6/17/2014

Choosing 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.

Tube and solid state amps have distinguishable qualities. The tube amps are much more expensive than the solid state amps, and they are of studio standards. As much as solid state amps try to mimic the harmonic qualities of tubes, it does not meet the bar set. Some solid states are good and suitable to match the harmonic qualities of a tube.

Micro amps and practice amps are about the same. They only push about 10-50 watts. These amps are not much good. Most of them are only good for practicing. Due to their size, micro amps are typically solid state amps.

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 2 x 12 amp is ideal for medium-sized venues and studios. The cabinets work for many categories of music. When looking for that amp, do not confuse the terms head and amplifier. The head is an amplifier without a speaker, and numerous heads can be hooked up to play a stack or half stack speaker system. A typical head can run up to 400 watts for the 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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