Since the invention of the amplified guitar in the mid-1920's, crowds and playing halls have grown to gargantuan size. Naturally this necessitated a parallel growth in amplification. Charlie Christian would, no doubt, have taken up the harp if he had known what lay ahead for amplified guitar. Yes, even Thor would turn tail and run if he suddenly found himself in the third row of a Led Zeppelin concert. The selection of amps now on the market ranges from tiny, portable battery operated models the size of a KUNG FU lunchbox to the monstrous AMPEG SVT (300 watts RMS). This month, I want to review some of the better brands, including the rigs of some of your favorite stars.

Starting alphabetically, we come to AMPEG [Box 310, Elkhardt, IN 46514]—always at the head of the class. Gutsy, rugged, with power to spare, these amps have always had the right sound. AMPEG pioneered the first amplified bass, and their bass rigs reflect the added experience. The SVT is 300 watts of fan cooled, punchin' power available with one or two cabinets (8-10" speakers in each). This rig sounds like a sock hop for dinosaurs when used for bass and doubles as an ear-splitting guitar amp. Johnny Winter, The Rolling Stones, and Black Oak Arkansas all swear by this amp. A superb solid-state bass amp is the new V-6B, rated at 240 watts RMS, with 2-15" speakers. The portable B-15 has been the standard studio bass amp for over a decade. The AMPEG guitar amps are well known for their throaty raw midrange sound. The V-4 and V-2 (100 and 60 watts RMS respectively) are matched with four or eight 12" speakers. The VT-40 is a self contained model of the V-2, with four 10" speakers. By the way, all AMPEG amps are rated conservatively, which means power to spare. Other noteworthy features of the AMPEG line include shock mounting for the heads, two 8" steel ribs in the chassis for added protection, and a variable mid-range control.