At the Arts Music Store you’ll be able to find the ideal amp for your musical genre and style of playing. We have new and used amps for all ages, budgets and skill levels and are pleased to provide amps from the top manufacturers in the music business such as : Beaver Creek, Blackstar, Boss, Fender, Fishman, Line 6, MarkBass, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Orange, Roland, Traynor, Vox, Yamaha, Ampeg, Hartke, Hotone, and Supro.
The sound of most guitarists relies a lot on their amp since each model and brand basically provides its own unique sound and tone. There are basically two types of electric guitar amps which are combo amps and amplifier heads. A combo amp consists of the electronic amplifier and the speakers and they are built into one convenient cabinet. These can be found in a variety of sizes. On the other hand, amp heads are separate pieces of equipment which work in concert with external speaker cabinets. Portable Combo amps can also come with built-in effects and/or spring reverb. Separate amp heads and speakers are often used by guitarists who like to experiment with various combinations with find specific tones. Solid state/transistor amps provide clear and crisp tones and are usually easier to maintain since they consist of fewer pats. Tube-based amps offer warmer and thicker tones with natural distortion.
Amp for bass guitars are designed specifically for the instrument. They differ somewhat from guitar amps and generally consist of larger and more powerful speakers designed for lower frequencies. Some of the higher-end models come with built-in effects units to help cut down on unwanted distortion. Some models can be plugged directly into a PA system or mixing board. Even though combo amps are ideal for practising, many combo models are powerful enough for smaller venues. If you’re looking for more flexibility, amp heads enable you to use any speaker cabinet you like. This allows you to use different setups for practicing and playing.
Acoustic guitar amps are somewhat akin to keyboard amps as they provide a flatter frequency response and a cleaner sound while preventing distortion. Basically an acoustic guitar amp just boosts the sound of the instrument and doesn’t affect or alter the sound of it. Some models are equipped with a basic mixer which blends signals from a microphone and pickup. You can also find acoustic guitar amplifiers which supply built-in digital effects like compression and reverb. The power in watts of the amp needed will depend on where you’ll be using the amp. For instance, 20 to 30 watts may be fine at home, 50 to 60 watts if playing at a small venue and more than 100 watts at large venues. The amps are bigger and heavier depending on the amount of wattage you’re looking for. Amps with a direct outputs are ideal for plugging headphones into it as well as plugging into a mixer or recording device. Multi-channel amps enable you to plug more than one instrument into the unit.
Micro practice amps are basically mini guitar amps which are ideal for home usage. These vary in size, wattage and weight etc. For instance, you can find models that are small enough to attach to your belt and large enough to produce 100 watts of power. The specific practice amp you choose will depend on how much volume you’re looking for as well as size and portability. Of course, the sound you’re after will also influence your decision. Many models come with headphone jacks and possibly overdrive controls.
Musical instruments such as guitars and basses can produce only so much volume. To boost this level of volume and signal, musicians have to reply on amplifiers. Many of today’s combo amps are basically all-in-one models which consist of a speaker, preamplifier and power amp. These are typically smaller, relatively easy to carry around and highly versatile. This makes them ideal for practising and playing in small areas and why just about every guitar and bass player owns one. However, amps are also used for drum machines, keyboards and synthesizers.
The roots of the first amplifier systems can be traced back to the early 1900s. Early models consisted of vacuum tubes but transistors became more common in the 1960s. However, some models still use tubes. In general, tube-based amps provide a richer/warmer sound with a vintage steel and more distortion while solid-state/transistor models offer a crisper, clean sound.
Amplifier head units are also available and these are standalone components which are used in combination with external speakers. These are typically quite a bit more powerful than head units which are incorporated into a combo amplifier. The head unit consists of a preamp and power amp. With a standalone amp head you’ll also need speakers or a stack of them to boost the volume.
The size of the amplification equipment needed generally depends on how much power and volume is needed and this generally comes down to the size of the venue you’re performing in. For example, a huge amplifier or large speaker stack isn’t needed if you’re playing in a small, intimate setting or practising at home. On the other hand, if the amp is too small for a large venue then it will be hard for many listeners to hear you play.
What is a combo amp?
The two common guitar amplifier configurations are: a combination (“combo“) amplifier that includes an amplifier and one or more speakers in a single cabinet, and a standalone amplifier (often called a “head” or “amp head”), which passes the amplified signal via a speaker cable to one or more external speaker cabinets.
What is a good beginner amp?
A good guitar amp for a new player is something solid-state with a speaker in the 8-12” range. These amplifiers can be a lower wattage (between 10 to 40 watts) which is more than enough for most beginners!
Can I plug my phone into an amp?
Some amplifiers feature an “Aux” input which allow for a 3.5mm connection for playing music though the speaker. Not all amplifiers will feature this however.
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