Do I have to use the same brand of guitar amp head and cab?

No, not at all! Just mix and match for your perfect set up. All connections are via quarter inch jack so there are no compatibility problems from brand to brand.

What is the most popular valve guitar head?

This actually changes frequently but one of the most consistently popular amps is the 'lunchbox' sized Orange Dark Terror. Its monster-sized gain and beefy low end are most surprising given its compact size.

What does the Kemper modelling amp head do when it 'profiles' an amp?

Well, that involves a lengthy response to answer properly but in short, the Kemper is able to 'scan' all of the physical properties of any given amp and reproduce them virtually. It isn't just a matter of sampling a sound, but rather involves recreating all of the characteristics and subtleties of the physical performance of each amp it profiles. You can then save collections of these and have basically the world's greatest amp collection all stored in one handy device, ready to use. These results are unbelievable...you really need to experience one to believe it! We think ALL guitarists could benefit greatly from looking into this game-changing technology.

I really want a classic, all tube head for playing blues and rock. I don't want anything too heavy, sound-wise, just great vintage lead and rhythm tones. What should I be looking at?

This is one of the most hotly contested areas for amplifier manufacturers. That vintage, classic rock tone with more than a hint of 'plexi' and 'British Invasion' combined with the 'Texas' sound...we all want it! It is worth trying out a lot of amps with your favourite guitar but we have a few superb suggestions to start you off. Each of these has its own take on classic tube tone and all deserve your undivided attention: Suhr Badger 35, Mesa/Boogie Fillmore FL-50, Friedman Mini Dirty Shirley, Bogner Shiva EL34.

I play metal and want a valve head for gigging and recording. What should I be looking at?

We stock some of the best, most iconic metal/high-gain amp heads in existence! Each has its own unique sound and tonal properties but we would definitely invite you to try the following: EVH 5150 III 50w EL34 model, Orange Brent Hinds or Jim Root Terror heads, and Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head. There are of course many other options but these three offer three distinct tonalities of 'heavy' as well as three different price points and therefore they are good way-markers in your search.

What is the deal with impedance and ohmage etc? I've heard you can blow up amps if you get it wrong!

The physics behind impedance and ohmage goes a little beyond the scope of this Q+A but the way to keep it simple is this: keep the numbers the same. For example, if your amp head has a switchable impedance of 4, 8 or 16 ohms and your cabinet says 16 ohms on the back, just select 16 ohms on your amp and connect with full confidence! This is really the only way you'll get the amp to sound as it was intended to by the designers and that's kind of the whole point, isn't it? If the numbers are impossible to match (say the amp is only 16 ohms and the cab is only 4 ohms which is rather unlikely but warrants sharing regardless), we would recommend not connecting the two. Perhaps find a more suitable component, be it amp head or speaker cab. If in doubt, consult your manual, contact the manufacturer or ask us!