A
guitar amplifier (or guitar amp) is an electronic amplifier designed
to make the signal of an electric or acoustic guitar louder. It will
produce sound through a loudspeaker and modify the tone by emphasizing
or de-emphasizing certain frequencies and adding electronic effects.
The amplifier comprises a preamplifier stage, which amplifies the voltage
of the signal from the guitar, and a power amplifier stage which delivers
a higher current to the speaker to produce sound.
The preamplifier stage may also have electronic effects
such as distortion, chorus, or reverb and additional controls such as
a graphic equalizer. Guitar Amplifiers may use tubes, or solid state
devices, or a mixture of both. There are two configurations of guitar
amplifiers: combination amplifiers, which include an amplifier and one,
two, or four speakers in a wooden cabinet; and the standalone amplifier,
which does not include a speaker.
Guitar amplifiers range in price and quality from small,
low-powered practice amplifiers, designed for students, which sell for
less than US$50, to expensive "boutique" amplifiers which
are custom-made for professional musicians and can cost thousands of
dollars. Guitar Amplifier makes the sound of a guitar louder. This can
even hide mistakes from time to time.