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Picking The Right Guitar Amplifier

Author: MIKE SELVON

Amplifiers are as important, if not more important, than the instrument itself. Guitar amplifiers are no exception. People often put so much of their time and efforts into choosing the guitar that is right for them that they often don’t have any money or time left to find the perfect amplifier for their needs. By doing a little research, though, finding the amplifier to fit your musical needs can be less of a daunting task than you thought.

Amplifiers are categorized into four types. The first type is the solid-state amplifiers. These kinds of amplifiers do not use tubes for the power, but rather transistors. This is probably the most durable of the four types of amplifiers.

Many traveling musicians choose this type of amplifier because they hold up best when going to going to different gigs across the country. The sound that these amplifiers produce is crisp, but you also have the option of producing a distorted sound with the push of a button.

Tube amps are the loud amps that are used for their high distortion and fat tones. These tube amps have different channels that can change from clean to a distorted sound and everything in between. Unfortunately, the tubes in these amps can wear down easily, so you will need to keep the extra expense of changing the tubes in mind when you buy a tube amp.

A modeling amp is also known as a digital amp. These amps use digital technology to simulate the sounds of the older amps that are harder to find. The modeling amp uses software that allows it to “model” sounds of other amps, and this lets different sounds to fit into one box.

These amps are the most complex. They come with different features that are programmable, and they have special effects such as a delay and chorus option. These amps come with a digital output that can go directly into a recording mode or hook into a PA system.

The last of the amplifier choices is the hybrid amp. This amp is a combination of all three amps put into one. These amps use the tube system as well as the solid-state amp system. However, when you go for an amp that can do everything you will be funding more for the amplifier.

Do your research before spending any money on an amplifier. You don’t want to buy more amplifier than you will need because that is just a waste of money. On the other hand, you don’t want to buy less of an amplifier than you need because that could just prove to be costly or embarrassing. When you decide which amplifier to purchase, it doesn’t hurt to haggle with the sales associate at your local guitar center.

As long as they are still making money on the transaction, they might be willing to make a deal. After all, the worst that will happen is they will refuse the deal, but you’ll still be able to buy the equipment.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/picking-the-right-guitar-amplifier-142676.html

About the Author

Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our guitar portal for more great tips on picking the right guitar amplifier.

Basics of Bass Guitars

Author: melvillejackson

The history of bass guitars dates back to 1930s when it was first developed by Paul Tutmarc of Seattle, Washington. A bass guitar looks similar to an electric guitar except it is larger in terms of body and neck length. The guitar is tuned to pitches that are one octave lower than those of the four lower strings of a guitar (E, A, D and G). Like electric guitars, bass guitars are attached to an amplifier or speaker for live performance.

What are bass guitars made of?

The bass guitars usually have bodies made of wood. The body may also be made of other materials like graphite as in some of the Steinberger guitars. Different types of woods are used for the making of the neck, body and the fretboard of the bass guitars. Usually the body is made of alder; the fretboard is made of rosewood and the neck of maple. Other types of woods used are ash, mahogany and maple for bodies, maple and ebony for the fretboard and mahogany for necks. The bass guitars have various flat and curved designs and oil, wax, or lacquer finishes.

What creates the bass effect?

Most of the bass guitars have bodies with hollow chambers to enhance the resonance and tone of the instruments. This design also reduces the weight of the guitars. Acoustic bass guitars usually have piezoelectric or magnetic pick ups and amplifiers. Bass Guitars may also be classified on the basis of the frets. The Fender basses have about 20 frets whereas modern basses have about 24 or more frets. The Fretless basses produce distinct sound due to lack of frets. Usually the bass guitars have four, five or six strings.

You can take formal bass guitars training in a wide range of styles like jazz, rock, Latin, funk and R&B. You may even learn informally from records or CDs. There is a wide variety of brands and styles of bass guitars. You can buy them along with many different accessories according to your individual needs. Some of the accessories that are often required are amplifiers, cables, straps, tuners, headphones, Instructional DVDs and gig bags. You can even shop online. The different websites will offer you the opportunity to make a well informed buy. They can also create personalized packages that contain the accessories that you want to suit your individual tastes and preferences.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/basics-of-bass-guitars-1357853.html

About the Author

At World Music Supply, we offer acoustic guitars in all your favorite models and styles. From Strats (Stratocasters) to Teles (Telecasters), jazzy arch-tops to cool signatures, metal guitars, and even smaller sized guitars for those just beginning, we’ve got something for everyone, in top brands like Fender, ESP, B.C. Rich, and Jackson.