Olli's starting aid

Your first combo electric guitar amp

As a beginner, choosing the right electric guitar amplifier can be difficult. In our guides video Olli's starting aid we want to help you make the right purchase decision and clarify what is important in an electric guitar amplifier . Since price often plays an important role, we will focus here on the different types of amplifier in combo form .
Combos are electric guitar amplifiers and guitar boxes in a handy and transportable enclosure . They are all-in-one solutions and, depending on the type , offer many connection options and effects .

If you want to start playing the electric guitar , you will need an amplifier in addition to your guitar . There are two categories of amplifiers, amplifier tops and a separately available amplifier box (cabin for cabinet) and amplifier combos that combine both in one enclosure .

When it comes to the type of amplification, a distinction is made between three variants : tube amp, digital modeling amp and transistor amp .

Tube amplifier

Tube amplifier are considered the non-plus-ultra . What makes a typical tube amp?

Advantages:

classic amplifier- type from rock 'n' roll history
Unmistakable analog sound through the built-in tubes
6L6 tubes for a clean and funky (Fender) sound
EL34 tubes for rocky, distorted (marshal) sounds
Simple EQ, mostly distortion (gain), master volume, bass, mids and treble
first choice for purists

Disadvantages:

The beautiful, fat and saturated sounds only come into their own at high volumes
just a sound characteristic
usually more expensive and heavier than modeling and transistor amplifier
no effects (if so, then usually just reverb and/or tremolo)
no storage option

Tip: If you want clean, acoustic and clear sounds with a tube amplifier , select a lower value for the distortion ( gain) and regulate the overall volume of your amplifier via the master volume.
If you're looking for a rock or metal sound, you'll probably be happier with a more distorted sound .