Guitar Amplifiers

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Fender London 185 Amplifier - recently found items.

Electric Guitar Amplifiers. Buyers Tips.

Given the variety of guitars and the number of amplifier brands available, deciding on the right amplifier has its challenges. With some basic research, the buying decision is made a little easier. So, here is a brief guide for amp buying. Sure you need to inform yourself about amplifier specs and features, but do not stress too much. The simple approach is pick your budget, review a few models and make the purchase. The state of current technology and manufacturing techniques means that most amps are of good build quality and will deliver acceptable performance.

The price

There is a general rule of thumb, advocated by musicians, the cost of the amp ought match the cost of the guitar. The reason is simple: why diminish your musical talent and the quality of your guitar with an amplifier of lesser value than your instrument. In short, why reduce your guitar's potential by using a lesser quality amplifier. However that does not mean that less pricey amps are of low quality. Today, because of computer aided manufacturing, costs of amp units are dropping considerably without affecting the quality of the sound that produced. This is obviously good news for the newbie guitarist who wants a good amp unit.

Given the multitude of roles that amp units can fulfill, they have been optimized to be paired up with 4 different types of instruments: the electric guitar, acoustic guitar, electric bass guitar, electronic keyboard.

Electric Guitar Amplifiers: These are hands down the most popular of all the amplifiers. This level of popularity is a result of the broad appeal of the electric guitar.

Acoustic Guitar Amps: These amps are used to project the brilliant highs of the acoustic guitar without sacrificing on the mid-ranges and basses. Typically, the acoustic amplifier houses inbuilt speakers; feature a microphone plug and a line-in for guitar pickups.

Bass Amps: These amplifiers are optimized to not distort sounds of the lower lower registers.

Keyboard Amps: Simply try to reproduce the sounds made by the keyboard as accurately as possible acting like a PA system.

Amplifier Types

Combo Amps: Contain both the speaker and the amplifier unit in one box. These amplifiers are the most common type on the market. The combination of amp and speakers in one unit, is the ease of handling and transport.

Amp Head: This type of amp is a single unit without speakers. Amp heads require a cable connection to speakers. High voltage capable cables are the better choice for connecting speakers to the amp head. Avoid using standard guitar cables. This type of an amp is also great for connecting a large number of speakers.

How an amplifier works

Converting electrical impulses into audible sound is the basic function of a guitar amp. The electrical signal to sound is achieved by the preamp and power amp circuitry. The preamp receives electrical signals from the guitar The task of the power amp is to boost the signal sent to the speakers.

Vacuum Tube Amplifier

A vacuum tube is essentially the same as what you find in older style ratios.

Tubes, when they are over-driven and heated with electrical current produce the “distortion effect” which explains the popularity of these types of amplifier. This is the reason why even today, when they are soundly obsolete and replaced with solid state diodes, they remain in vogue.

Solid State Amps

These amplifiers are a newer generation of circuits which attempt reproduce the authentic tonal sound quality of the vacuum tube.

Trying to decide whether to go in for a vacuum tube based amp or a solid state based amp is a very personal question. The sound and tonal differences produced by both type of amps is generally only detectable by a trained ear, however purists tend to opt for the vacuum tube amps because of the more analog tone and distortion sound quality. Newer generations of musicians tend to opt for the latest in amp technology, namely solid state circuits, primarily because this type of amp suits modern music genres. Plus very affordable quality amps are available with this newer technology.

The Proper Channel

Amplifiers offer multiple channels which can be independently setup so that you can switch between them without missing a beat. Multiple channels and channel switching is an important feature to look for when making buying choice for an amplifier. Electric guitarists find the ability to channel switch useful to achieve efficient changes between loud distorted sounds and those cleaner rhythmic tones. Most amplifiers are already equipped an accessory footswitch which facilitate channel changes.

Electrical Power

The power of an amplifier is measured in Watts. This is a measure of the capacity of the amp to power the speakers. Keep the following things in mind when selecting the kind of power you want your amp to be based on:

a) Higher wattage will mean a louder sound in the same amplifier.

b) Vacuum tubes produce a markedly louder sound per Watt of power as compared to solid state circuits. For example, a 5 Watt vacuum tube amp will deliver a similar sound volume as a 40 Watt solid state amp unit.

c) If you are buying for a beginner then make sure that the amp unit has a headphone jack.

Amplifier Effects

Here is a summary of the more common effects inbuilt into amps:

Line-6-spider-amp-controls

a) EQ: This generally comes in the form of 2 or 4 knobs with which you can control the range of frequencies in the sound. For instance, increase treble settings for a brighter sound, adjust the middle EQ to full and the treble and bass to zero to achieve a the natural sound of the guitar, add extra bass tones by increasing the bass frequency. As we are familiar with the slider type EQ controls on a home stereo system, then experiment with the EQ controls on an amp. Adjusting the treble higher produces brighter sounds, while adjusting the middle and bass produces rich deeper tones.

b) Effects Loop: An effect loop is controlled by an external chord and facilitates changing the signal carried between the preamp and the power amp.

c) Digital Effects: Most modern amplifiers feature a range of digital effects that may include; flange, phase, reverb, echo, chorus, pitch shift and so on. Remember we mentioned channels earlier, well channels can control effects which can be preset and assigned to a channel. The channel switcher can then easily switch between different effects presets. In many instances, amps will feature preset effects combinations.

Speakers

Speaker quality is an equally important consideration when buying a guitar amp. It is not necessary to pay a lot of money, but nevertheless, try to get the best quality that fits your budget. Do note that the heavier and more expensive speakers are always of better quality than cheaper ones. Better quality speakers facilitate better coloration of the amps signal, thus creating a richer superior sound.

Widely available speaker types:

- 8” Speakers: smaller amplifiers.

- 10” Speakers: housed in practice amplifiers.

- 12” Speakers: found in general performance amplifiers.

- 15” Speakers: come in separate cabinets, are paired almost exclusively with bass amps.

Things to bear in mind

Before buying an amplifier, clarify the purpose of the amp for your needs now and in the future. Establish your budget and research brands and models within your budget range. There is no reason to over spend your budget. Why buy a Porsche when all you need is a ford for commuting purposes, as an analogy. Among these are – the types of music that you play, the number of instruments in the band, the placement of the amp, is the drummer loud, the size of the performance etc.

Points to consider

- 40 Watt solid state amp driving a 10” speaker will hold up its own in most performances. However this may not do so well if the band has a drummer as well.

- 60 Watt solid state amp paired with a 12” speaker will do well in all but the loudest situations.

- 30 Watt tub amplifier is the pic for a full rock band performance in most contexts.

Use this guide as a starting point to formulate a criteria for your guitar amplifier research and ultimate purchase.

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