Choosing A Good Jazz Guitar Amp

By Gloria Mason


Once you've purchased a jazz guitar, you will also need to purchase a jazz guitar amp. Having a goo amplifier is important if you want to get the right sound when playing music. The sounds you play are amplified through the device, giving a higher quality sound than what is achieved without any amplification. Many professional musicians firmly believe a guitar is no good without a good amp to use with it.

There are four different types of amps available. One best suited for jazz music will probably not be the most high tech or coolest looking option, but it serves it's purpose well. It is important to know the difference between all four types before making a purchasing decision since different types of music can effect the quality of sound a particular amp is capable of producing.

Tube style amplifiers were the first kind ever made. Their sound is both rich and warm. Inside the amp, glass tubes are used to produce a louder sound compared to most other types. However, it can be expensive to upkeep them and they tend to be bulky. When they are being moved you also need to be careful so that none of the glass tubes get broken.

Solid state amplifiers use transistors instead of tubes. The transistors make them more suited for frequent use. When using these amps for jazz music, a little tuning will probably be needed to get rid of distortion at high frequency ranges. Most musicians firmly believe that while they are more reliable they also lack sound quality.

Digital amps have become a mainstream trend through their use of digital technology. They can imitate many different sound ranges, included distorted sounds and those of the tube style amp. Cheap options can sound very fake, so more sophisticated digital amps are needed for playing this type of music if you want superior sound quality.

Hybrid style amps use glass tubes and transistors to produce sound. The tone is produced by the tubes while the power is derived from the transistors. They are a great option for getting tube amp sound without spending extra money to get it. Their sound production is not the best, but they are highly reliable and their construction is good.

Jazz musicians having varying opinions on amplifiers. Traditional jazz music uses acoustic sounds and is still preferred, making tube amps the best choice. Other types are also used and they can produce great quality sound as well. In the end, it's all based on your own personal opinion.

The type of sound, ability to move with ease and how often you will be using your amplifier will all be factors in your purchasing decision. There is no one style used as a jazz guitar amp, it's more of a personal opinion. Always bring your instrument with you when shopping for a new amplifier, as this is the best way to determine how a particular amplifier will sound during use. Choosing something within your budget that you are satisfied with becomes a lot easier when you can test things out before actually buying.




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