

July 31, 2014


















What a Coincidence: Unison Tuning – by Mike Overly

July 24, 2014

Unison TuningMusic, whether it is seen or heard, has three fundamental parts: rhythm, pitch and dynamics. Each of these parts may be studied in great detail, but for this lesson, let’s simply define them as follows: rhythm is time, pitch is a sound that has a letter name, and dynamics is the degree of sound volume from quiet to loud. That all sounds simple enough, but what is sound?

Non-musical sound has but one name, noise. However, musical sound has many names. Here are a few: letter, tone number, harmony numeral, scale degree, timbre, pitch, octave, harmonics, vibration and frequency.

Let’s look at frequency more closely. The music we hear, in contrast to the silent music symbols we read, is the sound of air moving. This then begs the question, what is moving the air? On the guitar, it’s the strings that move the air. When you pick or pluck a guitar string it oscillates back and forth. It is these back and forth string motions, or vibrations, that are moving the air. These vibrations may be counted and then assigned a frequency number. We’ll skip over all the deep physics and acoustics data, like resonating bodies, air-pressure and amplitude, and instead, we’ll focus on frequency so that you may tune your guitar.

The speed of a string vibrating back and forth is steady, regular and predictable in time. The number of times a string oscillates in one second is called frequency. Frequency is measured as cycles per second (cps) which is also known as Hertz (Hz), named after the 19th century German physicist Heinrich Hertz. The frequency range of the human ear is approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. This may be written as 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Kilo (k) is the Greek prefix for thousand, 1 kHz = 1000 Hz. The question then becomes, how many times does a string move back and forth in one second? The answer to that question depends upon which string and fret is being played.

Any string played at any fret vibrates faster than the human eye can see and count. So, science has to count for us ~ think electronic tuner. Not only are the vibrations counted and given a frequency number, but they may also be assigned a letter, scale degree tone number, and a note location on the staff. For example, string 5 at fret zero vibrates 110 times a second (110 Hz) and is called A (A). On the guitar, Fret Zero is also known as the nut or open.

An octave is created by doubling the frequency. Therefore, string 3 fret two, which vibrates at 220 times a second (220 Hz), is one octave higher than string 5 fret zero, and is called prime A (1A). String 1 fret five vibrates 440 times a second (440 Hz), is two octaves higher than string 5 fret zero, and is called squared A (2A). Remember, faster frequencies sound higher in pitch, while slower frequencies sound lower in pitch ~ think treble and bass.

It helps if we consider pitch as being Absolute, Perfect or Relative.

Absolute Pitch is an external reference to a definite pitch of a specific frequency upon which everyone agrees. Absolute Pitch may be assigned a letter, scale degree tone number, harmony numeral, or staff note. Here are a few good sources of Absolute Pitch: a tuning fork, an electronic tuner, and a “tune-up pitch” from a play-along CD. Remember, audio tapes are not a good source of Absolute Pitch due to the varying playback speeds of different tape players. Here’s something interesting. The International Agreement, which made A = 440 Hz the Absolute Reference Pitch for the entire world, wasn’t agreed upon until 1939!

Perfect Pitch is the ability of a person to identify a given musical pitch without the benefit of an external Absolute Pitch reference. Those who have Perfect Pitch exhibit some or all of the following capabilities: identify individual pitches by name when played on various instruments; name the key letter of a given piece of tonal music just by listening without reference to an external Absolute Pitch; identify and name all the tones of a given chord or tone cluster; accurately sing any given pitch without an external Absolute Pitch reference; and name the pitches of common everyday sounds such as the honk of a car horn, the ring of a telephone, the chime of a doorbell, or the hum of a refrigerator. Many believe that you must be born with Perfect Pitch because it seems as though it can’t be learned. In contrast to Perfect Pitch, Relative Pitch can be learned.

Relative Pitch, as the name implies, relates to Absolute Pitch and is what is meant when someone says they “play by ear.” In other words, Relative Pitch is the ability to hear an Absolute Pitch, store it in auditory memory, and then match that pitch or relate it to another pitch. In music school they call this ear training. And while it’s true that Relative Pitch can be learned, it sure takes a lot of practice! However, the benefit of Relative Pitch is that it makes tuning your guitar so much easier and faster. The Relative Pitch method of tuning your guitar by matching or duplicating pitches is known as Unison Tuning.

Uni means one and sonus means sound, so, unison means one sound. Said a different way, in Latin uni means one and in Greek iso also means one, therefore, uni + iso(n) = unison. In other words, unison means more than one as one. No matter how we define it, unison is really a coincidence, that is, multiple events occurring at the same time. The prefix “co” means together (two or more as one), and an “incident” is an event. With this said, unison may be further defined to mean: two tones of the same pitch sounding at the same time. One of the greatest things about the guitar is that by playing the same pitch, on two or more different strings of the same guitar at the same time, unison is possible. On the piano, woodwinds, brass and voice, unison is impossible!

Okay, now that we have an elementary understanding of the science of sound, let’s apply it to the tuning of the guitar. We’ll begin by giving each of the six strings of the guitar a letter name and frequency number: string 6 E = 82.41 Hz, string 5 A = 110 Hz, string 4 D = 146.83 Hz, string 3 G = 196 Hz, string 2 B = 246.94 Hz and string 1 E = 329.62 Hz. What follows is the method of Unison Tuning that will enable you to tune your guitar by ear!

From an Absolute Pitch source, determine the reference pitch. For example, if you want to tune string 6, you’ll need to hear the Absolute Pitch of E = 82.41 Hz. Here’s something important. Be sure to use a tuning fork, or some other source of Absolute Pitch and not a piano, as the piano may not be in tune! Think of it this way, why would you tune a tunable instrument to another instrument that needs to be tuned?

Next, assuming that string 6 is in tune, play A = 110 Hz on string 6 fret five. This reference pitch should match string 5 fret zero. If string 5 fret zero, sounds the same as string 6 fret five, they’re in unison and your guitar is in tune. If they don’t match and sound the same, you’ll need to adjust string 5 higher or lower in pitch until they do. Be patient, this is Unison Tuning ~ and the more you practice it, the better you’ll get!

After string 5 is in tune, play D = 146.83 Hz on string 5 fret five. This should sound the same as string 4 fret zero. Again, if it doesn’t, you’ll need to adjust string 4 higher or lower to match the string 5 reference pitch.

After string 4 is in tune, play G = 196 Hz on string 4 fret five. This should sound the same as string 3 fret zero.

Now, once string 3 is in tune, in order to play B = 246.94 Hz on string 3 you must play fret four. This should sound the same as string 2 fret zero. Remember, the B = 246.94 Hz reference pitch on string 3 is located on fret four. This is a different fret than any of the other strings.

Finally, after string 2 is in tune, play E = 329.62 Hz on string 2 fret five. This should match and be in unison with string 1 fret zero.

Congratulations! Your guitar sounds so much better now that it’s in tune.

’til next time, keep playing and have fun… I’ll be listening!


Modulation of Time and Frequency – by Mike Overly

July 17, 2014

ModulationIn the last post we learned the history of guitar effects and how manipulating volume alters the sound of our guitar. Now, let’s take a look at ways to make our guitar sound even weirder by exploring effects that modulate time and frequency. Simple defined, modulate is to change or vary certain characteristics of sound, such as amplitude, frequency, and time.

Among the first effects guitarists were attracted to were reverb and echo. From the very first tape-based echo units to the most advanced looping pedals of today, nothing has done more to change the sound of the guitar than time shifting. Here are some of the most classic time modulated effects: Delay and Echo, Reverb, Looping.

Delay pedals send back the original audio signal in milliseconds, ms. A millisecond is one thousandth of a second, or 0.001 second. As a general thought, below 20ms is called reverb, doubling is between 20-30ms, and above 30ms is known as echo. Delay effects units produce a repeating effect by adding a duplicate audio signal to the original signal at a varied time-delay. The effect can either be very fast reverb, a single slapback echo, or multiple echoes that last for a very long time. In fact, a delay may last so long that you can play new musical material over the top of the original material, see looping below. It’s also possible to reverse the delay to produce a variety of very interesting effects.

Reverb is very fast delay which has each repeat of the original audio signal, known as iteration, decaying at different rates. Spring reverb systems, which are often used in guitar amplifiers, use a transducer to create vibrations in a spring. Plate reverb systems use a transducer to send vibrations across a plate of metal. Most modern reverb effects use digital signal processing algorithms, or DSP, to create a reverb effect by applying multiple feedback delay circuits. Without a heavy use of reverb, there would be no surf guitar!

Echo is a slower delayed effect with each echo decaying at a different rate. Echo effects make you sound like you’re playing inside a very large empty room. Vintage analog echo effects, such as the 1959 Echoplex and the 1973 Roland Space Echo, are highly prized and are still in use today. The first digital delay pedal was the Boss DD-2 in 1984.

Loop effect units, also known as phrase samplers, are simply delay pedals with extra long iterations and no decay. The first loop effects were created with reel-to-reel tape using a tape loop. Today however, this looping effect is created digitally by using a DSP loop pedal. These loop pedals enable a guitarist to record and then replay a phrase or musical fragment with endless repeats. Loops can be created on the spot during a performance, or they can be pre-recorded. Some loop effect units allow a performer to create multiple loop layers which makes for some interesting musical textures. Modern looping pedals enable the traditional singer-songwriter to add a new dimension to the live performance.

Alright, now that you know how to modulate time, let’s learn how to modulate frequency!

Effects that modulate frequency produce some of the most interesting and bizarre sounds available for guitar. Modulation effects work by affecting an audio signal’s frequency/pitch to create everything from classic vibrato to outer space-like sounds. Most modulation effects split an instrument’s audio signal in two, altering one portion of the signal and mixing it with the unaltered portion called a carrier wave to create sounds with unusual tonal properties. Here are some of the most classic frequency-based modulation effects: Chorus, Phaser, Flanger, Tremolo and Vibrato.

Chorus pedals mimic the very slight out-of-tune differences in pitch that choirs and string orchestras produce naturally. A chorus effect electronically splits the instrument-to-amplifier audio signal into two parts and adds a slight delay and frequency variation to one part of the signal while leaving the other part unaltered.

Phase shifting pedals split the audio signal in two and then play back these two signals at different frequencies to produce a spacey, swishing sound. A phase shifter creates its rippling effect by altering the phase of one of the signal paths. Here’s something interesting. In the 1940s, Don Leslie developed a true analog phase-shifting speaker cabinet that split and sent an audio signal to a low-frequency 15-inch drum speaker and a high-frequency horn. The drum and horn rotated at different speeds in opposite directions, producing sounds which oscillated from slow to shimmering fast as the speakers rotated in and out of phase with each other.

Flanger pedals are a lot like phasers, but with more of a sweeping, Doppler-like jet plane sound. The first flanger effects were the result of attempts to reproduce phaser effects in the studio by the use of manual tape flanging. Manual tape flanging is produced by recording a track on two synchronized tapes and periodically slowing one tape by pressing the edge, or flange, of its reel. When the two tapes’ audio signals are mixed together, a comb-filter flanging effect is heard.

Although you may think they sound similar, tremolo and vibrato are two completely different modulating effects.

Tremolo is actually a dynamic effect produced by variations in signal volume, which results in a wavy, in-and-out sound. Electronic tremolo units create their effect by mixing an instrument’s audio signal with a sub-audible carrier wave that generates amplitude variations in the sound wave. And here’s something worth knowing. What a guitar player calls a tremolo-bar is really not a tremolo bar, but rather a vibrato-bar, or whammy bar. This is true because the whammy bar is a mechanical device attached to the guitar bridge that loosens the strings thereby lowering the pitch. This pitch-bending effect should be correctly called vibrato.

Vibrato modulates a pitch higher and lower to a greater or lesser degree. A guitar equipped with a vibrato bar, also known as a whammy bar, enables the player to produce vibrato manually. Electronic vibrato effect units allow for the control of the rate of speed at which the pitch variations occur and to set the depth, which is the difference in pitch. The vibrato effect unit enables the guitarist to imitate the micro-tonal nuances produced naturally by singers and violinists as they sustain a single pitch. Setting a vibrato unit to an extreme depth setting, a half step or more, will produce a dramatic, undulating sound. Vibrato effects produce vibrato by mixing the instrument’s audio signal with a modulating carrier wave to create frequency variations in the sound wave. As was said earlier, the terms vibrato and tremolo are often mislabeled.

Octave pedals output an audio signal which is an octave higher or lower. In 1967, Roger Mayer made the first octave effect, the Octavia. Upon first hearing this pedal, Jimi Hendrix went into the studio and used it to record the guitar solos on “Purple Haze” and “Fire.”

Ring Modulators produce a variety of resonant noises ranging from dissonance and grinding, to metallic bell-like sounds. Ring modulators mix the instrument’s audio signal with a carrier wave generated by the device’s internal oscillator to create tones that are mathematically generated. The original sound wave is suppressed and replaced by a ring of inharmonic pitches known as sidebands. Ring modulators were used by avant-garde musicians in the 1950s as well as the guitar solo on Tony Iommi’s heavy metal super-hit Paranoid.

As we have learned, changes in time, frequency and amplitude can greatly affect the way a sound is perceived. So, now that you’ve modulated a signal’s volume, manipulated with its frequency and made it repeat itself… what’s left to explore? In a word ~ filters!

Filters alter the frequency content of the audio signal that passes through them by either strengthening/boosting or cutting/weakening specific frequencies or frequency regions. Filtering effects affect the sound waves’ quality in a number of ways, from a wah-wah pedal, that can make your guitar sing or cry, to tweaking EQ so as to make your signal sound as tiny as an old AM radio or as bass-heavy and muffled as the club next door. Here are a few filtering effects to get you started: Equalizer, Pitch shifter, Harmonizer, Feedback, Sustainer, Wah-Wah, Envelope Follower, Talk Box, Simulator and Modeling.

Equalizer/EQ pedals use a variety of filters which allows the player to shape the guitar’s sound. An equalizer is a set of linear filters that boost/strengthen, or cut/weaken, specific frequency regions. And while it’s true that guitars and amps have built-in equalization, tone control knobs that manually adjust highs, mids and lows, an EQ pedal allows the player to shape the guitar’s tone much more precisely. EQ pedals are very useful in compensating for a wide variety of signal problems in live situations.

Pitch shifters modify frequency by transposing the pitch of an audio signal higher or lower by a pre-set interval. For example, a pitch shifter may be set to increase the pitch by an interval of a fourth which will raise each pitch played a Perfect 4th above the original frequency played. Simple pitch shifters raise or lower the pitch within an octave, while more sophisticated and expensive devices offer a greater range of interval selections.

Harmonizers are a type of pitch shifter that combines the original pitch with an altered pitch to create harmony of two or more pitches heard at the same time. Some harmonizers are able to create chorus-like effects by adding micro-tonal pitch shifts.

Feedback is an effect produced when an amplified sound is picked up by a microphone or the electric guitar’s pick-up and played back through an amplifier, initiating a feedback loop. Feedback, is generated by playing an electric guitar directly in front of an amplifier set to a high volume. This seemingly primitive technique of volume and guitar position relative to the amp’s loudspeaker can be hard to find, however, when it’s found, the thrill of high-pitched sustained overtones is an experience not so forgotten!

Sustainer effects produce true undistorted sustain. One example is the EBow, which is a small, handheld electromagnetic string driver that consists of two coils: one that picks up and amplifies the guitar string vibration much in the manner of a guitar pickup, and one that acts as a magnetic string driver vibrating the string. The EBow vibrates one string at a time. There are also guitar pickups that have electromagnetic string drivers built into them that are capable of producing feedback/sustain at low volumes.

Wah-wah pedals create vowel-like sounds by filtering out certain frequencies while compressing others. The wah-wah pedal is operated by a foot treadle that opens and closes a potentiometer which alters the guitar’s frequency spectrum in what is known as a spectral glide or sweep. The first wah-wah pedal, The Clyde McCoy, was manufactured by Warwick Electronics in1967. In 1968, Univox began marketing its Uni-Vibe pedal, an effect that mimicked the odd phase shift and chorus effects of the Leslie rotating speakers we learned about earlier. Wah-wah pedals are the favorite modulating effect of many guitarists.

Envelope Followers activate an envelope filter once a designated amplitude/volume is reached. One effect that uses an envelope filter is the auto-wah, which produces a wah effect depending on how loud or quiet the incoming audio signal is played. Auto-wah pedals are wah-wah pedals you can set and forget.

A Talk Box directs the audio signal from the guitar into the mouth of the performer via a plastic tube. This enables the sound to be shaped into vowels and consonants of human speech. The modified guitar sound is picked up by a microphone and heard through a PA, Public Address system. The Talk Box really does make the guitar talk! Some famous uses of the talk box include Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” and Peter Frampton’s “Show Me the Way.”

Simulators enable electric guitars to imitate the sound of other instruments such as acoustic guitar, electric bass or a sitar. Simulators can make guitars with single-coil pick ups replicate the sound of guitars with humbucker pick ups, or vice-versa. Boss makes an Acoustic Simulator pedal which enables electric guitarists to realistically approximate acoustic guitar tones. A de-fretter effect simulates the sound of a fretless guitar by using an envelope-controlled filter and a voltage-controlled amplifier to soften the pick attack and change the timbre, which is the quality of the sound. A rotary speaker simulator mimics the doppler sound of a vintage Leslie speaker system by replicating its volume and pitch modulations, overdrive capacity and phase shifts.

Modeling, also known as amp modeling, is a digital effect that reproduces the sound of various amplifiers, most often analog tube amps. Sophisticated modeling effects can simulate various amplifier heads, speaker cabinets and microphone recording techniques.

One of the problems of using many individual effect pedals is that you can only change one effect at a time. Therefore, manufacturers began producing all-in-one pedal board solutions. In other words, pedal boards which were designed to change a variety of different effects at the same time with only one tap of the foot. The Boss ME-70 Guitar Multiple Effects Pedal Board and the Line 6 Pod are two popular multi-effect pedal boards that can simulate classic amplifier sounds, as well as offer a variety of different effects.

Okay, now that you know what effects pedals do, it’s time to put them to work. In the next post, The Art of Chaining, we’ll learn how to connect these effects together so that you may find that allusive “perfect tone.”

So, ‘til next time have some modulating fun… I’ll be listening!


The Effects Affect – by Mike Overly

July 10, 2014






















Guitar Amps Are Not An Afterthought – by Mike Overly

July 3, 2014

guitar ampsNow that you’ve got your dream guitar, you’ll need to find a dream amp to match it.

Many beginning electric guitarists think guitar amps are boring and not as exciting, inspirational and important as their guitar. However, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it might be said that the right amp can even make a cheap guitar sound good!

However, there are so many guitar amp options, for example: size, sound, configuration, technology and price, that spending a little time to learn about amps is a good idea. So, let’s take a quick tour to discover a few fundamental and subtle differences between your many choices.

Types Of Amplifiers

Simply stated, there are four types of guitar amplifiers: Tube, Solid-stateModeling and Hybrids.

Tube amps are preferred by many guitarists for their warm, fat tone and smooth distortion. Tube amps usually sound louder than solid-state amps of the same wattage and have a definite “feel” that you don’t get from solid-state amps. Most tube amps have separate channels that can switch from clean to distorted tones instantly. A vacuum tube performance can deteriorate over time, so tubes need to be changed periodically.

Solid-state amps are called solid-state because they use transistors for their preamp and power sections instead of tubes. They are very reliable and seldom need repairs. They often have a very “clean” tone, although most come with “distortion” channels. Solid-state amps are popular with players looking for a sturdy, low maintenance, reliable amp.

Modeling amps use digital processors to simulate the sound of old-fashioned tube technology. Using software that “models” the sound of tube amplifiers and cabinets, these amps put the sound of numerous amp configurations in one box. Modeling amps are programmable, and often have built-in digital effects such as delay, chorus, etc.

Hybrid Amps combine the best of each type of amp into one package. These amps use actual vacuum tubes in the preamp section and solid state circuitry in the power section to create a tube tone without requiring the use of power tubes.

Amplifier Classes

The following section is a bit technical, but it needs to be presented never-the-less.

Class A: When an amplifier’s stage devices, whether single ended or push-pull, are passing current at all times the amplifier is said to be biased in Class A. Because the current is flowing at all times, an input signal causes the current to be immediately diverted to the speakers, and therefore, the sound is very “fast”. In the case of a push-pull amplifier, there is also less crossover distortion since each side of the push-pull section is already “on”. Class A designs are expensive to build and are usually only found in high-end amps.

Class B: Differs from Class A in that there is no current flowing when the output devices are at idle, and as a result, they have to turn on from a zero current state when signal is present. In a push-pull Class B design the output devices would each produce half of the audio waveform and would not have any current flow when the other half is operating. Class B designs tend to have a slower “slew” rate and more crossover distortion but are less expensive and require less power than Class A.

Class AB: As its name implies, this is sort of a combination of Class A and Class B operation. If an amplifier operates in Class A mode for only a portion of its output, and has to turn on additional current in the devices for the remainder of its output, it is said to operate in Class AB. Most amplifiers are in this category since they operate in two classes. In class AB and B, the amplifier is slower than in Class A because there is a finite time between the input signal and when the devices are turned on to produce a flow of current to the speakers. Class AB amps are also efficient than Class A and do not require large power supplies.

Class D: The Class D amplifier is one in which the output transistors are operated as switches. When a transistor is off, the current through it is zero. When it is on, the voltage across it is small, approaching zero which increases it’s efficiency, thus requiring less power than Class A, B or AB. These become important advantages in portable battery-powered amps. Class D does not stand for digital as they are based on analog principles, there is no digital encoding of the signal.

Class H: If an amplifier has more than one voltage rail (DC voltage delivered by the power supply), then it is designated Class H. This is a very efficient type of amplification. The output transistors of an amplifier has to dissipate heat (watts), so, when there is a low rail voltage during periods of low volume, and a high rail voltage for use during loud volume, the output transistors don’t have to dissipate as much power when the volume is low. This causes less drain on the power supply and makes it possible to build a very lightweight design. The drawback is distortion at mid-volume when the amplifier has to go back and forth between the two (or more) rail voltages.


Combos Amps, short for combinations, are self-contained units containing the amplifier and the speaker(s) in one cabinet.

Head and Speaker Cabinets are amps that come in two separate sections, the amp and a separate speaker cabinet. These type of amps allow you to use any amp head with virtually any speaker cabinet. Also, by separating the amp and speaker cabinet into two units, each unit is lighter and easier to carry than a single combo. Combining two cabinets and a head is called a “stack.”


For this simple overview, we’ll turn our attention to elementary physics. Smaller speakers can produce higher frequencies than larger speakers, which is why a tweeter is small and a woofer is large. So in the real world, a 10-inch speaker will generally produce a better “top end” than a 15-inch speaker. There is also a sound difference between an open-backed cabinet and a closed-cabinet design.

Many blues players favor 4×10 open-backed amps, as they can produce a range of tones from smooth to searing. Others like the sound of a dual 4×12 cabinet design. While some preferred four 4×12 cabinets. And while it’s true that 16 12-inch speakers will definitely play loud, the overall frequency response, if charted using sensitive laboratory gear, will be totally different than that of our 4×10 example. Today manufacturers custom tweak their amps by combining a certain size cabinet with a certain size set of speakers.

Power and Speaker Size

The power rating and size of the speaker(s) you choose will depend to some degree on application and price. Practice amps are usually solid state or modeling combo units featuring low power, 10-30 watts, and small, 8” or 10”, speakers, although there are a few small tube amps to be found. For rehearsal or for playing smaller venues, tube and modeling combo amps with power ratings averaging about 50 watts with 12” speakers for “bigger” sound are generally used. For larger venues or for performing loud, power ratings averaging of 100 watts and up are the norm. Combo amps that have pairs of 12” speakers, “twins,” are also used as they can get quite loud.


The thickness of wood used to construct the cabinet is a major factor in determining the quality of sound. A thickness of at least 1/2’’ will achieve a strong sound and keep the speaker from rattling loose. Another factor determining sound quality is whether the amp has an open or closed back. Closed-back guitar amps produce better bass response from the speaker. When moving an amp from gig to gig, it’s quite common for them to get banged up a bit. Good corner protectors will add to the life of the amp.

Other Options and Additional Features

Reverb Units: Some amps use spring reverbs, which can sound very natural, while others use digital reverb.

Effects Loops: These input and output jacks allow you to add stomp boxes or rack units after the preamp section of the amp to avoid amplifying any effect noise.

Channel Switching: These amps allow you to switch between different preamp channels, usually from a clean tone to a distorted one. Digital amps often require an additional MIDI foot switch to change tones remotely.

Built-in Effects: Some amps have built-in effects, such as: stereo chorus and vibrato. Tremolo is another effect many amps feature. Modeling amps usually contain many built-in digital effects. Tone and Volume Controls: Some amps have a built-in equalizer (EQ) that enables you to “cut” (de-emphasize), or “boost” (emphasize), particular frequencies to alter the tone of your guitar. A presence, master and gain switch may also be included.

Tube or Solid-State?

The traditional thinking is that solid state circuitry can produce superior clean power at a much more affordable price than vacuum tube-based amps which are much more expensive in a comparably powered amplifier. This has led to hybrids in which the basic tone is produced by a tube-driven preamp, while the power amp is solid state. The majority of vintage players will almost always lean towards a tube amp, though the attitude is changing as manufacturers turn out amazing new amps that are based on cutting-edge technology.

Combo Amp or Separate Head and Cabinet?

The answer to this question really depends on how big a venue you are planning to play. For example, for club dates and even small halls, today’s combos are well-equipped with enough power to deliver sound that will be heard all the way in the back of the room. However, if your goal is to have enough sonic power to fill a giant auditorium or even an open arena, you will want a high-powered stack with at least a 4 x 12 cabinet. It should be noted that, some players still prefer a smaller amp for its specific tone, and then simply mic the amp and run it into the PA system to achieve greater volume.

Modeling Benefits

Modeling amps are like “sonic chameleons” that offer the best of all worlds. You can buy a basic “practice” amp that will deliver almost any tone or effect you might need or want, and it will also serve as a great studio amp. These budget-friendly modeling amps provide everything from clean rhythm tones to full-out overdrive lead tones. They also include an extensive library of effects like reverb, chorus, phase, flange and delay. Back in the 1960s and early ‘70s, guitarists needed multiple outboard stomp boxes to produce distortion, chorusing, flanging or wah-wah sounds. All of those connected boxes added up to one thing: Noise! But today, thanks to modeling, all effects, even multi-effects like chorus plus delay plus reverb, are designed to be amazingly quiet. There is no longer any need to compromise your sound just because you’re choosing an entry-level amp.

Amps for Practice, Studio and Live

This distinction has become less significant with the advent of the modern modeling amp, as they can serve as a practice amp, studio amp, and live amp. There are also modeling modules for home, studio and live applications. These provide an amazing array of amp models, as well as terrific digital effects thanks to sophisticated Digital Signal Processing, DSP.

Of course, the ideal situation is to have one setup specifically for home, one for studio work, and another for those gigs that take place in larger venues. But that’s really an economic fantasy. Fortunately, like all areas of music technology, you have a surprisingly amount of value today, with the exception of the so-called “boutique” amps and vintage reissues that still command premium prices.

Computer Software Amp Plug-Ins

Just like with analog amps, the tone you get from connecting your guitar into your computer depends greatly on the digital amplifier software that you use to model the amp. There are a wide variety of applications available for computer-based musicians playing guitar, here are a few brand names…

AmpliTube 2 allows you to choose between seven high gain amps, 16 cabinets, and six microphones. You can also add 19 effects like Chorus and Flanger to the effects chain to mold your tone just the way you want it.  AmpliTube also allows you to configure two separate guitar chains in one preset. This means that you can configure a distorted sound, a clean sound, and then play them separately or at the same time.

Eleven is an amp modeling-only plug-in with no effects included. In other words, this amp is focused on the tone you get from the amp instead of trying to hide defects in the modeling by adding effects over the tone. Effects can be added separately through the digital audio workstation software.

Gearbox is a versatile piece of software that allows you to access 72 guitar amp models, 24 guitar cab models with four mic options each. It also has 28 bass amp models, 22 bass cab models with four mic options each. It also includes over 90 stompbox and studio effects, and six mic preamp models.

Guitar Rig is without a doubt one of the premiere pieces of software for amp modeling on the computer. It has a user interface that is split vertically between your presets on the left and your rig components on the right. It has 44 classic and modern guitar effects, 12 tube amps, and 12 matched cabinets.

Guitar Combos is a small collection of quality virtual amps without any included effects that will give you the ease of configuring your tone quickly. This is perfect for someone who is just looking for the amp sound. There are 100 included presets in the combo package and you can adjust the Volume, Presence, Bass, and other knobs the same way you would with a real combo amp. A Tuner is also included.

ReValver Mk II is a valve modeling package with amps and stomp boxes, but this software goes a step further than the others. In addition to changing amps and adding effects, it allows you to access the power amp rectifiers and output transformers. No other software package lets you do that.

Now, with the valuable knowledge you have gained, you will be able to amp-up a vast array of sounds which you can put to use with maximum effect, no matter what genre of music you play. And perhaps more importantly, you’ll be able to “tone-tweak” like a pro at your local music store as you soar through the complex maze of amp selection.

‘Til next time, have fun and remember: if you want to get your guitar sounding just right, make sure you have the right amp… I’ll be listening!


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