Sunday, December 22, 2013

How To Choose A Jazz Guitar Amp

By Eugenia Dickerson


As the name suggests an amplifier or amp is used to amplify sound. While some people may think that this means they are a uniform product this is not necessarily the case. There are products designed for different genres of music. For example if you are passionate about playing jazz and you play guitar then it is worth finding the right jazz guitar amp to get the most from your instrument.

There are two main types of amp. A tube amp is often favoured by musicians due to its high dynamic range and the sound it produces. However they can be very heavy and expensive to maintain. Furthermore they produce more noise and some people may not necessarily want that with their style of music.

Another practical consideration is when you are on stage. If you travel around a lot then you will probably want to keep the amount of items you have to take with you to a minimum. This is why you may a speaker and amp combo so that you do not have to carry both of them separately.

There is also the issue of the level of customisation. More experienced guitarists will often want a control panel that gives them more options. A lot of knobs will allow you to change the level of sound to your exact specifications, tweaking it until you are personally comfortable.

This is where digital technology has complicated things. Some devices have been set up that can digitally recreate different types of sound. The theory is that this digital sound can mimic the best quality brands, allowing you to adapt with other members of the band who may use a different brand of amplifier without having to change yours for something completely different.

The best way to gauge this is to go to a music store. Ideally you want to go to somewhere with experienced staff who are passionate about music. Even better are staff who are passionate about jazz as they will be more likely to know the right kind of amplifier to suit you. For example some people prefer digital style amplification while others prefer a more supposedly natural sound.

Once you have established something that should suit you then it is best to test it. Make sure you have your guitar with you so that you can listen to how the amplifier improves the sound. If it does not improve the sound consider looking for another option that is more appropriate. You do not necessarily have to buy the amp from the store but it is a good way of learning more about the options available and how appropriate they are for your style of music.

It is worth looking online for feedback from other musicians to find the ideal jazz guitar amp. This will make it easier to make a more informed choice. Use your regular search engine to compare different options, get customer reviews or use social media to ask people what they use in order to help you find the right amp to suit how you play your guitar and the kind of sound you want to create.




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