By Brigitte Schneider

Musicians who play guitar need to buy a guitar amp if they want their music to be heard. Aside from the obvious job of boosting the volume level of the instrument, this equipment is also designed to modify specific frequencies and allow the user to add effects that will change the tone.

Amplifiers are available in two different configurations called combination amplifiers and standalone amplifiers. The combo amp, as it is called, is typically a wooden cabinet containing a single speaker or one or two pairs of speakers. The standalone unit is usually referred to as a head and it does not have its own speaker. The head will pass the signal along to a separate speaker cabinet. A head combined with a speaker cabinet is known as a stack.

A speaker cabinet with the back closed will produce a sound that has more low end. Some players prefer an open back for a higher tone. Ordinary speaker cabinets are not built to resonate but this is a desired feature for a guitar amp because it adds to the sound.

One of the biggest debates among players is whether to use a solid state or tube amp. Tubes dominated the music industry until transistors started being used to replace them during the 1970s. Vacuum tube amps are heavier and cost more but many rock and blues guitarists prefer the fuzzy overdrive and warm sound they produce. Tube amps will require periodic maintenance. Tubes are fragile and occasionally they will blow out and have to be replaced.

Electronics are used in a solid sate amplifier. The transistors used are lighter than tubes and also less expensive. These make good touring amps because of their durability and reliability. They can distort the signal at a lower volume compared to tubes.

Modeling amps were invented with the best of both types of amp in mind. They can be set to mimic many different types of amplifiers and give the user total control over the tone. Distortion, chorus, flange and other special effects are built right in and available at the push of a button. Gone are the days when guitar players were forced to lug around bulky electronic boxes that were limited to a single effect.

Every musician is looking for a unique sound and selecting the right guitar amp is a great first step. If enough time is taken to review all the various options there are many rewards to be gained.

About the Author:

0 comments: