Our collection of amplifiers from leading manufacturers like Boss and Roland, ensures that whether you’re practicing at home, or performing to large audiences, you’ll have a carefully balanced and crisp sound. We offer sophisticated options to bring your music to life and guarantee every note is heard.
FAQs
Do amps make music sound better?
Yes, an amp does so much more than just make your music louder. It balances different sonic frequencies, adds depth, and helps bring out the little nuances of your instrument’s voice. Whether you're playing an electric guitar, bass, or an electric drum kit, a good amplifier can transform a basic sound into a rich, professional-quality tone.
And that's just for clean amps! Electric guitarists in particular love to push their amps into signal breakup, using either the gain (input level) control of their amps, effects pedals, or a combination of the two. This can open up a whole new world of sonic options from soulful, expressive overdrive to searing, high-octane distortion.
In short, it’s not just about volume - amps enhance the overall character of your music so that every note sounds amazing.
How many watts do I need for an amplifier?
The number of watts you need will depend on where and how you'll be using your amplifier. While volume and wattage are not directly correlated 1-to-1, in general a higher wattage amp will be louder and have more 'headroom', meaning it can be turned up higher before distorting.
For home practice or bedroom musicians, a lower-powered amp between 10-30 watts should be perfect; it'll give you great sound without disturbing the neighbours. If you're playing small gigs in intimate venues, you might want something in the 30-50 watt range. Professional musicians performing in larger venues or with bands will likely want an amplifier with 100 watts or more to make sure their sound cuts through and reaches the entire audience, though with modern sound systems you can use a lower wattage amp even for the largest stages.
If you want something that you can turn up when you need to, but still practice with quietly, some higher wattage amps such as those in the Boss Katana series have built-in attenuators! This feature can lower your amp's output wattage just before sending the signal to your speakers, allowing you to play at a reasonable volume while retaining your overall tone.
Which amplifier should I choose?
If you’re struggling to make your decision from our wide collection, have a read through the different types of amps and their key features below:
Electric Guitar Amplifiers
Amplifiers are an essential for electric guitars; whilst you can practice on an unamplified electric guitar, an amp lets you get the most out of your playing and creates that distinct twang. They work by converting the electrical current from the strings into sound, and come in a variety of types including tube, solid-state and hybrid.
Bass Guitar Amps
Bass amps are tailored for low frequencies and require greater power output to reproduce the depth of bass notes. They focus on clean sound reproduction with options for tone shaping - from deep warmth to gritty distortion. Bass guitar amplifiers also typically feature larger speakers for a more enhanced bass response.
Acoustic Guitar Amplifiers
Acoustic amps are designed to amplify the natural tone of an acoustic guitar without adding distortion. They often include multiple inputs for microphones, built-in EQ, and effects like reverb to enhance sound. These amps prioritise clarity, making them great for singer-songwriters performing in small venues.
Digital Drum Amplifiers
Digital drum amps are made to handle the wide dynamic range of electronic drums, balancing low frequencies for bass and crisp highs for cymbals. For practice, lower-wattage amps will be suitable, but higher-wattage options with broad sound coverage are ideal for gigs.
Keyboard Amplifiers
These amps are designed to accurately reproduce a keyboard’s sound across a wide frequency range. Many double as mini-PA systems, with inputs for microphones and multiple channels. The larger models offer more wattage and clarity, so are ideal for live performances. Our sister company, Rimmers Music, specialises in pianos and keyboard instruments, and they have a great range of keyboard amplifiers available!
Multi-purpose Amplifiers
These amps are super versatile, catering to musicians who use multiple instruments. Multi-purpose amps have customisable input channels, so can sound great for guitars, microphones, keyboards, and more - all in one compact and portable unit.