Guitar Amps

A: Amplifiers are designed to operate at a certain impedance load that is expressed in ohms. When you parallel a pair of 8 ohm drivers the load then becomes 4 ohms. When you series a pair of 8 ohm drivers the load then becomes 16 ohms. This means you wouldn’t be able to just simply use the original pair of 10″ drivers and just add two more because if you wire in parallel then the load would be too low and if you wire in series the load would be too high. The only way your idea would be possible is for example, if the original drivers are each 8 ohms then you would either have to obtain their 16 ohm counterpart or their 4 ohm counterpart. All the drivers need to be identical and with the same ohm rating. Ideally they would also have the same frequency response and sensitivity rating as the original drivers in order for the tone to be identical as the original design. If you can get 16 ohm drivers then you would parallel one pair together to achieve an 8 ohm load. Then do the same for the other pair. If you can get 4 ohm drivers then you would have to series one pair and the same for the other pair to still get 8 ohms. I believe the Ampeg SS-70c is really two 35 watt amplifiers that are each feeding one 10″ driver. Even if you found drivers that would work, the only sonic difference would be that the system will play louder BUT the drivers would not be able to play to their full potential because the power is now divided amongst all 4 drivers. So each 10″ would only be getting 17.5 watts each. Underpowering a speaker is always a bad idea. All your doing is doubling the surface area of the drivers and effectively increasing the efficiency of the system by 3dB. It’s not worth all the trouble in my opinion. If you want it to play louder then you are much better off replacing the two 10″ drivers with ones that have a higher sensitivity rating. Make sure they have similiar frequency response and the same ohm rating as the original. Good luck with the rebuild.

Q: What’s the best guitar combo amp on the market?
I’m looking at buying a new combo amp. What’s the best brand or best amp? I don’t have a price range. I’m looking at the Line 6 Vetta II 2×12. I’m also looking at the Line 6 X3 Live. Is it a good product, and can it be used just for home, or must it be used during live performances? Thanks!

A: get a marshell stack 4 preforming get a line6 spider 3 15 watt combo 4 home

Q: adding an extention cabbinet to a guitar combo amp?
Hey, i have a Line 6 Spider III 150 watt combo amp, and im thinking of buying an extension cabinet for it. But im not sure if it will be any use..
will it make it any louder or will it just split the amps power between the speakers in the cabinet and the speaker in the amp?

A: It splits the amps power between them. Extension cabinets don’t make an amp “louder”, but they do push more air (ie puts more sound out there), so you’ll actually be heard better if you’re in a band context and the like.

Extension cabs can also give your amp a subtle bit of flavor… for instance, putting a Celestion Lead 80 2×12 cab underneath your combo would put out a tone that wouldn’t color your sound too much, won’t overdrive, but will still have a nice tight low end and drive well. Putting a cab loaded with vintage 30’s or something like that would give you a sound that *is* pretty colored, you’ll get a very “cranked” sound out of them, but you’ll also get less bass response, and less overall volume.

Me, I’d go for relatively high wattage speakers, esp if it’s a 150 watt modeling amp… you don’t want your speakers to break up too much, as that will cut out some of your low end.

I love the Celestion GT75’s, they’re a bit more colored than the Lead 80’s, ie less high highs, more contoured mids, and less low lows, but the overall effect is very “rock”… power chords are chunky and tight, and the highs cut through the mix but aren’t icepick-y or hissy/shrieky.

EDIT: Let me clarify that last response.

If your amp has an 8 ohm jack for output impedance, then you want to match it up to an 8 ohm cab. That’s all you have to remember… the impedance will be in the back of the speaker cab right next to the jack itself… you don’t need to know anything about series vs parallel wiring, just read the manual and pay attention to the output impedance on the amp and make sure it equals the speaker impedance on the extension cab.

Saul

Q: Do you think the Ibanez GTA Series GTA10 10W 1×5 Guitar Combo Amp will need a distortion peda?
well i’m buying this amp the Ibanez GTA Series GTA10 10W 1×5 Guitar Combo Amp and it says it has some distortion but is it as good as a distortion pedal.

A: I have the amp and it is crap, just go with a line 6 spider 3 15 watt amp with a boss ds1 distortion pedal.

Q: where can I find knob settings for a line 6 spyder II guitar combo amp?
I want it to sound like
van halen
metallica
slipknot

But i dont know knob settings for it. Is there a site that has these settingsg shown?

A: yeah go to line 6’s website they have a list of settings and pictures of the amp

ps metallica uses line 6
dont know about slipknot
if you want to sound like eddie buy his signature amp

Q: Which should i get? The Line6 Spider III 15 Guitar Combo Amp or the Boss MT2 Distortion Pedal?
Music related question- an ok amp, or a great pedal with a starter pack not so great amp i already have?

A: please do not get the line 6 amp. they are terrible, and so brittle when turned up. At least with the metalzone you can sell it off if you don’t like it since it is a fairly popular high gain pedal. anyways that is a piece of equipment that can grow with you as a musician, the cheap amp will become a doorstop.

what guitar/ amp combination are you running? if you already have a crummy amp, keep it. save up for a nice tube or solidstate amp. no point in spending $100 on a disposable piece of equipment. that is exactly what it is.

Q: How can I put a line out of a bass guitar combo amp?
Is it possible? If so, how do you do it. I don’t know how any of this stuff works..

A: Hello there,

Soulmate has given you a very good answer. I do not disagree with anything he said.

If your amp does not have a line out jack, you can modify it to add one. In theory, not a difficult process if you understand electronics. Since you are asking this question, I would guess you do not have a good understanding of electronics. Therefore you should not attempt this modification yourself. It is quite easy to screw up a good amp if you do not know what you are doing. If you want this modification, take the amp to a tech to have it done.

However, the modificiation may not be practical. If your amp is not strong enough to handle additional speakers, you will gain nothing by added the line out jack.

Later,

Q: Does a Squire by Fender Black and Chrome Fat Strat go with a Line 6 Micro Spider 6W 1×6.5 Guitar Combo Amp?
I would just like to know if anyone has had any experience playing with either one of these. If you could recommend an amp to go with the Fat Strat (under $200) I would very much appreciate it. Thanks.

A: I’d really recommend a small, basic tube amp over any of the Spider series amps. The Spider will work as a practice amp, but you’ll never really get a very convincing guitar tone out of it. These amps will do a smaller range of tones, minus a bunch of gimmicky effects, but they’ll sound much better overall.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Valve-Junior-Combo-Amp?sku=480260

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Champion-600-5-Watt-1×6-Combo-Amp?sku=485054

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-ValveKing-Royal-8-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=481661

If you’re willing to save up a bit more cash, you can actually get quite a bit more for around $250 or more:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=481675X

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-VibroChamp-XD-120V-Guitar-Combo?sku=483069

Q: I have a Fender Frontman 65R 65W 1×12 Guitar Combo Amp and i want it to sound more PUNK any suggestions?
I play in a punk band that sounds very similar to blink, earlier green day, earlier yellowcard, zebrahead etc. etc. and my amp just cant seem to get that sound any tips (besides get a new amp?

A: The best thing you can do is try out different pedals. I recommend an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff or any of the BOSS brand overdrive/distrotion pedals. You really can’t go wrong.

Q: What guitar amp combo did bonehead use in oasis?
Love that distorted raw oomph sound!!

A: Having checked the onstage backline from Glasto 94, he’s playing a Gibson/Epiphone 335 and going through a Marshall Shortstack. Likewise on the pyramid stage the following year (I was there!). Tough to say which particular model amp it is but it’s classic Gibson (or Epiphone) humbucker thickness fed through a crunchy Marshall valve amp on the overdrive channel. Pretty standard and classic rock guitar set-up,
If you want the exact skinny on it, google Marshall Amplification and email em or buzz em up, they’ll have records. And trust me, they get enquiries like this every day.

Q: what is the best guitar and amp combo for blues rock?
i have a budget of £2000, suggestions of good pedals (wah wah, boost, fuzz, phaser, whatever) would be very good as well.

A: You have many options. But here are a few of my recommendations:
Guitar:
-Fender American Stratocaster
-Gibson SG
-Gibson Les Paul

Amps:
-Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
-Peavey Classic
-Fender Bassman

Effects:
-Vox V847A Wah Pedal
-Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9 or Ts808
- MXR M173 Silicon Fuzz
- MXR Phase 90

Q: would drummer be able to hear 150watt guitar amp/combo?
would drummer be able to hear a guitar which is connected to Ibanez 150watt combo?

A: Depends on where it’s pointed, but as a general rule, yes. The big problem is how your amp interplays with the other amps involved. Stuff tends to get lost in the midrange and it’s sometimes difficult to tell what is its you are hearing. (Which instrument I mean.) Obviously, the thing you want to hear when you’re playing drums is the bass. But even us dumb drummers figure out how to take cues from other sounds. The best thing to do is set up monitors with a monitor mixdown for each player. This way, they can control what they hear according to what they NEED to hear. I played for years with about 2000 watts of power pointed at me from a couple of Marshall stacks, four Horn loaded Fender Showmans, a couple of Sunn bass amps and four Leslie Speakers. Somebody decided that we could use THAT stuff as monitors and go direct out through the PA. It sounded great. But I cant hear much now.

In retrospect, it was worth the tradeoff.

Q: Which amp is better? (Peavey Vypyr 15 15W 1×8 Guitar Combo Amp OR Line 6 Spider III 15 15W 1×8 Guitar Combo Am?
I’d like to know which amp is better:
Peavey Vypyr 15 15W 1×8 Guitar Combo Amp
OR
Line 6 Spider III 15 15W 1×8 Guitar Combo Amp

Which amp is better for an epiphone lp-100?

Thx

A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYslxyj4Qwk

See for yourself.

Q: Should i get a Vox Valvetronix VT50 50W 1×12 Guitar Combo Amp or a Vox ValvetronixVT100 100W2×12 Guitar Combo?
There the same amp but the 100 Watt is bigger (obviously). I just want to know which one would be better for just playing in a medium sized room. and if theres going to be anychange in tone.
Thank You

A: Honestly you shouldn’t get either one. If you’re looking at the VT100, obviously you’re willing to pay $500 for an amp. At that price you should really consider investing in a tube amp. I personally don’t care too much for Vox’s amp modeling, but that’s just me. Vox’s tube amps are great though! Tube tone is the way to go.

Some amps to consider in the $500 range would be the Bugera V22, the Bugera V55, the Fender Hot Rod series Blues Junior, the Fender Pro Junior, or the Jet City JCA2112RC. Or for $100 more (at $600), you could be looking at the Vox AC15C1 (a fantastic amp, especially now that it comes with a Celestion greenback!), or the Fender Blues Junior (another great little amp). All these tube amps would be loud enough for almost any gig you’re probably going to play and would also have enough flexibility to get the sounds you want. Also, check out used tube amps on craigslist; you can really find some good deals. My general opinion is that you shouldn’t spend your money on solid state amps when a tube amp is in your budget. Good luck!

Q: What Combo Guitar Amp Should I Buy?
im 15 years old, i play in a loud thrash metal band, i work for minimum wage on saturdays & sundays, i earn about £80 a month, and im soon to own a Dean ML79F.
what twin 12″ speaker combo amp should i buy for under £400?

A: I think that the link below is a rather attractive option. I may not like their solid state amps (shudder) but I do think that their tube amps have a very pleasing sound.

Use any money left over to get better pickups. I like Seymour Duncan JB’s (very versatile, nice clean sound and decent distorted), but if you’re into playing metal and only metal, then something like the SD (Seymour Duncan) Customs, DiMarzio D-Sonic, SD Dimebucker, SD Invaders, or DiMarzio X2N’s (in order of less hot to hottest pickup I know of) might suit you better.

I hope that Dean doesn’t have a whammy. You’d be in for a lot of pain. Whammy’s go out of tune easily, you can’t change the tuning without completely resetting the trem, you have to re-intonate and setup when changing strings, and god forbid you break a string in the middle of a show! It’s all over… I’m not a fan of them, and everyone I know who plays even semi-seriously uses a fixed bridge, or won’t play with a floating trem (whammy) without a backup.

If you learn how to set it up and intonate it yourself it’s not too bad, though, it’s just a pain when it goes out of tune in the middle of the song. You don’t want to have to bring it back to the store every time something goes wrong, that’s all I’m saying….

Saul

A: Here’s the deal, The G-Dec is a practice amp with a new twist. It has backing tracks on it to play to. Meaning it has bass and drum tracks on it in different styles of music, rock,blues,etc.. It also has effects on it as well, chorus,delay etc.. I believe they have also put patches on it from famous guitar players like Eric Johnson etc.. to imitate their sound(s).

The Frontman is a regular amp, I would have to look at the specs to see if it has effects. I know it doesn’t have backing tracks.

Q: Would you recommend playing a Schecter or Jackson guitar on Fender amps?
By “or” I meant either one of them, but would you play them in a Fender twin reverb amp from the 60’s? And since it doesn’t have a different channel, what kind of peddles would go well with it?(distorted peddles, but hat kind?)

A: jackson is easier to play i think um i use a wha wha pedal original cry baby and for distortion it does not matter go cheap i say

Q: guitar amps? fender, vox, line 6 spider III, or marshall?
i went to guitar center looking for a 100W-or-so amp.. i have 500 dollars that im willing to expend in this amp (not necessarily i have to expend them all though)
my top two where the 120W spider III from line 6 (400$), and the 250W marshall (500$). i’ve always loved marshall’s but the 400+ effects of the spider III seemed tempty
after playing with both amps and figuring i saved 100$ if i bought the spider III, i bought the spider III
i’ve just owned it for two days and i feel it doesn’t fill me completely =s
vox amps were a bit too expensive.. i searched for other vox on the internet and only the 100W seemed fair (a bit expensive though, 479$).. but the effects seem a bit mediocre.. are they?
i didn’t get to see fender in the store.. but i found a great 100W for 330$ on the internet..
is the 500$ marshall (250W) worth it over the 330$ fender (100W)? i know marshall is louder but i don’t necessarily need THAT much sound..
could u recomend me something?
thanks
mostly i play progressive and classic rock.. but i also play indie, experimental, etc
im not sure if i just havent get to know the spider III enough to set it as i wante to, but the overdrive doesn’t seem very good
the 100W fender seems very good to me but i dont know fender amps quality

A: I can’t stand Fender’s distortion, so I personally avoid them like the plague. They sound great clean, though.

First off, why do you think you need 100w to get the job done? Because I assure you that you absolutely, 100% do not need that much volume.

The downside to a large number of watts is that you need to turn it up that much louder to get a sweet tone. 60-70w is pushing it, and is 50w is more than enough in almost all situations to get the job done. Playing live you actually want a good sound at low volume, if you turn up too loud you swamp out the other mic’s and take away from all the other instruments.

Congratulations on not liking the Spider… that means you have a good ear. They blow, the only thing the spider 3’s have over the Spider 2’s (and I’ve played extensively with both) is that the 3 is louder – it doesn’t have tube dynamics, it doesn’t have tube sweetness, it’s just bloody louder. Bastards. They let me down. =(

I’ve played through a Kustom 65w that frickin’ blew me away. Might be out of your price range, though, but 65w of tube sound is more than enough to blast out anyone. Keep in mind that each tube watt is going to equal 2-3 solid state watts, depending on the topology and design – they’re really that much better. It’s in how they’re rated, but let’s not quibble.

I think the Epi Valve Jr has a great sound, and is very modifiable. Even with only 5w of tube sound, it can easily power a 4×12, and with the right pedal it can anything from a rock, blues, to even make a great metal sound… you’d be surprised!

I guess what I’m saying is to explore your options – see if you can find a solid state amp that isn’t necessarily 100w that sounds good at lower volumes – and maybe try to find a tube amp with around 50w, and see if it doesn’t give you a great sound at lower volumes, but still gives you the ability to crank up if you want to.

Saul

Q: Fender Stratacoustic Guitar Amps?
I just recently bought a Fender Stratacoustic. I plugged it into my amp, but it wouldn’t play. Is there a certain amp to use on a acoustic electric or is my guitar not working?

A: it should play like normal.always wanted one, let me know how it works out.maybe check for open circuit, play with pickup switching etc.

Q: Tube guitar amps- Fender Blues Jr. vs. Epiphone Valve Standard?
I play blues at jam sessions with friends- no gigging- I’ve been shopping for something with tubes for my Jimmie Vaughan Strat -I’ve played through both at GC-can’t seem to make up my mind- any input either way? They’re both 15 watts, the Fender is about $100 more than the Epiphone, but if we disregard the price tag…I’m not looking for volume, just good reasonably-priced tone-and if anyone can point me to a low-priced tube combo amp besides these two, that would be great also..Thanks-

Seamus
PS- I’ve been checking out AX84.com-brings out the DIY’er in me, but that’s a project for another day-after the lawn, the painting, the bathroom remodeling, the new fridge….

A: If you want a all tube amp and you are trying to stay at low power(the 15 watts you speak of) I would go for the Fender, its a more reliable amp then the Epiphone,but in my opinion, you should go for 30 to 50 watt tube amps, there are hundreds out there for sale, new and used.Here is a web site that I recommend to check out used and new equipment,type in daddy’s junky music.com. and click on the sit that says ”Daddy’s music located in New England and New York,and the east coast, they have 21 stores and some of BEST prices on used amps,I have bought from them and I am TOTALLY IMPRESSED with the quality of their used gear.I live in Indianapolis where the ”mother” Guitar Center is and I frequently go ther to check out gear and they will beat anybodys price on gear,except on the used gear, they are too high priced, so go and at least humor me and check out the site I recommended and you be the judge. Good Luck.

Q: BEST ELECTRIC GUITAR AMPS FOR UNDER 200?
I have always played on fender guitar amps and peavey amps. Im getting a new amp soon, what is another good amp and why? Thanks
and if you like fender or peavey, why?

A: Marshall MG-15 DFX. Very good Amp, with a good sound and it is under 200 Dollars.

Q: guitar amps? spider III, fender, vox or marshall?
i went to guitar center looking for a 100W-or-so amp.. i have 500 dollars that im willing to expend in this amp (not necessarily i have to expend them all though)
my top two where the 120W spider III from line 6 (400$), and the 250W marshall (500$). i’ve always loved marshall’s but the 400+ effects of the spider III seemed tempty
after playing with both amps and figuring i saved 100$ if i bought the spider III, i bought the spider III
i’ve just owned it for two days and i feel it doesn’t fill me completely =s
vox amps were a bit too expensive.. i searched for other vox on the internet and only the 100W seemed fair (a bit expensive though, 479$).. but the effects seem a bit mediocre.. are they?
i didn’t get to see fender in the store.. but i found a great 100W for 330$ on the internet..
is the 500$ marshall (250W) worth it over the 330$ fender (100W)? i know marshall is louder but i don’t necessarily need THAT much sound..
could u recomend me something?

A: You should perhaps check out the user reviews at www.harmony-central.com and www.wholenote.com. Musicians Friend will also have their own equipment reviews as well.

In your post you didn’t mention the type of music you played. But for overall versatility, I think the modeling amps are the way to go given your budget. I like the Line 6, Behringer, and Vox. I think you need to give yourself a little more time with the Line 6. It sounds like you’re still dialing it in. You might try taping yourself while you practise. This will give you a better idea of where you’re headed. If it seems hopeless, then you’re probably better off with something else.

Also if you need more volume consider getting an extension cabinet later. Volume is about moving air. The more speakers you have the more air you move, the louder you get.

I prefer all tube amps myself. I own a Carvin X-60 single 12″, but I do have Peavey, Randall and a Vox 15w practice amp. One day I’d like to get my hands on a THD.

Good luck.

Q: why do tube guitar amps not use cooling fans?
Why is it that the majority of tube powered guitar amps not use cooling fans yet produce much much more heat than solid-state amps? My Fender Hot Rod Deville Produces a massive amount of heat and it stays hot for hours after use and seems like a cooling fan would help.

A: Vacuum tubes tolerate heat more than semiconductors, and require a certain amount of heat just to operate. Natural air circulation is all that is usually needed.

Q: best amps for my guitar? (Fender Strat)?
please helpme out with getting a new guitar amp
i want to know some cheap good one’s that i could consider buying.

thanks for the help

A: I recommend the carvin 212 tube http://www.carvin.com best bang for the buck

Q: What is the normal setting for guitar amps?
I got a guitar amp and I was wondering, what is the normal setting for it? My amp is a Fender Frontman.

A: I will echo one point everyone is making, which is that it IS largely a matter of opinion. However, there are some other key points to consider.

First, the fender frontman is a very nice little amp and as a fender it is definitely going to give you some nice clean tones (as one other person pointed out) that are very useful in certain styles of music such as jazz and blues (think about some of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s music and you’ll know what I’m talking about, though he also made very good use of some dirty tones as well).

Which leads me to my next point, style of music is also going to be a factor in how you set up your amp. If you are going for that classic rock sound, then one nice thing you can do with fender amps is to lower the bass a bit and crank the mid and the treble and get some really nice crunchy tones.

One more thing to think about is the type of guitar you are using (and even the pick you are using to play it with) can affect how you’ll want to adjust the settings on your amp.

These are all basically ideas on what will play a role on how you’ll want to set your controls. My biggest suggestion for you, however, is not to settle for what sounds OK, play with the controls until you get the tone that you LOVE out of this amp. What I generally do is to take a new amp and put all the controls in the 12 o’clock position and adjust from there and play with it until I get something that I personally feel is a great sound. There’s a good chance that you’ll find what someone else tells you is a good sound is not necessarily the sound you’ll fall in love with from your amplifier. This is one way to define what YOU sound like.

Q: Guitar Amps under $400?
So I have been looking around for a decent amp under $400 dollars. Well let me clarify, not just decent since there are a lot of decent amps but I mean one which is both clear but can also ge decently loud and handle crunch well. I currently own a little Roland Microcube which serves me well for cleans but with my distortion pedal hooked up it simply cannot handle the volume. At lower volumes, it simply does not sound like metal, but at higher volumes it soon distorts and there’s no real bass behind it. I know its simply the size but I’ve tried Line 6 amps 15-30 watts and I like the sound, but it does not have a true clean tone which takes away from my pedal since I run it on clean tones. I played on some Fender amps today, including the Super Champ XD but I didn’t much care for it. It brings out some warm tones but I loose individual string clarity. I’ve played on the Marshall MGs but they have problems of their own. I’m at a loss for a lower end amp which I can play some metal tones. I play mainly Metallica type songs with my DF-7 pedal and clean songs with my acoustic so I’d appreciate an amp more with a great clean and string clarity and let my pedal model the distortion I want. The amp should have some decent equalizer but I don’t really need any FX except maybe chorus or reverb. I really liked the Epiphone Valve Jr. but I don’t really have the room to buy a cabinet and the like. My buddy has a crate and it sounds pretty nice, but I’m wondering if its because he’s spent all his time trying to match his guitar, pedal, and amp together. Either way I need to go up size at least but no higher than 30 watts. Any suggestions? Sorry for the length.

A: dude trust me go all the way with

PEAVEY VIPER 30 watt its only 200 bux for 30 and only 300 for 75 its a bad ass little amp i have a 15 watt and it KICKS trust me

Q: Guitar players, could you compare and contrast Vox, Marshall, and Fender amps?
Which do you like best for what style? Explain some pros and cons, I am shopping for an amp.

A: Well All In all they are all great reliable amp companies.I would say that Marshall has the most in selection for many many different types of music styles. I have a 100watt Marshall SLP it is a great all around amp although for it to get dirty zeppelin type crunch the volume has to be pretty loud as for the Vox AC30 it does not, but in my opinion the vox ac30 has more midrange. I really hate My Amp does not have an effects loop though I think they put them on now. My amp is forever old.I would say go to you local guitar shop with YOUR guitar and plug into many different amps and see which tone will suit you best. Look at the Vox AC30 Marshall SLP or (if your into metal) Marshall JCM 2000 and Fender Twin, but you just might walk out of the store with a HiWatt or a Hughes & Kettner …..

Q: What do you call the wrapper or the black cover used to cover guitar amps or guitar hardcases?
for example: http://www.made-in-china.com/image/2f0j00avFtfMbJhYgBM/Electric-Guitar-Hardcase-Fender-Gibson-Ibanez-Bass-KHhc001-.jpg

A: Tolex

Q: What is a good website to buy electric guitars and amps from?
I’m looking for a few things (Gibson guitars and Marshall and Fender amps) and would like to know what would be a good site to look on.

A: Ebay,, it might sound shizzle,, but its awesome dude!

Q: How do you connect two guitar amps together for a stereo effect.?
I have a Vox Valvetronix 30 watt. I have a Fender Blues Deluxe 40 watt.

A: You can use a 2-way splitter for 1/4″ jacks, which gives you two outputs from a single one.

A: I’ve had a Fender Twin Reverb, and I have a Roland JC-120, both of which weigh a good 65 lbs each!

I now use a Fender Blonde Blues Junior, which has a 12″ Jensen speaker, spring reverb, and 15 watts of tube power..about 5 bills for this little amp.

I love it, and now I can have a guitar case in one hand, my gig bag over my shoulder, my amp in the same hand as my guitar, and still open a door without any help!

Of course, I do mic my amp through the bands PA system using an SM-57. But I will never lug around another 65 lb amp again.

Q: Why does my Fender guitar amp have a maximum volume of 12 rather than 10? Does it have a 12 step attenuator?
I have been asked about why my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe goes up to 12 and I’m sure it has nothing to do with Spinal Tap!

A: It’s just the knob. You could put 1 to 100 on there and it wouldn’t change anything.

Q: frontman fender guitar amp hook up to a guitar pedal?
I have a frontman fender guitar amp, can I hook up a pedal to this amp…if so how?

A: turn the amp on clean, no od. plug your guitar into the pedal, and plug the pedal into the guitar input on the amp. . . .. oh yeah, turn it down first so you don’t blow your amp… post how many watts it is…

Q: Where could I find a dealer for replacement switches for a Fender Guitar Amp?
I have a Fender Guitar amp (Model: Frontman 25R Type: PR 498). The power switch for this amp has gone bad. Normally I would replace it with any switch I could find, however, the wiring is not “normal”; it has two black wires and two white wires to deal with. I suppose I could bypass all that, but I am just to worried about shorting something out. I would like an exact replacement. Does anyone know of online dealers that would probably have said switch?

A: Talk to Garry (correct spelling) at Catalina Guitars. Don’t let the name fool you, he does mostly electronic repairs.
(520) 886 0799
Garry@CatalinaGuitars.com

http://CatalinaGuitars.com

Q: where can i find a replacement rca part for a fender frontman guitar amp?
i was playing music through the amp when one of my friends more or less stood on the cable and the prongs snapped off inside, i have managed to get the prongs out but now it doesn’t work. I have tried ebay, with no luck and i can’t really find anywhere on the internet. Does anyone know where i can find the replacement part?

A: Check the local music stores,
ot Radio Shack

Q: I have a question about a Fender Princeton Reverb electric guitar amp?
I was just wondering what this amp would be worth if i were to sell it. Everything on it is completely vintage except for one of the 7 tubes in the back. Yes, that is right, it is a vintage Fender tube amp with the original tubes, and i believe it is a ‘62 or ‘63. It sounds amazing. Buy, yeah. I was just wondering if anyone had any idea what it would be worth. So, thanks for your help!

A: I’ve heard of them going for anywhere between $80 and $800, depending on the shape of the original components and the year it was made.

Fender Princeton’s go back to the 40s, but the Princeton Reverb models only go back to 64. The early models of Princeton Reverb were blackface and they later introduced the silverface version in the early 70s.

The blackface models are more desirable. If yours is a blackface model and in great shape with all the original parts, it could go for close to $1,000 to a buyer who really likes vintage Fender stuff.

At a local music store, I don’t think they would put any higher than $800 on the tag.

Q: Is it possible for a Fender Electric Guitar amp to break if you play too loud?
I was just playing with it on almost as loud as it goes and it stopped working.. I checked the connections everywhere and everything is where it should be. Now I’m just wondering if I really screwed my amp up…

A: You probably blew out the speaker but it is possible that something shook loose inside of it. Take in to a guitar shop and have them look at it and see if it can be fixed. You’re probably going to need the speaker replaced.

Q: Can you use a Fender bass with a guitar amp?
Can you use a Fender bass with a Randall 30 watt amp? What will happen?
Can you use an Ovation Acoustic-Electric guitar with a Fender 60 watt amp? What will happen?

Thanks

A: Playing bass through a guitar amp is bad. They are not designed the same, and you run the risk of blowing speakers. If you must, don’t crank it, keep it quiet and it should be ok. Not good, just ok.

Playing that acoustic through an amp… eh. An acoustic amp (an oxymoron if I ever heard one) is best, closely followed by a P.A. system. It’s not bad for your equipment, but look out for feedback. Standard electric guitar amps, I find, are a bit too trebley for acoustics.

Q: I Need Help Finding Info On My Fender Guitar Amp?
Just need info on my fender amp i picked up second hand, the model says its a H.O.T. but i cant find anything online at all, its roughly 15i x 15i in size, its a 75 watt, From Left to Right the face controls aree as follows, two guitar lead inputs Hi and Lo, then 4 push buttons controls Bright/Clean Crunch/Lead, then three dials, Contour/Volume/Reverb, then a over and under in put headphone size holes saying Tape Input, then three inputs next to that, Preamp Output, Preamp Output, Head Phones and next to that thePower Switch

A: Try going to Fender.com you might see your model there or you give them a call Telephone: (480) 596-7195

Q: how do you get the best sound out of a fender guitar amp?
i got a fender 85 guitar amp which is really cool and i got a gibson SG and i would love to know how to get the best sound out of each of them, i use pedals with the guitar these can be boss distortion and a korg pedal of various types, overdrive, chorus, blues etc. i want to play it loud and any help wld be gratefully appreciated…..keep rockin`

A: Fender 85 is cool, but if you really want to get the best out of your SG, get a Marshall 100 watt master volume.

You can sell the pedals and still have a monster sound!

Q: How do i fix a 15r fender frontman guitar amp’s drive?
i opened it up to see if i can find out what was wrong with it and i saw that the out cable was unplugged so i plugged it in and it still didn’t work.i also checked to see if anything else was unplugged and nothing else was. what problems can my amp have that wont let it work

A: Check the fuse in the plug, it might need to be replaced. If that isn’t the problem or you have no idea what you are doing, take it to Guitar Center and they can fix it for less than $10. Also check the warranty: You might be able to get a completely new amp.

Q: How do I change and match(bias) the tubes in my fender super twin reverb guitar amp?
I have bought a new full set of tubes/valves for my 1979 fender super twin reverb guitar amplifier. I can switch the tubes easily enough, but don’t know a thing about matching them. I see an adjustable screw at the back saying “output tubes matching”, but how do I do this correctly to achieve the best tone from my amp, and to ensure that the tubes won’t cut or blow. I know very little about electronics. I also live in Dubai, and there are no tube amp specialists whom I can take my amp to.

A: Take it to someone who knows what they are doing. some older amps still hold a charge big enough to kill you unplugged. good luck

Q: What do i need to use the rocktron banshee talkbox. I have a fender amp and guitar. how is a mic used with it?
i know the actual thing comes with ports for a power chord, guitar chord and amp chord. but the machine i heard is not loud since it has its own pre amp. so how would i go about hooking up a mic to it

A: The talkbox effect is probably one of the most misunderstood effects out there. It’s an acoustic effect, not an electronic one.

You don’t hook a mic into the Rocktron Banshee (or most any other talk box). If you’re going to use a talk box effective at a high volume, you have to have a PA system. Period.

The Banshee is much simpler to use than most other talk boxes in that it has it’s own power amp built it. Most if them require another amp to drive them, or have to loop between the output of a guitar head and a cabinet.

To use the Banshee, hook it up like you would any other guitar effect pedal. (Personally, I would put it first in the effects chain, but that’s just me). Then, you’ll need to attach the tube to your vocal mic. I actually use a couple of hair ties to do my, but the velcro straps they sell at Fry’s for bundling cables works well too.

That’s it. Step on the button on the Banshee, the sound shuts off from your guitar amp and starts coming out of the tube. From here on, you have to practice using it, especially if you’re actually going to try to talk with it.

Just to recap, when you’re using a talk box, the effect DOES NOT come out of the guitar amp. It comes out of the end of the tube, and requires a PA system to be usable in a band enviroment.

Good luck.

Greetings from Austin, TX

Ken

Q: If I were to purchase a Fender guitar, would I be required to purchase a Fender amp or any brand of amp?
I’m about to take up playing the electric guitar.

A: its cool that you want to take up the guitar now you just need to figure out where you want to go with it. The unfortunate thing about guitar gear, is that it is expensive. And in the guitar world, you definitely get what you pay for.

so have you decided how much you want to spend?

Personally i recommend spending 300 on the guitar at least. at this level you get a very solid mid level guitar. the law of diminishing returns comes into play. anything above this threshold will be using the same wood types, etc. so ultimately you begin paying for better fancier finishes, pickups, and craftsmanship.

and for amps, used is a great way to go. I bought a Fender Hot Rod deluxe for 400, they run for 800 now. decent savings for an amp that only had a year of use. the only catch is, the buyer needs to know what to look for. signs of wear that a beginner wouldn’t know to look for.

certain guitars traditionally sound better through specific amps. Gibson to a marshall. Fender to a fender amp. this is of course not always the case, but they just sound really good together. That and the fact that we learned to like that sound, from hearing it so much.

I personally recommend holding off on the amp for now. as you will learn guitar players are a fickle bunch. If you can already play great go test some amps at your local guitar shop. otherwise wait till you get some songs under your belt and then see which amp you like the most with your particular instrument. Also if you ever plan to play louder than bedroom levels anticipate buying at lest 50 watts for a tube amp, or 75 to 100 for a solid state. If you cannot tell the difference between the type of amps, just take it as a sign that you have more learning to do. practice amps really are a waste of money as you will learn.

Q: I have a little fender 15 guitar amp, it turns on , but when I plug in guitar, it just buzzes, no sound??what?
The amp lights up, the buzzing gets louder when I turn up volume, but other than buzzing, no sound, guitar cord is fine, amp is a little fender frontline 5 solid state amp, what could cause this?
it is not guitar or the cord.. It is definitely the amp, it lights up, it buzzes, but it the guitar does not come thru at all. the buzzing gets louder with volume switch..

A: You said that the cord is fine. How did you verify this? You can either measure continuity on the wires with a digital multimeter (and every electronic musician should be able to do this), or try the cord with another amp and guitar.

We’ll assume that the cord is functioning as you say. That leaves the amp or the guitar. With everything hooked up, does the buzzing go away when you turn the volume control on the guitar down? If so, then it’s probably the guitar itself. From what you describe, it sounds like a ground wire in the guitar control cavity has come loose and will require resoldering.

If it stays the same, then it’s likely the amp. Again, this could be a ground wire that has come loose. But unfortunately, there are several other things that can go wrong in an amp that would cause this as well. Without having the amp in front of me, I can’t pin it down anymore than that.

Good luck.

Greetings from Austin, TX

Ken

A: No, it’s kind of a crappy guitar, to be honest. You need to think about picking up the Winkleman JX-3.

Q: What Is a Good Electric Guitar and Amp Pack for $300?

A: there is no such thing. if you want a good guitar go for one of the good brands like gibson, fender (not squire), jackson, ect. if you want a good amp i would sugest you buy it separately. if you want a cheep but good amp i would say a pevey viper. get a 30 watt. it has loads of extras. they are normally about 150 or so.

Q: Can I use an amp from an acoustic-electric guitar for an electric guitar ?
So, i am planning on buying an acoustic-electric guitar pack off of musiciansfriend.com and i am also interested in playing the electric guitar. Could i just buy an electric guitar and use the amp and cable from the acoustic-electric guitar ? Or do i need to buy a different amp ?

A: An amp designed for acoustic guitars will not sound good with an electric.

The acoustic amp has more of a broad frequency range – it usually has a tweeter to add more in the upper register. An electric guitar sounds best when it is predominantly focused in the mid frequencies – hence the use of 10″ or 12″ speakers in electric guitar cabinets.

Also, an acoustic guitar amp is designed to be played as clean as possible to sound more natural. Wit an electric guitar, you will often want a little “dirt and grime” added to the mix

Q: Looking to buy an electric guitar and amp and accessories pack, what is a good price?
Also if anyone could direct me top any websites with good deals. Only looking for a starter electric guitar. Thanks in advance.
Im English, living in the uk, so all answers in pounds stirling please

A: check craigslist.org for your area. they’ve usually got Epi SG’s and Squire Strats for $80 on there. everything else is cheap everywhere.

Q: What is the best electric guitar pack for beginners?
I know how to read music, play other instruments…tried picking up the acoustic guitar but I was told that electric guitar will probably be easier on my fingers as a beginner. Would appreciate brands. Or, if you can’t recommend a beginner pack, can you recommend a beginner guitar and amp for starters? I don’t mind buying them separately. Thanks!

A: I started with a Squire Stratocaster, a Fender registered copy. Sound and handling are pretty good. well built too. In the UK they are around £150.00. Worth looking around the music shops though as sometimes people part exchange and you can end up with a real good guitar for around the same price. Most practice amps are around 15 watt, not bad for the bedroom. Enjoy it when you get one.

Q: What Beginner Electric Guitar Pack is Best?
I want a beginner guitar pack under $300. I want it to include a guitar (duh), amp, a strap, some picks, and if u can find one a tuner would be nice, but if u can’t find 1 with a tuner that’s OK.

I would be nice if the guitar is a Epiphone or a Fender not some no name guitar.

A: ive seen some fender guitar packs with what u want in it (picks, tuner, strap, and a small amp) for around 200 dollars in target

Q: which electric guitar starter pack is better?
okay. i am a girl and i want to get a beginner guitar starter pack. im looking for a metal sound. for example, like the sound from fully alive by flyleaf. heres the song if you don’t know it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d3RYW0YoEk
ok…choice one is: http://www.music123.com/Dean-Evo-XM-Electric-Guitar-Pack-620087-i1452632.Music123
choice 2: http://www.music123.com/B-C–Rich-Red-Bevel-Warlock-Guitar-and-Amp-Pack-512678-i1414966.Music123
choice 3: http://www.music123.com/Epiphone-Special-II-Performance-Pack-423215-i1501344.Music123
(BTW: FOR THE EPIPHONE SPECIAL 2 STARTER PACK, IF I CHOOSE TO BUY IT WHERE CAN I FIND IT ONLINE IN THE COLOR BLACK INSTEAD OF SUNBURST?)

A: i reckon the 2nd choice would be better for more like metal music

Q: Which stater electric guitar pack should i get?
ok I’ve been wanting to start learning electric guitar and i’ve narrowed it down to the two of these in my price range(which is $200-$300) and here are my choices
(which im trying to get my guitars from guitarcenter.com in nashville tn)

Fender Affinity Special Strat and Frontman 15G Amp Value Pack

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Affinity-Special-Strat-and-Frontman-15G-Amp-Value-Pack-104487442-i1175988.gc

or

Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar and All Access Amp Pack

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-Les-Paul-Special-II-Electric-Guitar-and-All-Access-Amp-Pack-774713-i1320789.gc

please help me choose which one i should get for my starter guitar.

oh yah … im 14 which is i think really old to start off …

A: Between the two I’d go for the Epiphone Les Paul. If you want a Fender for that money check the pawn shops. You should really find a better amp.Pawn shops or a good music store. Go online and search for Muisician’s Friend catalog. They’re a great source.

Q: What is a good price to pay for an electric Guitar for a beginner?
SOmeone offered me the vinci electric guitar pack, comes with guitar, amp belt, strap. They offered it for $50. I have never played before I fee it might be fun. Is this a good deal or am I getting ripped off?

A: If you are just learning… I would reccomend going to a used gear trader, pawn shop or somewhere that they sell used guitars.

It is not uncommon to find something that plays well for a good price.
If you shop around, you should be able to find a decent electric guitar and a small practice amp for $150 or less.

Q: Help finding electric guitar pack?
I am looking for an electric guitar pack for a beginner. One that comes with the guitar, amp, pick, strap, etc. Im looking to spend 350 or less. I would like the amp to have a headphone jack in it also (although its not necessary). I dont care what brand it is – as long as its a great guitar !

A: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Laguna-Ultimate-Rock-Rack-Electric-Guitar-Pack-with-Spider-III-15W-Amp?sku=515204

This is actually a decent starter pack compared to all the other squire and epiphone guitar packs. I was actually surprised to find this and it fits your price range.
I am not sure if this guitar suits the look your going for but you did say you didnt care what brand it was.

Also the amp is a modeling amp so its not the true sound of the guitar its a digital sound, but it sounds pretty good compared to all those other starter amps out there. This is actually a decent starter practice amp for a beginner. You really wouldnt have to worry about buzzing noises and you can get a variety of tones compared to the other amps.

So in the end I think its a solid guitar with a decent amp and it wont break the bank. Of course if you get really good at it and you really know what your looking for in a guitar you can always upgrade.

Good luck and enjoy.

Hope I was somewhat helpful.

Q: Help plz. Which one is better for me?? (an amp + guitar OR the guitar and amp pack)?
Line 6 Spider III 15 15W 1×8 Amp + Epiphone LP-100 Electric Guitar.

OR

Epiphone LP-100 Electric Guitar and Amp Pack.

*I’d like to know which amp is better to buy with this guitar. Either the Line 6 Spider III 15 15W amp or the amp that comes with the epiphone lp-100 pack. The difference between prices isn’t that much, I think that the pack is a bit more expensive, but I want to know which one is the best.

Thanks.

A: Most sure go with the Epiphone and the Line 6. Great starter amp and guitar. You won’t have to fool around with buying all kinds of effects because they’re already built into the amp. And it’s an Epiphone, which is made by Gibson, so you can’t go wrong.

Q: What beginner electric guitar pack is best?
I want a beginner guitar pack under $300. I want it to include a guitar (duh), amp, a strap, some picks, and if u can find one a tuner would be nice, but if u can’t find 1 with a tuner that’s OK.

I would be nice if the guitar is a Epiphone or a Fender not some no name guitar.

A: Ok, yeah, I would not buy a pack, most of the time they are ripping you off because you are a first time guitar buyer anyway. I would buy an epiphone if you are looking for a slightly lower, heavier sound, and a fender/squier if you looking for a more trebley, lighter distorted sound. In the epiphone section, the les paul specials are pretty good, and I would recommend a squier strat. or tele. in the fender camp (fenders are a little pricey.) Then find an amp (probably a frontman or a line-6) that sounds best with your guitar and style of music.
If you are absoultely bent on buying a beginner pack, I have one of these and they are pretty good (better than the squiers)

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-Les-Paul-Special-II-Player-Pack-102328770-i1150103.gc

Q: does anyone wanna buy or trade my acoustic electric guitar w/amp etc.?
i am selling my acoustic electric epiphone guitar for 250$ it includes amp 15w,strings,tuner,cd,guitar belt,a guitar bag,and a pick. Just email me for more Information at jeremyowamagbe@yahoo.com or i will trade all of that for a electric guitar pack(squire by fender stratocoaster)

A: You can trade swap and sell musical instruments on http://www.caretotrade.com – good luck.

Q: buy an electric guitar pack or piece together?
Should I buy an electric guitar pack for 200 dollars from guitar center or would I be able to piece together a decent guitar, amp, and accessories for 200-250 dollars?

this is the link for guitar center’s value packs

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Electric-Value-Pack-Electric-Guitar.gc

A: What I did was get the guiotar and amp seperatly, guitar was a lil over $200 and the amp was about $100, I don’t know, to me it seems like the value pack is alright, though I don’t expect you to get a really good guitar for a low cost plus amp.

Q: Electric guitar, Amp & Mic question?
So my daughter is really interested in playing the electric guitar. Currently she strums on an acoustic so I have no idea what I need to get her going on an electric guitar. So far, I have bought her a beginners guitar pack that came with a 15 watt amp. She also enjoys singing, so I’m going to buy her a microphone stand so she can put on performances for mom & dad. My question is… does the guitar plug directly into the amp – and is there a spot for me to plug the microphone into the amp as well? Or do I need a whole separate amp for her microphone line-in? I’ve read about pre-amps but don’t know how the whole set up works. Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

A: if you want a dedicated simple solution a keyboard amp may be the ticket. you can plug your mic straight into the amp and the speakers are intended to be full range unlike guitar speakers. On many keyboard amps you can have to signals sent into the amp. so in this case both the guitar and the vocals. only drawback is that the guitar may not sound quite right. you could possibly send guitar signal into practice amp like usual, then use headphone out to keyboard amp to get a little more eq and tone sculpting in. A effects pedal would be ideal for this but thats one more thing you probably don’t want to spend money on. Also, don’t rule out mic’ing an acoustic guitar.

Or you could just use the keyboard amp for vocals only, and have the guitar amp running like usual. I guess it really just matters on how many volume knobs you want to mess with.

another solution is to buy a simple mixer. has the advantage of being inexpensive and simple. plug mic into mixer, and send signal into home stereo. This solution should be adequate for amplifying vocals. but will lack portability of keyboard amp.

the options are limitless mostly because of how casual the requirements are.

Cheers

A: Because of the lower audio range basses have, they are “optimized” to handle the lower notes. Most bass amps don’t have any effects.

Conversely, guitars are more in the mid and high range of audio, so they are optimized to handle mid and high audio qualities. Many guitar amps have some sort of effect.

If used to be that bass amps had speakers with larger diameter than guitar amps, but speaker designs have changed – It is common to see good bass gear running 10 inch speakers because of the way the cone is designed.

Galen-Kruger or Ampeg bass head and either 2-10″ + a 16″ speakers or 4-10s is a great bass rig. Fender or Line-6 with 2 or 4-10″ speakers is a great guitar rig… Then there are keyboard-specific amps from Roland, too…

Q: What are the best amps for bass and guitar? Why?
Having NO idea of technical features, I wanted to know and gather information on the best amps for guitars and bass-guitars. I would appreciate any attempt to teach about their special features or flaws. The use would be to practice, to record and for live presentations. Within a considerable and manageable price, not something only clapton can afford to buy. Thanks a lot.

A: One of the best brands out there for both guitar and bass is Crate. For just guitar, there’s Line 6, Fender, and Marshall (usually overpriced). For bass, there’s Fender again, Ampeg, Hartke, Peavy, and SWR. Those aren’t the only quality manufacturers out there, just the name brands. For affordability, its hard to beat Crate, though Fender isn’t bad. You could also look into Beringer for bass, which is a very decent amp, and isn’t costly at all. Amps don’t have to come new also, you can browse used music shops for good deals, just make sure you play before you buy.

Q: Are bass guitar amps and guitar amps the same?
If so, can you use on for both?

A: NOOOOOO. no. you CAN use a guitar with a bass amp. but! do not use a bass with a guitar amp. It will blow the speaker. And a piece of trivia. THe bassman was made in the 50s as a bass amp but now it is regarded as one of the best guitar amps

Q: Is there a difference between Bass Amps and Guitar amps?
I’m getting a bass guitar [well, most likely] and I don’t want to get a regular guitar amp and blow out the speakers. But then today I was playing bass with my music teacher and he used the same speaker for guitar and bass, so I got confused. Help please.

A: Some amps are optimized for bass and some are optimized more for guitar. Bass amps typically have larger speaker throw and cone area to handle the greater pressure of bass notes, as well as amplifier circuits which are designed to perform best in the lower octaves.

But there are certain amps that are optimized for a wider output range (i.e. highs AND lows). Examples include the Roland Jazz Chorus (JC) and KC series amps. These are typically used for keyboards, but can be used for nearly anything. These amps tend to have a flat response across the whole spectrum, which means they will be less “boomy-bassy” than a bass amp. But it also means you will hear more “details” such as fret and pick noises and harmonics. This can be helpful when you are just learning, because you can more easily hear your mistakes.

If your teacher teaches both guitar and bass, he might use one of these amps. Partly to hear your mistakes better but mostly because he won’t need to change amps when different students come in.

Q: Do you have to have amps with a bass guitar?
I’m thinking about learning how to play the bass guitar. What I want to know is do you have to have amps? I know amps make it louder, but do you absolutely NEED them? Cause I just want to play at home, so it doesnt need to be that loud. Oh, and does and electric have to have them too?

A: yes an electric bass gutiar and electric guitar both need amplifiers otherwise you can only hear them if it’s COMPLETELY silent. if you don’t want to use an amp however, you can get a headphone amp (like this http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-amPlug-Bass-Headphone-Amp?sku=581087 ) or an acoustic bass guitar (like this http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Victor-Bailey-Signature-AcousticElectric-Bass?sku=511994 )

the acoustic bass guitars aren’t always as expensive as the one at that link though, i got a good one for a few hundred dollars at guitar center. the links are just examples of what i mean

Q: Help regarding electric Bass and Guitar Amps? Electro-Acoustic guitars?
I currently have an electric bass and im buying an electro acoustic guitar (acoustic guitar with a pick-up).
How would it sound if i played this guitar through the bass amp.
Would it sound substantially better if played thorugh a proper guitar amp?
Are there different amps designed specifically for electric,electro-acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars? or are all guitar amps pretty much the same?

A: >>How would it sound if i played this guitar through the bass amp.<<

Barely acceptable but not great as there would be a lot of highs missing.

>>Would it sound substantially better if played thorugh a proper guitar amp?<<

Yes.

>>Are there different amps designed specifically for electric,electro-acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars?<<

Yes. Amps designed specifically for acoustic electric guitars have a cleaner sound designed to retain the acoustic quality but simply make it louder. Check out the amps by Fishman, LR Baggs, Schertler, and Genz-Benz.

Q: Can Bass guitars be played through regular guitar amps?
Can Bass guitars be played through regular guitar amps?
Also can bass guitars work with regular guitar pedals?

A: Here are the technical issues: Longer wavelengths (bass) take 3 watts of power per watt of guitar wavelength, and much more surface area on a speaker to produce – also the excursion (distance speaker travels) is greater. Plug into a guitar amp, and it’s working at least 3 times as hard to do a note less effeciently as a speaker designed for bass.
Next there the EQ. Equalization is different because the pitch range is different. Adjusting the bass level of a guitar amp is like adjusting the mid range of a bass amp.
SOME pedals can be used interchangeably – delay, for example. But due mostly to EQ, several can’t, and aren’t worth tweaking.
If you are worried about space, or using too many amps, get a keyboard amp. It’ll handle anything, and can provide a useful powered monitor on stage.

Q: Guitar and Bass amps…?
I currently play electric guitar and I’m looking to play electric bass as well.

I know that I can’t use guitar amps for bass, but is there any kind of amp that I can use for both bass and guitar, whilst producing a sound that is good enough for practicing at home? (I don’t need to worry about live/recording sound because that is done at a friend’s house)

I need to get a new amp anyway and I’m on a budget so I don’t really want to go off buying two sets of amps if possible.

A: You can use a good bass amp for both.

A number of well known guitarists used a bass amp to record guitar parts. Stevie Ray Vaughan recorded the entire “Texas Flood” album playing through a bass amplifier.

The one problem with using a bass amp for guitar is that bass amps are usually dry – the distortion and reverb effects on a guitar amp are not normally used on the bass, and as such, are typically omitted from the amplifier.

So if you do decide to use a bass amp as your main amp, you’ll need to get a pedal board for your guitar with all of the common effects on it.

A small Fender bass amp will probably do nicely to amplify both bass and guitar for you, provided you do have a floor pedal for the guitar. I use a small 15 watt Fender bass amp as my practice amp for both instruments, actually, and mandolin as well.

Q: Are there bass guitars that plug into guitar amps?
I can’t afford another amp. That’s why I’m wondering.

A: A bass guitar will easily blow an electric guitar amp. While it might work for a little bit (and that’s a guess), the amp would blow before you really knew what happened. The frequency of a bass is too low for it to handle.

Q: Bass guitar?
Ok, so I have a few questions about bass guitars because I want to learn how to play one. 1. are electric guitar amps compatible with bass guitars? 2. I found one that I like from ebay and its made by Grand and I dont know anything about this brand and they dont have a website, so I dont know if I can ever get my hands on one ever again so I want to buy it as soon as possible but I dont know if I can trust it. 3. How easy is learning bass compared to learning electric? thanks alot in advance, I hope your answers can help me decide what I want to do.
BTW: The only reason why I want this “grand” guitar is because They make acrylic (clear) guitars so if any of you know of another brand that makes cheaper acrylic basses, please let me know, thanks.

A: you have come to the right place grasshopper: You can play bass through a guitar amp but you won’t get that true bass sound and feel with them. Never heard of the brand Grand- stay with the good brands- Ampeg, fender, Roland, Ashdown etc. Learning bass is like learning Poker: it takes an aftrenoon to learn it and a lifetime to master it. I play guitar occasionally but my main instrument is bass. Guitar has more chords and more strings to learn depending on your instrument. Whatever you decide I hope that you can learn to read music and not rely on tablature.

Q: Connect multiple guitar/bass amps?
I have three guitar and bass amps. I want to wire them all up to my bass (E.g. the sound comes out of all the amps). Is this possible?

A: Theoretically you can… but use caution. Here is why I say that:

1) If you mean that you have one amp, three guitar speaker cabinets, and one bass speaker cabinet then simply make sure that the total impedance of the three speakers is not a lower number than the impedance rated on the amplifier (or the amplifier may blow). The impedance number can be found on the back of each device. Bass and Guitar Speakers and Amplifiers tend to run at either 4 or 8 ohms (the impedance measurement). You can change the combination ohms rating higher or lower depending on the technique you use to connect them. If you connect your speakers in series, the ohms go up. If you connect the speakers in parallel, the ohms go down. The three websites I listed below should help figure this out. I have run an 8ohms bass speaker cab on a 4ohms bass amplifier for years with no issues. Reversing that amp / speaker ohms would be disastrous though…

2) If each device you have has its own built in speaker/amp combo (i.e. plug it in and you play it) then your best bet is to get a device called a Direct Box. This would allow you to plug in your instrument cable from your bass into the direct box and from there using 2-3 more instrument cables into the various speaker/amps. This would act kind of like a headphones splitter. Then you would adjust each amp for sound level, etc.

WARNING: Guitar speakers are not rated for the same sound decibels (sound pressure level) and frequencies ( the low ones) as bass speakers are so be careful.

Q: does ampeg make guitar amps or only bass?
i got an old one on trade the guy i got it from played guitar on it but other people have told me ampeg only makes bass amps

A: Currently, there is the Ampeg “Diamond Blue” series of guitar combo amps (they look like the “Diamond Blue” bass amps)… But mostly bass amps.

http://www.ampeg.com/products/index.html

They started as “Ampeg Bass Amp company” in the 1940s. The first Ampeg guitar (and accordion) amps came out in 1956 and the company name changed to “The Ampeg Company”.

Q: Best guitar and bass amps for bedroom recording?
Whats the best small (10-20 watt) guitar and bass amplifiers to buy for practicing cabbing and recording techniques? Am I better off with a combo or seperate guitar and bass amps?
Im not looking for loud amplifiers as I have to keep my recording relatively low, but what I do need is a very high quality magnet and cone. Wisdom please people..

A: I’ll start with bass. One of the most common methods of recording bass guitar is Direct to the board, typically through a direct box. On some boards, one or more channes may have seperate Hi-z inputs just for this. A compressor is also an essential tool for this method. You can mic the bass amp, and it’s neccessary to do that under a few circumstances, but in general, direct is the way to do it. It’s also the most quiet. To get a good bass sound using a mic usually requires a decent amount of spl (sound pressure level) to get a really good sound, so were talking about more power than you’ve mentioned.

As far as guitar, it just depends on what sound you want. Are you using pedals or do you want effect on the amp, or do you use any effects at all. The absolute smallest speaker I would use would be an 8″, and some suggest no less than 10″. If you bump up the wattage a little you can use a dual speaker combo. Each speaker can have a unique “signature” so two just doubles your options, but it’s not absolutely necessary. For effects on the amp, I’d recommend Behringer on the low end. They have several nice small affordable amps that have suprisingly good effects. On the high end, there aren’t many amps in the 10-20 w range. Some of the nicer Line 6 Spider and Fender GDEC amps start at 30W. For a basic small amp with no effects in the 10-20 w range, I like the Peavey Rage 158. It’s cheap, it can get loud, and it’s pretty tough. The only problem is that it has a thin sound from the 8″ speaker and you’ll have to really work the mic to get a sweet spot, but thats mostly an issue of speaker size. I know peavy earned a bad name back years ago, but they’ve come back with some really nice products. I gotten some good results from the 158, and even I was pesimistic. All of the amps I’ve listed are the small ones I have experience with, and that’s a limited list. It looks like Behringer, Crate, and Line 6 are making some pretty nice small amps. I haven’t tried or even heard the small Marshalls so I don’t know about them. Just try a bunch. If it sounds good to the ear, it’s probably what your looking for. If your going to use a small amp, and are worried about volume, I have to reccomend a accoustic blanket from markertek or someone simillar. It can be used for isolation, noise reduction, and all sorts of other things. Just a versitile tool, and cheap too.

Q: Bass/Guitar amps/guitars?
Can you use a guitar with a bass amp?
I know that they’re different frequencies,and that bass with a guitar amp would sound weird,but what about that?

I’ve played guitar for about a year and a half,and I had just bought a bass guitar earlier today,like just a side thing,just to teach myself.
So any tips for me too?
Or any free helpful websites/exercises?
Thanks

A: yeah, like the other guy said, a guitar can go in a bass amp, actually, my friend really likes the sound of his guitar through my bass amp, but there is a very high possibility of a bass blowing out a guitar amp, ive seen it done at guitarcenter, don’t try it

Q: Can the drummer hear 150w guitar and 100w bass amps?
Can drummer clearly hear guitar which connected to to 150watt combo and a bass which connected to 100watt combo in a medium practice room?

P.S. ….playing Metal music

A: Yeah, he can hear it fine until he goes deaf.

A: Concerning the unsure outcome of playing bass or guitar: You can play guitar through a bass amp, but not bass through a guitar amp. It’s a one way street. So get the bass amp.

Since I don’t know how interested you are in bass, getting a cheap small amp could give you a horrible sound and be a complete turnoff. Get something decent. You don’t have to spend top dollar, but go to a local shop, a Guitar Center if you have one around, and try things out. You’ll run across something you like. If you think it’s too expensive, get the name and model and look it up online. Win/win

X

Q: Is it ok to play a bass guitar on a regular guitar amp, or should i invest in a bass amp?
I’ve got a regular guitar amp, would it sound like shit if i played a bass guitar on it? Should i not use it for a bass guitar?

A: The problem with playing a bass through a guitar amp is that it will eventually ruin the speaker in the amp or cabinet. The speakers in most guitar amps are not meant to handle the constant low frequencies put out by bass guitars. It won’t really hurt the amp at all and you could probably get away with it if you have decent speakers and played at a very , very low volume. But what fun is that? lol ,buy yourself a good bass amp and crank it up!

Q: Can I plug a Bass guitar into a guitar amp without harming the instrument or amp?
I have a bass but no bass amp, But I was wondering if I could plug it into a guitar amp instead. My friend (non-experienced) said it would harm the amp and the bass if I had them plugged into one another. Is this true or am I in the clear to do that?

A: Most everyone has given you the right answer so far: Yes, it’s possible, but do so only at low volumes.

The only thing I wanted to add is why it could hurt the speaker but not the bass. The bass is sending a signal to the amp. The bass doesn’t receive a signal and therefore couldn’t really be damaged. The amp receives a signal and puts it out over the speakers. If this signal is too much for the speakers to handle, they could be blown. So technically the only thing at risk is the actual speakers.

One tip is to buy a DI or some sort of preamp that has a headphone jack.

Stephen

http://guitarmann.com

Q: Can you use an electric bass guitar with an electric guitar amp?
I have an electric guitar and i want to buy a bass guitar and i have a bass amp. So why not use my electric guitar amp.

A: You need a bass amp, because a guitar amp is not designed to play the low notes a bass guitar plays. You will wear out the speaker(s) in it pretty quick if you use it. Why use the guitar amp if you have a bass amp?

Q: Can you see the difference between an Electric guitar amp and a Bass amp?
I want to switch from acoustic to bass but i honestly cant see the difference between them and what is a good brand for a bass guitar and amp?

A: Your question and description are a bit confusing but ill take a shot at answering it.

There is a big (I wouldn’t say huge) difference in Acoustic and Bass guitars. Obviously they sound different but the parts to actual songs are usually different. I dont know what kind of music you play but in a regular song, the acoustic guitar will play ‘lead’ (you might also have a rhythm part with another guitar) and the bass will play a rhythm part (for lack of a better word).

I have started playing bass myself and am enjoying it very much. I bought an Epiphone SG Cherry Bass for $320 AU and amp off Ebay for $80. These are very cheap prices for bass equipment, although good for a starter. You could go the same way or decide to get a more expensive guitar for $5/6/700 +++.

I would recomend Epiphone, Ibanez or Gibson if you want to play Rock/Metal. Or Fender/Yamaha for a clean jazz sound

Q: Is it possible to turn a stereo amp into a bass guitar amp?
I have an old stereo amp that I want to use to play bass guitar on. I don’t get the proper tone that is needed with just that. I also have a small (practice size) bass amp (BP-15). Is there a way to connect the two together to make a cheep bass amp head? I would be using separate speakers. Thanks for advise cool cool

A: I’ve run a guitar directly into a stereo, and I agree, the sound is too clean.

If there is an output plug running from the practice amp, you should be able to connect it to the stereo and any distortion or effects will come through to the stereo amp. You may need to make the correct type of cord to do this.

If the practice amp does not have an output, you should be able to have an electronics repairman or a music shop guy who knows amplifiers put one in, but I don’t have any idea what that would cost.

Q: Can you use a bass guitar amp with an electric guitar or do I need a new amp?
I’m getting an electric guitar and I already play bass and want to know if I can use my bass amp with the guitar or if I need a new one.

A: your bass amp is great for guitar, but a guitar amp can be ruined with a bass.

check out this 2-string bass

http://www.geocities.com/washtubbass/cardboardbass.html

Q: Can I use my bass guitar amp as additional speakers for my DVD player?
It’s a Ibanez SWX35 bass guitar amp, and it has CD/mp3 in ports. Do I just connect the DVD player’s audio out to the CD/mp3 in ports? Also, any way so that I can use my existing speakers with the bass amp too?

Lastly, would it damage the bass amp?

A: When I first started playing the bass I was in dire need of more power… So a friend and I decided to unscrew the amp, remove the central console and start figuring out where to connect these massive speakers that we had… So after a couple of tries making contact here and there we found a couple of 2cm ( 0.787401575 inches ) long metal thingies and connect the speakers coax cables to them and it worked…

It actually sounded louder, it was a 50W amp and with the “upgrades” I was able to play at parties, so it does work.

Of course dismounting your amp sounds discouraging, but I never had any trouble, it’s not that tricky and there aren’t any things that are going to come undone if you unscrew your amp, of course you have to be careful not to yank any cable or anything. And putting it back together it’s easy as well, of course having to repeat the whole operation may be a hassle.

The amp didn’t seemed to have suffered any damage, and I squeezed out every watt that poor little amp had to offer XD.

Pertaining the DVD player, I don’t know precisely but I think it’s just a matter of pluging cables here and there. I don’t have much experience with new amps.

Good luck.

Q: If i use headphones, Can I damage my guitar amp by playing a bass through it?
I just bought a new bass guitar… but i don’t have a bass amp yet.

I have some very nice headphones that I usually plug into my amp while i play guitar at night.

I know that playing bass at high volume through a guitar amp can cause damage to the speaker, but what if I use my headphones? Can the amp still be damaged if I use headphones?

A: no it cannot. I wouldn’t push the thing to its limits…but that’s definitely ok to do.

Q: use bass guitar with electric guitar amp?
is it possible to use a bass guitar with my electric guitar amp?
do i need specifically a bass amp?

A: You can use it, but it won’t sound as good as a regular bass amp. Keep the volume, and treble down so you don’t get distortion.

Q: Does anyone know if Orange Amplifiers makes a bass guitar amp?
And do you know if Line 6 bass amps are good? My father has a line 6 guitar amp and loves it, so i’m guessing the bass amp will be pretty chill too.

A: Yes, Orange makes bass amps. I’m guessing they’re pretty expensive though!

Line 6 bass amps aren’t very good; they’re modeling amps. This means you don’t get much of your bass’s actual tone, but the amp’s internal processors trying to sound like a different amp. Sometimes they almost get it right, other times not really. There are a lot of way better brands out there for the price. If you’re looking for a really small practice amp, check out a Peavey MAX 126 or 158. If you want something a bit more powerful, check out Ashdown or Acoustic.

Hope you find what you’re looking for =)
Cheers!

Q: Can you use a bass guitar amp with an electric guitar?
I play electric guitar and already have an amp for it..but my grandmother bought me another one. Its a bass amp though. Can I use that one with my guitar or no?

A: Sure you can. It won’t sound too great. Bass amps are made for more low end tones. Not so much the mid to high ends put out by an electric guitar.

But never play an electric bass guitar through a normal electric guitar amp. You’ll blow the speaker in no time.

Q: What’s the difference between a Bass Amp and a Guitar Amp?
What’s the difference between a Bass Amp and a Guitar Amp?

Can you play a bass or guitar in the opposite amp without wrecking the amp or instrument?

A: The preamp section of the amps are voiced differently. Meaning that they are meant for different frequencies. However, it is popular with some guitarists to play through bass amps especially an old fender bassman. There are even examples of bass players using guitar amps (but, i think it sounds like crap.) It should have no effect on the instrument, but a bass could wreak havoc on a guitar amp.

Q: Electric guitar through bass amp dilemma?
Hi, I’ve been wondering for years about this and never really found a definitive answer.
I’m a guitarist and bassist. Playing a bass through a guitar amp would kill it.
So I’m planning to get a new bass amp to practice both guitar & bass.
Is this the best thing to do?

A: A bass amp isn’t ideal for the electric guitar. Electric guitar amps roll off a lot of high end and emphasize mids, while bass guitars emphasize the lows and keep a lot of that high end for the “snap” and “attack” of the strings and fret noise. Overall, a bass amp is built for headroom, ie, being able to put out a lot of clean volume, while a guitar amp is built to put out a limited frequency range, specializing in where the electric guitar sounds the best.

Some bass amps sound great with guitars…. I’m thinking of the Fender Bassman, a bass amp that many guitarists have loved to play through ever since they came out way back when. However, most modern bass amps are too clean to fit a guitar without some pedals in between.

So in my general opinion, to play an electric through most bass amps, you would either want a multifx pedal (which benefits from a lot of clean headroom) or some sort of preamp in between to kinda dirty it up a bit. EQ probably wouldn’t hurt either.

Saul

Q: Difference between bass amp and guitar amp?
Hi I’m picking up the bass guitar and i already own a regular guitar amp (Fender Deluxe 90 DSP) and was wondering if there will be a huge difference between just cranking up the bass on my regular amp or using an actual bass amp. Will there be a huge difference?

Thanks!

A: The difference is huge you must have a bass amp for a bass or it will sound horrible it will sound like a wannabe guitar which can affect your song a lot and plus the bass amp can go way louder with lower sounds without giving feedback.

Im looking at buying an electric guitar what would be best for it.

A: Absolutely you can do it. However – if you’re looking for a good guitar tone or rockin’ distortion you are not going to get it out of an acoustic amp. But it will amplify it so you can hear it.

Q: i just got a crate acoustic amp but i hooked the cord into the guitar and amp and nothing happens. any ideas?
there is a spot for something else on the back of the guitar. whats it for? all the help would be great. this is new to me

A: plug it in, turn the guitar up, turn the volume, most importantly, strum the guitar…

Q: Can I plug an electric bass into an acoustic guitar amp?
Yes, I know that I’m a noob lol. I just got into the electric string instruments but I do play other instruments. So anyway, I have a Cimarron Crate Acoustic amp. Can I plug an electric bass into it without blowing it out?

P.S. It’s not like I’m going to turn up the volume all the way and shred. Just enough to hear myself play–and maybe in a band if that’s possible…

A: That is a VERY small amp. 12 watts, 8″ spkr

You don’t have to worry about the amp, but the speaker might/will be damaged.

If you really keep the volume down, and do NOT turn up the bass (to try make it sound deep) you will probably get a away with it, for a low volume practice ALONE amp.

It is NOT big enuff to try to practice at any loud sound level.
The bass player needs a BASS amp, with a BASS Speaker, and usually about 4-10 times more power, than the guitar player.

The rules are different than for guitar.
Guitar players are LOOKING for distortion, and bass should be clean (at least MOST of the time)
Distorted bass needs even a BIGGER speaker than clean bass.
(Distortion translates into heat, and THAT blows speakers/

Make sure you keep the volume/gain down,
listen for distortion,
if you hear any, TURN IT DOWN.

Q: do i have to have an acoustic amp for an acoustic electric guitar?
because i am thinking about an ibanez acoustic-electric and i already have a crate 65 watt amp so can i just plug it in to the crate amp?

A: You can, but people buy acoustic amps because you can turn them up as loud as you want without having to worry about distortion. It’ll work for you either way, so try an acoustic amp out and go with the sound you want.

Q: Estimate on what i would get if I were to sell an epiphone electic guitar with a crate amp at pawn shop?
I want to sell or maybe trade them both in for an acoustic, but I’d like to know what i might be able to get for them at a pawn shop. Thank you.

A: Majority of pawn shops are going to use the musical instrument blue book value, Orion’s blue book is standard for most pawn and music stores when determining what to give on a trade in or purchase of a instrument.
Only the pawn shop you take it too can give you a definitive answer, Crate and Epiphone are not typically high price items and you are not going to get much unless they are high end models. A pawn shop is in the business of loaning minimal amounts to someone with the intention that they are returning to get the item(s), If you don’t return they want to sell for a profit.
If you have no intention of getting the items back then don’t use a pawn shop, use Craigslist as you can get more from a buyer than a pawn shop.

Q: Does an electric guitar work on an acoustic amp??
crate amp gibson maestro

A: i think it will but electric amps would give you better sound quality because they are made for electric guitars.

Q: can you plug an acoustic-electric guitar into an electric amp?
I have an Alvarez AD60SC and I want to plug it into my Crate GTD15.
But I am afraid that doing so will either damage the amp or the guitar’s preamp.

A: It won’t hurt the guitar or the amp, but you won’t get a good acoustic sound out of it. If you don’t have an acoustic amp, you can use a base amp, or plug directly into a PA. Many acoustic amps have a second line in, for a mic, and can be used as a small PA, so if you play out much It might be a good thing to have.

Q: Do acoustic-electric guitars play on electric guitar amps?
I have a 100 watt crate amp and am curious that if I bought an acoustic-electric guitar if it would be able to be played through my amp. I would like to avoid having to buy a whole other amp for this guitar.

A: Yep, it sure will! : )

Q: I have a Crate AC60 actoustic amp and im trying to set an EQ that’ll suit fingerstyle guitar, any tips?
EQ
Acoustic Amp
settings
help
NOT CRATE. ITS A ROLAND, MY MISTAKE SORRY

A: Since we can’t tell you what you like or what you want to sound like, I don’t see how we can tell you where to set your controls. These appear pretty straight-forward to me so I’d do like I do with every new amp. Set all controls at the middle position, then alter each (delay/reverb/etc.) until you get what you want. Since these amps were designed for acoustic guitars, I don’t think you have to do a whole lot of adjusting. With the controls all set at center position, you’ll get what Roland thought they should sound like. After that, it’s up to you.

Kabum

Q: Which Acoustic-electric guitar?
okay, these are the three guitars i have narrowed my search down to.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-AJ-200SCE-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-100375834-i1150009.gc
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-CD140SCE-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-103939112-i1149499.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-CD140SCE-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-103939112-i1149499.gc

i have already gone to guitar center and tried the Epiphone out, and it felt pretty good. If you have any guitar suggestions just remember that i want an acoustic-electric, about $300, and has be a dreadnought with a cutaway.

as far as acoustic amps go, i have narrowed my search down to this one.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Crate-CA10-10W-Acoustic-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=485069

if you have any suggestions for amps, just keep in mind that it has to be within the $80-100 price range.

Thanks for the help! I will pick a best answer.

A: out of the ones you suggested i would get the epiphone, but i really like alvarez check them out they are a really good value for the quality you get in return. also i would NEVER buy from guitar center or musicians friend, did you know they are owned by toys “R” us? i would buy local but that is just my opinion

Q: Electric Guitar and Amp and Humming Noise?
I have a Crate amp and an Epiphone Les Paul (which I think has 2 humbuckers). I’ve had them both for about 2 years now, but recently the amp has started making this loud humming noise whenever I plug in. I plugged in my acoustic to the amp and it worked fine, so I assume its the guitar. Does anyone know why this has happened or how to fix it?

A: I had this happen to me once. It was the patch cord connection jack. I never had mine repaired, but if I wrapped the cord around the strap button, it wouldn’t buzz. Most of this is caused by a ground problem. If you plug into an outlet with a bad ground you can get a buzz as well. It could be other things, but is usually a ground thing.

To fix it, you would have to re solder the joint to the jack. I would take it into the shop. I would spend the $20 bucks and have someone look at it if I were you.

Q: What is the best way to mic an entire 4 piece rock band through a PA?
I have a Behringer 800 watt 10 channel powered mixer, 2 yamaha passive speakers,a powered behringer speaker, 2 electric guitars, 120 watt line 6 guitar amp, 15 watt crate amp, acoustic guitar w/ no amp, bass guitar w/ no amp, electronic drums, 2 mics.. During Shows Singer plays guitar, bassist sings, lead guitarist, and drummer..

A: That might be a bit difficult with only two spare mics…

But it’s not impossible.

What you will want to do is use the first mic to mic up the Crate amplifier, as it will be quietest. You will then want to run this through the active speaker, with the volume set so it is just below clipping.

Then, hook up the drum kit to an amp (if the Line 6 has a spare input then maybe use that and split the channel path, or even put it straight into one of the PAs. The bass guitar will need to be hooked up to the mixer if you are running it straight into a PA, as it will sound dreadful without proper EQ. Just remember for EQ, keep the treble at a high level if you want the bass to have a sharp, slap bass sound, keep the bass to a mid to high level and use more mid than you would usually use, as it will help to ‘cut through’ the mix.

Use the spare mic to mic up the acoustic guitar if it doesn’t have a pickup and run the mic into the mixer and PA.

Alternatively, you can just use the Line 6 for electric and acoustic when not using the electric. Or even into the Crate.

You might want to play around with it, but definitely mic up the Crate, unless you can use an output to send the signal straight to the speakers.

Q: Acoustic/electric guitar question?
Im thinking about buying an acoustic electric and im wondering if i need an acoustic amp or can i use my solid state electric amp? i have a crate flexwave 15R (my practice amp) btw.

A: Doesn’t matter.
These two vids explain the basics about amps, valves, advice on buying one and some basic settings…

Q: what guitar and amp should i get?
i have a 5 watt crate and a strat knockoff i was looking at getting a new guitar and im most likely giving my amp to my girlfriend on her birthday along with her guitar so

for guitars i chose

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Les-Paul-100-LeftHanded-Electric-Guitar?sku=518664

http://www.zzounds.com/item–IBAART100L
(i do not favor the les paul stye but yahoo made me remove 3 links so the other three were Ibanez GRX30L, Ibanez GAX70L, Epiphone G310)

and for amps

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-25R-Frontman-Series-II-Guitar-Combo?sku=480669

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-TBX30R-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=480943

http://www.zzounds.com/item–MSHMG15

i play stuff like blink-182, 30 seconds to mars, fall out boy, MCR, escape the fate, greenday, afi, +44, AvA, box car racer, nirvana, paramore, the red jumpsuit apparatus, three days grace. and i don’t have a huge budget but i will be getting a job soon so if you have any other recommendations for a guitar or amp and i was also thinking about getting a bass to so here’s what i got

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rogue-LX200BL-LeftHanded-Series-II-Bass-?sku=512227

http://www.zzounds.com/item–IBAGSR200L

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Standard-P-Bass-Special-LeftHanded-Electric-Bass-Guitar?sku=510580

and i don’t know what would be a good amp for it since im a guitarist so help with that please

and then maybe an acoustic

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-AEL10LE-LeftHanded-AcousticElectric-Guitar-with-Onboard-Tuner?sku=519997

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Takamine-G-Series-340CLH-LeftHanded-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=516429/

once again not a huge budget so please keep it cheap with the recommendations
i will not get a line 6 mainly because they are to digital and sound like crap i have played on them as for the peavey vyper i will not get one of those eaither
the last link is http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Takamine-G-Series-340CLH-LeftHanded-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=516429
let me say this again SMALL BUGDET fender american made telecasters would be $1,274.99 – $1,339.99
a gretsch would be over $2000
and a gibson!? are u kidding me? an epi dot maybe but a gibson!? not everyone has a high paying job
and they dont make LEFTY washburns
im 16 if that helps AT ALL a mexican made tele maybe aso i have a falling appart MIM strat! so saving up for years isnt gonna happen as for getting an expensive amp.. i am giving away my amp in a few weeks and i cant exactly go on playing a broken MIM strat without an amp for years
i also allready have a few BOSS pedals

A: for amps, go for a used mesa F-30 combo.

They usually go for around $500-$700 used, and it’s definitely a steal for that price.

Don’t waste your time with crappy Marshall MG’s.
if you can’t accommodate that in your budget yet, then don’t buy anything yet. Going cheap won’t get you much for good to play those bands.

as for guitars, buy an Agile Les Paul from http://www.rondomusic.com
they’re made in the same Korean factories as Epiphones are, but to MUCH MUCH MUCH higher quality. An AL-3000 will be the best bang for your buck $300-$400 you could possibly spend on a guitar.

Q: A crap load of Questions about my Acoustic/Electric Guitar!?
What does an acoustic Preamp do? today my freind pluged my new taylor into his regular electric crate 4 by 12 and it sounded awesome but i heard thats not good at all, i think your supposed to bye an acoustic/electric amp right?. what r some things i need to play this guitar other than acoustically, like amps, cords, preamps, pedals, stuff like that.

A: An acoustic preamp is basically a way to control the volume and tone of an acoustic guitar pickup. Most of todays acoustic electrics come equipped with volume and tone controls that run on battery power so there is no need for a separate preamp. Some acoustic electrics come with a pickup only so that is where the need for a preamp or direct box comes in. You don’t necessarily have to have one, as you can plug the pickup directly into the amp or P.A. system, but then you can’t control the volume or tone from the guitar.

You can plug your acoustic electric into any electric guitar amp without hurting a thing. There is no need for an acoustic electric amp but the nice thing about them is they are voiced specificly for acoustic tone. Their preamps and speaker systems are tuned for that purpose. Acoustic electric amps are ideal for smaller gigs where you are not running instruments through the P.A. system.

You don’t need any certain guitar cords for an acoustic electric. Any good guitar cord will do.

As far as pedals go they are not necessary either unless you want to add some effects to your sound.

When it comes to amping up the sound there are many different ways you can go , here are just a few.

1. directly through a guitar amp
2. directly through an acoustic electric guitar amp
3. directly through either a regular or an acoustic electric amp with a microphone in front of it to go through the P.A. system.
4. ( probably the most common way ) straight through the P.A. system via a direct box or preamp

A: I’d say either a Fishman acoustic amp or a Roland acoustic amp

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Q: What is the best amp for an acoustic guitar/beginner?
I have a Seagull Acoustic Electric Guitar. Was wondering what would be the best amp to buy, keeping in mind that I just started playing this year and I have less than $450 to spend.

A: Keep going unplugged as long as you can; it’s easiest to learn like that. But when you decide to get an amp, I’d suggest starting out with either an amp designed for acoustic guitars or a low-end tube amp (low-end because tube amps tend to get expensive). Fender amps tend to work rather well for this, and Carvin (available from Carvin.com) sells an acoustic amplifier with I believe two guitar inputs and another channel for a microphone, as well.

Q: what is the best amp system for an electric acoustic guitar under 300?
im looking for a small amp system i can take to college.. what would be the best for under 300 dollars?

A: Line 6, always line 6. Line6.com

Q: What amp is best for an acoustic Taylor 214ce guitar?
I just bought a brand new taylor acoustic-electric, 214ce guitar and I’m looking to buy an amp as well. Do you have any suggestions as to what brand and size I should buy. Ionly ever do small gigs so I don’t need a lot of power. I’ve been playing Acoustic my whole life and this is my firs Acoustic-electric guitar so I need some advice

A: I get on very nicely with my Marshall AS50R which is designed for electro-acoustics. It has 2 channels, one with optional balanced input, with the option to use variable amounts of reverb, chorus and feedback cancellation on each. It has in/out for external effects, line out and D.I out on the back. As the name suggests, it has 50 watts output which seems plenty for small venues.

There is also a very nice Roland (AR60?) that is worth a look. It uses smaller speakers than my Marshall but still gives a full, rich sound.

Q: Need help buying Acoustic Guitar Amp?
Ok folks heres my problem:
I am not at all knowledgeable about Guitar Amps in general, and I have just got a new acoustic guitar (Ibanez A200 ETG). I went to Guitar Center and a staff worker there recommended that I get the Acoustic AG60 Acoustic Amp. Here’s the link: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Acoustic-AG60-60W-2×8-Acoustic-Guitar-Combo-Amp-104839105-i1425485.gc
That runs me $300, which I am fine with but here’s the question: Am I getting the best bang for my buck? I want the best sounding acoustic guitar amp and I have a price range of anything preferably 400 dollars or under.
Here are my requirements for the Amp:
Must be somewhat powerful (I play in a band where there is also a drummer, and I need to be heard)
Must be around or under $400 (Said this before but I cannot spend too much on my first acoustic amp)
Must have instrument input (1/4) and also a Microphone input (XLR) (I sing as well as play guitar)
I need help with this before New Years Eve because I plan to buy it Tuesday, and I have to have some time to practice before my New Years Eve Party Gig.

A: I just ran my martin through the P.A. system via a direct box and fed it through the monitors so I could here it. It worked great, nice full sound. I Never amplified it unless I was playing a gig so I never needed a acoustic guitar amp. Actually you don’t see many acoustic guitar amps being used because most guys prefer to run through the P.A..

Q: What acoustic guitar amp should i buy?
I own an epiphone les paul ultra II. It has two outputs. One electric one acoustic. I was told to achieve the best tone for the acoustic pickup i should get an acoustic amp. i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for under $200

A: i have no clue, but you might get better results if you enter your question in another catagory this is mostly for ipods and mp3 players.

Q: I have a Martin electro acoustic guitar – what is the best amp to use with this for under £500?
dont need mega watts – maybe enough for a small pub or coffee bar

A: The Fishman Loudbox or Soloist would be perfect. So would the L.R. Baggs Core-1 or the Schertler David or Unico. Any of the Genz Benz Shenandoah models would also work great. Good luck.

Q: What would be the best amp settings to make my electric guitar sound acoustic?
Or at least get it as close as possible to the acoustic sound. Any ideas?
My guitar and amp are pretty basic, Epiphone Les Paul Junior II and an Epiphone 12W amp. I’m using them for practicing, though I’d like tuning them to acousitc.

A: i think you would need to boost the lows more because electric guitars sound more tinny with out distortion. also maybe if you have a chorus or reverb setting, play around those to make it sound fuller. It all depends on the amp and guitar though.

Q: What is the best acoustic guitar out there?
Ok so i get any guitar i want (pretty much) but i don’t know which one to pick!!! I want an acoustic guitar and i mostly play rock and alternative songs and i do some finger picking also. Any suggestions? Maybe an acoustic/electric ’cause i do have an amp but i almost never use it. Thanks. And leave a link to a website, if u want.

A: Generally speaking, Martins have the best studio, recorded sound, but Gibsons have a better live performance sound.

I’ve heard many acoustics in live performance over the years and the single best sounding acoustic I ever heard was the Gibson J-45 in a live band setting, however…if you’re in a recording studio, it’s hard to beat the sound of a Martin.

To me, Gibsons are easier to play…Martins are a bit stiffer, better suited for bluegrass Doc Watson type playing, whereas Gibsons have a mellower more rhythm friendly sound.

Ovations are probably the easiest to play and are the closest acoustic to approximating the neck of an electric guitar…plus they have a great plugged in sound.

As others have said, there are many great acoustics out there today…Guild and Taylor and Alvarez Yari to name just 3 more companies.

Whatever your decision…and this is very important…make sure the guitar you buy has a “SOLID TOP.” A solid top will ensure the longevity of your guitar and the tone will improve with age as will the trade in value.

A good name brand solid top guitar will probably be worth far more than you paid for it in 40 years.

As others have said…try different acoustics and find one that seems to speak to you. There’s something magical in choosing an acoustic, almost as if the guitar does the choosing, and not you. Do not discount this “magical” feeling if it comes over you.

Personally, If I could buy any acoustic right now, I would buy a Gibson J-45, but that’s personal preference. The rosewood acoustic/electric version is about $2300.

Best of luck and keep pickin’ till those fingers bleed.

Q: What acoustic guitar amp should I get for gigs?
What wattage will I need? Whats the best brand? And any other info would be appreciated. This is my first amp but Im well able to play and the gigs will be in a pub/medium venue size place.

A: I much prefer Fender’s Acoustisonic II, costing around $800. It has a good acoustic amplification, coupled with chorus, reverberation, echo, and delay.

The only negative attribute of this amp is its limited use of quality bass tone.

Q: What is the best guitar amplifier I can get for about $100?
What is the best guitar amp on the market for 100 dollars, give or take a little. I have an inane acoustic electric guitar if it makes any difference.

A: As a small practice amp or to use as a pre-amp, there are so many good ones out there. But as a stand alone or practice amp for an inane acoustic-electric, that makes it a liitle harder to pick a good one.

I had a Marshall MG15CD that I was very pleased with and lost…somewhere…and would like to get another. It was a good all-around little amp, even for my acoustic-electric.

Q: Do I need a specific kind of amp for my acoustic-electric guitar?
I’m about to buy an acoustic-electric guitar and I need to know if I need to buy an acoustic guitar amp or if an electric guitar amp would work. Also, what is the best bang for your buck in acoustic guitars/amps??? Thanks guys!
I’ve been playing for about 3 years.. I taught myself

A: yeh any amps fine, i jus got 1 4 christmas and i use my electric guitar amp. sounds cool how long you bin playin .

Q: Will an acoustic electric guitar sound like an electric guitar if it is plugged into an electric amp?
It is pretty simple, will an acoustic- electric guitar sound like an electric guitar if it is plugged into an electric amp rather than an acoustic amp? also, what strings do i use for acoustic-electrics. I will pick a best answer.

A: Well the Acoustic-Electric guitar only sounds acoustic due to the pick up and hollow body. The amp doesn’t have much to do with it besides distortion, which can be turn off in most amps. You can make an acoustic electric sound like and electric guitar or an acoustic with and electric amp.

Q: Best Acoustic Guitar For Me?
What’s an amazing sounding acoustic guitar for a person who plays a variety of music. I tend to learn classic rock like Red Hot Chili Peppers, but i like learning newer rock songs too. Im not all that into Country.

& are acoustic electrics good? I have a spider III amp will acoustic electrics sound good?
What’s a good acoustic electric? Thanks in advance.

A: a amp that produces an acoustic sound is shit compared to a natural acoustic sound.

just go to store and try the guitars

Q: Semi acoustic with electric guitar amp;electric sound?
Alright. Ive heard some people say that if you plug a semi(electric) acoustic guitar into an electric guitar amp, and use a distortion effect or what not, the acoustic will sound close to an electric, and other people have said the opposite.
So…Would it be like the ‘best of both worlds’ if I got a semi acoustic?
THanks in advance guys

A: Hi Blah

If you use the acoustic electric on an amp, it will sound acoustic and not like a true electric guitar. If you put electric guitar strings on an acoustic, then yes but you would lose the beauty of the acoustic sound.
If you use a distortion unit. Yes, the sould is close to an electric. I totally agree but, not if you are playing clean.