Buying a guitar amplifier on a budget can be a bit overwhelming. There are so many different brands, wattages and controls to consider. Where do you start? Don’t worry, you don’t need to be an expert on amplifiers to make a smart choice. You just need to ask yourself a few questions before you hand over your money.
How Much Power Do You Really Need?
The first thing you will need to consider is where you’ll actually be using the amp.
You don’t need anything loud if you’re practicing at home alone. An amp that sounds good quietly is worth far more to you than one that will blast your ears. If your intention is to rehearse with other musicians, then that’s a different story. You’ll need enough volume and headroom to be heard over the rest of the band.
It’s tempting to look at the wattage number and assume bigger equals better. It really doesn’t. Wattage matters, sure, but it’s not the whole story. A small, low-powered practice amp will usually do the job beautifully if you’re mostly practicing solo. A bigger amp may give you far more volume than you’ll ever actually use. And there’s no point buying an amp that sounds great when it’s turned up if you’re going to spend most of your time playing at a very low volume.
On the other hand, if you’re jamming with other musicians, you’ll want something with enough volume and headroom to hold its own. Headroom basically means how much louder you can turn the amp up before the clean sound starts to break up or distort.
Wattage also doesn’t tell the whole story about how loud an amp will be. Speaker size and efficiency, the design of the amplifier and the number of speakers can all make a difference.
Think About the Sound You Want
The main question is whether the amp will give you the sound you want.
Two amps can sound very different even with the exact same guitar plugged in. If you’re drawn to clean, chiming tones, look for an amp that does clean well. If you want crunch and grit for rock or metal, you’ll want something with solid overdrive or distortion built in.
And your guitar plays a big part too. Swap guitars on the same amp and the sound can change considerably. The pickups, the guitar itself, the strings and even the way you play all affect what comes out of the speaker. That’s why an amplifier isn’t something you should judge completely on its own.
This is exactly why it pays to test an amp in person before you buy it, rather than judging it off a spec sheet.
What Controls and Features Matter?
You don’t need every knob under the sun. A wall of controls can actually confuse a beginner more than it helps.
At minimum, you want volume and tone. Beyond that, most amps offer bass, mid and treble controls, and many include a gain knob for pushing into overdrive.
One thing that’s worth understanding is that gain and volume aren’t the same thing. Gain controls how strongly the guitar signal drives the amplifier and can be used to create overdrive or distortion. The volume or master volume control then determines how loud the finished sound is.
So you can get an overdriven or distorted sound without having the amp turned up really loud, which is useful when you’re playing at home.
Think about the music you want to play and choose an amp that suits it.
Built-In Effects
A lot of amps these days come loaded with reverb, delay, chorus, and other effects built right in.
These are handy to have, especially early on, because they let you experiment with different effects without having to buy pedals straight away. Some amplifiers also use modelling, which means they can recreate the sounds and characteristics of different types of amplifiers and effects.
For a beginner, a modelling amp can be a useful way of trying out lots of different sounds without having to buy several separate amplifiers or pedals.
You also don’t need an amp with every possible effect built in. A simple amp that sounds good may be a better choice than one with lots of effects that you may never use.
Headphones for Home Practice
If home is where most of your playing happens, check for a headphone output. It’s a small feature that makes a massive difference if you’ve got housemates, sleeping kids, or easily annoyed neighbours. Some amps also let you plug in your phone so you can jam along to your favourite songs.
Try the amp at around the volume you’ll actually use at home. An amp that sounds fantastic when it’s cranked up in a shop may not be the best choice if you’ll spend most of your time playing quietly in your bedroom.
How Much Should You Spend on a Guitar Amplifier?
If you’re looking for a guitar amplifier on a budget, set a budget before you start browsing, and actually stick to it.
There are amps at every price point, and spending more doesn’t guarantee you’ll get something better suited to you. For most beginners, a solid, well-chosen amp beats an expensive one loaded with features you’ll never use.
And don’t forget the rest of the kit. If you’re buying a guitar alongside the amp, you’ll also need a cable, a tuner, a strap, and some picks.
Try It Before You Buy
The most important advice I give my students when they’re shopping for an amp is to try it before buying it.
Specs on paper tell you almost nothing about how an amp will actually feel and sound when you play it. Bring your own guitar if you can. Different guitars behave differently through the same amp, and hearing your own instrument through it tells you far more than reading a spec sheet ever will.
Don’t stress if you’re not sure what to dial in. Play a clean sound, tweak the tone knobs, add a bit of gain, and see what happens. Try turning the gain up while keeping the volume at a sensible level so you can hear the difference between the amount of drive and the overall loudness. If it’s got built-in effects, try those too and get a feel for it.
What About Buying Second-Hand?
If your budget’s tight, second-hand is worth a look. You can often get a better-quality amp for your money. Just check it over carefully first.
Plug a guitar in and run through every control. Listen for crackles, hums, or anything that sounds off. Make sure the inputs work and the speaker sounds clean. If it’s got built-in effects, test those too.
If it’s a modelling amp, try switching between some of the different amp sounds and effects as well. Make sure everything appears to be working properly rather than assuming you can fix it later.
And ask the seller how long they’ve had it and whether anything’s ever gone wrong. Buying privately means there’s no warranty safety net, so make sure you’re genuinely happy before you pay.
A Simple Checklist
Before you buy, run through this:
- Where will I mostly use it?
- How much volume do I actually need?
- Will it sound good at the volume I’ll normally use at home?
- What kind of tone am I chasing?
- Clean, overdrive, or full distortion?
- Do I understand the difference between gain and volume?
- Would built-in effects or modelling be useful to me?
- Do I need a headphone output for quiet practice?
- Does it have the features I’ll actually use, no more, no less?
- Have I tried it with my own guitar?
- Have I compared it against a couple of others?
- Am I happy with what I’m spending?
You don’t need to know everything before you go into the shop. If you’re unsure, ask your teacher or an experienced player. They’ll often spot things you hadn’t thought of.
If you’re learning guitar and would like some guidance, you can find out more about our Sutherland Shire guitar lessons.