| There are a few different types of guitar amplifiers | | | | Solid state amps were invented to replace tube amps |
| that are on the market today for you to choose from. | | | | (which didn't happen!). Basically, the main difference |
| If you are shopping for a new amp, it's good to decide | | | | between tube and solid state amps is that solid state |
| which type you will want because they are all very | | | | uses transistors instead of tubes. They also require |
| different. | | | | almost no maintenance because there are no tubes to |
| The first type of amps that came along had to be the | | | | change. |
| tube amplifiers. Funny thing is, even though the | | | | This is not to say that solid state amps are not as |
| technology of tube amps is fairly old, these amps are | | | | good as tube, it just all depends on the application and |
| still used widely among pro and beginner guitar players. | | | | type of music you are going to be playing. |
| The reason for their popularity is that the tone of | | | | Some guitarists prefer colliding the two and making |
| these amps is usually very warm and natural | | | | what is called a hybrid amp. This type of amps marries |
| compared to the other types. Not only do they sound | | | | both tube and transistor amps into one. Usually there |
| better, they are usually louder than amps of other | | | | are tubes at one stage of amplification and transistors |
| types and the same power level. The only thing to | | | | at the other stage (preamp and power amp) |
| remember with tube amps is that they require | | | | Recently, digital amps were introduced. These amps |
| maintenance because the vacuum tubes need to be | | | | use computers and integrated circuits to create the |
| periodically changed. | | | | various tones in the amps. Usually, there are a number |
| Usually there are two types of tubes in an amp - the | | | | of different types of effects and tons that you can |
| preamp section and the power section. Common | | | | get. These amps are very versatile. |
| tubes are 12AX7, 6L6, EL34, and many more. | | | | Examples of some digital amps are Vox Valvetronix, |
| There are many different brands of guitar amps that | | | | Line6, and a few more. These amps are great if you |
| use tubes -- Marshall, Soldano, Peavey, Genz-Benz, | | | | want to play all different types of music with different |
| Mesa Boogie and many others -- especially older and | | | | types of guitars. |
| vintage guitar amps. | | | | |