Guitar Amps

Read and learn more about tube guitar amp. For more, visit theGuitar Amp website GuitarAmpUniverse.com

Q: What is a good tube guitar amp to buy?
I’m having a custom guitar built, and was wanting to buy a new amp to go with it. I know the tube amps will give you the best sound period, but which is the most affordable tube amp that will still give you a great vintage sound? Thanks in advance for any intel.

A: Try Carvin Tube Amps.

http://www.carvinguitars.com/amplifiers.php

They are all nice, especially the Legacy’s. But they are very expensive.
They have about three other tube amp models, each with different setups. You can get Combo tube amps, or half/full stacks.

I would recommend the X100B series. They sound very nice, and are pretty affordable.

Q: Can you recommend a good 5 watt or less tube guitar amp?
I’m looking for a good tube (valve) guitar amp for home us and some light jamming. I’d prefer 5w or less, and don’t really want to spend more than $750. It can be either a head or combo.

I’m a beginning guitarist, and play blues, 60’s pop, and some rockabilly. NO METAL!
I’m cosidering the Blackheart Little Giant and the Epiphone Valve Junior. Any others?

A:
I just bought an Epiphone Valve Jr, and I love it. It even sounds good through my Marshall stack, without any pedals or other junk that I’ll be playing through it. =)

Have you heard the Fender Champ? That might be a way to go. Their rep is that they’re pretty clean, but sweet. Might be what you’re looking for, but then again, you might want to throw a Tubescreamer into the mix….

Saul

Q: How does a Tube Guitar Amp Work?
I have a solid state amp and am thinking about getting a tube amp and I’m a little confused about how they work. When do you use the standy and on switches and care for the amp properly?

A:
The principle is the same. Signal comes in, and instead of transistors, at each tube this small signal on one side of the tube influences the much larger signal flowing through the other side of the tube, so that the output signal is almost identical to the input signal, just much larger. Repeat three to five times, add some caps and resistors and whatnot for EQ, and that’s the basics of a tube amp. Well, the super simple explanation.

To make that transferal of small signal to large signal a vacuum tube needs some juice – some heat. To get ‘em hot takes a few seconds. So to get the power flowing you turn on the power, but the full voltage isn’t applied to the tubes… don’t want to hit ‘em with too much juice at once. So that’s what the standby switch is all about. Turn on the power, wait a minute, then turn it from standby to on. The manual that came with my Mesa Boogie suggested a turn-on time of about a minute, so that’s what I go by with every tube amp that I use.

If you have the amp on but won’t be playing it for a while (10+ minutes), flip it to standby for that time period. When you’re ready to turn it off, flip it to standby, wait a minute, then turn it all the way off.

I don’t think that *not* doing this will break your amp or anything, but tubes aren’t built as well these days as they used to be, and you want to maximize their lifespan. Doing this stuff keeps ‘em alive a lot longer… and reduces the chance of them blowing during a gig!

Oh yeah, and never turn an amp all the way on unless it’s plugged into a speaker cab. It damages the amp. Apparently it’s okay with solid state amps, but it is *not* *not* *not* with tube amps.

So don’t do it. Always double-check to make sure the amp is plugged into the speaker cabinet before you flip that switch off of standby.

…

Oh yeah, ratings. Amps are rated for how much clean power they can deliver. Transistor amps function by delivering clean power pretty much up until they saturate/overload at which point they sound like crap. Tube amps with the same power rating will saturate sooner, much sooner, long before they overload, and so can deliver less clean power. What that means is that if amp A is solid-state and can deliver 100w, it will be rated at 100w. If amp B is a tube amp and can deliver the same power rating, it may only be able to deliver 40-60 watts of clean power… of even less! After that it starts to distort. It still delivers the power, but the signal isn’t clean… it has distortion, or harmonics, added to it. Interestingly enough, these harmonics tend to be musically pleasing to our ears, and we tend to hear them as pleasant, sweet, chimey, etc.

So what I’m trying to say is that the tube amp rated 50 watts is actually going to be just as loud, and probably a lot, lot louder, than that solid-state amp rated at 100 watts. I say this from personal experience.

Tube amps are fun… swapping tubes out can color your amp tone in interesting new ways, and can sometimes add that sparkle you’ve been looking for.

Ummm… don’t swap out power tubes without asking a tech if it needs to be re-biased. You don’t have to rebias for preamp tubes (12ax7, etc), and those are a lot of fun to swap out. Try JJ’s, I like them a lot.

Don’t let your amp get too cold, don’t leave it in the car or garage overnight (at least the head), etc. Swap out the tubes every year or two, or if you play it a lot (20+ hours a week), then swap ‘em out every year or year and a half.

Power tubes MUST be matched, it’s way safer for your amp that way. Preamp tubes don’t. Don’t put a 12ax7 in where a 12au7 is, if it’s for reverb, it’ll be too much gain and the reverb will sound like junk.

The Spider III is NOT a tube amp. Sure, it looks like one, and even has nice tubes that glow like christmas ornaments. It sure doesn’t sound like one though! Play it, then compare it to a real tube amp… it may have the volume, but it doesn’t have that sweet tube warmth!

That’s all I can think of for now. Ask lots of questions, google is your friend! And good luck, whichever way you go! (although I think there is no turning back for me now!) =)

Saul

Q: building a tube guitar amp. there are several diff ground symbols. are they all supposed to be connected?
I am building a tube guitar amp. there are several diff ground symbols on the schematic. are they all supposed to be connected? I have the ground from the power cord attached to the chassis. Can other grounds in the schematic be attached to the same chassis ground?
here is a link to the schematic: http://ax84.com/media/ax84_m175.pdf
is the signal ground connected to the chassis at all?

A: If you are using a power transformer, then the chassis should be isolated from the other grounds. There should only be a chassis ground and a separate signal ground which is the same as all the B- supply voltages.

The only other ground I can think of is the speaker ground, returning to the output transformer. That can either be separate, or connected to the signal ground — it doesn’t matter (unless you’ve got some really bizarre tube circuit).

If you e-mail me the schematic or send a link to it, I can check for sure.

.

Q: what is the best tube guitar amp in a mid price range?
i am looking for a tube amp to replace my solid state.
Any ideas?

A: What I would do, is, look in musiciansfriend.com, and check out the prices of the tube amps they sell in there! And if any of those prices are suitable , you will have a ;new one! If not the other places I would check would be the pawn shops, for a low price used one, or the music stores,!

Q: How do i know what guitar tube amp to choose?
I’ve been playing guitar for 2 years now and mostly 60s and 70s rock i was wondering if anyone could help me choose what brand and model amp to choose?

A: depends on how much you want to spend you could get a good vintage marshall orange or laney if you have a botomless pitt of money.if you dont have but a smaller budget get a peavey windsor.its 100watts all tube and has been compared to the marshall jcm800s. that is actually what it was based off of. i actually have the windsor and i love it! it is a great amp with lots of tone

Q: How do you change the tubes in a tube guitar amp?
Do you just remove the old tubes and pop the new ones in or are there other adjustments that need to be made?

A: The bias needs to be set on the new tubes if I am not mistaken. Don’t do this yourself.

Q: Why is a tube guitar amp louder than a solid state guitar amp?
For example: Why would a 30 watt tube amp be louder than a 30 watt solid state amp at maximum volume?

A: The way the human ear works is that it is very sensitive to the harmonic content of a sound. A tube amp is less linear (that is, has more distortion) at signal levels below clipping than a solid state amplifier. The distortion will increase slowly, and then more rapidly as the amp starts to clip. In fact, the distortion increases so gradually and is of such a benign nature that the onset of audible distortion has no easily defined threshold. The solid state amplifier on the other hand has no such gradualism. It is almost perfectly non-distorting right up to the point that it clips, and then it clips HARD. It’s easy to hear the threshold.
This sudden onset of distortion is also composed of relatively harsh sounding distortion, not like the subtle second and third harmonics of the tube amp. The human ear hears the sudden harsh distortion as clipping and harshness. It interprets the low order distortion of the tube amp as a louder sound, not as distortion. In effect, the tube amp fools the ear into thinking that its early distortion is more loudness. They therefore sound louder or more powerful than the actual measurements show are really there.

Q: what is the cheapest guitar tube amp i can buy?
i need to find a replacement for my old fender frontman POS. i would really like a tube amp or at least something better in a similar price range.

A: I have a Crate Vintage Club 50…50 watts, ALL tube, 2×12
It is about ten years old, and you can find used ones for about 300-400 dollars.

Q: What’s sounds better, a tube guitar amp or a transistor amp?
There us a lot of debate about this around me lately, i just wanted to hear some other opinions. is it the clean tone, the distortion and overdrive? maybe even tell me what brand of tube you recommend in a 12ax7 or a 6v6. (if you don’t understand the last part, i just have a lot of time on my hands.)LOL

A: I’ve heard some great sounding solid state amps (Roland JC-120), and I heard some tube amps that sound like you plugged your guitar into a wood chipper.

It really comes down to what style of music you want to play, and what sounds good to you. I’d say that 80% of the guitarists (semi pro and pro level) play tube amps (and conversely, probably 80% of bass players use solid state).

And yes, while the majority of guitarists use tubes, there are a few notable exeptions:

B.B. King – his favorite amp for the past few decades is an old Gibson L-5 solid state.

Ty Tabor (King’s X) – He had what I consider his best tones on the first 3 albums. He was very secretive about his rig. It finally came out that he used a preamp out of a Gibson amp, throug his effects, and then to a PA amp. Solid state all the way.

The Edge (U2) – Uses a multiple amp set up, and usually has a Roland JC-120 and a small solid state Randall amp in the mix.

The other thing to consider…there will be maintainance costs associated with a tube amp. They do wear out after a while and must be replaced. How often depends on how often and how loud you play.

You didn’t mention anything about what I consider the third type of amp, and that’s the digital modeling amp. It’s not tube, but it’s not a linear amp either. The signal gets digitized, and the tone and distortion is derived in software. And I know that most tube purists will tell you that they wouldn’t touch one of these amps if you gave it to them. But, I’ll share this and then shut up about that debate.

Kendrick Amplifiers is a small boutique amp manufacturer and repair/mod company north of Austin. It’s owned by a guy named Gerald Weber. Gerald builts some really amazing (and expensive) amps, and can fix anything out there that glows. More than once, he’s sat 10 feet from me at a club gig while I’m playing a Line 6 Vetta, and more than once he’s shaken his head and stated he didn’t know how they did it but he would swear there’s a tube in that amp somewhere. I think part of it is Gerald is being nice, but when I hear that amp on playback, I have to shake my head a little as well.

The bottom line is that you need to go out, plug in, and listen to as many amps as you can. Don’t get too hung up on what’s behind the panel. It you like what you hear, and it’s in your budget, then you’re good.

For tube types, I’m really liking the tubes that Electro-Harmonix is selling these days. I haven’t tried their 6V6, but their preamp tubes are very good.

Good luck.

Greetings from Austin, TX

Ken

Q: Tube Amp Question for guitar players?
So i’ve been planning to buy a used peavey guitar tube amp, and currently I play a solid state amp. I’ve been reading on the internet, and it sounds like I need to play a tube amp through a cabinet or something? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I’ve just never had

A: What you’re talking about is a head. Heads come in both solid state and tube. The head is the actual amp and the speaker cabinet contains the speakers. Check if it is a combo (head and speakers all in one) or if it is just a head. If thats the case then yes you need a cab.

Q: Whats a good guitar tube amp book?
I am interested in learning about guitar amplifiers and making them and want to know some good resources like books and websites. Any help would be appreciated.

A: a guitar
tube is what you plug the guitar into

Q: Is there any difference between sovtek 6L6GC and 6L6GB tubes for a tube guitar amp that would affect an amp ?
Old univox tube amp, requires 2- 6L6GC power tubes.I have 2 6L6GB tubes that seem to be compatable

A: 6L6GB have a 19 watt rating, 6L6GC have a 30 watt rating.

See the link below for details.

Q: What is the most versatile guitar tube amp head for under 1500?
And what would be some good cabinets to match the head for versitality?

A: Most versatile as in good cleans and high gain? I love Orange tube heads and have one myself, but wouldn’t call it versatile. Same with Marshall and Fender, they are what they are. I use an Orange tube half stack and a Fender Princeton tube combo with an A-B switch so I have the best of both worlds. Personally if I had to have one “do it all” head I’d get a Fender or VOX and then use a good pedal to dirty things up more. My next head is the Mesa Boogie TransAtlantic, but it’s under $1000 and may not be as much as you’re looking for. It’s also a 15 watt and you may want more. I’m big on lower watt tube amps so I can get proper saturation and then just mic as needed.

http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Transatlantic/transatlantic-TA-15.html

Q: Looking for a Tube guitar amp that can shred?
I play stuff like bring me the horizion, destroy the runner, all that remains, parkway drive, shadows fall, bleeding through……..Looking for a head amp that is great at shredding

A: Amps don’t shred. Guitarists do – and they can do it through any amp. However, to pay with the big boys I’d check these out:

MARSHALL:

http://www.marshallamps.com/

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/guitar-amp-heads?N=100001+338493&Ntt=Marshall&src=3WWRWXGB&ZYXSEM=0

Lots of shredders seem to swear by MESA amps as well:

http://www.mesaboogie.com/

Here’s a comparison between a Marshall and Mesa:

http://www.petrucciforum.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-3121.html

Good luck!

Kabum

Read and learn more about fender guitar amp parts. For more, visit the Guitar Amp website GuitarAmpUniverse.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: is this a good price for this guitar? fender starcaster + a 10 watt amp?
ok so basically i’m pretty new to guitar. i took some lessons a few years ago through a school program and long story short the program fell through after a year and my guitar teacher moved to NYC lol, and i actually just had my first guitar lesson since then tonight anyways, my friend had told me before [because he knew i played a little] that his friend was selling an electric guitar, and asked me if i was interrested, and i said maybe. so tonight on facebook his friend IM’d me and told me about the guitar and amp and asked me how much did i think was a fair price? i literally had no idea because 1. i really don’t know much about the price range of guitars [my parents bought me the one i have lol] 2. everything i know about guitars is acoustic. so i really dont know much about this stuff lol. anyways he said its a fender starcaster and a 10 watt amp. the guitar isn’t that new, he bought it for $220 used, but its in good condition with no scratches or dings or anything. when i told him i didnt know about the price, he offered to sell the guitar and amp to me for $150, and i told him i would have to think about it but i was indeed interrested in it. when i googled it, starcasters were going for around $150+ online, so it seems like a fair price. however im not sure so i just decided to ask you all :]

btw heres the picture he sent me from his phone:

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq104/erm__/fenderguitar1.jpg

[the actual color of the guitar is like a fading dark to light brown with a white part in the middle]

thanks so much for your help!

A: Sounds good, my guitar cost $115 and my amp was around $75, and yours look way better.

Q: Why does my guitar keep electrifying me?
I have a fender guitar and whenever i turn my amp on i can’t touch anything metal on the guitar. The volume knob, input, or the thing that holds the strings. Whenever i rest my arm or anything on the metal parts of the guitar, i can feel it become extremly hot and then i realized that it was electric….what’s up?

A: you have a short take the pick guard off and look under it make sure wire is not touching each other no electric current just the guitar or your HUMM buckers are shorting out take it to a guitar shop ,

Q: Can you pack a mini amp inside a guitar?
I was just wondering if you could take one of those tiny “plug and play” amps and embed it inside the guitar, then remove a part of the wood and put the speaker and a wire mesh guard in there. It would be a cool thing to try. Or would that not work because of hardware, etc.? What about fitting in a mini amp? Like the Danelectro Honeytone or Fender Mini

A: try this link…it’s exactly what you’re looking for…http://www.fernandesguitars.com/nmd.html

Q: 1970’s Fender Twin Reverb guitar amplifier with excessice static!!!?
Alright…so maybe its not excessive, but i wanted to draw you in anyway. So for those of you who know anything about amplifiers, i have a 1970s Fender Twin Reverb which i just got not too long ago. Its a great amp, however when i plug my guitar into it, and turn the volume up past 2, the static gets very annoying. I mean i can still play over it, but especially when im trying to play somethign clean, the static just interfers with the enjoyment of the piece. When i press or hold any metal part of my guitar or the amp the static stops, and i know this is common, im just wondering to what extent i can call normal. I figured that since its plugged into a grounded socket that the static would be reduced but apparently im wrong. So do you think somethigns wrong, or am i just expecting too much?

A: It’s one of three most likely problems. I’ll start with the most obvious:
1) Have you tried a new guitar cord? If the current one has a short in it, this is what it may sound like sometimes.
2) Is the jack on your guitar tight? If it is moving around any it may have began to short the wiring to the pickups and you are hearing the static from the contact of the wires moving around.
3) Check the wiring to the pickups because what you describe sounds as though that at some point the grounding inside the guitar have came undone.

The first two are quick and easy to check but if they aren’t the problem, take the guitar to a qualified tech and explain the problem and he will know what to do. Good luck and hope that it’s a quick fix for you.

Q: frustrating fender amp problems?
i’m having problems with my fender amplifier.
it’s not a tube amp. but i notice that:
when i plug the amp and turn it on,(without having any guitar or chord/jack plugged in) it creates this low buzzing sound, like an annoying insect that won’t go away, UNLESS you touch a metal part of the amp(like the screws for example).

and i noticed that this usually happens when i use the amp in big places with lots of electricity to and from, such as churches, gyms, etc.. but when i use it at my own home, it doesn’t really give me any serious problems..so i guess it has something to do with the power output? help me out guys..thanks!

A: Sounds like a grounding issue to me.

If your amp has a three prong plug, I suggest checking the ground portion of the plug. Could be that it isn’t making good contact where it connects to the amp.

Good luck!

Q: My guitar cable keeps making my amp buzz…?
I have a Squier Bullet Strat and a fender mini amp and I’m not sure which kind of cable I have, but whenever I plug in the cable to the amp and guitar, there’s a buzzing noise and when I strum open it’s very muted; when i play with my fingers on the strings it’s less muted. But when I touch the metal part where the cable plugs into the guitar, and also put my other finger on a string and strum, it sounds absolutely wonderful. But obviously it’s pretty limiting and uncomfortable to play weird like that, so please tell me what to do!

Also, when I unplug the guitar but the cable’s still plugged into the amp and I put my finger on the tip of the cable, it buzzes.

I’ve done a tiny bit of research about grounding, but I’m not quite sure what that is…please help!

A: It sounds like the problem is in your guitar, not the cable.

You said that when you unplug the guitar from the cable and touch the end, it buzzes. Good, it means it working!

The fact that you said you can touch the jack plate on the guitar and the strings, it sounds fine. Your body is providing a ground path for the sigal. You’ve most likely got a ground wire that has come unsoldered somewhere in the control cavity of the guitar. Take it to a guitar tech or decent music store and ask them to check it out for you. If it’s what I think it is, they shouldn’t charge you more than $25-$30 to fix it.

Strats, for the most part, have single coil pickups. Those are always going to pick up some amount of hum, so it’s normal for your guitar to not be dead quiet when you’re not playing.

Finally, there have been entire volumes written on grounding. All you really need to know is that you have to have 2 wires coming from your guitar to make it work right. On your guitar cable, the center conductor (or the tip of the plug) is referred to as the “Hot” signal, and the outer shield as the ground. You’ve got to have them both!

Greetings from Austin, TX

Ken

Q: Which advanced electric guitar should i buy? (only people who REALLY understand all parts of guitar!?
Between Jackson DK2M Dinky Electric Guitar, Jackson MG Series DXMG Dinky Electric Guitar , Jackson MG Series DKMG Dinky Electric Guitar, Fender Jaguar HH Electric Guitar , or ESP LTD KH-202 Kirk Hammett Signature Model Electric Guitar im leaning towards either choice 1 or 4 or 5

and i was wondering what does a scallopped heel mean on the first white jackson guitar

and how come on the 2nd and 3rd choice (jackson) the headstock is backwards??? thnx

im looking for an advanced metal guitar and right now i have an Epiphone SG Custom and a Line 6 Spyder2 75 watt amp

in the answer i would like reasons for why you think i should get each guitar

A: I do not think you should get any of these guitars if you are relying on advice from others and not making a decision based on your own ears.

I have used Jackson guitars for several years. You need to know if it is a Jackson USA custom or Jackson Japan guitar. The USA ones are far superior and pricy. The DK range is japan and I think the other are too.

I’d recommend a PC-1 – Phill Collen signature. It has a sustainer pickup (bit like an e-bow).

Jackson are notorius for “good harmonics”, and any Jackson is a good choice for metal shredders. Having a good quality guitar is important however getting the sound you want does have a lot to do with your amp/effects/modelling etc.

Make the decision yours!

Scalloped heel means uninhibited access to the upper frets.

Q: Guitar or amp problem?
I’ve just bought my first guitar and I pretty much know nothing, but that’s not the problem I’m asking about. xD I bought a “starter kit” Squier Fender. It came with a Squier Affinity Series Strat and a Fender G-DEC Junior Amp. I didn’t think my guitar was in tune so I figured I’d plug it into the amp which seems to have a tuner. I plugged it all in (cable in guitar, cable in amp, headphones, plugged into the wall) and figured it work but it doesn’t. The amp turns on and the “on” light is on and I can hear it humming through the headphones but my guitar and it doesn’t seem to communicate. D: I have it set on tuner and the volume on the amp is set to 1 and the volume loop is set to 1. The weirdest part is that when I jiggle the chord plug in my guitar the lights come on (I’m assuming the ones that are suppose to come on when the guitar is plugged in. Its a green light and the light under “Tuner”.) I figured maybe it was the chord but I have two (one that came with the kit and a new monster cable because the guy at Guitar Center said the one that it came with sucked) and neither of them work. So are they BOTH broken? Is my amp broken? Is my guitar broken? Or did I just forget to do something? Granted I am a total newbie for guitar so I’m not very sure what I’m doing. HELP WOULD BE SUPER APPRECIATED!!! PLEASE!

A: Forget for a minute about tuning your guitar. Start by unplugging the headphones, turning the volume controls 1/3 to 1/2 way up, and seeing if your amp produces any sound with the guitar plugged in and with you strumming it. If not, bring everything back to the store for a refund or exchange. If there is sound then either your headphones or the output jack on the amp is faulty.

Q: guitar problem – noisy fender?
ive recently bought a new fender telecaster which im playing through a 120W laney amp.
ive noticed when with both hands off the guitar and the volume and gain up, it makes a lot of nasty background noise, this is reduced when i touch a string, or any other metal part of the guitar, but makes a small ‘popping’ sound every time i touch it. is this normal? can it be solved or reduced?

A: actually,

this isnt a problem at all! it is because u have too much gain on ur amp. the sound from the room and where ever u r playing vibrates the strings and since it is on gain, the slightest touch on a string can make a sound, thats why its easier to slide and hammer on and pulloff when its distorted.

turn off ur gain and u will not have this problem. if u want gain on then just dont let go off the strings. i dont think this will be a problem becuz wehn u play, u rnt supposed to let go off the strings.

3rdly, the popping noises r normal too. they r because ur strings touch the metal part of the pick ups. its not harmful. try it. push down on ur stirngs so it touches the metal things on ur pick ups. itll make a popping noise like u described.

ur guitars fine, trust me. it happens with me too

the answers above me are not right.

Q: How should I set up my electric guitar recordings to produce a crunchy, punk tone?
I have two guitars that I like recording with: a Paul Reed Smith SE Custom and an Epiphone Les Paul Standard. I use a Line6 Floor Pod Plus as a preamp which is then outputted to a Crate PA6FX head unit + speakers. I know I should technically use a real amp, but honestly, the tone from the PA system is so much better than my tiny piece-of-crap Fender Bullet-Amp. I have an MXL 3000 condenser mic for recording, and I use the line out on its phantom power board in order to record sound on my computer.

Now, the problem is that I like covering a lot of pop punk music with loud, punchy power chords. I have no trouble recording lead guitar parts, but when it comes to chords, it always sounds muddy and any strum pattern is impossible to identify since it’s just like a wall of sound without any real substance, if you get what I mean. I know dynamic mics are probably best for this, but I want to stick with what I have and not invest anymore. I also tried placing the mic up against the grill cloth of the speakers like the tutorials tell you to, but then I have to set the volume extremely low, otherwise it experiences overload easily, but then the guitar’s distortion doesn’t have the same effect at that low of a level. Should I try placing it at a distance and turning the volume up? Are there any tips for some EQ settings, pickup positions, mic placement, amp selection on my pedal, etc to provide that crunchier tone? Thanks.

A: Well, you have already identified your problem. To record loud guitars you need to use a dynamic mic right on the grill cloth. I use a shure SM57 and have for many years. This will deliver that in-your-face definition that you desire. A condenser mic is great for acoustic instruments but it cannot withstand the high SPL generated by a loud amplifier.
Since your object here is to record an obnoxious, flat-out, rhythm punk tone than I would suggest using that little fender bullet amp with minimal effects and a bit less distortion than you would normally go for. Than layer that with another track of the same thing recorded with the other guitar. Pan them right and left in the mix.
Of course your lead sound is going to be better through the P.A. because you are using the pod. It works much better in a Hi-Fi situation like that. The best way to use the pod when recording is to run it DIRECT into the recorder and by-pass the mic altogether. This is comparable to how a professional recording studio works. The pod has speaker emulation and the signal is already compressed so it works best as a direct unit.
You have not mentioned exactly what kind of interface you are using. You mention a phantom power board, but not what kind.
My advice is to by-pass the mic altogether except for vocals and acoustic instruments and simply go direct into the line input on the interface. Run the recording back into the P.A. and monitor it that way. (this is how a real recording studio works) When recording be sure to get the hottest level onto tape (I know, disc) as possible. Set the level so that the meter constantly lights up the first red overload indicator and then back it off just a hair. The occasional peak is okay. Get a good dynamic mic!!! They are absolutely essential to recording authentic guitar parts with an amp. Try distance micing the fender amp up real loud with the condenser and see what results you get. Remember that recording guitar parts is like painting, you want plenty of different “colors” to create the sonic picture. Recording all of the guitar parts with the exact same sound is like painting with one color, you have no definition between rhythm and lead, etc.
One more “old school” trick to recording great rhythm tones is to mix a totally clean track right under the distortion track to add sparkle and definition.
The whole process of recording is a trial and error approach at first. Try different ideas, even some that seem unconventional, and see what works and what doesn’t. As you get more experience with your equipment and learn more about the process you will gain a greater understanding to how to get the optimum results you are seeking.
Good Luck!

Q: guitar amps…playing with a drummer?
Me and my friends aren’t really in a “band” but we get together every once in a while and just jam. we play songs that we all know parts too. My friend that also plays guitar has a 150 watt line 6 spider 3. and then we play with another guy who plays the drums. So i need a new amp. becuase mine isn’t loud enough to really be heard. I have a crappy fender amp i got in a starter kit with my fender squir. i have a new guitar but not an amp.

so i need an amp. but i dont know how many watts it sould be. My friends line 6 amp rarely gets over level 4 volume wise. so would a 65 watt amp be good. or should i go with a 120 or something. I just need to be heard while playing next to the drummer and other guitarist.

thanks a lot.
thanks but i didn’t mean i was playing right next to the drums. that would create too many vibrations. And he aint too loud. I just have a crappy amp that doesn’t have much power. its called liek a fender 15g or something.

A: i got a 60w roland cube60 amp and its loud enough for the drums

Q: Prs se custom 24 or Fender american strat? (10 points)?
sorry, long, but i need some help.

so i’ve been playing guitar since last summer with my washburn D10s. I’m a serious musician, possibly doing music in college. I want to buy my first electric guitar this summer. My guitar teacher thinks i should get an american standard stratocster ($1000). Right now i have 700 after doing a looooot of work this summer (i had 300 previously). My parents are giving me 200 to spend on an amp or part of the guitar for my birthday. I’m using that for an amp, plus ill add a hundred or two so it’s a good amp, and im buying for the guitar by myself. I’ve realized that 1000 plus is going to be hard to get seeing as im 15 and jobs arent so readily available. I’ve been researching prs’s se line and have heard that they are great guitars. I like the 25th anniversary se custom 24 (~600, scarlet red). My guitar teacher thinks i should go for the strat still, but i think he thinks that my parents are going to help me out a lot with it. What do you think i should do? Go broke with top of the line and post-poned amp, or save and go with a quality mid price guitar plus good amp? I’m kind of leaning towards the prs but i respect my guitar teacher and am not a guitar expert. I like to play a little bit of everything: progressive, metal, jazz, rock, blues, classic rock, indie (lots of indie, prog, and rock), if that helps. here are links to the two guitars. (I would get the strat in olympic white and put a red pickguard on it)

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-American-Standard-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=515748

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/PRS-SE-25th-Anniversary-Custom-24-Electric-Guitar?sku=423596

A: Please go for the Stratocaster, it will REALLY be worth your money.
The fender is a timeless classic, and proves to be one of the best guitar lines in history
I have an American Stratocaster myself for 8 years (I am 18) and I am still absolutely in love with it…
You can get any sound out of it– distortion, clean etc; and it stays in fantastic condition.
I suggest that you buy a really crappy amp to begin with… amps aren’t nearly as important as the guitar, and as long as you can hear your guitar through the speaker it doesn’t matter what kind it is unless your playing a concert (:

But yes, go with the Stratocaster. Plus that other guitar screams “Hi, I started playing guitar a year ago!” and I am sure you are quite good, but no one wants to be labeled as a poser.

Hope it all works out
xox

Q: Help! Fender Stratocaster + bass amp = badness?
I know this is stupid on my part, heh heh hehhh…. I recently ordered a used strat online and was getting antsy to play it on an amp. I plugged it into my brothers base amp a few different ocassions. My Q is this, could this harm my guitar? I’m not worried about the amp, its the size of a shoe box. The plug that went into the guitar from the amp had a hook if you know what I mean, (its not straight) so every time I tried to get it out it wouldnt come out, I pulled really hard and sounded like I stripped something inside every time I did this. Could that cause damage??? (I don’t do this anymore) I still don’t have an amp either…

Any insight would be great!

A: naaaaaaaaaaa, the bass amp/speaker is heavy duty compared to a guitar amp speaker.
this 2-string bass dont need a amp, but can plug into any amp

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

Q: What amp should I buy for my first electric guitar?
I want to buy my first electric guitar , I played 2 months on acoustic guitar and I’ll get a electric guitar from my parents in September on my birthday . So .. I wanted to buy a starter electric guitar package but people told me what I should buy it by parts , well I don’t know if this would be good , Fender Frontman 25R 1×10″ Guitar Combo Amplifer or Fender G Dec Junior 1×8″ Guitar Combo Amplifier , I don’t know what’s the diffrence so I need help + this guitar = http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemID=53489
I want to buy my first electric guitar , I played 2 months on acoustic guitar and I’ll get a electric guitar from my parents in September on my birthday . So .. I wanted to buy a starter electric guitar package but people told me what I should buy it by parts , well I don’t know if this would be good , Fender Frontman 25R 1×10″ Guitar Combo Amplifer or Fender G Dec Junior 1×8″ Guitar Combo Amplifier , I don’t know what’s the diffrence so I need help + this guitar = http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemID=53489

Tell me if this guitar would be cool too I love how it looks , I’m in 7th grade and I want to participate in the talent show , (I’m white , Polish and I’m in a school with 85% black / hispanic) and it’s like 8 months until the talent show so I got time to practice ;p
Tell me if this guitar would be cool too I love how it looks , I’m in 7th grade and I want to participate in the talent show , (I’m white , Polish and I’m in a school with 85% black / hispanic) and it’s like 8 months until the talent show so I got time to practice ;p
Sorry xD I repeated my self alot … it’s my first question on yahoo so I’m having problems editing xD

A: The G-DEC is more than an amp–it plays all kinds of backing tracks, which are great for beginners. (And for everyone else–when I tried the larger model at a Guitar Center, I must have played with it for half an hour.) It will probably have more effects than the Frontman, too.

The Frontman is a bit more powerful (25 watts versus 15 watts), but by the time you start doing gigs, you’ll want something bigger and better. 15 watts should at least enough to annoy the neighbors. They’re both excellent beginner amps–hell, you could get by professionally with either–but I would get the G-DEC if I were you.

Read and learn more about fender guitar amps. For more, visit the Guitar Amp website GuitarAmpUniverse.com

Q: Which of these Fender practice guitar amps should I get?
I’m deciding between the Fender G-DEC 15W Junior and the Fender Frontman 15W. I play alot of blues and clean rock, like John Mayer stuff. I’m just looking for this amp to be my practice/studio amp. I want something with effects and cool options but nothing that takes away from an authentic sound.

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.

Read and learn more about electric guitar amplification. For more, visit the Guitar Amp website GuitarAmpUniverse.com

Q: Is it necessary to use an electric guitar with amplification or any other effect ?
Im 16 and I just want to learn guitar as a hobby and i dont want any kinda amplifications and other effects . Can an electric guitar be played without amplification ? The thing i like in electric guitar is there stylish shape and that impresses me alot. So which one will be better – an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar ?

A: well the point of an electric guitar is to plug it in to an amp. you don’t have to use distortion or anything; an amp just…amplifies the sound.
if you don’t want to use an amp get an acoustic.

Q: How does an electric guitar sounds without amplification ?
I mean does it sounds low ?

A: well, I’ve never heard my guitar with an amp, so I dont know

Q: Is there much difference between an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar except amplification ?

A: tone, weight, sound, design, so yes, there is all the difference.

Q: Can an acoustic/electric guitar be played when it is not pluged in?
Hi, I am about to buy a guitar, and I was wondering if an acoustic/electric guitar can be played like a regular guitar. In other words, do you need amplification in order to play an acoustic/electric? Or can you play it with or without amplification.

Thanks.
By the way, can anyone tell me if an acoustic guitar and a classical guitar are the same thing

A: What an acoustic electric guitar is, is an acoustic guitar that has pick ups inside of it. You can play it just like an other acoustic guitar and then if you can plug it into an amp and play it. You can buy pickups to go into an acoustic guitar and make it electric, one of my friends did it. It works really good too.

Q: How can i play electric guitar without an amp?
I know this question may sound stupuid. i know you can play without amplification but it is very quiet. what i was thinking. was if it could happen like this.

Electric guitar -> PC -> HIFI system would this work?

like for example. i plugged the cable from my guitar into an adapter to go into my pc mic input. next i would get another cable going from my pc into a hifi system. Would this work?

but i guess the main question is how do i play electric guitar without an amp?

A: You could plug it into your computer like you are thinking. Or directly into the computer and play through it. Ive done that to record.

You can also plug into any speaker.

But honestly the best way is to plug into an Amp or PA system. Or micro amps which are good for portability.

Q: How does Acoustic Guitar differ from Electric Guitar?
Okay so what I am really asking, is for example say you learn Electric guitar would you be able to play accoustic guitar and the notes would sound/be the same? (ignoring the amplification) ??? HELP

A: The notes are all the same, since the electric is the same instrument as the acoustic, but is made to be amplified. They’re played the same, as well. But the necks on acoustics tend to be considerably thicker than those of electric guitars, so acoustics are a little more challenging to play. Acoustic guitarists who transition to electrics can usually play much faster, since there’s less string tension and the action (the distance between the strings and the fretboard) is lower on electrics, so it takes less finger strength and dexterity to play an electric than an acoustic. But if you already play electric, you’ll still be able to manage an acoustic once you get used to the different feel of the instruments.

Q: What kind of distortion can you get with an electro-acoustic guitar?
I have an electro-acoustic guitar, but I haven’t bought an amp yet. I am not aware of the technical terms of amps, so sorry if my question sounds stupid. I wanted to know if you can get the same kinds of distortion and amplification as the electric guitar on an electro-acoustic one. For example, to play heavy-metal.
Do you use the same type of amps?

A: To be honest, no you will not get the same type of distortion. The hollow body of an acoustic-electric guitar is much more prone to feedback and overtones. You can get a pretty decent distortion tone, but don’t plug in expecting to hear Kirk Hammett or Jim Root flowing from your amp. As for amps, you can plug into a “standard” electric amp such as a Marshall or Randall, the preference is yours. If this is your primary guitar I would recommend a Fender acoustic amp with an acoustic multi-effects pedal. I’ve played through a Zoom acoustic effects pedal in the past and had pretty good results.

Q: acoustic electric guitar?
would it be cheaper to buy an acoustic electric guitar or buy an acoustic and put an amplification set in it?
im thinking about getting the ibanez SGT120LNT SAGE SERIES Left-Handed Acoustic Guitar

A: Acoustic electric would be your best bet. You could buy an acoustic and get a 50 buck acoustic pick up but it wouldn’t sound half as good as an acoustic electric. Try out an Ibanez, nice guitars.

Q: Do you want or need to bring your own amplifier during performing, gigs or sessions? Why?
I’m an industrial design student working on my thesis: travel electric guitar and amplification system, making them in one portable design. Do you think it would be very helpful for travel musicians specifically session guitarists?

A: Most professional guitarists prefer to bring there own amps to be sure that they have the specific sound that they need, there are many pros that will submit a “rider” to allow them to travel without an amp thus saving the cost of transporting it. The rider will specify exactly what the guitarist needs/wants and what they expect to be there when they arrive. Since often times this does not happen as it should you find most people will bring their own gear to avoid the hassle

Q: Do Laney amps have good amplification?
im thinking of buying a new amp for my electric guitar. i play rock and blues music.. laney amps are affordable than amps like marshall and fender but i really need to know if my its sound is worth it.

A: I personally feel Laney Amps are worth what they sell them for. your going to get a fairly low quality, clean and flat amp. For a rock and blues player, i recommend a crate or epiphone valve amp. they are all tube and produce a great warm sound for a fairly low price.

Q: Please help me with this. I am looking into buying a new acoustic guitar.?
I mostly play indie/alternative/ acoustic type music. I also play alot of country. I dont really want to spend more than 400 bucks. I am currently looking toward the seagull s6..good buy? have a better idea? PLease give me some adivise.

as a side note i ussually only play gigs where no guitar amplification is required. But i would not object to an acoustic electric.

A: i got a jasmine acoustic guitar. i love it. it’s all one piece. really pretty. my hubby got it on sale for $120.00

Q: Cello amplification or pickup?
I’m playing cello in a band with an electric/acoustic guitar and drums, so obviously I need a little more sound from the cello. I’m looking into amplification systems and I’ve come down to the decision between “The Realist” and “The Band.” Does anyone have any opinions or experience with either of these? Or any other type of pickup, like a bridge pickup?

A: Fishman C-100 or C-200 or Barcus Berry 3125 Cello Pickup

http://www.fishman.com/products/details.asp?id=103

http://barcusberry.com/products.cfm?CategoryID=3

or a reasonable instrument microphone

… because no one ever things of turning down the other instruments.

Q: Where Was the Love for Les Paul?
Michael Jackson is and was continually fawned over. People are fighting over his death now, a disgusting play of greed is going to take place over his money, estate and even his body.

Les Paul died a few days ago at 92 years old. He died of cancer. Who is Les Paul, and why did his death get only a quick mention? Les Paul invented and refined the electric guitar. He changed the way music was recorded, performed, and played. In the late 1940’s, Les Paul came up with the idea of multi-track recording and his song, How High the Moon, was recorded so that it sounded like eight Les Pauls were playing simultaneously. It was a big hit.

Quotes from article: “The Who’s Townshend, Steve Howe of Yes, jazz great Al DiMeola and Led Zeppelin’s Page all made the Gibson Les Paul their trademark six-string.”

“”Paul had made his first attempt at audio amplification at age 13. Unhappy with the amount of volume produced by his acoustic guitar, he tried placing a telephone receiver under the strings. Although this worked to some extent, only two strings were amplified and the volume level was still too low. By placing a phonograph needle in the guitar, all six strings were amplified, which proved to be much louder. Paul was playing a working prototype of the electric guitar in 1929.

His work on recording techniques began in the years after World War II, when Bing Crosby gave him a tape recorder. Drawing on his earlier experimentation with his homemade recording machine, Paul added an additional playback head to the recorder. The result was a delayed effect that became known as tape echo. Tape echo gave the recording a more “live” feel and enabled the user to simulate different playing environments.

Paul’s next idea was to stack together eight mono tape machines and send their outputs to one piece of tape, stacking the recording heads on top of one another. The resulting machine served as the forerunner to today’s multitrack recorders. Many of his songs with Ford used overdubbing techniques that Paul had helped develop.

Paul’s use of multitrack recording was unique. Before he did it, most recordings were made on a single tape. By recording each element separately, from the vocals to instrumentation on different tracks, they could be mixed and layered, adding to the richness in sound.”"

Michael Jackson may have been the “King of Pop.” But Les Paul is the King of Music, the first Rock Star, the first Guitar Hero. They say rock and roll is king. Without Les Paul, rock and roll would only have been a serf.
Cath, yes he did die of pneumonia and he was 94, not 92. My mistake.

A: You are exactly right and I always respected him as a genius. No mention of his great contribution to the music world. I am a musician and feel he needed to have some body give him a little credit. Thanks for info. You are right.Mary Ford and he did “Old Black Magic” I remember as a child and always loved it.

Q: What equipment do I need for my band?
I play in an alternative band. I’m the singer/guitarist. All the equipment we have is a few electric guitars, bass, and a drumset; with 2 amps, one with 2 inputs and one with just one. we have four people (me, another guitarist, a bassist, and a drummer).

I need to know what type of equipment (amplification) we need so be more professional with our playing. I don’t know anything about this stuff, so help me out. Tell me what i need as if i dont have any type of amplification at all.

A: If you’re doing bar, or any indoor gigs your all set. for more legit outside gigs or very large rooms go for the marshall stack amps like the MG Series, which is super legit. http://www.marshallamps.com/product_range.asp?productRangeId=27

you’ll also want an effect pedal, and maybe a wawa pedal if you need it.
thats good probs.

Q: I feel Unwelcomed at church cause loud music they have..what should i do?
I have Hyperacusis( www.hyperacusis.net), and it’s terrib le when i go there and they have guitars and electric bass and piano Amplified, and use microphones. I realy don’t know why they do it. It’s not needed. The church has echo.. and what we need is people to sing, not amplification of instruments. It’s a catholic church, but it seems to be a trend that Hispanic mass people want amplification. I really dont’ get it. Not needed at all. the church is not super big.. It’s small.

Well anyways, i went yesterday and the loud music started , couldn’t take it and left. I’m not going to wear ear muffs or ear plugs for a place that is supposedly PEACEFUL and welcoming.. so forget it i rather not go. But why are they so ignorant about loud noise in church? should i call them or write to them and hope they will get educated

A: Go to a different mass.

If you were deaf, would you not go to a church that possibly had a sign interpreter?

If you were a Spanish speaker, might you not go to spanish service.

If you were a French speaker might you go to a French service?

People go to services which are suited for them on a physical and spiritual basis. Your hearing difficulties suggest that you go to a service which is more ammenable to your condition.

Amplification and louder music is geared toward people who prefer that experience. Music is an individual experience, and leads toward a sense of worship. Different people are moved by different sorts of music.

I was in a music ministry for 25 years and we used amplification due to the size of the church. We had a number of speakers placed throughout the church with equipment to delay the sound to the various speakers, offering a uniform musical experience throughout the church. It wasn’t very loud, but loud enough for everyone to experience the nature of the music.

Some churches play quite loudly, and the music can have lead one into a somewhat hypnotic state.

I’m sorry for your hearing difficulties, but as with any other human condition, one cannot expect all to modify their ways of doing things in order to cater to you.

On the other hand, you might consider ear plugs when you go to church. The real difficulty isn’t in the sound level of the church, but in your perception of it.

If you really like that service, do what you are able to adapt. In the meantime, get one of those pink noise CD’s and see if it works for you. The ADA may come into play somewhat, but there don’t seem to be any real guidelines for modifying sound levels to make it comfortable for people with your condition. Probably the best method is either ear plugs or other types of hearing protection.

Blessings,

–Dee

Read and learn more about electric guitar amp pack. For more, visit the Guitar Amp website GuitarAmpUniverse.com

Q: is the Gear 4 Music Electric-ST Guitar + Amp Pack good for a starter guitar?
Ive never played a guitar before and decided I would buy one and learn to play.

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.

Read and learn more about electric guitar amp. For more, visit the Guitar Amp website GuitarAmpUniverse.com

Q: Can you play an acoustic/electric guitar through an electric amp?
I’ve got a 50w marshall electric guitar amp and I learned how to turn my acoustic in an A/E so i was wondering if I could just play it through my marshall or would I have to buy an acoustic amp?

A: Just did this yesterday, you just have to be careful with the feedback potential that an acoustic presents. Take some time to set it up, and it will sound just fine.

Q: What is a good brand for an electric guitar and amp?
What is a good brand for an electric guitar amp?
I am buying my boyfriend an electric guitar and amp for his birthday. He is an average player and is still learning. I don’t want to get him a completely cheap beginners guitar because I know he will take his playing seriously and will improve. Any suggestions?? And also, what color? What else should I get with it?

A: First, do NOT go to Target or some other department store and get one of those crappy Fender Starcaster or First Act guitars. Very crappy. Go to a specialized music store. It doesn’t have to be a chain store like Guitar Center, but those stores usually have an updated and large inventory with various models. Also look at musiciansfriend.com, although, getting to see the guitar in person is better. Guitarcenter.com, also. Ask the employees in the store, they’re usually knowledgeable.

Second, Fender is actually a good brand. Really depends on your taste of music and looks of the guitar. I don’t usually associate Fender with genres like heavy metal, rather, with jazz, classic rock etc. Gibson is an all-arounder. Some other good brands I can think of are Ibanez, PRS, ESP, Godin, Epiphone (cheaper brand of Gibson that is made outside of U.S.), Dean, and Scheter. That’s all electric guitars. For acoustic and classical guitars, it’s a whole different game.

The two most influential electric guitars are arguably the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul. Many of these kinds of guitars come in different variations and originate from different countries from which they are made, but beware of the cheaper so-called “Special” versions that can cost ten times less than a standard version. They usually lack important elements. Ones that are made in the U.S. are often more expensive.

As for amps, Fender makes their own good amps. Marshall, Vox, Line 6, and a countless number of others and boutique brands are ones to consider.

Third, if I were your bf, I’d really appreciate a good tuner, extra strings, a strap, a scale and chord book (or electronic library), a hard-shell case or a good gig bag, a set of picks, a capo, a cleaning and polishing kit, or an effects pedal. If you got him all those things with the guitar and amp, it would be overkill. Just get one or two. Also, try to avoid guitars that are specifically labeled as a “starter/value/beginners/special/etc. pack” as these tend to be of lesser quality and come with less features.

Also, since I assume you don’t know exactly what kind of guitar to get (death metal-ish? jazzy?), get something along the lines of a Stratocaster or Les Paul. The copies made by other brands do just as well. In the end, it doesn’t really depend on the brand, but the guitar itself. Be sure to ask for some advise about specific features about the guitars you look at, and ask what style of music they best fit.

Hope that wasn’t too long and made you go tl;dr.

Q: Can I plug my acoustic electric guitar into my electric guitar amp without damaging anything?
I’m talking about my electric guitar amp made for electric guitars, not acoustic-electric.
It’s a fender.

A: There is no problem with plugging your acoustic-electric guitar into your electric guitar amp, because an acoustic-electric guitar is basically an electric guitar when it comes to electronics. Plug in, and enjoy, my friend. And I’m jealous you have an acoustic-electric…I really need one of those…oh, and if anything gets damaged, tell me and I’ll pay for it, because I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine.

Q: What are some names of good rack mount electric guitar amp?
I am looking for a good rack mount electric guitar AMP (NOT BASS) and have been having a hard time finding a new one. I don’t want used. New only! I am looking for company names so that I can compare. So far I just see mesa boogie and Marshall guitar amps. Does anyone know of any other companies that have these type of amps?

A: u got fender or go to guitarcenter.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 i use an home theater system instead of an electric guitar amp?
I want to buy an guitar but i don’t want to spend money on an amp.Can you tell me if i can connect the electric guitar to a home theater system or i need a amp?

A: You could, but you would also need some kind of guitar pre-amp.

You’d have to connect the guitar through some kind of small pre-amp and connect the output to the home theatre!

The pre amp is needed to amplify the very weak signals from the guitar output, and also to allow you to change the sound of the guitar a bit if you wanted.

Q: What is a good brand for an electric guitar amp?
I am buying my boyfriend an electric guitar and amp for his birthday. He is an average player and is still learning. I don’t want to get him a completely cheap beginners guitar because I know he will take his playing seriously and will improve. Any suggestions?? And also, what color? What else should I get with it?

A: Yeah, these are good decent electric guitar amp.

Marshall MG10CD Combo Amp for Guitar

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001Q5Y8C4?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwbestdisc08-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001Q5Y8C4

If you would like go some on higher end than you can also prefer,

Pyle 300-WATT Portable Guitar Amplifier

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E1PXFW?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwbestdisc08-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000E1PXFW

Q: How much does an electric guitar/amp cost?
I’ve been playing guitar for about 5 1/2 mos (without a teacher) , and I already have an acoustic guitar, but I would like an electric. What are some good guitars/amps that are about $100-$250? Also, what other equipment would i need besides the amp and guitar?

A: you may want to check out some epiphones and lower priced fenders. if you go for and epiphone try not to get a pack unless you have to because they tend to suck. Be sure get an amp that has the features you want such as distortion if you want to play rock and get a static sound or an effects amp that makes a wide range of sounds or if you want a clean sound go for a tube amp. And also you obviously need a cord to plug your guitar into your amp. I recomend finding a guitar store such as guitar center or a smaller place to try out different things before buying them and then once you make a desicion you may want to check out musicians friend or guitarcenter.com if those dont work just google guitar stores and youll get lots of results.

Q: What kind of electric guitar amp do i need?
Im going to be buying an electric guitar pretty soon and I’m not sure what kind of amp i should get.

Any suggestions?
i’d like my price range to be under $200.

Thanks!

A: I’ve got a Fender Front Man and for a first amp it packs a real punch. It’s a good size for carrying to different places (but it would really be for practicing not gigging) It’s pretty cheap too

Q: What are some good brand names for bass guitars? and will an electric guitar amp work for a bass guitar?
What are some good brand names for bass guitars? and will an electric guitar amp work for a bass guitar?

A: I’ve been a bass player since i was a kid and I’ve played many different types of music. Warwick is the best all-around bass value for a pro-level bass ($1000-1200 range). I have a Warwick Corvette (active pickups) and I love it. But that’s kinda expensive for beginner/intermediate players, so I’d say to just play as many different basses as you can and don’t be afraid of used equipment as long as the electronics are in good condition and the neck isn’t warped. Beware: new Fenders are generally expensive because of brand name. Try Ibanez and Yamaha, they’ve been good values for years.

Do NOT use a guitar amp for a bass unless it’s a practice amp. You need to think about getting an amp so you can play loud enough to be heard by a band with a drummer. That should be your goal in getting a rig if you play rock, jazz, latin, reggae, or anything band-oriented. It’s better to have a cheap bass and a nice loud amp than a nice bass and an amp that is so weak that you can’t be heard. You generally FEEL the bass in a band; that should be your goal, to be felt, not exactly heard. Also, if you continue to play down the road, it’s better to have a nicer amp because your next upgrade will be to replace your cheap bass. If you get a mediocre bass and mediocre amp, you will need to replace both if you continue to progress. Look at combo amps above 150 watts with one 15 inch speaker. Peavey is a good value. Also, Line6 is coming out with bass amps and they may interest you because of the cool extras like bass modelers and FX that can make a crappy bass sound sweet. Basically, go to guitar center and bug the crap out of those douches that work there. They are generally snobs but they work for you and you should play as many basses and amps as you can to find what is right for u. Also, they are hurting for business these days so look for coupons and exploit their 0% financing deals with their credit cards. Good luck.

Q: What would be the best brand of electric guitar & amp. for me to buy?
i’ve been playing acoustic for about a year now, and im ready to move on to electric. I’m looking for opinions on brands of guitars that have good quality, would last me a long time, doesn’t break easily, etc. Same goes for the amp. i’m looking for an amp. with many sound effects that relate to metal or heavy and lively guitar playing.

A: an amp with many sound effects??…I would look into Hybrids….such as a Vox Valvetronix, or Roland Cubes…maybe even Line 6 if you’re desperate….and as far as a guitar…..you’re on your own…you shouldnt let anyone else determine what you want…its all opinion. You can spend as much as you want on a guitar, it just depends on what features you want and what type of music you want to play with it.

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: Can you play a acoustic guitar on a electric guitar amp?
Im just wondering if i can play my yamaha acoustic/electric guitar on a electric epiphone amp that i use to play my les paul with.

A: Absolutely.

They make amps specifically for accoustics, but you can plug it into anything.

Q: Yamaha electric drum set plugged into electric guitar amp?
Ok, I have a Yahama DD-55 electric drum set. The volume is pretty weak, so one day I plugged it into my Epiphone electric guitar amplifier. Will this harm either the electric set or the amp? Thanks.

A: I see no way that this will harm your drum set, but you could blow your speaker. guitar speakers can produce low notes. Their xmax(distance they can travel) is fairly short. so at lower volumes your probably in the clear, at higher volumes you risk deforming voice coil with lower notes produced by kick. How loud do you want to get? why not just home stereo or similar speakers.

Q: Can I connect my classical guitar to electric guitar amp and have a over drived sound?
my guitar is nylone string, and i want use electric pick up and a amp like marshall AVT50, can I?

A: as long as you either have an acoustic pick up built into your guitar already or you go pick up like a dean marley acoustic pick up for about 50 bucks at your local music store

then it will work fine before i had an electric i used to hook my dean acoustic up to a guitar amp through and acoustic pro mag pick up it just fits right in your sound hole then on the other end is your regular 1/4 jack

i also sometimes ran my acoustic through a wah pedal or an overdrive pedal and it all worked fine

so it will work fine ive done it

Read and learn more about bass guitar amp combo. For more, visit the Guitar Amp website GuitarAmpUniverse.com

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: Would a Bass Combo Amp with a Guitar Cabinet hooked to it sound good with an Electric Guitar?
I’m getting a new Fender for Christmas and was wondering if this would sound good. I already have a Kustom Bass Combo Amp. If I add an Electric Guitar Cabinet to it… how would it sound? Would it be able to get any of that great Fender sound into it or would it be too bassy? I know Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top used bassmen for their electric guitars.

A: Personally I yhink it would be too “bassy” (if thats a word). I think that may just be my opinion, the only real way is to expirement. It also depends on what type of music you may want to play. If you like hardcore metal solos then don’t bother with a bass amp. If you like loud chugging riffs that will make the foundation of your house shake then keep the bass amp ang get the guitar cabnet too.

Q: can i use a Marshall MG30DFX Combo amp with a bass guitar?
i have one for my electric and dont want to buy a new amp for a bass. some people said using a bass with a guitar amp will blow the speakers =(

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Marshall-MG30DFX-Combo-?sku=483188

A: No, you shouldn’t be able to blow the speakers.. a properly designed combo amp is mated with speakers that can take anything the amp can normally deliver. Bass pickups don’t deliver any hotter a signal than any other pickups… they’re just delivering it an octave lower.

Your probably will really be simple: weak sound. It simply takes more energy to deliver an effective bass sound. As well, your amp’s EQ is designed for the range of a standard guitar, same with the speakers. So you simply won’t get the sort of reproduction to best represent your bass. In fact, depending on the amp, it’s possible you’ll actually get less output than you would from the guitar, depending on it’s low frequency response.

Now, will this matter? If you’re gigging, probably.. a 30-50W guitar amp is probably fine for a small club, but for a bass, you’re probably want 150-200W for the same space. For practice, it’s probably no big deal.

And you CAN get a usable bass sound. I play a Line 6 Variax, and I usually have a couple of bass models in there, sometimes used along with a phrase looper, so I can lay down a quick and dirty bass line before switching to a normal guitar sound. It works, but though my 30W Roland Cube, really only good for practice or a small room.

Q: What is the best bass combo amp?
Looking to buy a combo bass amp for guitar with at least 400watt or better nothing more than $450.

I was looking at the Behringer BX4410 and BX4210A.

Anyone had one of these?

Or do you know any other combo amps that are good?

A: Acoustic makes pretty good bass amps for a low price.

Q: Is this a good first Bass Guitar amp?
http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Line-6-LowDown-LD15-15Watt-Bass-Combo-Amp/B2Z

I cant really spend much over £100, Is this good enough for a first bass amp, or can I do better for the money? Ive played guitar for a while with a nice Marshall amp (well quite nice), so if its crap I’ll prob be able to tell :/

Thanks

A: Line 6 makes very good stuff. You should be fine with that amp. If it has a external speaker jack that would be good because you might want to plug into a bigger speaker at some point. I would avoid Behringer like the plague, contrary to what the other fellow said.

Q: What is a good, cheap starter bass & amp combo?
I know a lot of stores have pre-set electric bass guitar & amp packs like Target, Walmart and even Guitar Center. But I honestly think I can invest in something much better for about the same price. What do you think about this:

Dean Zone XM Bass Guitar + Peavey MAX 158 Bass Practice Combo Amp {$200}

I’m open to all answers so feel free to recommend anything (under $250 that is).
-Thanks

A: You’re right – buying things separately is usually the better way to go when it comes to starter packs. Basically every starter pack you’ll find is really poor quality, and the stuff doesn’t usually last very long.

As far as the amp goes, the Peavey MAX is actually a really good choice – Peavey makes some of the best small, cheap, reliable practice amps out there =) …if you want to buy a slightly nicer bass (see below), you could also look at the Peavey MAX 126 – it costs $30 less, and has only 3 watts less and a 2″ smaller speaker. This will mean it’s not as loud, but other than that, it’s the same amp. Volume isn’t a big deal when it comes to practice amps anyway; good sound quality is the most important.

Just a tip, if you’re looking for a good instrument cable, check out Monster Cables. They’re a bit pricier than most cables, but really high quality, AND they come with a lifetime warranty. So when your chord wears out, you just get another one for free =P …so you only have to buy one cable, haha.

I’d stay away from Dean; some people really like the looks of their basses, but their quality is pretty bad until you get to their high-priced instruments.

I’d also warn against getting any bass by Epiphone. Epiphone is like a cheaper version of Gibson, and the quality of Gibson’s basses has really gone downhill since they discontinued the Grabber and Ripper (their two best models); all the Gibson basses out nowadays are really overpriced, poorly built, and sound bad. So, you can guess what the quality of Epihpone would be like (hint: really bad =P ). The Thunderbird is an especially notorious model; some people think they’re the coolest, but they’re really neck-heavy, poorly designed, bad upper-fret access, and sound really muddy.

For a good, cheap bass, I’d recommend Squier or Ibanez.

Squier: Try an Affinity (cheaper) or a Vintage Modified (higher quality) Jazz or Precision. Jazz basses are really versatile, and sound good in almost every style of music with a bit of tweaking. Precisions have a great sound for Punk/Rock, but aren’t as flexible. If you want to save money, go for an Affinity. The Vintage Modified series is widely held as Squier’s best line of instruments, so if you don’t mind paying an extra 100, you’ll get a better instrument. That’s up to you though.
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Affinity-Series-J-Bass?sku=519631
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Affinity-Series-P-Bass?sku=510424
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Vintage-Modified-70s-Jazz-Bass?sku=519639
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Vintage-Modified-Precision-Bass?sku=519638

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Vintage-Modified-TB-Precision-Bass?sku=519758

Ibanez: They make some really nice starter basses; check out one of their GSR series basses. They have really slim, comfortable necks, and sound good in pretty much all styles of music. There’s also a version of the GSR200 with a Flamed Maple top; if you like the look better and don’t mind paying a little extra, go for it =P
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-GSR200-4String-Bass?sku=519524

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-GSR200FM-4String-Bass-Guitar?sku=515059

The most important thing, though, is to play the bass yourself before you buy it. Go to a music store with a few in mind, and play all of them. Find which one feels the best, sounds the best, and suits your needs the best – then you’ll be set!

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

Q: what is a good price on a 5 string bass guitar and amp combo?

A: Man u can’t even ask a question like that. A bass or guitar set will always cost u as much as u could afford. When it comes to performance u can’t compare Peavey’s to Washburn’s, same is for prices. U need to know the sort of music u wanna play and the size of your budget and the answer will come to u

Q: Need help on buying a bass guitar amp?
I’ve been playing bass guitar for around 2 years now but have never gotten around to buying an amp larger than a practice amp. I am a serious, devoted player and need a quality amp (preferably combo) of at least 200 watts that can be used for small gigs. My current budget is preferably $400 or less, although 400 is pushing it. I simply have never shopped for amps before and could use all the help I can get. Any suggestions?

A: stay away from 1×15 and 2×15.. they just dont pack enough punch. you need a 4×10 cab with a tweeter

i used to gig around with 2 1×15 cabinets from a 150w/chan amp and it just didnt work .. then i got an Ashdown 4×10 and bought a new amp, 400w/chan and it was all the difference. I played bass in this band

the current bassist in our band has a 1×15 and the thing is cranked all the way up and cant keep up with my Crown PA (the one at 400w/chan) and i dont even bring the amp past 40% volume.. i play guitar in that band

Q: Which bass guitar amp is better?
Im just lookin for other ppls opinions on lookin for a new bass amp combo. I had my eyes set on a Crate, Fender, or a Galien-Kruger amp. They are all at a 100w powered and seem to have the same features, but which one is more trustworthy and reliable?? any open opinions??

A: I have to agree with , Ampeg is the only way to go. It’s the same company that makes Crate, but Ampegs are built to go forever. Mine has gigged for almost 10 years straight with no (that’s zero) repairs or breakdowns. If an Ampeg is out of your price range, a Crate will work just fine (I have a Crate keyboard amp which is almost 15 years old and works great).

Q: Is this a good cheap bass guitar and amp? that will last?
heres the bass guitar http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rogue-LX200B-Series-II-Bass-Guitar-?sku=512228
Heres the amp

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-Thunderbird-BX108-1×8-Bass-Combo-Amp?sku=480683

And would the amp come with a chord to hook the guitar up to the amp or would the guitar come with the chord?

P.S IF U HAVENT FIGURED IT OUT YET THIS WILL BE MY FIRST BASS GUITAR!!!!!!

A: You really can’t go wrong with this as a starter kit.

At: www.musiciansfriend.com
Squier® Stop Dreaming Start Playing Affinity Jazz Bass Pack With Fender Rumble 15 Amp
Great all-in-one pack with a Squier Affinity Series J Bass, Fender Rumble 15 Combo bass amp, bass strap, instrument cable, a gig bag and a pick…
Price: $299.99
List Price: $499.99

Q: Can I use a power amplifier and a loudspeaker instead of a bass amp head, for playing my bass guitar? ?
Can I plug my bass right into the power amp? Or do I have to use bass heads or bass amp combos? Or can I plug it into a powered mixer? Is that okay? Thanks.

A: A powered mixer possibly, but not power amp. Well, I mean you could, it’s not going to hurt anything, it’ll just sould like crap. You would want a preamp to boost the signal and provide EQ capabilities. If you get like a Tech 21 SansAmp, Line 6 Bass POD, a Behringer Bass V-AMP or some such, you can run it into what ever you want and it’ll sound fine.

Q: Best bass guitar amp for less than $500?
I’m getting back into playing the bass and will be playing mostly in my basement, but hoping to eventually start jamming again. I’m looking to purchase a combo bass amp. Two that I’m looking at as possibilities include the Peavey TNT and the Fender Bassman 200. Are these any good? If not, any other reccomendatiions?

A: You might want to check out the Kustom 310, although it is a pretty big amp. They have a killer clearance price on them right now but not sure how many they have left. The Ampeg BA115 would be a good choice also.

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Kustom-Groove-310C-Bass-Combo-Amp?sku=480765

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ampeg-BA115-Bass-Amp-Series-Combo?sku=481777

Q: What is a bass amp combo?
ok well i am a begginer at the bass guitar. and i was looking at bigger amps since my 45w wont cover a show. well went to this website and all they had was bass combo amp stacks and cabinets well i was wondering is a bass combo simply a plug and play

A: A Combo is an all in one unit.
To give you an idea

http://www.zzounds.com/prodsearch?cat=3544&cat2=2396

Q: Where can i find this kind of bass amp?
Ok, I’m looking for a BASS GUITAR amp with all of the following features:

- @ least 90 watts
- good quality
- ability to turn up loud without distortion or damage
- no more than 200 dollars
- reliability
- a COMBO AMP!

If you know of anything please tell me!

A: Hartke, but will cost more -

http://www.americanmusical.com

Q: How can I get a Rickenbacker 4001 sound from a cheaper bass guitar?
I have a Yamaha RBX374 bass and a “Fender Rumble Series 100/210 100 Watt 2×10 Bass Combo Amp”, am thinking about upgrading, but my price range isn’t high enough for a Ric 4001. Is there anything I can do to get that sound, or should I buy another guitar? If so, which one?

Thanks in advance.

A: Ricks have a punchy sound.

If your amp has bass, middle and treble controls, try boosting the bass and treble to your liking, but leave the middle fairly low in comparison.

This is often called a “V” notch effect.

Read and learn more about acoustic guitar amplification. For more, visit the Guitar Amp website GuitarAmpUniverse.com

Q: Acoustic Guitar Amplification?
I was wondering what kind of speakers would be ideal for amplifying an acoustic guitar if I were to get a pickup and a preamp. I know there are many types of speakers, and I have absolutely no knowledge about any of them, hence the question.

A: You need an amp and speakers, not just speakers. There are amp + speaker combinations made specifically for acoustic guitars with pickups. They are made by companies like Schertler, Fishman, Genz-Benz, SWR, LR Baggs, and others.

Q: Is there much difference between an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar except amplification ?

A: tone, weight, sound, design, so yes, there is all the difference.

Q: Whats that amplification device you place in your acoustic guitar….?
Whats that amplification device that you place in your acoustic guitar that has a cable extending out of it that connects into an amp?

A: i believe what you are describing is actually called a soundhole pickup. check out the seymour duncan woody xl or the fishman rare earth single coil soundhole guitar pickup at musiciansfriend.com

Q: Can an acoustic/electric guitar be played when it is not pluged in?
Hi, I am about to buy a guitar, and I was wondering if an acoustic/electric guitar can be played like a regular guitar. In other words, do you need amplification in order to play an acoustic/electric? Or can you play it with or without amplification.

Thanks.
By the way, can anyone tell me if an acoustic guitar and a classical guitar are the same thing

A: What an acoustic electric guitar is, is an acoustic guitar that has pick ups inside of it. You can play it just like an other acoustic guitar and then if you can plug it into an amp and play it. You can buy pickups to go into an acoustic guitar and make it electric, one of my friends did it. It works really good too.

Q: What kind of distortion can you get with an electro-acoustic guitar?
I have an electro-acoustic guitar, but I haven’t bought an amp yet. I am not aware of the technical terms of amps, so sorry if my question sounds stupid. I wanted to know if you can get the same kinds of distortion and amplification as the electric guitar on an electro-acoustic one. For example, to play heavy-metal.
Do you use the same type of amps?

A: To be honest, no you will not get the same type of distortion. The hollow body of an acoustic-electric guitar is much more prone to feedback and overtones. You can get a pretty decent distortion tone, but don’t plug in expecting to hear Kirk Hammett or Jim Root flowing from your amp. As for amps, you can plug into a “standard” electric amp such as a Marshall or Randall, the preference is yours. If this is your primary guitar I would recommend a Fender acoustic amp with an acoustic multi-effects pedal. I’ve played through a Zoom acoustic effects pedal in the past and had pretty good results.

Q: Please help me with this. I am looking into buying a new acoustic guitar.?
I mostly play indie/alternative/ acoustic type music. I also play alot of country. I dont really want to spend more than 400 bucks. I am currently looking toward the seagull s6..good buy? have a better idea? PLease give me some adivise.

as a side note i ussually only play gigs where no guitar amplification is required. But i would not object to an acoustic electric.

A: i got a jasmine acoustic guitar. i love it. it’s all one piece. really pretty. my hubby got it on sale for $120.00

Q: Is it necessary to use an electric guitar with amplification or any other effect ?
Im 16 and I just want to learn guitar as a hobby and i dont want any kinda amplifications and other effects . Can an electric guitar be played without amplification ? The thing i like in electric guitar is there stylish shape and that impresses me alot. So which one will be better – an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar ?

A: well the point of an electric guitar is to plug it in to an amp. you don’t have to use distortion or anything; an amp just…amplifies the sound.
if you don’t want to use an amp get an acoustic.

Q: What is the simplest, smallest, most portable way to amplify a one man acoustic guitar/vocal cafe act?
I was thinking about just getting a little trace elliot acoustic 35 watter and plugging the mic right into that….but I have little experience in gigging and amplification….thing is i don’t wanna be hauling around pounds and pounds of power I will never use.

A: Micheal The Fender Passport portable PA would work just fine it folds up into one unit and would be enough power to do what you need ck musiciansfriend.com for prices

Q: Some Acoustic Guitar got something can tune treble or bass , How to call that?
I’m curious about that thing , does it needs amplification?
So it’s acoustic guitar with electric pickup , is it also known as semi-acoustic guitar?

A: It’s an acoustic guitar fitted with an electric pickup. They do need an amp.

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=acouostic+guitar+with+electric+pickup&fr=ush-ans

Q: How does Acoustic Guitar differ from Electric Guitar?
Okay so what I am really asking, is for example say you learn Electric guitar would you be able to play accoustic guitar and the notes would sound/be the same? (ignoring the amplification) ??? HELP

A: The notes are all the same, since the electric is the same instrument as the acoustic, but is made to be amplified. They’re played the same, as well. But the necks on acoustics tend to be considerably thicker than those of electric guitars, so acoustics are a little more challenging to play. Acoustic guitarists who transition to electrics can usually play much faster, since there’s less string tension and the action (the distance between the strings and the fretboard) is lower on electrics, so it takes less finger strength and dexterity to play an electric than an acoustic. But if you already play electric, you’ll still be able to manage an acoustic once you get used to the different feel of the instruments.

Q: acoustic electric guitar?
would it be cheaper to buy an acoustic electric guitar or buy an acoustic and put an amplification set in it?
im thinking about getting the ibanez SGT120LNT SAGE SERIES Left-Handed Acoustic Guitar

A: Acoustic electric would be your best bet. You could buy an acoustic and get a 50 buck acoustic pick up but it wouldn’t sound half as good as an acoustic electric. Try out an Ibanez, nice guitars.

Q: Is epiphone es-335 a semi-acoustic guitar?
can you play it without amplification like es-175?

A: not really.
it is a semi-hollow guitar that means it has a block inside that helps keep the sustain and tone closer to that of a solid body. anyway, it is louder than a solid body guitar, but it does require amplification

Q: ACOUSTIC GUITARISTS!–your favorite pick?
What brand of acoustic guitar pick do you prefer to use and why? Also: Light or medium or hard pics–which do you prefer and why? What are the differences between them? do they affect tone, volume or both. Should a different pick width be used when plugging in an acoustic for amplification? thanks…

A: I prefer Dunlop gauge .73

These would be considered “medium”.
Hard picks are preferred for playing single notes (such as playing lead), lighter picks are preferred by those who like to strum, rather than to pick individual notes. Mediums are right in between.

If I were you, get a whole bunch of different picks and play with them all until you find one configuration that you are most comfortable with.

There is no right or wrong choice, it’s whatever you feel most comfortable with.

Q: Cello amplification or pickup?
I’m playing cello in a band with an electric/acoustic guitar and drums, so obviously I need a little more sound from the cello. I’m looking into amplification systems and I’ve come down to the decision between “The Realist” and “The Band.” Does anyone have any opinions or experience with either of these? Or any other type of pickup, like a bridge pickup?

A: Fishman C-100 or C-200 or Barcus Berry 3125 Cello Pickup

http://www.fishman.com/products/details.asp?id=103

http://barcusberry.com/products.cfm?CategoryID=3

or a reasonable instrument microphone

… because no one ever things of turning down the other instruments.

Q: What kind of guitar amp?
I’m a fingerstyle, folk, and acoustic rock guitarist and guitar instructor. I’ve been playing acoustics just about all my life and know very little about amplification. I recently started playing fingerstyle guitar on an ES-335 and now I’m looking for an amplifier that gives me a crisp, clear, sound. I don’t want it to be muddy. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

A: check into a company that beleive it or not is called “Acoustic”
they make very clean clear sound. you can adjust it to sound warmer or brighter or just flat out signal being amplified

not to mention they offer some of the best equalization availible. i’ve seen them with 8 band eq’s before. check em out. they also have acoustic bass amps.

Read and learn more about acoustic guitar amps. For more, visit the Guitar Amp website GuitarAmpUniverse.com

Q: Are all guitar amps made for both acoustic and electric?
I bought a really expensive taylor acoustic guitar (which i love!) but i want an amp that will do it justice, So can i go and buy any amp, or are there specific acoustic and electric amps

A: I’d say go to guitar center or best buy’s music section or any place with guitar amps and ask them which one will sound the best for an acoustic

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 you use electric guitar amps for electric acoustic guitars?
My guitar is the breedlove black magic

A: You can but there are amps specifically designed for acoustic guitars – they have a two way speaker (woofer and tweeter) for cleaner highs:

http://www.zzounds.com/cat–Acoustic-Guitar-Amps–2589

Q: acoustic guitar amps?
I’m starting to learn to play a guitar. I bought an acoustic guitar, and have been looking for an amp because this guitar has a pickup on it and can be played through an amp. Are there amps made just for an acoustic guitar? I’m not wanting to play loud like with an electric guitar, just something that has a good tone.

A: Yes, you would want to get an amplifier made specifically for an acoustic guitar. Although an amp made for an electric guitar would work, since you seem to just want to mess around with an acoustic guitar, then it would be best to get one made for an acoustic guitar. The good news is they are not that expensive. I’m sure you can find a good one for less than $100. I saw some listings at http://www.acousticguitaramps.net/ for some models that were small and affordable. Good luck with your playing, you chosen the best instrument to learn.

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: Acoustic guitar amps!!!?
Ive been playing acoustic guitar for a little while now and I have been wondering if i should get an amp

Is there any particular type of amp i should get

Im looking to spend something in the region of about £75 – £120

Any suggestions

A: Any working and good amp should do. I don’t know if you’ve already, but try musiciansfriend.com, I think you can search price criteria. Try this http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Acoustic-AG15-15W-1×8-Acoustic-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=500132. I’m not sure if they ship to europe. If you speak german, try www.session.de, though it might just be easier to go to a local store. It’s really your decision, based on what kind of sound you want, what kind of quality you want, whether you want the best brand or not – it also depends on what kind of guitar you have. I assume you have an acoustic that is compatible with an amp?
You could stick a microphone in there.

Q: where can i find the brand called “acoustic” guitar amps and guitars?
i went to the rock hall and i jimi hendrix used to play the brand “acoustic” guitar for a short time. also i’ve seen a amp by the same brand at guitar center.

A: well first look on the internet and then look at guitar center again. That company may not exist any more.

Q: Are acoustic guitar amps O.K. to use with my ELECTRIC guitar?

A: Brian (above) is close but he doesn’t win the cigar.

Most (not all) acoustic guitar amps have inputs that are very sensitive to the voltage that the pickup produces since most acoustic pickups are much weaker than the typical electric models.

Plugging an electric guitar into an acoustic amp MAY overdrive the preamp and cause a bunch of distortion and shorten the life of the amp.

Q: How long does it take to learn how to play an acoustic guitar?
How long does it take to learn how to play an acoustic guitar, no amps or anything, yeah i would practice like.. all my spare time thats like 4 hours a day ish? please help me

A: Well, that depends on how productive your practices are, and how you plan to practice. I’ve noticed a lot of people taking shortcuts, like not learning to tune by ear, which actually can make it more difficult to play. You can play the correct notes all you want, but you’re not a proficient player if you can’t tell if the guitar is in tune or not.

Basically, if you take it seriously, and practice, you should be able to pick it up fairly quickly.

Q: Are there guitar amps made specifically for acoustic/electric guitar?
Just want to prove my friend wrong
I don’t mean a pickup that you put over the hole.

A: Yes they have less options such as distortion and overdrive. They have a very clean sound. Of course an acoustic-electric guitar would still work with an amp made for an electric guitar, but it won’t sound as good as if you get an amp specially made for an acoustic-electric.

Q: Are electric guitar amps O.K. to use with my acoustic/electric guitar?
Awhile ago, I was told that it is not good to use an electric guitar amp with my acoustic/electric guitar and that I should use an acoustic amp. Lately, I have been hearing that there is nothing wrong with using this kind of amp, or others, with my guitar. So is there anything that could be damaged by me plugging my guitar into an electric amp?

A: Many great musicians mix amplification types. The sound will be slightly different but you’re not going to hurt your instrument.

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: difference between electroacoustic guitar and acoustic guitar.?
i know electroacoustic guitar has amps and all that other stuff but what exactly are amps? i know they make the guitar sound louder but how ? I also know that acoustic guitars require no cords or amps. and uhm. what’s the difference in sound between those type of guitars? is one brighter than the other or what? i just want more info. thanks. =]

A: electroacoustic has a pickup and can be plugged into an amp. It does not have an amp.

Q: Acousic guitar amps?
Are there such things as acoustic guitar amps?

A: Not really.
Any guitar amp will do for an acoustic with electronic pick-ups.
One may use the features on an amp to make the SOUND of the acoustic better (like reverb, high and low end tones, etc) but to design an amp JUST for acoustic would be kind of silly.
Guitar player, DJ/karaoke host w/ LOTS od sound equipment.

Q: Are all amps made for both acoustic and electric?
I bought a really expensive taylor acoustic guitar (which i love!) but i want an amp that will do it justice, So can i go and buy any amp, or are there specific acoustic and electric amps

A: There are a bunch of amps made specifically for acoustic guitars. In general these amps have clean channels to accurately reproduce the acoustic sound. Recommended brands are LR Baggs, Fishman, Schertler, Genz-Benz, Ultrasound, and SWR.

Read and learn more about acoustic guitar amplifier. For more, visit the Guitar Amp website GuitarAmpUniverse.com

Q: What is the best Acoustic guitar amplifier for Martin guitars?
Helli, I’m buying a Martin D-16 Acoustic Guitar And i want to get an amplifier for it, Im getting the D-16 With the pickup yes… So i was wondering what IS the best acoustic guitar amp for Martin guitars around the price range of $1500-2500? Thanks!

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

www.music123.com
www.americanmusical.com
www.samedaymusic.com
www.samash.com
www.zzounds.com

Q: Can I use my acoustic guitar amplifier for an Electric Drum Kit?
I have a Fender Acoustasonic Junior, am getting an electric drum kit, and was just wondering if I could plug a Roland TD-4 electric drum kit in that amp, while still sounding medium-good? I don’t want to screw up my amp, cuz I regularly play guitar on it… Thanks.

A: It will make noise, but will be far from ideal.

Guitar amps are optimized for, er…guitars. That means a limited low and high end, and peaked midrange normally.

Electronic drums have a very wide frequency range (think about from the kick drum to the high hat). You would be better off with a keyboard amp or small PA. You want something that will handle a line level output from the drum brain, and have a wide frequency response, which usually entails having a larger speaker and some type of horn or tweeter.

Good luck.

Greetings from Austin, TX

Ken

Q: Can I use a semi acoustic archtop guitar with an electric guitar amplifier.?
I am about to buy semi acoustic guitar and already own a small (15w) Marshall electric guitar amplifier. Are they reasonably compatable?

A: You can use it, it just won’t sound acoustic. If you are looking for a true acoustic sound out of an amplifier then you need an acoustic amp. But judging by the fact that your only running a 15 watt amp anyway, it’ll work fine. You can run any guitar through any amp, it’s just a matter of the sound your looking for. If it’s just for you to practice on or play with a couple friends you’ll be fine.

Q: Will an acoustic guitar amplifier work well with an acoustic bass?
I have a Michael Kelly Dragonfly 4-String Frettless and I want to buy an amp for it. I also play acoustic guitar. Can I just buy one amp, like a Fender Acoustosonic? Or will playing an acoustic bass through an acoustic guitar amp burn it out?

A: If you are playing at home, by yourself. Personally, I wouldn’t want to try to run an acoustic bass through these speakers. There is a LOT more bottom end in an acoustic bass than in a “traditional” electric bass guitar. If you are going to go with one amp, I’d look for one with at least 2 ten inch speakers. If you want to get a guitar amp for some of the effects, that’s understandable, but I think this 1×8 with 1×6 is going to be overwhelmed. Try it with your bass in a store before you buy it.

Consider the Carvin……. http://www.carvin.com/products/single.php?ItemNumber=AG100D&CID=GA

Q: Wattage acoustic guitar amplifier?
I have an acoustic/ electric guitar with pickups only (no preamp) and need a good acoustic amplifier. I will probably get one with a preinstalled D.I. (or preamp) so I don’t have to purchase one separately (or should I buy one anyway?). I want to know what wattage would be best for playing for a church of 100-150 people. I will be playing alongside a drummer, bassist, electric keyboard, and 3 singers. All of them will be through PA, and only I will be through my own acoustic amp. I don’t want to be drowned out, so I want to know what minimum watts of amp I should be searching for. Thanks in advance.

A: You should be looking for at least a 60 watt. Between 60 and 120 watt will be plenty for that size venue. Tube power is always best for sheer volume. Solid state is great if you want good effects and clarity at high volumes.

Q: Settings for Laney LX12 Amplifier for Acoustic Guitar?
I have lost the instructions to my LX12 laney amplifier for my acoustic guitar. I do not no what to put all settings on. I dont it to be rock or jazz or anything like that. I want it to just be normal like how the guitar sounds. Does anyone no what i should put it on?

Anything will help. Thanks

A: Below is a link to the user manual online….

All you need to know is in there…

Regards,

Q: What is the device called that is used to plug a regular acoustic guitar into an amplifier?
Hey, i’ve noticed a few of my favorite musicians that play acoustic guitar live are able to amplify their REGULAR acoustic guitars by plugging a little device into the amp. The little device slides under the strings over the tone hole on the body of the guitar
what is it called??????

A: It’s called a “pickup”

It’s the same idea as an electric guitar, except for acoustic guitars. They are not very expensive, but depending on what kind you get you may want to pay someone to install it.

Here’s a site, or you can just google “acoustic guitar pickups”

http://www.fishman.com/products/acoustic-guitar-pickups.asp

Q: Is there a steel stringed acoustic guitar that uses an amplifier?
I saw one of my classmates playing a steel stringed acoustic guitar(maybe…that’s what I think it is) and he was able to plug it in an amplifier. If there is no such guitar, is it an electric guitar then?

I want to buy a guitar like that one.

Please answer…thank you!

A: It’s an acoustic/electric guitar. If you are a beginner here’s something that might suit you well http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-IJAE5-Acoustic-Guitar-Pack?sku=519605

Q: I just ordered an electric guitar and have an acoustic amplifier, will it work on my electric guitar?
Do I need to get a new amplifier that is for electric guitars or can i use the acoustic amplifier?

A: It will work fine, just wont be as effiecient as an electric amp.
I have a portable amp that was for my acoustics but i use it for all my guitars and bass if i go out anywhere.
There really isnt such thing as an acoustic amp, amps are amps. The only way to define acoustic and electric is if it has a distortion switch or gain knob.

Q: Will this acoustic guitar amplifier be enough?
I am looking to buy this acoustic guitar amplifier to play for a church of 100-150 people. Do you think it would pack enough punch for that venue or no?
Also, do you think I’d need to buy a pre-amp for this, as I have an electric/acoustic with pickups only (no pre-amp). Thanks

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Marshall-AS100D-Acoustic-Combo-Amp?sku=483169X
I wanted to add that I will be playing alongside a pianist, bassist, and 3 vocalists.

A: That would be about perfect as there’s a lot of echo in a church, which would help carry the sound to fill the room. The fact it’s stereo as well helps.

No you won’t need anything else. Apart from a cable to go from guitar to amp, but you’ll probably have that anyway. Just plug n play!

Hope it goes well for you.

Q: can you use your electric guitar amplifier for acoustic-electric guitar?
I have a Line 6 amp for my electric guitar.
I’m thinking to buy acoustic-electric but don’ want to buy another amp.
Can I use my electric guitar amp for acoustic-electric guitar?
Is it going to sound weird???

Oh, also, if you would, could you please recommend me a acoustic-electric guitar?
I have no idea what to choose…….

A: Yes. An amp is an amp. The only thing you need to watch is to not use too much bass or too much high as it will make feeback. The line 6 has a Master volume and a separate gain.

So, se the Master Volume to 10 and the gain up to 4 if you need volume. The sound will be super clean.

Q: Can an Acoustic Guitar with a port for connectin it to an amplifier, be connected to a computer?
I have an acoustic guitar, and it has a port for it to be connected to an amplifier. I want to know is there any such socket which could help me connect my guitar to the midi port of my computer.
Many Thnks.

A: Are you looking to get actual midi signals or just straight guitar tone? I don’t do a lot of midi music but if that’s what you need then I believe you will need some sort of converter from audio signal to midi.

If you are just looking to record the sound of the guitar I would recommend that you do not just plug your guitar into your PC. In my experience, this will usually sound BAD.

I often use the TonePort UX1 made by Line6 to connect my guitar to my computer. You plug your guitar cable into this device and then plug the TonePort into the USB port on your computer.

It comes with software that does a nice job of simulating a bunch of different amps and effects pedals. Also comes with good recording and editing software. I believe they run around $120. For everything you get you can’t beat the price.

Good luck,
Brian

http://www.MyOnlineGuitar.com

Q: Is it necessary to have an amplifier to play an electro acoustic guitar or a semi acoustic guitar ?
I have to buy a guitar for me but i don’t need an amplifier, so what should I do ?
should I buy an electroacoustic guitar or a semi electric guitar ?
Which one doesn’t require amplifier ?
please help out.

A: depends on u if u want to play in public like stage u will need it but 2 play in a room or small place u dont……………

Q: How do you use and amplifier with an acoustic guitar?
How do you make it connect.

I think you need a pickup, and if you do, how do you connect it to the guitar?

A: it usually slides inside on the hole and u have to turn the treble and bass up but make the treble a lil more then the bass

Q: Will an electric guitar’s amplifier/cable work with an acoustic guitar as well?

A: acoustic electric? Then yes…plug it in just like you would your electric and you’re good to go.A 1/4 inch instrument cable is the same for an acoustic as it is for an electric…now go fire that thing up and Getcha Pull !!