An amplifier can be the
difference between a great sounding instrument and a poor sounding instrument.
Whether you are amplifying an electric guitar, acoustic guitar , bass guitar,
keyboards, or an orchestra or band instrument, the type of amplifier you buy is
extremely important. Before you buy,
consider your plan for using the amp. Some amps are more portable than others. Some come with more bells and whistles (or
knobs and controls), and others just straight up make it loud. As a musician, you need to determine the
performance level of your amplifier. If
you are playing for a large hall, you will want something powerful enough to
fill the room. On the other flip side,
if you are looking for an in-home practice amplifier, you will probably want a
smaller less powerful amplifier. Below
are the top 10 things to consider when purchasing your next amplifier.
We hope this helps:
1. Configurations
Combination amps, combo for short,
are self-contained units that include the amplifier and speaker together. A
stack variation consists of a separate amp, or head, and a speaker cabinet.
With a stack you can mix and match heads and cabinets to fine tune your sound.
2. Amplifier Types
Solid-state amps use transistors
for their preamp and power sections. They are the most popular choice today for
their clean tone, affordability and reliability even though the sound is
sometimes considered cold.
Tube amps require more
maintenance as tubes wear quickly. They're also heavy but are appreciated for
their rich, vintage tone.
Modeling amps, the best selling
amp segment or most popular segment of the amp market, use technology to make
solid state amps sound and feel like traditional tube amps and provide plenty
of gain for almost any applications.
Hybrids are available, which have
transistors generating power and a tube-driven preamp producing the basic tone.
3. Digitally Modeled
It's possible to get the vintage
sound of a tube amp without going old-school. Digital modeling amps simulate
the sound through software, so you can get the sound of variety of amps all in
one. They also come with built-in digital effects like tremolo, chorus, etc.
and a footswitch lets you change between tones.
Click Here to View Some Great
Modeling Amps
4. Construction
The materials that make the amp
can affect the quality of its sound. Since a thinner material can cause a
speaker to vibrate itself loose, a thickness of at least 1/2" is
recommended.
An amp with a closed back will
produce a better bass response from a speaker.
5. Speaker Size
Bigger doesn't always mean
better. Much of your decision will be based on what type of sound you prefer.
Several small speakers in a bass cabinet produce a tighter, more accurate
sound, while a larger speaker is often heavy sounding. Again, it comes down to
your personal taste.
6. Watts
The more watts you have the more
likely the amp will stay true to tone at higher volumes. Amps come with
anywhere from 5 to 400 watts.
7. Equalizer (EQ)
EQ settings let you emphasize or
de-emphasize particular frequencies to alter the tone of your guitar. In many
instances the EQ frequency settings are pre-set. Other times you have the
ability to adjust the frequency, giving you greater control. Most preamps have
three knobs, some have five, and others have even more.
8. Controls
Look for tone controls, ones that
include low, mid and high EQ, presence, gain and reverb. And make sure the
controls carry a useful function and don't exist simply for show.
9. Sound
Different amps have different
sounds, so test-driving an amp is crucial to getting the sound you want. It's
also important to consider the music genre you are likely to play. Do you have
softer musical tastes or do you plan to rock out? Certain brands are often
suited to one style and not so much to another.
10. Price
You don't need to spend big to get
a decent sound. Combination or combo amps tend to be less expensive when
compared to stack configurations where you buy the amp and speaker cabinet
components separately. So if you’re just starting out, a combo amp is the
cheaper and easier way to go. Remember
that your best deal for an amplifier is not only price, but also reliability
and performance!
No comments:
Post a Comment