When selecting a prized guitar amp, undoubtedly, how the amp sounds is a crucial factor. However, is the number of channels important? Is 1, 2, or 3 channels better?
In this post, I will compare both types of amp and decipher if more channels are better for your rig.
What is the difference between a single channel and dual-channel guitar amp? Single-channel guitar amps have no capabilities to switch to different distortion levels but make great pedal platform amps. In contrast, dual-channel guitar amps include channels for clean, crunch, and high-gain distortion. This allows a player to switch to different tones, making them more versatile.
Single-Channel Guitar Amps – Overview
In essence, single-channel guitar amps are exactly what you would expect.
They are one-channel amplifiers with very few parameters to adjust and rely on both its components (types of tubes, output transformers) and how you dial your volume/gain knobs and EQ settings.
Some of the best, most sought out guitar amps out there are single-channel amps. Some of these Amps are the Vox AC30C2, the Fender Super Reverb, Fender Blues Junior, or the Marshall JTM45/Bluesbreaker.
All have a reputation for having excellent tones that prove to be very adaptable to your needs.
If you are someone looking to spend minimal effort getting pristine John Mayeresque clean tones or blues-driven SRV tones, a single-channel amp might be right for you.
Surely enough, if you are looking to create more complex sounds with a whole lot more detail, a single-channel amp can still do an excellent job.
This is because these types of amps are perfect platforms for you to use pedals and shape your sound that way.
Pros of Single-Channel Amps
For me, there are two main pros you get from a single-channel guitar amp. The first one is simplicity.
In a world where we have digital amplifiers, multiple amp modeling systems, and all types of guitar software, simplicity can be very refreshing.
By just having control over tone and volume/gain knobs and still achieving top-quality sounds, it can significantly help you build confidence and rely more on your actual playing instead of your gadgets.
Having said that, the second pro is the use of pedals. Single-channel amps are often used as pedal platform amps.
This allows you to shape your tone through various distortion, overdrive, and FX pedals.
The great thing about this method is that it lets you build a unique tone since your pedals collection will be very much to your own style and different from everyone else’s.
Cons of Single-Channel Amps
On the other hand, both pros I mentioned can also be considered cons. Firstly, some people can favor the simplicity of having a few parameters to control.
Other people might thrive having everything they need in a more complete amplifier with more channels.
Not having more options and ways of shaping your tone can be a con in single-channel amps.
To this, I add the fact that having only one channel impedes you from changing your sound with relative ease in a live situation.
Of course, you got pedals or a pedalboard to help you with that issue. Keep in mind, players have argued that some pedals can be difficult to step on, especially mini pedals.
No player wants to be standing there tap dancing on stage instead of concentrating on their playing.
Keep in mind, effect pedals can get expensive and, in some cases, very expensive.
If you want to have a unique tone that fulfills your expectations, you might have to spend a large sum of money on a fully geared up pedalboard full of effects.
How to Utilize a Single-Channel Amp
Now, as I mentioned before, single-channel amps are great platforms for pedals. If that is the approach you are looking for, you need to have an understanding of which pedals you need.
The primary pedals include an overdrive/distortion/pedal, a reverb pedal, a delay pedal, and any FX pedals you might specifically want (tremolo, chorus, ring modulator, the list is endless).
Other good pedals to add to your collection that I consider “secondary” pedals are a compressor, a volume pedal, and a wah pedal.
Depending on your setup, your amp would typically stay on a clean setting and utilize distortion/overdrive pedals to switch to a dirt/lead tone.
The majority of your other pedals will usually be ‘set it and forget it pedals’ such as compression, reverb, etc.
On the other hand, players will utilize thier guitar’s volume knob by rolling back the gain and transition to a crunch or clean tone.
Some players like to implement this method instead of tap-dancing with pedals on stage. Whereas, other players feel that fiddling with your volume knobs can distract you from your playing.
If you are looking to lean on your amp’s gain/tone, take a look at an amp attenuator. (We have covered amp attenuators in a previous post here.)
It will allow you to fully explore your tube overdrive without blasting the roof off your bedroom ceiling.
Dual-Channel Amps – Overview
In contrast to single-channel amps, dual-channel amps will have two different channels to change your tone. Multi-channel amps, usually solid-state amplifiers, can go up to four different ones.
Typically, these amps will have one channel devoted to clean tones, while the other one will have overdrive or distortion.
When you move into the realm of 4-channels, you can regulate how much distortion each channel will have and can allow you to have more control over your gain structure.
Furthermore, some clean channels have built-in compression to help improve the transparency and dynamics of your signal.
Lastly, we can take into account that these amps can be solid-state or tube amplifiers. As I mentioned before, tube amplifiers typically have the most organic distortion sounds but cost considerably more than solid-state amps.
However, solid-state amps (such as the Boss Katana) will have tons of built-in effects you could need.
Combined with many channels to play with, It gives you a full swiss army knife of an amp to create any sound with the function of multiple channels to switch to different gain structures.
Pros of a Dual-Channel Amp
Arguably, the main difference in terms of approach between single-channel and dual-channel amps is the necessity for pedals.
With a dual-channel amp, you will most likely have all the overdrive/distortion you would need.
Not to mention you will have some EQ shaping on each channel, giving you more control over your live sound.
The next thing is a dual-channel amp gives you the option to switch from the clean, crunch, and full-blown lead tones with a simple press of a pedal footswitch.
This allows you to fluidly change your gain settings to your requirements in a simple pedalboard provided from the amp.
Furthermore, this allows you to have all of your parameters placed in one single unit, making it easier for you to transport and control. It also drastically cuts down the size of your pedalboard.
Moreover, having pedals can increase the probabilities of encountering a signal-chain problem. Whether it’s a loose wire, a faulty battery, or a broken pedal, the risk is higher.
Finally, as I mentioned before, having a good pedal rig costs a considerable amount of money. It may be that getting a good dual-channel or multi-channel amp can satisfy your needs.
Cons of Dual-Channel Amps
Some of the cons of dual-channel amps revolve around tone shaping and versatility.
The first con you might find is that besides adjusting the volume/gain knobs, there is not much room for exploration on a dual-channel amp.
If you find an amplifier’s tone you like, then it’s not much of a problem. Regardless of this, having different pedal combinations is much more versatile.
Another con is that most dual-channel amps have EQ that affects the whole amp, making it hard to tailor one channel without affecting the other.
Better quality amps have their individual EQ section, but this will also increase their price, making them expensive.
Finally, some people claim the clean channel of a dual-channel amp is of less quality of a single-channel amp.
I believe this is a matter of taste, but it is something to consider, especially if your style favors clean sounding tones.
How to Utilize a Dual-Channel Guitar Amp
The most common setup you can have on a dual-channel amp is a clean and dirty tone.
The dirty channel can vary depending on your favored styles. You can have a slightly overdriven tone for blues-type tones.
Alternatively, you can increase the gain for more classic rock tones or go all the way for more modern rock/metal-type sounds.
When you have an amplifier with 3-4 channels, you can have more versatility.
You could potentially have a clean channel, an overdriven channel for light rock/ bluesy composing, and a final distorted channel for heavy riffs and soloing.
Bear in mind that having individual EQ channels is a great addition to shape each tone to its optimal setup.
Lastly, remember that guitar pedals are not exclusive to single-channel amps. Having a pedal boost your tone or add some FX can give you a much more unique sound.
Single vs. Dual-Channel Guitar Amps – Which to Choose?
That is the golden question I pose to you. As you have seen, both options have pros/cons and different functions that can benefit or hinder you.
Naturally, the answer will depend on your needs. Some of the parameters you should keep in check are the following:
- Efficiency: Depending on how fast you wish to change your tone will help you decide. It is easier to have a central pedal switch to change channels than to have multiple pedals.
- Complexity: Some people favor having complex/unique-sounding tones that are esoteric. Others just want a good, crunchy tone to rock all-day.
- Genre: Your favored genres will also affect your decision. Blues and classic rock styles don’t require a complex sound, whereas more modern types of rock or hip-hop-based styles can benefit from “weirder” sounds.
- Budget: Ultimately, your decision is dependent on how much you are willing to invest. Keep in mind the pedal method can be more expensive in the long run. However, the cost is more spread out than getting a 4-channel amp that’s quite expensive.
Final Thoughts – Single vs Dual Channels
There you have it, my friends. I hope this article has given you a better understanding of the difference between a single and a dual-channel amp. Ultimately, go for whatever resonates with you the most and trust that whatever option you go for is the right one when building your ultimate live rig.
Check Out My Related Post
If you like this post, you should check out my ultimate guide to testing a faulty tube amp. You will learn the methods to diagnose your precious tube amp and what to do about it. You can view this post here.
