https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/power-amps/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Fri, 05 Jun 2026 02:45:55 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/power-amps/#post-77921 Wed, 01 Dec 2004 22:08:27 +0000
The Preamp and Power amp are sections of a standard amplifier head or the amplifier section of a combo that boost the signal of you guitar.

On a typical multi-channel amplifier, when you adjust your channel volume, you are increasing your preamp volume, and when you adjust your master volume, you're increasing your power amp volume.

Each of the sections is responsible for different parts of the tone. Overdriven preamp sounds are what we typically think of as distortion, overdrive, or fuzz, while a hard driven power amp section lends a more spongy quality to the way the notes come through. The drivers (speakers) lend their own sonic nuances to the tone, but that's another story all together.

It also bears noting that some guitars have built in pre-amps, these guitars and basses are typically referred to as "active". This preamping does not change the way the amplifier's preamp functions, though similar settings may produce different sounds as a result of the enhanced signal.]]> Guitar Players Discussion undercat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/power-amps/#post-77921 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/power-amps/#post-5266 Wed, 01 Dec 2004 20:18:30 +0000 And whoever responds to this.
what's one of the best power amps?
OH..and what's the difference between a Preamp and a Power amp?]]> Guitar Players Discussion Marshallsw https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/power-amps/#post-5266