Electric Guitar Amps
Author: Peter SuhmElectric guitar amps come in such an array of power, special abilities, and specific purposes that it would be easy to become overwhelmed by it all. This article will present basic information about electric guitar amps.
In the simplest of guitar amps there is at least a volume control and most even have a gain and a master volume control. The gain control is equivalent to the distortion control on a distortion pedal. The tone controls typically include passive bass and treble controls or maybe even midrange control.
Generally speaking, there are two basic kinds of amps: 1) solid state and 2) vacuum tube. A solid state amplifier is easy to repair, lighter, and less expensive. The sounds produced by the solid state amp are those favored by Blues and Rock artists. A vacuum tube amplifier on the other hand, is more expensive, heavier, and periodically the tubes need to be replaced, adding to the expense of upkeep. The “slapback”, a term used to describe the echo effect, was originally produced through a tube amplifier.
Electric guitar amps come in two forms: 1) the combo contains the amplifier head and the guitar speakers in a single unit with the amp head including the preamp, built-in effects processing and a power amplifier; 2) the amp stack is an assembly of separate units, the amplifier head which is usually placed on top of one or more loudspeakers, and a separate amplifier head is placed on top of a guitar speaker cabinet. There different forms of the amp stack including the half stack (one cabinet with an amp head on top); full stack (the amp head on top of two cabinets); and Head and Cab, or Piggyback, (stacks on a frame that can be maneuvered with tilting hinges and casters).
Electric guitarists use the amps in one of two different situations, either for practice and performance, or for recording. Recording guitar amps have a power rating of 20 watts down, sometimes as low as even a fraction of 1 watt. Practice or performance amps, on the other hand, have a wattage of more than 50.
What is an electric guitar without distortion? Distortion is one of the major characteristics that define the electric guitar sound. Often referred to as the sound’s texture, distortion is shaped by the sound produced by the guitar amplifier by adding distortion and/or equalization effect pedals before the amp’s input jack.
Another kind of signature sounds of the electric guitar tone are the electronic effects.
Guitar effects are electronic devices that modify or the tone, pitch, or sound of an electric guitar by rerouting the electric signal in some way. The effects are housed in small effects pedals known as “stomp boxes” or directly in the guitar amps.
Electric guitar amps are an essential piece of equipment in the electric guitar package. Without the amp, there is essentially no electric guitar. Therefore, it is important to know the basics about electric guitar amps so you know what will best fit your guitar and your needs.
About the Author:My name is Peter Suhm and i have played music since i was 9 years old.
Visit my website about electric guitars here:
http://www.find-electric-guitars.info
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Electric Guitar Amps
