By Eugenia Dickerson
Most people who play guitar want to get the most from their instrument. It is not just about the instrument but also the way in which the sound is presented to the listener. One way to get people listening in the right way is to find the right jazz guitar amp that is right for the sound you want to give people.
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.
However some people prefer the sound of having an amplifier separate from a speaker. There is not necessarily a right or wrong to this. It is about listening to the sound and gauging whether this is appropriate. What you like in terms of sound may be different to someone else.
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.
The best way to be sure that an amp is suited your needs is to try it. Most music stores will allow you to test one so you can play your instrument and listen to how the amplifier affects the sound. You may not necessarily want to buy it from them but it is worth listening to gauge whether an amp produces the sound you want as well as finding out if it has the kind of technical features you want.
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.
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.
However some people prefer the sound of having an amplifier separate from a speaker. There is not necessarily a right or wrong to this. It is about listening to the sound and gauging whether this is appropriate. What you like in terms of sound may be different to someone else.
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.
The best way to be sure that an amp is suited your needs is to try it. Most music stores will allow you to test one so you can play your instrument and listen to how the amplifier affects the sound. You may not necessarily want to buy it from them but it is worth listening to gauge whether an amp produces the sound you want as well as finding out if it has the kind of technical features you want.
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.