05/12/2020 02:12 PM
Almost every guitar player will at some point find themselves wandering into the world of electric guitars. The variety of sounds that can be achieved with electric instruments is fascinating, but the gear can seem foreign and intimidating. Suddenly, you’ve gone from six strings on a wooden instrument to needing cables, amps, pedals, pedal boards, and all kinds of other paraphernalia.
THE ESSENTIALS
Our advice is to ease into it. Start with the basics. Guitar. Amp.
There are many considerations when choosing a guitar. Sound, feel, shape, price, and of course color. Ask your teacher for a list of things to look for in a first electric guitar.
Amps are a little more tricky and there are terms that may seem confusing. Let’s start with what an amp does. An amplifier is an electronic device that strengthens weak electrical signals sent from the electromagnetic pickups mounted on the guitar so that the amp can produce sound through one or more loudspeakers, which are housed in a wooden cabinet.
Often, amps also modify the instrument's tone, by emphasizing or de-emphasizing certain frequencies, using equalizer controls, and by adding electronic effects such as signal distortion and reverb.
There are four basic types of amps: tube amps, solid state, digital, and hybrid. Each type produces its own tone qualities based on the characteristics of the electronic components.
TUBE AMPS
Guitar tube amps get their name from the vacuum tube, a glass tube that contains electrodes for controlling current flow in a gas-free space. Tube amps use one or more vacuum tubes to amplify signal input from the guitar, produce the amp’s tone, and drive the speakers.
While vacuum tubes are outdated technology, tube amps remain popular because many guitarists prefer the distortion produced by vacuum tubes to that created by solid-state or digital amplifiers.
Distortion is an effect created when the gain (input signal) or volume (output signal) are turned up high enough to create a fuzzy or growling tone. For this reason, guitarists may choose to use a lower wattage or smaller amp over a higher wattage amp.
Cranking up a high watt amp enough to saturate the tubes and get the right level of distortion might blow your audience’s ears off. It may be better to choose a tube amp smaller than 20watts that lets you get distorted tone without huge decibels.
One of the down-sides of tube amps is weight. Tube amps are heavy. Another is cost. Because many guitarists find tube amps more desirable, their initial cost can be high, even for a used amp.
Additional cost comes from replacing tubes. Vacuum tubes are fragile and may need to be replaced over time because of use or because of damage caused by rough handling of the amp.
SOLID-STATE AMPS
Solid-State refers to the hard-wired or sautered transistors, resistors, and capacitors (similar to a computer chip) that amplify the guitar’s input signal, produce the amp’s tone, and drive the speakers. Technologically, solid-state transistors replaced vacuum tubes. Jazz guitarists often prefer solid state amps for their cleaner tone.
Solid-state amps are typically less expensive and lighter than tube amps. They are often more reliable and durable than fragile vacuum tubes. While solid-state amps don’t naturally achieve the same level of distortion as a tube amp, with enough research, guitarists can use external pedals and processors to make a solid-state amp achieve almost any tone.
HYBRID AMPS
Hybrid amps combine vacuum tube and solid-state amplification. There are two combinations: solid-state pre-amp (signal input amplification) plus tube power amp (signal output amplification), or tube pre-amp plus solid-state power output amp.
The basic idea of a hybrid is to give you the best of both worlds: great tube sound and distortion, with the signal processing and reliability of a solid-state. Orange, Vox, and Line 6 all have hybrid model amps.
DIGITAL AMPS
Digital guitar amps use digital algorithms to produce the tone of the amplifier. Like a square to a rectangle, all digital guitar amps are solid-state, but not all solid-state amplifiers are digital. The majority of digital amplifiers are modeling amps, which means they contain microprocessors that use digital effects to create tones to simulate the sound of a range of tube amplifiers and different sized speaker cabinets.
Modeling amps are programmed to mimic characteristic tones of different existing amplifier models, genres, and even decades of music. Some are built to be programmable; with USB connection to alter settings to reflect your personal tone preferences. The benefit of modeling amps is that you can use a wide range of different tones, all on one amplifier.
WHICH TYPE OF AMP IS BEST?
There is no correct answer, but that doesn’t stop every guitarist from having a strong opinion. Every musician has preferences for what they want their music to sound like. Guitarists take pride in their tone, and a lot of that comes from the amplifier they choose.
It’s up to you to decide what amp is right for you. Our advice is to try some out before you buy one. Most music stores will let you test drive an amp and give you some guidance on what to look for.
Almost every guitar player will at some point find themselves wandering into the world of electric guitars. The variety of sounds that can be achieved with electric instruments is fascinating, but the gear can seem foreign and intimidating. Suddenly, you’ve gone from six strings on a wooden instrument to needing cables, amps, pedals, pedal boards, and all kinds of other paraphernalia.
AMP REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE
Guitar amps that are used regularly, and those that haven’t been used for a long period, should be periodically tuned-up. Musicians who have the interest and time to learn how to make adjustments can learn the basics from videos and instructionals found online. But, those without a knack for tinkering should seek professional technicians for even minor repairs.
A great spot in New Orleans to find a variety of amplifers and used gear is Webb’s Bywater Music. The owner, Paul Webb is in the shop most afternoons. He specializes in amplifier repair, but has a wide range of knowledge on a variety of musical subjects. If you have an amp question, Paul can answer it, or tell you where to find out.
If you are interested in learning more about electric instruments and amps, sign up for lessons with one of our teachers!