2. amps-preamps
  3. 1072127856

Guitar Amps versus Monoblocs?

I admit I am not a well-informed audiophile, but I do have familiarity with guitar amps, so could someone please explain the difference between a preamp + tube-monobloc and a high-end guitar amp (say an EL-34 based)? I am particularly interested in understanding:
(1) differences in design philosophy of the preamp and amplifier stages
(2) differences in components and component selection for each type of amp and each stage
(3) the difference in price

Just an explanation of the last item, a vintage Marshall, Vox, or Fender guitar amplifier runs between $2K-$4K. A high-end modern day tube guitar amp built with the finest components, runs about the same: $2000 - $3500. The most coveted vintage and modern tube amps run a tube-based preamp and amplifer stages with a tube rectifier.

High end audio preamps + amp can run run many times that price. Why the difference?
jeffb0a5

Showing 2 responses by jeffb0a5

jeffb0a5 OP
2 posts
 
Thank you for those excellent responses. I appreciate the insights by those who understand the principles behind both types of amps (audio and guitar). It is also interesting to read your explanation of the different guitar amp design philosophies.

Best Wishes for the Holidays!
jeffb0a5 OP
2 posts
 
Indeed - distortion can be a good thing in guitar amps and a bad thing in audio amps. Distorion in a guitar amp can come from the preamp stage or the power stage or some combination of both. That said, there are also some very fine guitar amps with lots of headroom and I wonder about the similarities between these amps and the audiophile amp.

I take it no one is buying guitar amps of any type and using them for their audio systems.

Thanks for the info and references - they are very useful.
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