Looking for the best tube amp for home use, or a huge stack for stadium shows? Let us be your guide
When shopping for the perfect guitar amp, you are probably asking the question, “What size amp do I need?” Like many questions in the world of guitar, the answer isn’t always a simple one, and it depends on the environment in which you’ll be doing most of your playing, how much clean headroom you need, whether your amp has a master volume or power scaling, and plenty more besides. Fortunately, the Gibson Gear Guide is here to help you make the right choice with our 25, 50, and 100-watt amplifier buyer’s guide.
In this amp comparison video, Dinesh Lekhraj explains that the best tube amps for home studio or bedroom use are usually rated at 25 watts or less. A tube amplifier with a smaller power stage will start to deliver some of the characteristics that players love—such as natural compression, harmonic bloom, power-amp saturation, and breakup tones—without overwhelming the room or alienating your neighbors. It’ll also be ideal for smaller gigs and rehearsals and probably cope with larger gigs when miked up as long as you don’t need a great deal of clean headroom and aren’t trying to compete with a heavy-handed drummer.
For louder scenarios such as heavier rock bands, gigs in medium-sized venues, or rehearsals with larger ensembles featuring horn sections, stepping up to a 50-watt amplifier will provide an increase in volume and a substantial increase in headroom—something that’s also a boon for players who use a lot of effects on their pedalboard. 50-watt amplifiers sit in the Goldilocks zone for many players, providing the perfect balance of power and versatility. You also won’t have to worry about that heavy-handed drummer anymore as your guitar tone cuts through the mix with ease.
Because the relationship between wattage and volume is non-linear, you’ll probably find that a 100-watt amplifier isn’t that much louder than a 50-watt amp. It’s certainly not double the volume. But what it does give you is a little more of everything for those huge outdoor shows when there’s no substitute for the power, punch, thunderous bass response, and high-end presence of a 100-watt amplifier. More is more, right?
But remember, more power doesn’t always equate to a better sound. The key to finding the right amp wattage for you is understanding your specific needs and how they dovetail with the products available. Whether you are pondering, “What wattage amp do I need?” or “How big of an amp do I need?” you need to consider your playing style, genre, desired tone, headroom requirements, potential volume limitations … and also the sheer physical weight of the thing. After all, you’ll have to load in and out of venues and rehearsal rooms until the point when you are successful enough to pay someone else to carry it for you.
