Guitar amps?!
Question: I am getting a new guitar for christmas (Les paul Studio), and consequently need to upgrade my crappy little practice amp.
What are the main differences (except price) between the electronic and valve amps?
Would someone like me (a relative beginner) who likes to play a bit of blues, rock etc really notice the difference.
I was thinking of a marshall MG (see link:)
http://www.reidys.com/index.pl?submit=Vi...
would this be upto the job or should I really be looking at valve amps??
thanks
Answers: I am getting a new guitar for christmas (Les paul Studio), and consequently need to upgrade my crappy little practice amp.
What are the main differences (except price) between the electronic and valve amps?
Would someone like me (a relative beginner) who likes to play a bit of blues, rock etc really notice the difference.
I was thinking of a marshall MG (see link:)
http://www.reidys.com/index.pl?submit=Vi...
would this be upto the job or should I really be looking at valve amps??
thanks
Basically buy the amp that sounds the way you want. What make/model do your heros use?
The differences between valves and transistors (soundwise) is a matter of opinion. Many say valves are warmer sounding with a smoother overdive and that transistors are harsh.
However valves are expensive, hot and heavy.
There are amps that use both and you also have the choice of using amp modeling software now which will give you many different amp/cab sounds from a single box.
If you are not gigging or playing loud then a good choice would be to go for an amp simulator and keep your current amp untill you need to upgrade.
As best I can tell, there is only one big difference between valve amps and electronic amps - feedback. If you are satisfied with your current amp then keep using it. If not, you should go to the closest music store and see which type produces the sound(s) that you prefer.
get a Roland Cube or Vox
go down to your nearest music shop and take your time trying as many as you want until you find the sound you really like. Then negociate with the shop that when you get it home, if it turns out not to be what you thought it was in the shop you can return it and try again. Any decent shop will say yes. Above all take your time. The amp is all- effects boxes never make up for deficiencies in the overall quality of the amp sound