How many watts
should my amp have?
How thick is the
wood cabinet?
What quality and what size of speaker is used?
Are there corner protectors?
What controls are on the panel?
Is the cabinet enclosed?
Can I play along with my favorite CD's?
How many channels are on the amp?
How does the amp look?
How long is the warranty?
What about price?
How many watts
should my guitar amp have?
25 watts is an ideal amount of power for most
guitar players. Anything less than 25 watts probably wont be loud
enough to get the true sound out of your guitar. Anything
over 25 watts will cost you more money, and unless you you are
regularly performing for large crowds, it is a waste of money.
TGX-MS25
Guitar Amps: 25 watts
How thick is the
wood cabinet?
The thickness of
wood used to construct the cabinet (or housing) is a major factor
in determining the quality of sound
produced by guitar amps. Solid wood construction allows a
guitar amp to resonate a much more powerful sound than guitar
amps that use a flimsy, thinner wood. Also, the thinner
the wood used, the more likely the
speaker will have a vibrate itself loose. You want a
thickness of at least 1/2'' thick to achieve a strong sound
and to keep the speaker in place.
TGX-MS25
Guitar Amps: 5/8" solid-wood cabinet
What quality and
what size of speaker is used?
The type of speaker
used in the guitar amp is also crucial to the quality of sound
produced. The speaker should be of at least 8
inches in size to achieve a high-quality sound. Also, the speaker
should be securely fastened to the cabinet so it
will not vibrate loose.
TGX-MS25
Guitar Amps: 8-inch high-definition speaker
Are there
high-quality corner protectors?
If you plan on
moving your guitar amp around, it is critical that it has thick,
oversized
corner protectors. When moved around, guitar amps get banged around,
so good corner protectors will add to the
life of the guitar amp.
TGX-MS25
Guitar Amps:
Thick, oversized corner protectors
What
controls
are on the panel?
To begin with,
the control panel should be recessed behind the front corners,
protecting it from damage in the event that it is bumped, or
falls forward. An amp with a recessed control
panel is very nice to prevent handles breaking when they are
bumped.
In addition to a
recessed control panel, guitar amps should have the
following control features:
3-band
equalizer with adjustments for Treble Middle, and Bass. A
3-band equalizer will allow you to find the exact sound you
are looking for.
 Input/Output
Jacks. Input
and output jacks are needed in order to hook
up a microphone to the guitar amp.
2 channels. Guitar
amps with multiple channels allow you to play different
types of music. Examples include a clean sound or a sound with
a
little distortion added.
See
the TGX-MS25 Control Panel
How many
channels does the amp have?
Guitar amps with
more than one channel will allow you to play multiple styles
of music.
TGX-MS25
Guitar Amps: 2 channels
Is the amp
good looking?
Since you may play
in front of others, then you may want to make sure the guitar amp
you buy is attractive. It is also beneficial if there are exterior
cover choices.
TGX-MS25
Guitar Amps: Black, plush velour (a soft,
cloth-like material) and black leather grain telex exterior cover
options
What kind of
warranty and guarantees are offered?
Warranty.
Many manufacturers do not offer any type of warranty, which
places all the risk of receiving a faulty or defective unit on
the buyer. You should insist on at least a one-year warranty.
Guarantee.
You never know exactly how an amp will sound until you have it in
your possession, so a strong money-back guarantee is almost a
necessity. You may want to avoid guitar amps that are saddled with
restocking fees in the event you decide to return for a refund.
TGX-MS25
Guitar Amps: 1-year warranty; 90-day money-back guarantee (no
restocking fees)
What about
price?
Price is a very
important factor when buying guitar amps. Well-made and/or
brand-name guitar amps are
notorious for being steeply priced. The power,
size, and brand name are the main determining factors guitar
amp prices. In which case, there is opportunity to find high
quality, well-designed guitar amps for an affordable price,
but lacking one of the better-known brand names.
TGX-MS25
Guitar Amps: $149
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