Beginning the Quest for Tone Part 2 – How To Buy A Guitar Amp

Peavey Guitar Amp

This is the second installment on how to annoy your parents, siblings and/or neighbors. We will focus on the intermediate player and go a bit deeper into the quest for tone. It is both easier and more difficult to choose an amplifier at this level of skill. It is also a bit more expensive, in most cases.

Remembering the lessons learned in the first article (Beginning The Quest For Tone Part 1), the intermediate player will now know roughly what is desired in his/ her quest for tone. Forming, joining, or already being in a band may be a consideration, so power becomes more of a concern. Your budget has probably increased, too, so a hole may be burning in your wallet (or purse, we have to be Politically Correct here). Do I really need a good clean sound? Do i want alot of switches to play around with? The list can go on and on. These are all hard decisions to make amd time must be taken so you spend your money wisely.

With the intermediate amplifier, things can start to get expensive. It can be very easy to get to $1000 in the your quest. I don’t recommend a half or full stack. A stack is 1 or 2 cabinets with 4 12 inch speakers and a head (this is an amplifier without speakers). Too hard to lug around. A more powerful, chock-full-o-tone 1×12 combo or even a 2×12, are my suggestions. They are much easier to transport, and can get as loud as a half stack in some cases.

How much power do i really need? In my experience, 50 or 60 watts of tube power is all you really need. With solid state amplifiers, 100 watts should be sufficient for anything that may come up. If more volume is desired or needed, a second speaker cabinet can be added or miking of the amp can be done, for playing in large halls.

To tube or not to tube? This is a very relevant question at this point. And a very tough decision. Tube amplifiers can and will show the mistakes and bad habits that have been picked up, especially the lower gain (distorted) models. But they will usually make you a better, more rounded player. If a tube amp is purchased, maintenance will become a factor because the tubes will age and burn out. Responsibility will have to increase.

What kind of power tubes? 6L6, 5881, EL34, 6550, EL84, 6V6? What kind of preamp tubes? Only one type, the 12AX7, is used in most currrent, mass produced guitar amplifiers. Others types are sometimes used by the more expensive, boutique amplifier manufacturers. The reason for the lack of diversity in preamp tube types is purely economical. Back when 12AX7’s were first starting to be used, they were cheap, plentiful, and didn’t sound too horrible. The same goes for today.

So, what power tube do i want? Personal tastes are key here, but I can give you an idea of what to expect from each of the power tube types. I highly recommend more reading about the specific type tubes listed here. More detail can be found elsewhere on the web.

  • 6L6-This is a hard vacuum tube and be described as “hard hitting”. They have decent harmonic content and are great for guitar amps. They also last for a while. Mesa uses these for the Rectifier series of amplifiers. Expect 40 to 60 watts out of a pair.
  • 5881-A variant of the 6L6, slightly lower output.
  • EL34-These tubes have a soft vacuum. This is the sound of countless recordings. Think AC/DC, Van Halen, Hendrix. Marshall uses these tubes, for the most part. Expect 20 to 40 watts out of a pair.
  • 6550-These tubes can be found in quite a few Marshalls. A bit harder hitting than 6L6 types. These can last a long time, especially the N.O.S. (New Old Stock). Expect 40 to 70 watts out of a pair. Not used much in guitar amps.
  • EL84-These are a 9 pin miniauture type power tube. Very similar in sound to an EL34. If run hard, they can be short lived. These are used in quite a few of the lower wattage combo amps. Expect 10 to 25watts out of a pair.
  • 6V6-These can be found in some of the Fenders. Similar to the EL84, but have a cleaner sound. Could be described as “bluesy”. Expect around the same power from a pair as EL84’s.

For the preamp tubes, I wouldn’t worry about it. They rarely need to be changed and today’s amplifiers are designed around currently manufactured tubes. There are more factors in deciding which tube amp, such as tube rectifiers, effects loops type, etc.

Tube rectifiers? These are found in some of the higher end amplifiers, such as the Rectifier series by Mesa, Marshall Jtm-45 and the Fender Prosonic. They have a different sound than the silicon diode (solid state) rectifiers used by the majority of amplifier manufacturers. It can be described as “sag”. Refer here http://www.triodeel.com/ptnotes.htm for a better description of what the rectifier does and what the differences between tube and solid state rectifiers are. For a definition of the different type of effects loops, go here.

If you don’t want to deal with tubes just yet, there are many solid state amplifiers available. They can sound great, and you don’t have to worry about maintenance. Digital effects such as delay, echo, flange, chorus. phaser, etc., are commonly found on today’s intermediate amplifiers. Some even digitally model tube tone. I have used them, and they are not bad for the money, especially with the effects that they have. Some even have wah available with the addition of a dedicated floor controller. Great for gigging.

Here a few suggestions and places to look for Your tone:

  • Marshall DSL 401-Great for that classic marshall tone.
  • Peavey Classic, Delta Blues and Ultra-Excellent bargains.
  • Peavey Bandit-My fave for solid state.
  • Line 6-Great for the gigging guitarist that needs a range of tone.
  • Johnson-Digitech’s modeling amps. Again, great for the gigging player.
  • Fender Hot Rod series-excellent choice for the more mellow player.
  • Waller-This is a new amplifier company. All solid state designs, but have a very nice feel and tone to them.

I’m sure I have left quite a few amplifiers out. But the rules are the same: power, tone, and features are the things you need to consider.

At the moment, I am running a Peavey VTM-60 head into an Electro-Voice loaded 4×12 speaker cabinet (heavy!!). This is for my normal distortion sound. I heard one a few years back and just had to have one. It is a one trick pony, though, so I have to use other amps for different sounds. For my clean tones and a super heavy sound, I use an Ampeg SS-140C. This was the second amplifier I ever owned (not this particular one, however). Great clean tone, and a brutal distortion when set up right. I run this into the power amp of the VTM. This is quite a bit of stuff to haul around and it isn’t easy to switch them back and forth without alot of noise. My next amplifier purchase will probably be one of the modeling amplifiers. I need a greater range of tones that are easily accessible, especially for gig type situations.

Decisions and compromises will also have to be made with how you achieve your tone. One amplifier will usually not do it all (the modeling amps can come close). What is more important to your sound? Distortion or clean type tones? Would your rather purchase an amp with a great clean tone and use a pedal for distortion effects? Accept the fact that your amp doesn’t have a good clean channel and deal with it? This all comes down to the specific uses your amplifier will have to address. It is a case by case scenario.

Choosing an intermediate amplifier, be it your 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th one, can be difficult. Greater playing diversity, maturing ear, tube or solid state, more power, etc. all become factors. Take your time and remember, purchase what you want and listen to your ears!!!

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Jeremy Ledford also wrote Beginning the Quest for Tone Part 1 – How To Buy A Guitar Amp.