Friday 15 January 2010

Know your guitar's amplifier before you buy a new one

Your electric guitar was made to put out a vibrant, clear sound. Buying the right amplifier will assure a high level of sound, play and enjoyment. To make sure you get the best amplifier for your style of play and for your guitar, you will need to do some homework and most likely some legwork. The purchase of the right amplifier is a long-term solution so let's get it right the first time.

Let's start at the beginning. You need to determine your requirements. Usually the determining factors in buying an amplifier are budget, style and audience. If you will be playing for fun in your basement or garage, your requirements are less demanding than a guitarist who intends to play for big audiences. Checking with internet providers before visiting the local stores will help establish a reasonable budget. Today, there is no reason to spend more than your budget permits.

The Internet is the best and perfect medium to get information about amplifier before buying your guitar amplifier. Internet providers offer advice, chat rooms, forums and deep discounts. Before you finalize any purchase, you should always cross-check with online providers. Be sure to check manufacturer's warranties and glean any information you can so that when you visit those local stores you have product knowledge.

Tube amplifiers and solid state amplifiers are the two staples of the industry. You will select one of these types. Tube amplifiers became popular in the mid 20th century. They present accurate tone and are very reliable. The tube will need to be changed after a period of time and tubes are not inexpensive. Tube amplifiers also require regular maintenance.

The newer solid state amplifiers are basically maintenance free. The sound is sharp and they have great range. Best of all, there are no tubes to replace.

Tube amplifiers have the classic look. The tones are genuine and experienced guitarists feel they put out a bit more warmth. Tube amplifiers are more expensive than their counterparts which has increased the demand for solid state units.

Tube amplifiers are heavier and require more careful handling. While the sound generated by the tube is truer, it is often not as vibrant as the sound of the lighter solid state amp. Generally, experienced players prefer the tube amp while beginners migrate to the solid state.

Most beginning packages today are combination packages. Speakers, power amplifier and preamp are the mechanisms of guitar amplifier. These all-in-one packages are terrific for stay-at-home guitarists. They are easy to connect and easy to use. The speakers range from 8 inch to 12 inch sizes. Even if you take your act on the road and play before smaller audiences, these combo packs can get the job done.

When shopping for your first amplifier, ask as many questions as it takes to get comfortable. There is no need to rush. Remember that there are very competitive providers on the internet. Make sure to see, touch and hear the various systems at your local stores and then check the online opportunities. Wherever you end up, always consider the combination packs. These are great fits for most beginners.

Wednesday 13 January 2010

The Best Of Guitar Effect Accessories

One of the important add ons to guitar are guitar effect accessories. They enhance the sound of guitar and allow the player to come up with different kinds of tones and sounds.

There are a whole lot of guitar effect accessories available today.

- Guitar to U.S.B interface: This particular accessory is very effective for practicing. It is a cable that can be adjoined with the U.S.B port of your personal computer. And after that you can jam as long as you want. You do not need any other accessory. All you need is your guitar, a computer or laptop and this U.S.B interface.

- Footswitch: It is a gazette that helps you to control the selection of loops. It also gives a hands free comfort to change the modes. It has got an option by which you can start and stop it automatically, if you want. It also provides you the system to record automatically.

- Foot pedal: This is a small processor kind of thing that provides you different facilities and effects. It has got a record option. It also contains some other facilities like, multiply, insert, mute, undo etc.

- Remote control pedal: This is a more advanced version of conventional pedals. They have some unique facilities, which will make the playing comfortable and enjoyable. This gazette has one pedal through which, the major functions of two amplifier foot switches can be fulfilled.

- Mini amp and distortion: This is the latest two in one version of guitar effect accessories. This is a mini amplifier. There is a very powerful inbuilt speaker in the pedal. After the amplifier is attached, it becomes a very strong distortion box.

- Mini auto guitar tuner pedal: This is a very short box. It fits easily in the pedal board. It instantly tunes the guitar with total accuracy. A digital needle indicates the state of the tune.

- Slap echo pedal: This pedal delivers the echo tone. Especially the shower room tone that was very popular in the 1950s.

- Flanger pedal: Another effect accessory that gives a flange effect.

- Acoustic guitar amp modeling effects pedal: Do you want an acoustic tone from an electric guitar? Don't have to think a lot or invent a new machine. This gazette will do that for you. You just need to plug in. And it will give clear tone of acoustic guitar.

- Digital stereo reverb guitar effects pedal: This is for reverb effects.

The above accessories are all for electric guitars. But there are other guitar effect accessories also, which are made for bass guitars.

- Bass guitar multi FX: It has got a good amplifier and many brilliant effects.

- Bass multi effects pedal: It is a bit advanced from the previous one. It contains drum machine, recording software, along with many effects.

These are the guitar effect accessories, which are available mainly for electric & bass guitars. There are lots of other accessories being invented everyday, especially for electric guitars. These accessories are making guitar playing a more enjoyable experience.