Types of Guitar Amps
If you're reading this article, you're probably unsure of what kind of amp you want to get. You probably already have a guitar, but what good is an electric or bass guitar without an amplifier? Not much, in all honesty. Without a good, high quality guitar amp, your guitar - regardless of how expensive it is - won't sound as good as it potentially can. Generally, you have four options when looking for a guitar amp: tube amps, solid state amps, digital amps, and hybrid amps. Below I'll give a brief summary of each type.
Guitar Tube Amps - The original guitar amp was the tube amplifier. The evolved fairly quickly. Today, those most knowledgeable in guitar amplifiers recognize their rich, full tone. Newer amps often try to mimic the sound of a genuine tube amp, but they're rarely sucessful. Tube amps originally lacked power though, and they're more delicate; they break more easily and need more repairs.
Solid State Amps - Solid-state guitar amplifiers were the first replacements of the original tube amps, though many musicians still use the tube amps today. Regardless, most people consider solid-state amps an improvement. Usually they use higher frequencies. They have more range and can typically produce much more power and wattage.
Digital Amps - Digital guitar amps really on digital signals and are programmed to create sounds from classic amplifiers. They often offer a wider range of styles, sounds, and effects.
Hybrid Amps - Hybrid guitar amplifiers are a combination of tube amps and solid-state amps together into one. They don't usually have fantastic sound quality as far as sounding like a tube amp, but they come pretty close.
The author is the owner of a site where you can buy guitars online today.
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Jensen 0.33uf 630V oil capacitor 845 300B KT88 tube amp |
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$33.00 | 14m | |
Vintage Audio Amp Tube Ken-Rad 6SL7GT~6SL7 5691 ECC35 |
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$4.95 $8.95 |
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RCA 5R4GYB 5R4G 5R4GTY 5R4GY Vintage Vacuum Tube, AMP |
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$3.95 $6.95 |
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Vintage 1963 Raytheon 12AU7 ECC82 Vacuum Tube, Amp NOS |
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$9.95 $16.95 |
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Five 6005, 6AQ5W, 6095 vintage vacuum tubes, audio, amp, NOS |
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$7.99 $14.99 |
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Grommes Little Jewel Vintage High Fidelity Tube Amp |
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Tube Rectified Common Power Supply Bare PCB for Pre-amp |
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$9.00 | 1h | |
New Laney NEXUS-TUBE 450-Watt Tube Bass Amp |
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$1,559.00 | 1h | |
New Laney VC30-212 30-Watt 2X12 Tube Combo Amp |
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$1,169.00 | 1h | |
Using CHEAP Output Transformer in Building Tube Amp '55 |
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$24.95 | 1h 6m |
Finding A Good Amp For Playing Jazz Guitar
Jazz guitar talk is generally focused around one thing - sound. The tone of your instrument will play a huge role in the sound that you achieve. If you are engaging in live performances, and jam sessions, no doubt you will be using an amplifier too. Finding a good amp for playing jazz guitar is just as important as finding a good guitar. Let us avoid discussing which amps are "better" than others, and get down to the important issues you need to focus on when you are looking for a good amp for playing jazz guitar.
Traditional Jazz
Players who are concentrating on developing a traditional jazz sound are going to be looking for just one thing in a guitar amp - a clean sound. If you want a traditional, clean jazz sound, then you will commonly gravitate toward a solid state amp or a tube amp. Solid state amps are easier to care for than tube amps, they are less prone to damage and most importantly they deliver clean, distortion free sounds on a regular basis. This is what makes them extremely popular among jazz guitarists. The biggest complaint about solid state amps is that they tend to sound "flat" and elicit little life from the tone of the instrument. Tube amps, on the other hand, are believed to deliver a much warmer tone, and some players insist that their sound is more alive when they use a tube amp. Unfortunately, tube amps are prone to distortion, typically something traditional jazz guitarists want to avoid at all costs. Despite their expensive maintenance bills and extreme weight on the move, tube amps are exceptionally popular, for those who favor the clean, traditional sounds of jazz as well.
Contemporary & Modern Jazz
For the more modern and contemporary jazz guitarist, a good amp may come in many shapes, sizes and forms. Players who are looking for a more mixed up and funky modern vibe in their sound will regularly employ effects and alterations. They might be more inclined to own and perform on a solid body electric, and may gravitate toward amps with more bells and whistles. Digital amps are increasingly popular for modern jazz. Modern jazz guitarists may also be dabbling in other genres, and digital amps are extremely effective in other arenas of music as well, thus it is a very practical choice. These players are going to want a lot of on-board effects at their fingertips, and a digital amp provides just that.
Industry Standards
Within the world of jazz, there are several amps that have emerged as industry standards. This includes the Fender Pro, often heralded as a good amp for playing jazz guitar due to its extremely clean sounds and lack of distortion.
It is unfortunate that manufacturers do not produce amps that are labeled "jazz guitar amps". This means you will need to spend a lot of time listening to others, and trying out amps in order to find your own signature sound.
I hope you found this article helpful! If you are a budding jazz guitarist wanting to improve your improvising, then you need to know your scales. For quality online guitar scale lessons that help improve your pentatonic scale chops and other vital skills, be sure to check out the following website: http://www.GuitarScaleMastery.com/letter/
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