| Author |
 Topic  |
|
APT
Aloha
34 Posts |
 Posted - 05/23/2010 : 06:12:05 AM
|
This is going to sound like a ridiculous question to most of you, and it shows my inexperience, but here goes:
I've never used an amp, but I recently bought a Rainsong guitar that has a jack to accommodate amplification. I don't plan on playing in any band or before any crowd, so what, if any, is the value of amplifying my guitar?
And if there is value in doing so, where on earth do I begin to research buying an amp?
|
|
|
Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1581 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2010 : 06:53:13 AM
|
Judging by discussions over the years on guitar forums, some people like the sound of an amplified guitar. After all, with an amp, you can add REVERB!!! And as everyone knows, everything sounds better, more polished, more professional with REVERB!!! And if a little sounds good, more is better, and too much is just enough REVERB!!!
If this sounds like fun to you, you need an amp, and the place to start your research is one of the active acoustic guitar discussion forums. I visit Acoustic Guitar Magazine forum http://www.acousticguitar.com and the Acoustic Guitar Forum http://69.41.173.82/forums/index.php most days. You'll find many opinions offered in both places.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
|
 |
|
|
Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2010 : 09:03:18 AM
|
The subject of amps has also been flogged quite thoroughly elsewhere on the 'patch.
quote:
I don't plan on playing in any band or before any crowd, so what, if any, is the value of amplifying my guitar?
Actually, there is one. You can use the jack for quick and dirty (and crummy sounding) recordings of you guitar if you don't have a mic.
While we are on the subject... why oh why are more and more people bringing amps to "acoustic" jams? As soon as one does, the next week there are two, and then it grows exponentially.
I've seen it in uke jams, songwriter jams, dulcimer jams (!), bluegrass jams (which is pretty funny, when you think of it. WWBD?) and plenty of kanikapilas.
Generally, all it does is make every one play louder, shout to be heard, and folks still don't lay back to hear a soloist.
(Grumble, grumble, moan, moan.)
|
|
|
|
RWD
`Olu`olu
USA
850 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2010 : 11:14:12 AM
|
Not to mention the so-called "unplugged" video segments on TV where everyone has a cord coming out of their instrument  . |
Bob |
|
|
|
hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 03:54:39 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Fran Guidry
Judging by discussions over the years on guitar forums, some people like the sound of an amplified guitar. After all, with an amp, you can add REVERB!!! And as everyone knows, everything sounds better, more polished, more professional with REVERB!!! And if a little sounds good, more is better, and too much is just enough REVERB!!!
Fran, I'm trying to figure out if you're being sarcastic or not about reverb. 
My motto about reverb is... Makes my mistakes last even longer!
I once quit a band in large part because the leader was awash in reverb - the steel guitar (his instrument), the keyboard, the rhythm guitar, the vocals. And he chose to control the reverb from the mixing board, so to hell with what any individual wanted. Every gig included a free trip to Luray Caverns. The day the leader discovered delay it was all over. Yeah, I quit that band. And I miss my dad - the leader of that band.
Effects. Killing good music and good families since the advent of electricity.
|
Join me for the history of Hawaiian music and its musicians at Ho`olohe Hou at www.hoolohehou.org. |
|
|
|
Allen M Cary
Lokahi
USA
158 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 07:43:39 AM
|
Amps are a necessary evil sometimes. If you are going to play an outdoor gig, it is almost impossible to hear an un-amped acoustic fingerstyle guitar over the wind rustling leaves or birds singing (one might debate whether that is an improvement, but let's assume people want to hear you). For most any application you will need to add a D.I. box (Direct Input) such as a LR Baggs Para DI or Sans Amp DI to get rid of ugly quack from piezo pickups and feedback.
Just don't overdo the effects.
Aloha,
Allen |
|
|
|
Volcano
Akahai
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2010 : 08:01:33 AM
|
There are some amps that aren't half bad. The best one I ever heard is no longer made. It was the Fender Acoustisonic Ultralight. The other Acoustisonics suck but this one was awesome. The SWRs are pretty good. How are you going to play your acoustic in a club and not be amplified? No way. Without the invention of acoustic pickups, we wouldn't be able to play our guitars live. The best way is really good mics and preamps and great soundpeople, but this is not usually a reality. The pickups give us a great deal of convenience at a reasonable price.
For those who don't like the Piezo (acutally the name of the Italian inventor who discovered the certain crystals gave off an eletric charge when compressed), I've been using a Barber Tone Press which is a "parallel" compressor. I am able to completely get rid of the tone which offends many. I've tried other compressors but this is the only one that works and maintains the tone of the guitar. |
|
|
|
slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2010 : 08:00:51 AM
|
| As a steeler, I need an amp for my electric guyz, but I use a little Roland PA amp and set myself to the level of the group. As most steelers of all ilks know, reverb set at 3 or 4 out of 10, adds "presence" and fills the sound (Yay for REVERB!). I DO bring one of my resonator guitars if the kane is outside or if I know everyone will be playing acoustic. And, Mark, I just don't know why some people can't listen when they're playing. Y'all have heard me bitch about this in many other posts. sigh................. |
keaka |
|
|
|
Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 06:35:07 AM
|
I agree with Mark, bringing amps into an informal group kanikapila/jam almost never works very well (especially for the first few jams this same group might have). Sorry for continuing the slight hi-jack of APT's original post, but I want may chance to rant as well.
quote:
As a steeler, I need an amp for my electric guyz, but I use a little Roland PA amp and set myself to the level of the group.
I fairly recently participated in several "acoustic" jams where there was a steel player with amp (different steel players in each case), and the loudest person in the whole group was indeed the steel player, both of whom seemed to be completely oblivious to the fact that they were often drowning out everyone else, even when they were supposed to just be backing. Now these guys claimed to be very experienced players, but so much for such claims! Of course Slipry1 probably has much greater sensitivity toward his fellow players than these guys had, but this is a common problem whenever amps are brought in. A bass player can usually fit in with an amp because the low tones, even if too loud, do not swamp the tones of other participants, but if someone else brings an amp, then pretty much everyone has to.
I have been to dozens of jams where folks brought their own amps and it almost always degenerated into a loudness contest, where, by the end of an hour or two, most everyone is going nearly full-blast on their amps and the decibels are above rock-concert level. (yet, like Mark said - no one could hear clearly and everyone was shouting). It begins with someone cranking themselves up to take a break and then not bringing themselves down to the same level afterward. Bit by bit the levels keep rising (and the beer/wine doesn't help either!  ).
Even the professional bands I have worked with have this problem (with just 4 to 6 musicians involved). It usually takes the first 5 to 10 rehearsals to get the levels "balanced out", and this is with folks who are very concentrated on trying to play well together.
OK - rant mode off...
|
Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 05/26/2010 06:37:08 AM |
|
|
|
slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 08:27:34 AM
|
| Once again, the problem is not the amp but the person using it. Ain't it the same for all of the tools we use? As Adlai Stevenson said "It isn't the atom that is evil, it is evil in men's minds that is the problem". If I can't hear the others in a jam or a gig, I turn it down, and ask them if my level is OK. That reminds me, once I asked Ralph Mooney how he got that great sound with Buck Owens, and he said "I take my Twin Reverb and turn all the knobs to 10, and control the volume with the volume pedal".[OUCH!!!] btw, the Buckaroo's were LOUD! |
keaka |
|
|
|
Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 08:56:31 AM
|
I'm afraid I'm also guilty of the "electric steel at an acoustic jam" offense.
But I generally keep it way under the prevailing din--in fact, last sunday the rest of the group told me to turn up. But then, when I played strat in the zydeco band, they always told me to turn up, too.
And naturally Senor Slip is the essence of taste and discretion.
Nonetheless... if ya ain't playing an instrument that needs an amp (elect steel, elect bass, keyboard) leave the itty bitty amps at home please.
How's that?
|
Edited by - Mark on 05/26/2010 08:57:42 AM |
|
|
|
thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2177 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 08:57:13 AM
|
| Loudness and inability to listen comes from TOO MUCH TIME ALONE with the instrument (not that playing by oneself is bad- practice, working things out, etc are necessary). Music, in a communal setting, is communication-- 2 ears, 1 mouth, do the math. People get too into what they themselves are doing and unknowingly shut the rest of us out. (Now we know why we need insurance when we drive.) If you want to solo all the time, was'etime you go to jams, save the gas and play in the garage. If you want to jam, take time to LISTEN. BTW, sometimes I bring a small amp, but realy prefer not to. (At accordion jams, I usually play guitar, more than 2 boxes is noise.) |
|
|
|
Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 10:42:16 AM
|
quote:
Once again, the problem is not the amp but the person using it.
Yep - but remember: If Amps are outlawed then only outlaws will have Amps. (Or should that be Accordions)
|
Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
|
|
|
slkho
`Olu`olu
740 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 12:34:21 PM
|
Aloha APT,
Yeah, your right it was a ridiculous question, but that's okay because I've asked some stupid stuff myself. I sort of agree w/ Fran...amps are great...I'm not a big fan of reverb either. Reverb is for losers!!!
But anyways, regarding your question.
Amps are great! Whether for your own pleasure, or entertaining an audience. Using your fingers, or fingerpicks offer their own appeal, but an amped guitar will add another dimension to your overall playing. True, if you F-up a chord, or song everyone will hear it...ahhhhh, but if you nail a song, then everyone can hear the magic you hear & feel too.
Just like guitars, you'll end up with 1-3 amps in your "collection" eventually. I've got a little 15 watt for home stuff, and a nice 60 watt so I can irratate my neighbors on weekends...haha. Some people actually look forward to my early Sunday morning slack key while sipping their coffee's. So far, the pheasants haven't stormed my house with pitchforks yet. LOL
Amps are nice to have, Slack & Rock on dude!!!. |
|
|
|
noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 4:39:13 PM
|
| Yeah to you all I agree to everything you said. Thas why we tell Kory for leave his squeze box home heh,heh,heh. The problem ,and not the only one, is the attempt to hear oneself amidst the rest of the ensemble. However I learned long ago in a choir far far away that if you watch the director and he/she sets the balance of the group, you can hardly hear anything but the other voices. You just gotta trust the director. So what does that mean? I think that in our own bubble of space we hear one thing and when we listen to the others we hear something else and it never sounds like anything to any of us that which is going out the front to the audience. Soo maybe we should invest in some monitors. Now then that will make it more complex. Sooo just come unplugged and play loud enough to be balanced and if it goes out of whack just be kind and suggest that we all allow for others to be heard. Any way thats my story and I'm sticking to it. Oh yeah I do plug in for gigs so I don't have to yell and play hard. But that is another story. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
|
|
|
APT
Aloha
34 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2010 : 5:21:25 PM
|
| After reading these posts, I think I'll just pass on the amp idea. Sorry for the ridiculous question, slkho. I think that I am a little out of my league here. Adios. |
Edited by - APT on 05/26/2010 5:26:47 PM |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
Amplification
