And the basic minimum to use for micing a guitar amp is a Shure SM56/57. There are others...Royer makes a good ribbon mic for amps, the Shure KSM condensers, etc. But the basic SM57 is one of the most common mics used on tour and in the studio for micing guitar amp. Why? Because it sounds good: the proximity effect makes for a nice richness and it has a nice presence emphasis to help guitars cut through.
For amps, there are so many choices. My favorite amps are Mesa Boogies...and just about any of their amps will do well, though I would suggest skipping the Rectos for this style of music. Mesas hold their value pretty well if you don't want to keep a big amp forever. They are expensive, but the build-quality is tops. I have Mark III, IV, V, Maverick and DC-3 amps, and I can play any style of music with them. Sometimes...you DO get what you pay for.
Peavey is another brand I like. Their amps when found used are usually terrific bargains. Whether it's a new Vyper, an old Solo Series Bandit, or a Classic 30 or 50, they do very well.
They're never listed as the most popular Marshalls amps, but JCM 900s can often be found really cheap. I like the Dual Reverb combo models with EL34 tubes. They sound Marshall-y!
And then there's Fender, as others have mentioned. Most are great pedal platforms. I played Fenders for many years before I found my tone with Mesa. I prefer the old ones to most of the new ones...but then I AM O-L-D! LOL!
Good luck!
Bill
