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Amplifiers
To put it simply, you can't play the electric guitar without an amplifier. Amps come in a vast array of sizes,
shapes, and types. The intent here is to give you a basic understanding of the different amps.
I have had both tube (valve) amps and solid state amps. They both have advantages and disadvantages
and depending on the style and sound you are going for will determine which choice is right for you. For
me I have flipped from using a tube amp (Ampeg) to using a solid state (GLX30) and now I am using a
Peavey Bandit. So, I reckon I am pretty versed on the subject
The point of the amplifier is to make the noise you are creating to be loud. The quality of the sound is
what is going to determine whether the amplifier is good or not. One thing you can do to tell an amp is
good is to get a guitar and cord you know does not produce excessive noise and plug into the amp in
question in the clean channel and begin playing with the volume turned down and then gradually increase
the volume until 1 you go deaf, 2 the cops show up, 3 the amp melts, 4 the volume is all the way up and
there is no garbled excessive noise and the signal is clear and distinguishable. All ranges of Bass, Mids
and Trebles should not cause any deterioration in the signal quality.
After you have made the decision that everything is OK then switch channels to the overdrive/ distortion
side and see how that sounds. You want to make sure to keep the gain about half way. That way the
distortion should still be clear enough to give you an accurate sampling of what the amp can do. This may
sound strange but you do not want your distortion to be 'distorted' to much. In other words the only
distortion should be that of the guitars signal and not a result of a malfunction in the amp or speakers.
To put it simply, you can't play the electric guitar without an amplifier. Amps come in a vast array of sizes,
shapes, and types. The intent here is to give you a basic understanding of the different amps.
I have had both tube (valve) amps and solid state amps. They both have advantages and disadvantages
and depending on the style and sound you are going for will determine which choice is right for you. For
me I have flipped from using a tube amp (Ampeg) to using a solid state (GLX30) and now I am using a
Peavey Bandit. So, I reckon I am pretty versed on the subject
The point of the amplifier is to make the noise you are creating to be loud. The quality of the sound is
what is going to determine whether the amplifier is good or not. One thing you can do to tell an amp is
good is to get a guitar and cord you know does not produce excessive noise and plug into the amp in
question in the clean channel and begin playing with the volume turned down and then gradually increase
the volume until 1 you go deaf, 2 the cops show up, 3 the amp melts, 4 the volume is all the way up and
there is no garbled excessive noise and the signal is clear and distinguishable. All ranges of Bass, Mids
and Trebles should not cause any deterioration in the signal quality.
After you have made the decision that everything is OK then switch channels to the overdrive/ distortion
side and see how that sounds. You want to make sure to keep the gain about half way. That way the
distortion should still be clear enough to give you an accurate sampling of what the amp can do. This may
sound strange but you do not want your distortion to be 'distorted' to much. In other words the only
distortion should be that of the guitars signal and not a result of a malfunction in the amp or speakers.
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| "Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I will sing to the LORD, I will sing; I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel. -Judges 5:3 |
| "Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I will sing to the LORD, I will sing; I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel. -Judges 5:3 |
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