Saturday, September 7, 2013

Picking A Good Jazz Guitar Amp

By Gloria Mason


After buying a jazz guitar that you love, next you need to buy a good jazz guitar amp. An amp is important for getting the right sound from your guitar. Sounds are amplified through it, making it sound better than without amplification. Quality of the amp you purchase is also important. Most professional musicians believe a good guitar is useless without a good amp to go with it.

There are 4 different types of amplifiers. The one you find that best suits your jazz music may not end up being one with the latest technology or one that eve looks cool. However, it will work well for what it is suppose to do. It is very important to know the difference between all 4 amp types before you buy anything since each kind can have a distinct effect on the music you are playing and the sound it is able to produce.

Tube amps were the first kind introduced to the market. They produce a warm and rich sound. Inside, glass tubes are used to produce a louder sound than any other type of amp is capable of. Upkeep for this type can be expensive and their size is rather bulky. Care needs to be taken when moving them around, to prevent the tubes from breaking inside.

Solid state amps use transistors in place of glass tubes. They are much better suited for being used often. If using this type of amp to play jazz, fine tuning is needed. Otherwise, distorted sounds are possible at higher frequencies. Many musicians believe solid state varieties are more reliable, but some do not like the sound quality they produce.

Digital style amps have recently become the mainstream option because they use digital technology. They are capable of imitating a variety of sound ranges, including distortion and tube amp. Cheaper varieties have the tendency to sound very synthetic, so a more sophisticated model is best for playing this music style if you want the best sound quality.

Hybrid style amps use glass tubes and transistors to produce sound. The tone is produced by the tubes while the power is derived from the transistors. They are a great option for getting tube amp sound without spending extra money to get it. Their sound production is not the best, but they are highly reliable and their construction is good.

Jazz players vary in their opinion about music amplifiers. Since traditionally an acoustic sound is preferred, most like tube style options the best. Some use other types and get great quality sounds as well. It's all a matter of personal opinion.

Sound quality, mobility and how often you will be using your amp all play a role in choosing the right one to buy. No one specific style is designed for use as a jazz guitar amp. When you are shopping for a new amp, bring along your instrument so you can see how it will sound with each individual one. This is the best shopping method to determine if an amp within your budget will work for you.




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