Have you been in the market to buy a new amp but really finding it hard to figure out what size you need? Whether you choose small practice amps right up to a full Marshall stack depends on a lot of different factors. Size, price, and tone are some of the things you need to consider.
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Two Ways To Define “Size” In Guitar Amp Terms
In the world of guitar amplifiers, the term “size” can take a couple different meanings:
- wattage – How many watts an amp has. It will be different if it is a tube amp or solid state.
- physical size – basically how large or small, light or heavy it is.
Do when you are thinking about the size of your amp, you have to think about both of these aspects above.
Number of Watts The Amp Produces
The size of the amp is important because it dictates how many watts an amp can produce. For example, a 100 watt amp will be louder and have a larger speaker than a 15 watt amp. If you are playing with other musicians, it will also determine the level of volume. A 100 watt tube amp will be more suitable if you are playing in a large band.
Physical Size Of An Amplifier
The reason that size may be one of the first things to consider is that you don’t want your amp to be too big. You want it to be portable enough for storage in a small home or apartment. Some people don’t mind having a very large amp but if you’re living in a place where space is limited, then it makes sense to get something that can easily fit in a closet or under your bed when not in use.
What Is A Good Size Amp? Well…Factors To Consider
How big is the room you are playing in?
A loud amp can be very good for a large room, while a small amp may do better in a smaller room. An average size of an amplifier is about 15 watts, and there are also amps that are much larger and stronger. Some amps are even capable of producing 100 watts or more. When you are deciding on the size, size of your room is only one factor to consider.
Another important factor to consider is how much you will be using your amp. If you plan on playing in a small classroom where the volume must remain at a low level, you may be better off with a smaller amp because it will produce less noise than a larger amp.
Are you practicing by yourself or with a full band?
Are you practicing with a full band or, like most musicians, just by yourself? This is going to have a huge impact on what size amp you choose. This means that it is also a good time to think about the future, and whether you want to play any gigs in the near future. If you are thinking about a band ask your friends and other musicians if they play in a band. Asking around is often a good way of finding out the size of an amp that you would need to play with them.
What is your budget?
Another question to answer when choosing the right amp size is your budget. How much money do you have? Are you planning to spend a lot of money on an amp? Or are you planning to buy the cheapest for your electric guitar, acoustic guitars or acoustic electric – one that you can find at a local music store? Or are you planning to go somewhere in between these two options.
The price of an amp will usually be determined by the size of the amp. If you want a really small one then it might cost more than if it was bigger.
Other Considerations
Another important consideration is what kind of sound you are trying to achieve. Amp size can have quite an impact on this. If you want clear, crisp tones, then a smaller amp with less features may be better. However, if you want an overdrive and distortion sound for hard rock and metal music, a larger amp with mid-range or bass response will be ideal.