June 16, 2014

How To Choose The Best Jazz Guitar Amplifiers

By Kenya Campos


There is no one size fits all solution for the variety of guitar players out there. There are many types of amplifiers, including jazz guitar amplifiers. Not all amps are suitable for all situations. There is no one size fits all solution for the variety of guitar players out there.

The venue and type of music determines the type of amp that will work. There are various brand names and styles that make specific sounds that fit particular categories of music. Whether it be a country barn opry, a heavy metal pit, or a soothing night of jazz and blues, the amp used will make a load of difference.

Just purchasing any amp without forethought is a bad idea. The performance and quality of the sound determines whether the gig is a fail. Amps have specific sounds, brands, layouts, and technology that make them unique from one another. Choosing the right amp will require one to familiarize himself with the distinguishable qualities of amps.

The wattage produced by the amplifier is what rates the amps used. Low watt tubes are decent models for the aspiring musician. Tubes focus on harmonic quality more than the power. The higher the watts, the more powerful the speakers are. More watts equal more speakers.

The tube and solid amps are different. Solid state amps use transistors to produce amplification. The tube amp may be more expensive to buy. Tube amps tend to have superior quality in contrast to solid state amps. Solid state amps attempt to reproduce the sound of tube amps, but it is not on par.

Practice and micro amps are good for the beginner. As the majority of them dish out about 10-50 watts, they are not good for gigs or studio quality recordings. While they make good practice amps, the micro amps are solid states due to their size.

The 1 x 12 amplifier uses a single 12 inch speaker ideal for small gigs. They make useful practice amps when sound quality holds more weight than finger techniques. While they pack a punch, they do not meet the standards of playing in large venues. Though, they can be added to large Pas via line out jacks or mic ports.

The 2x12 amp is ideal for small to mid-sized music venues, practice areas, and studios. The heavy cabinets work for many types of music. When browsing, do not get an amplifier confused with a head. The heads lack the speakers, but have everything else an amplifier has. The various heads can be hooked on a number or stack of speakers with varying outputs. A head can push up to 400 watts between speakers.

The cabinets can hold 4 to 6 12in speakers. The configurations of 4 12in speakers with multiple smaller speakers are called half stacks. Cabinets can use 200 watt heads that would be ideal for mid-sized to larger venues. A half stack is a cabinet with 4 12in speakers. Full stacks are twice the amount obviously. The full stacks are used by pro musicians in large music venues. The amps used are what separate the pros from the hobbyist.




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