Vacuum tubes are fragile and may need to be replaced over time because of use or because of damage caused by rough handling of the amp. Because many guitarists find tube amps more desirable, their initial cost can be high, even for a used amp.Īdditional cost comes from replacing tubes. One of the down-sides of tube amps is weight. It may be better to choose a tube amp smaller than 20watts that lets you get distorted tone without huge decibels. For this reason, guitarists may choose to use a lower wattage or smaller amp over a higher wattage amp.Ĭranking up a high watt amp enough to saturate the tubes and get the right level of distortion might blow your audience’s ears off. While vacuum tubes are outdated technology, tube amps remain popular because many guitarists prefer the distortion produced by vacuum tubes to that created by solid-state or digital amplifiers.ĭistortion is an effect created when the gain (input signal) or volume (output signal) are turned up high enough to create a fuzzy or growling tone. Tube amps use one or more vacuum tubes to amplify signal input from the guitar, produce the amp’s tone, and drive the speakers. Guitar tube amps get their name from the vacuum tube, a glass tube that contains electrodes for controlling current flow in a gas-free space. Each type produces its own tone qualities based on the characteristics of the electronic components. There are four basic types of amps: tube amps, solid state, digital, and hybrid. Often, amps also modify the instrument's tone, by emphasizing or de-emphasizing certain frequencies, using equalizer controls, and by adding electronic effects such as signal distortion and reverb. An amplifier is an electronic device that strengthens weak electrical signals sent from the electromagnetic pickups mounted on the guitar so that the amp can produce sound through one or more loudspeakers, which are housed in a wooden cabinet. Ask your teacher for a list of things to look for in a first electric guitar.Īmps are a little more tricky and there are terms that may seem confusing. Sound, feel, shape, price, and of course color. There are many considerations when choosing a guitar. Suddenly, you’ve gone from six strings on a wooden instrument to needing cables, amps, pedals, pedal boards, and all kinds of other paraphernalia. The variety of sounds that can be achieved with electric instruments is fascinating, but the gear can seem foreign and intimidating. Almost every guitar player will at some point find themselves wandering into the world of electric guitars.
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