My son is learning how to play the guitar and would like to know what type ampli

Question:

My son is learning how to play the guitar and would like to know what type amplifier he should get?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: No disrespect to my colleague above, but I have a couple of thoughts to add. If you are purchasing an amplifier to use at home, a headphone jack is a lovely thing to have for those late nights when we want to practice and everyone else wants to sleep.

The other thing about amplifiers is the fallacy that only huge amplifiers get any kind of a decent sound. More and more, performers are using smaller amplifiers on stage, lined out to the public address system where the sound gets cranked out to the audience. This is very much in line with the recommendations above. The one thing you need to protect above all else is your ears. You cannot stand high levels of sound for more than about ten minutes without killing the cilia (tiny hairs) that hear each individual pitch. You really don't need more than 50 - 100 watts RMS (not peak to peak) unless you are playing a stadium. The amplifier should be used more as a monitor on stage - something for you to hear and set up the basic sound, which the sound person will then shape for the room.

More and more, people are plugging guitars directly into their computers, through USB cables, or even quarter inch plugs by using an adaptor and plug in directly into the sound card through the line in. Your son may want to look into this since he can use an audio editor like Audacity or Fatrock studio, to record himself. There are a number of programs that will not only allow him to play through the computer, but even tutor him, if he has the right software. I'm an old dinosaur, but several of my students have created entire albums using a virtual recorder, a large hard drive, and virtual effects. The headphone option is available through the computer as well, and your son can make an audio log of his progress. Just a couple of things to think about. Thanks for your time.