Guitar Amplifiers

In today's economic climate it is increasingly important to get the best value for our purchasing spend. With the vast array of competition, both online and offline, there is little reason to pay full price for Roland Bolt series guitar amps.

When thinking of shopping online, eBay represents one of the leading marketplaces. The social proof of eBay is achieved by its international scale and participation rates. Millions of users in over 30 countries interact with eBay each day for both selling and buying Within eBay, one can find most goods, from the rare and exotic collectibles to the latest in consumable electronics and gadgets. Apply a little research and be surprised at the bargains on offer each day.

Are you mindful about the risks of shopping online? Creating a safe and secure shopping platform, is a prime focus of eBay. Paypal is fully integrated into eBay's platform. The combined efforts of eBay and Paypal deliver two important features for the shopper, namely: eBay's Seller Feedback system and Paypal's Buyer Protection scheme. The combination of these two systems make for a very safe and secure shopping environment.

The eBay buyer interface offers the shopper options such as: buy now; make an offer; or bid on an auction within a secure and trusted online environment.

Buyers Guide. Guitar and Instrument Amplifiers.

Given the variety of guitars and the number of amplifier brands available, deciding on the right amplifier has its challenges. Here is a basic guide to assist your amp choice. On the one hand, it is wise to arm yourself with some research before entering the market for an amp. On the other hand, the quality of amps on the market these days, you could just as easily pick your budget, review a few models in that price range, and make the purchase. So do not stress too much.

What is the right budget

Many musicians will advise you to spend a similar amount of money on the amplifier as was spent on the guitar. Why? Well the amp is the channel through which your musical talent will broadcast to the audience. 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. The state of amplifier manufacturing processes, that incorporate computer aided technologies, means that unit quality improves while retail prices become lower. This market trend is good news for guitarists researching and buying a new or pre-owned amplifier.

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 by far the most popular category of amplifiers. The popularity of the electric guitar explains why this trend.

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: Bass amps are optimized to reproduce and project the low sonorous sounds of the bass guitar.

Keyboard Amplifiers: These amplifiers are optimized to simply and accurately reproduce and project the keyboard sounds like a PA system.

Types of Amplifier Units

Combo Amps: One box containing both amplifier and speaker. 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 amp functions

The primary function of an amplifier is to convert electrical signals into sound. To do this, amplifiers use two circuits or stages: preamp and power amp. The preamp works on the signal it gets from the instrument and makes it good enough for the power amp and the other instruments within the amplifier such as the EQ and the effects loop etc. The power amp is responsible for boosting the signal from the pre amp and sending it to the speakers according to the wattage specs of the unit.

Vacuum Tube Amplifier

Vacuum tubes are what you will find in the original radios 50 odd years ago.

When over-driven and heated with electrical current, tube type amps produce a tonal warmth and a unique 'distortion effect' not found in digital type amps. 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

This type of amp incorporates newer circuit design and aims to replicate the tonal and sound processing qualities of the older vacuum tube amp models.

So, what type of amp is right for you? That can depend on two things: budget and your musical genre you prefer to play. Both vacuum tube and solid state amps produce reproduce excellent sound quality. Purists argue in favor of the more organic sound quality of vacuum tube amps and their ability to produce that unique analog warmth and fluid distortion. Most newbies however tend to stick with the latest in technology, including solid state circuits not only because some of these are suited to some of the modern genres, but also because they are cheaper.

The Proper Channel

Amplifiers offer multiple channels which can be independently setup so that you can switch between them without missing a beat. Channel switching or switching between multiple channels while playing is a rather important feature that many guitarist now-a-days prefer. Channel switching is especially useful for the electric guitarist for the ability to effortlessly switch between the loud distortion effect and the clean rhythm tones. A footswitch, which is generally supplied with new amp purchases, manages channel switching.

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) The higher the wattage spec, the louder sound capability of the amplifier.

b) Vacuum tube amps reproduce a louder sound per Watt of power when compared to solid state type amps. For example, a 5 Watt vacuum tube amp will deliver a similar sound volume as a 40 Watt solid state amp unit.

c) Beginner musicians will find the feature of a headphone jack useful, especially for those practice sessions when you do not want to disturb the neighbors.

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 effects loop allows you to modify the signal between the preamp and the power amp using an external chord.

c) Digital Effects such as flange, phase, reverb, echo, chorus, pitch shift, etc are supplied in most quality amplifiers. Presets can be saved and assigned to channels in the more modern digital types of amps. And many amplifier models feature a selection of effects presets for easy selection.

Speakers

Speaker quality is important, of course. be mindful of your budget, but try to get the best speakers for your budget. bear in mind that heaver and more expensive speakers are generally translate better sound quality. You get what you pay for is a good rule to apply to speakers. Better quality speakers produce better coloration of an amps signal and delivers richer sounds and tones when compared to cheaper models.

Widely available speaker types:

- 8” Speakers: smaller amplifiers.

- 10” Speakers: found in practice amps.

- 12” Speakers: basic performance amps.

- 15” Speakers: these speakers suit bass amps and built into separate speaker cabinets.

Ending remarks

Buying an amplifier requires some initial thought and research. Be clear about the purpose of the amplifier and how it will match and enhance your musical genre. While evaluating your amp needs, consider: your musical genre; how many instruments use the same amplifier; how loud is the drummer in your band; what size performance do you plan and at what type of venues.

Points to consider

- A 40 Watt solid state amplifier featuring 10" speakers will project adequately in most performance situations, depending on the loudness of the drummer.

- For larger performance situations, a 60 Watt amp connected to a 12" speaker will deliver excellent performance.

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

This guide is a starter for you on the path to buying the right guitar amp that meets your musical style and performance needs.

Roland Bolt series - recently purchased amplifiers

Visitor search terms:

roland bolt 60, roland bolt 60 for sale, roland bolt 60 review, roland bolt 30 tube amp, roland bolt 100 vintage guitar amp, Roland Bolt 60 Vintage Guitar Tube Amp, roland bolt 60 ebay, Roland Bolt 60 Vintage Guitar Tube Amp review, roland ga120 speaker, crate V100 palomino manual, roland bolt 100, roland bolt, peavey mp-4 schematic, roland bolt 60 guitar amp, what is a roland bolt 60 worth, vintage roland bolt 100 tube amp, value of a roland bolt 60, roland bolt 60 value, speaker for roland bolt 60, roland gc405, roland bolt 60 for acoustic, foot switch for a roland bolt 60, for sale roland bolt 100, quality kustom hv20t, randall amps model bolt-60 ebay, roland bolt 100 review, roland bolt 100 sound, ROLAND BOLT 100 TUBE AMP, roland bolt 100 value, roland bolt 30 ebay, roland bolt 60 amp price, what would a Roland Bolt 60 amplifier be worth on e-bay

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.