Everything You Need To Know About Buying Your First Guitar Amp!

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In the spirit of the Back To School season, legendary YouTube guitar tutor JustinGuitar stopped by to chat about choosing the best gear for beginners. In part 2, the gang explore some of the best entry-level guitar amps on the market from EastCoast, Fender, Blackstar and Boss. Check it out and let us know whatcha think!

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[kevkeelan]

Great to see Justin here, the man is a national treasure.

[trfgod]

I’ve played guitar for 20 years and own lots of expensive equipment but I’m still sitting here watching and enjoying this video 😂

[brucepiland]

I love my Katana. Seriously, I can’t believe the sounds. Crazy value.

[James-zylh]

I bought the Fender Champion after giving it a go at a local guitar shop. It sounds great and is a lot of bang for your buck. I use it as a living room/practice amp. Gets loud enough for a jam with another guitarist and bassist and could even be used on a coffee shop gig. The amp models sound really good, and the effects get the point across well enough.

[theverseshed]

One problem with amps that have an overload of FX, options etc. is that young players can spend too much time fiddling and messing - just like with keyboards that have a zillion rhythm and keyboard types as standard. The Blackstar sounds excellent, but for me it's the Fender 20 that wins out. It's less complex, has a good but not overblown range of options and FX and sounds good. Justin was also right about the bass response of the Fender having more fullness. I have had the Fender for some time now and love it. Purely as a personal preference, I prefer amps where all the controls face forwards rather than being on top.

[alphajames]

I think the dog is the best purchase of all these equipment. He makes sounds on its own. Plus it doesn't run on electricity. Best buy right there!

[alexdenton]

Most of those who play guitar don't have much money and that was my case for many years so my advice would be to all those young (or not so young) who start playing guitar to start modeling on computer

You will always have a lot of snobs to tell you that you have to buy a tube amp etc. but the reality is that computer simulators work very well nowadays, it's not like when I started playing guitar more than 10 years ago

I take for example Bias FX from Positiv Grid that I use regularly

For the equivalent of 200 $ (depending on the software you take it varies) you have access to all pedals you may need and all amps including the same guitar simulator which allows you to play even with a cheap guitar

It's even suitable for beginners because even if you don't know how to use this kind of software most of them offer ready-made presets according to the music you are interested in playing

And don't listen to the snobes in music, the important thing is that your audience connects to what you do and that you have fun, the rest is irrelevant

[jameslewis]

That Blackstar ID core sounds so much better than the Fender for similar money it is amazing. Well worth the extra £20 on the cost. Yes, the Fender had more bass but it was also very muddy for the treble side of things. Of course the Katana sounds better than the others but you would expect that for it having a 12 inch speaker.

[Tehstroyer]

4:40 - "and it is 50 quid. That's the same price as the FIFA on Playstation."

And it has no -surprise mechanics- gambling in it, unlike FIFA!

[MikeNRoll]

Really loving these beginner friendly vids, guys. It's nice to get back to the fundamentals for a refresher course.

[sampauwels]

Absolutly right, the katana 50 is such a good amp for it’s price, I really love it, perfect amp for both beginers and advanced players

[janrandles]

Justin always just amazes me with his playing. I know this is about amps but I love his lessons and listening to him play. I will receive a 20 watt Marshall tomorrow so excited to watch this. For home practice/play only. My first tube amp!!!

[WheresSeamus]

If any beginners are reading this. Buy the Boss Katana.

[billy]

I like it not being mic, ed up, gives you an idea of what they really sound like when you get them home!

[kristianburgess]

I feel like if you are going to go out and buy a budget amp, I think it'd be worth saving up a little extra and getting the Boss Katana. Sounds great for the price!

[AngusNB]

I have the Blackstar ID:Core 20 in my office and two Katana 50s in my music room.
I also have a Yamaha THR10 in the livingroom (wife approved) and a Vox Mini 5 Rhythm.
The most important piece is my Chocolate Labrador dog 🐾. She sings along to the tunes she likes. 😀

[craig]

BOSS Katana 50 is the best non-tube amp value by a long shot. If you spend the money for this amp, whether for beginners or just a practice amp, you won't regret it.

[VGColosseum]

I'm in an apartment and only play for myself right now so I actually picked up the Katana Mini. Not something you could ever play out with, but it does great for what it is! Also it's nice to be able to practice in another room without having to unplug, lug, and replug.

[erikstedman]

Yamaha THR 5, 10 is a personal favourite for the price of them.

[markmcdonald]

I have a IRig micro amp, a ID Core 20 V2, an Orange Crush 12 and a Roland Cube 10GX for practice amps. I think a six inch speaker like the Crush 12 has hits the sweet spot for playing at bedroom levels, it also is all analog with great pick dynamics like my tube amps. My Epiphone LP Special with P-90's sounds great with it.