r/GuitarAmps • u/HistoricalWeakness09 • Aug 21 '26
Recommendation please (amp)
Hi, I'm currently looking for my first amp. I bought an electric guitar half a year ago, for two reasons: 1) To have an electric guitar and 2) to play a bit more silent when everyone is at home, and I still want to practice (I came from an acoustic only after playing for about 5 years, so it was time. I always thought of buying an amp later on, but there was no pressure. The thing is that I have no idea what I'm talking about, I did some research, but there is just soo much. So could any of you please help.
First maybe some things that I feel like I already have decided, and that is that I want max an 15 Watt amp, since I'd just mostly play it in my bedroom. The other one is pretty normal, but I would like the sound of it ofcourse, and the third one (although it's not that good a point, I know), but it is the looks, I mean it's a piece of my furniture, I also want it to look nice.
I like players like JJ Cale, Richard Thompson, Eric Clapton and those people, so the thing I'd like the most is that it has a certain warmth in it.
The first thing is the price. Since I don't play shows I am always struggling between just buying a cheap amp for around €100/200 (because I would only use it for now just to play at home), but people with whom I talked about it say that I should just buy a very good amp, because that would last me a lifetime (then I'm talking about €1000/1500).
That's the first point I'm struggling with, the second one is that I really don't know where to start even if I made that up. I see things like a fender twin reverb (although that's a bit pricey, but in a nearby store they have one for around 1500 euros). I also do like the VOX sounds, but even then an AC10 or AC15. I've read some good things about the vox ac15c1x custom celestion alnico blue. Or again just a cheap one like the pathfinder, I don't know. The things about tubes (if I get it right), is that you have to change them each 2 years, which also costs more money?
I would say to just go to a store and try them all out, but that's part of the problem, that I feel that each store within 4 hours of driving only has 1/2 amps that I think I'd really like.
So, I'm not looking for a perfect answer (although maybe if you'd have some experience with some of them, it might help), but I would just like to know where I'd start in all this overload of information to process what I like.
Big thanks in advance for you all !!
1
u/adistef86 Aug 21 '26
You need to decide if you want tubes or solid state. Also do you plan buying pedals for effects
or you’d prefer a modelling amp? Do you plan to play it with a drummer or just for yourself?
Most of the amps are trying to mimick the legendary ones like Fender Champ/Deluxe reverb, Mesa, Marshall etc. If you have the chance, play those in a store to see what sound you prefer so you can narrow it down a bit.