Saturday, June 15, 2013

Some Advice For Beginners On Choosing Portable Guitar Amplifiers

By Grace Daniels


When choosing a portable guitar amplifier, there are a number of things which you need to take into account. There are many, highly persistent, myths around about amplifiers in general, and their performance, which beginner guitarists are prone to believe. Always choose items with caution, and beware of sales techniques, as buying guitar equipment is rarely a cheap pastime.

One of the first myths many beginner guitarists buy into is that they will need a huge amplifier with a vast number of watts output just to be heard in a public place. Nothing could be further from the truth, in actual fact. An amplifier with a wattage of 30 watts is usually ideal for rehearsal and performance.

You are unlikely to play any venues which require a larger amp than that for many years. A 30 watt has the advantage of being easy to mike up through a PA system too. It is also relatively easy to carry around yourself, without a professional road crew, and can fit in the back of your car or another small vehicle too, along with your instrument.

It is also a misconception to believe that simply by increasing the number of watts your amp can output, you will be raising its volume by a similar percentage. In fact, doubling the number of watts does not double the volume, even though it doubles the sound pressure levels. This doubling though, only produces an increase in actual sound which is very slight.

It is also a fallacy that the only gear to buy is that which is made by the best-known, top of the range brands. While the music industry's most famous names will often make wonderful amplifiers for the top-priced end of the market, their budget gear can be terrible. That is why it is a good idea to try out every manufacturer's products in your price range, or as many as possible.

Lesser known companies often work harder at making budget gear better than top rank names do. So a cheaper model can often be a better choice, especially for a beginner, and you can gain a good sound without having to fork out for a big name brand. The important thing, as with anything musical, is what it sounds like to your ears.

It is also wise to avoid amplifiers which have in-built effects, such as chorus or delay. An in-built effects unit is unlikely to be able to create the same sound as a separate effects pedal or unit. The time and resource a manufacturer puts into fitting an effects unit could probably be better used by building a better amplifier, so beware.

When looking for a portable guitar amplifier, your ears are the best judge that you have. Try out as many amplifiers within your price range as you can, and do not be beguiled by big name brands, or mesmerising sales techniques. If you are any doubt, ask the advice of an experienced musician, whose judgement and knowledge you know you can trust.




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