GuitarWolf Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 what parts r better than others?, are their things that you should look for in each amp? YtseJam your Majesty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtrmac Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 The first thing to look for is tubes. IMO ONLY an all-tube amp will produce the sounds that most guitarists are looking for. The only possible exception would be for a Jazz guitarist who is looking for a super clean sound. Sometimes these players are happy with solid state amps. Personally I prefer all-tube amps best even for this sound though. All tube amps from Fender, Marshall, Vox, Matchless, Boogie etc. seem to be the most popular and there is probably good reason for this: they sound good. Given that you have a good tube amp the particular brand of tube and the brand and model of speakers will also become important. Myles Rose has posted a lot of information on this board about tube selection and as far as speakers go Celestion and Jensen or Weber VST are good choices. Mac Bowne G-Clef Acoustics Ltd. Osaka, Japan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickerman Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 Simply put, what sounds good to my ear. Then, I ask around and try to find out about reliablity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 Look and see if it says Mesa or Boogie or Fender or Marshall on it. Chances are if it does it's a good amp. -David http://www.garageband.com/artist/MichaelangelosMuse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 what parts r better than others?, Aside from sound, a lot of what distinguishes a "good" amp from a "bad" one is inside. Here are some things to look for: -Are the tubes mounted to the chassis or directly to a circuit board? The amp will be tougher if they're mounted to the chassis. -What are the tube sockets made of? Ceramic is better than plastic. -If the amp has a circuit board, how well put together is it? A really thin board with a lot of tiny components on it is not a good thing. It's a guitar amp, not a computer. How is the circuit board mounted to the chassis? It should be shock mounted in some manner. -How neatly laid out is the wiring? The inside of the chassis should be neat without a jumble of wiring. Wires should be as short as possible. -How is the soldering? Solder joints should be neat and uniform and STRONG. -What is the cabinet made of? Solid hardwood or plywood is preferable to particle board. Guitar amps need to be able to take a lot of abuse. What's easiest and cheapest to manufacture isn't usually what works best. Basically, the parts should all look tough. Next time you are at a store that carries them, take a look at how a Mesa/Boogie is put together. Then take a look at a Crate or a cheaper Peavey. The differences will be drastic (and so will the price). The ultimate amp in terms of build quality is an older Hiwatt. Those were built to British Military spec. and are indestructable. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 Heh... yeah, Hiwatts are great that way. Old Ampegs are indestructible too. I've had mine since 1979 (it was made circa 1969) and I've had it fall out the back of a van and a block down the road, and I picked it up, brought it to the gig, plugged it in and it still worked. Plus, it's the best sounding amp I've ever owned. Why Ampegs and Hiwatts are not as hallowed to most guitarists as Fender, Marshall, et al is beyond me, but that's fine because it means the vintage ones haven't risen ridiculously in price. --Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodsgtr Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 I have an old Music Man 112RD that kicks a$$ and so far it seems indistructable. They're not out of sight in price either, yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franknputer Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 Originally posted by Wickerman: Simply put, what sounds good to my ear. Then, I ask around and try to find out about reliablity.Wickerman's got it! Whatever makes the hairs on your neck stand up is the one (unless, of course, you have a grounding problem ). Tubes are great, but they have to be set up right or they can sound like crap, too. And solid state doesn't automatically equal crap - I had an awesome setup once with a SansAmp and a Fender M80 (a solid-state cheapo amp - had a great clean sound & a hideously crappy distortion - but that was what the SansAmp was for). This thru a 4x12 cab could absolutely kill. Also, Lee makes a good point (accidentally... ) Just because an amp says Fender (or doesn't) doesn't automatically make it great (or crap). Sure, they are well-reknowned for good reason, but Fender & Marshall have their crap amps too; conversely, other companies made some great amps, even if they didn't get famous doing it. I had a '60s Gibson tube amp once which was a great little rig, and dirt-cheap compared to a Fender of the same era. So, trust your ears - if they're happy, you'll be happy. And when you're happy, you'll play better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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