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If you’re considering amplifying your acoustic guitar, there are things you should know before investing in an amp. Here are some tips and guidelines for buying just the right amplifier for your acoustic guitar.
Acoustic guitar amplification varies greatly in simplicity and in price. If you’re an amateur player and only want to amp the volume of your instrument, the process can be easy and inexpensive. If you’re a stickler for getting a perfect acoustic sound, be prepared to dig a little deeper into your pocket.
Things to consider
- Your playing situation. For example, if you’re a single performer who plays small rooms you won’t need a powerful amp; if you’re in a band competing with the sound of other instruments you’ll need to buy accordingly.
- The sound you want to achieve. If you simply want a clean, amplified acoustic sound, a basic amp will suffice. If you’re looking for more power and effects, a more elaborate amplifier will be needed.
- Your budget. You don’t have to spend a fortune on a good amp. Go online or to a music store to check out prices and features. Always experiment with your own guitar before you buy.
Transducers
The sound quality of an acoustic guitar is unique to the instrument, and getting a good amplified sound can be difficult. Before connecting to an amplifier you need the right transducer, the device that picks up the sound from the guitar and transfers it to an electric signal for amplification. There are two basic types of transducers:
- Microphones. A good microphone is sometimes the best way to amplify your guitar, depending upon your playing situation. Small microphones designed for acoustic guitars that can be installed into the guitar are available. In my experience, a microphone should always be used in recording studio situations.
- Pickups. There are varying types of pickups including those that fit into the guitar’s sound hole, and “contact” pickups, which are in contact with some part of the guitar itself. Some guitar manufacturers pre-install pickups. The kind of pickup you use is an important key to getting a quality sound.
Self-contained amplifiers
Professional acoustic guitarists often employ several pieces of hardware gear to achieve the sound they want: pre-amps, effects units, anti-feedback controls and EQ units, to name a few. The good news is that there are self-contained acoustic guitar amplifiers on the market that contain some or all of the above in one free-standing unit.
Of course, the number of bells and whistles contained in an amp depends upon the amount of money you want to spend. Basic amplifiers sell for less than $100 and more sophisticated units can go into the thousands.
There are a number of acoustic guitar amp manufacturers including Fender, Marshall, Ampeg, Genz Benz, Crate and Behringer. Some amps are designed for a particular guitar brand and others work well with a variety of brands.
Make sure you get an acoustic guitar amplifier as opposed to an electric guitar or bass amp. Acoustic guitar amplifiers are especially designed for the timbre and sonic characteristics of the instrument.
Conclusion
The best advice I can give is to take your guitar to a good music store and experiment with different brands of both amplifiers and transducers. The number of technical options to consider can get somewhat complicated, depending upon how involved you want to get with that aspect of the procedure. Talk with a trusted professional to assure that you purchase what best suits you.
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