24.12.13

Choosing The Right Jazz Guitar Amp

By Eugenia Dickerson


As the name suggests an amplifier or amp is used to amplify sound. While some people may think that this means they are a uniform product this is not necessarily the case. There are products designed for different genres of music. For example if you are passionate about playing jazz and you play guitar then it is worth finding the right jazz guitar amp to get the most from your instrument.

In some ways this decision can be difficult. On the one hand it is a technical decision as you are deciding what is effective and efficient. You want to be sure that what you are buying will be reliable and will not go bust by the time you get on stage. Therefore you have to be sure you are buying from a reliable manufacturer, music store or website.

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.

There is also the issue of the level of customisation. More experienced guitarists will often want a control panel that gives them more options. A lot of knobs will allow you to change the level of sound to your exact specifications, tweaking it until you are personally comfortable.

Another thing to consider is whether you want a separate speaker and amplifier or a combo. Some people like to keep the two separate. However a combo is a lot easier to transport so if you tour a lot and have limited space this may be a more practical option for you.

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.

Once you have established something that should suit you then it is best to test it. Make sure you have your guitar with you so that you can listen to how the amplifier improves the sound. If it does not improve the sound consider looking for another option that is more appropriate. You do not necessarily have to buy the amp from the store but it is a good way of learning more about the options available and how appropriate they are for your style of music.

There are numerous places you can buy a jazz guitar amp from. It is worth looking online for feedback from other guitarists to find out the kind of amplifiers they use and why they use them. Checking product reviews and other sources of feedback will make it easier to find the right one to suit your needs.




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