Electric Guitar Amps
While there are a wide variety of guitars out there with numerous variations of pickups and woods, there are basically three types of guitar amps:

Tube or Valve Amplifiers: original amps used since the dawn of electric guitars. Tube amps, by the nature of their technology, introduce a warm distortion to the sound that is pleasing to most guitarists.

Solid State Amplifiers: Solid-state amps use transistors for their preamp and power section. They require little or no maintenance, are lighter to transport and produce a very clean tone.

Hybrid Amps: These amps usually combine a tube preamp with solid-state power section to provide the warmth and "musicality" of tubes with the durability and lightweight of solid-state. There are some manufacturers which combine both tubes and solid-state technology in the power amp itself. Hybrids have been very effective in bridging the gap between solid-state and tube amplifiers.


Acoustic Guitar Amps
Acoustic-Electric amplifiers are a relatively new breed. With the continued popularity of acoustic guitars with built in pick up systems, manufacturers have stepped up to the plate and developed amplifiers aimed at reproducing the frequencies of the acoustic guitar. The sonic limitations inherent in a traditional tube amp create tonal characteristics that make it perfect for the electric guitar, but when it comes to the acoustic, it just doesnít cut it.

Acoustic amps are usually solid-state "combos". Combos are amplifiers that combine the speaker and the amplifier in one box. These amps come in two different styles: open back and closed or sealed back, with the closed back producing more low-end than an open back.

Acoustic amps incorporate a high-frequency driver, also known as a "tweeter", to deliver the crisp high-end frequencies that aren't quite as present with a cone speaker. Larger Acoustic amps often have multiple sizes of speakers (not unlike PA enclosures) to deliver a full-range of crystal clear sound. Many larger Acoustic amps double as a small PA.

With low-impedance inputs for vocal mics and built in digital effects that enhance vocals, these are often fine for small coffee house or bookstore type of gigs. When the venue is bigger and noisier, it would be best to go with a more traditional PA system and use the amp as a personal monitor.