle of getting the amp out of the basement. Not only was it incredibly heavy, but also it did not fit in the trunk of our SUV! So if you are looking to purchase electric guitar amps that pack a punch, try to find the right balance of sound and size.
If you are going to be playing in larger venues, then you should look for electric guitar amps in the 80W-100W range. Any louder than that and you will either disturb the neighbors or risk hearing damage to yourself! If you are a casual player and will be playing mostly in your bedroom or in smaller venues, then an amp in the 30W-50W range will get the job done.
When purchasing electric guitar amps, make sure to test it out first. You want to be happy with the quality of your sound, so make sure you know how the product sounds. Play around with the bass, treble, gain, reverb, etc. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions to the salesman if you are purchasing in a store. Also find out if the electronic guitar amps you are looking at are built with tubes or transistors. Tubes tend to be more expensive, and in general, audiophiles prefer the sound of tubes to transistors. I would recommend playing around with both types of electric guitar amps and decide for yourself which sound you prefer.
Another thing to take into consideration is your predominant style of play. If you are playing a more laid back style of music such as blues, reggae or jazz, then you will not want to buy the same type of amp as a heavy metal rocker. If you fall into the former category, then you will want to look at vintage electric guitar amps. These amps have a warm, brighter sound and put more emphasis on returning to the sound quality of music of the 50s, 60s and 70s. Most electric guitar amps that fall in this category would be considered low-gain amps. If you are looking for more of a rocker sound, then be sure to check out amps that have good distortion, such as high gain amps.