What is a good Amplifier?

[Edwin]

Halo! I know this is very subjective. However, I would really like to just hear a general consensus on what makes a good Amplifier?

Specifically,
1. I would like to know what are the things to take note of when choosing an Amplifier.

2. What are the Specifications to look out for when we talk about an Amp (eg. Wattage) and what do these specifications mean.

Heheh.. dunno if anyone ever posted on this before. Anyhow, hope someone can enlighten me. Thanks!

Edwin

 

[tubescreamer]

Q1. This mostly depends on what features you want:
- Tube/Solid State: tube amps rely on valves as opposed to transistors, which makes a difference to the character of the sound. In addition, there is the option for breakup (overdrive) when the amp is pushed hard, as opposed to the constant signal that you will get from a transistor amplifier. Should you wish to use a distortion pedal, a tube amp's sag would get you a more organic sound. (subjective of course)
- Effects Loop: allows you to put your effects after the amp
- Speakers: 4 x 10, 2 x12

Q2.
Wattage: usually corresponds to the size and loudness of the amp, and price as well

Your best bet would be to post your 1) budget and 2) genre of music (with artists your want to emulate in terms of tone). Recommendations can then ensue.

 

[Whitestrat]

Halo! I know this is very subjective. However, I would really like to just hear a general consensus on what makes a good Amplifier?

A good amplifier is one that makes you sound like a god no matter how bad you play...:mrgreen:

 

[edder]

A good amplifier amplifies the signal without distortion or colouration efficiently with the least amount of power used.

 

[NanoShred]

I was half expecting edder to come in saying, BOgner XtC..LOL1!!1111!!

 

[edder]

Nevahhh!!! Bogner Uberschall or DETH!!!!

 

[theunknown]

http://soft.com.sg/forum/gear-guitar/55655-whats-best-way.html

this thread is quite useful. check it out. my post is intended for newbies, which i doubt that u are.

my post:
u mean, when a newbie goes in a shop and asked what type of amp does he/she want, or in soft to ask for recommendations, what is he/she supposed to answer?

i would describe it in:

budget ( err what can i get for $5000?)
watts ( 10 watts. just a small one will do)
suitable for genre ( i play metal. which one has good distortion?)
brands in mind ( would u recommend marshall? mesa? H&K?)

and....of course, he is expected to make some research too and list some shortlisted models.

like someone said, newbies wont really know some terms like
speaker brand (celestion? what the $%^& is that???)
tube/solid state (huh? another wtf case)
and whatever else which newbies dont know (i myself is a newbie. hehe)

 

[xklusivly4u]

Many people define a good amplifier as clean channel is very clean and bluesy (fender like), classic British crush (marshall, vox etc.), brutal distortion (mesa boogies/randall style), screaming/creamy lead tone, good sweet spot at bed room level and loud enough in small to large venue and most importantly cheap.

Not sure that kind of amp exists though

 

[Whitestrat]

A good amplifier amplifies the signal without distortion or colouration efficiently with the least amount of power used.

Ok edder... enough with the textbook answer...:mrgreen:

 

[Whitestrat]

Many people define a good amplifier as clean channel is very clean and bluesy (fender like), classic British crush (marshall, vox etc.), brutal distortion (mesa boogies/randall style), screaming/creamy lead tone, good sweet spot at bed room level and loud enough in small to large venue and most importantly cheap.

Not sure that kind of amp exists though

Yes it does... But you can't buy it anymore...

Yamaha DG60.

 

[edder]

Yes it does... But you can't buy it anymore...

Yamaha DG60.

salah! Line6!!!! uhoooooooooooooo! ok ok i've been watching hard gay again... :mrgreen:

 

[Edwin]

lol.. hmm.. my budget is 3k and below.. Haha.. my genre is pretty U2, Coldplay delay based kinda stuff.. though i would really love to have a nice sweet distortion that's more on the warm side with abit of attack.. So far.. I really love the Vox AC-30 amp models.. though i've no clue why.. Am tryin to figure out why that is so..hahaha..
but as u all know.. parting with a large sum of money always needs more confirmation!

 

[Gr3y]

- Effects Loop: allows you to put your effects after the amp

Just to clarify. Most efx loops are after preamp and b4 power amp. some even allows you to run before your preamp or in parallel mode.

 

[Whitestrat]

salah! Line6!!!! uhoooooooooooooo! ok ok i've been watching hard gay again... :mrgreen:

Heh... No Line 6 amp I've tried comes close to the DG60... Line 6 always has this "emulated" sound that makes the amp sound as if it was far far away... Never really liked their amps...