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lascalaboy
New member
What is the difference between an acoustic guitar amp and a normal guitar amp?
sile2001
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The difference between acoustic, electric, and bass amps lies in several areas.
1. Speakers
The speakers in acoustic amps are generally designed to have a very broad and clean sound to them. Speakers in electric amps have to be able to compromise between a good clean sound and also good distorted sound. Speakers in bass amps are designed to enhance certain frequencies, and require a good balance between sheer low end power, but also precision of the sound.
2. EQ
Acoustic amps will generally have a much shallower EQ sweep than electric amps will, because the idea is to get an accurate representation of the guitar, not get wild sounds. Electric amps, on the other hand, can have extreme EQ ranges to allow for mid-scooped or mid-boosted sounds. Bass amps focus primarily on the frequencies needed for low bass reproduction.
3. Preamp gain
Acoustic amps need a preamp stage that will allow for a lot of gain before the signal starts to distort (also known as having a lot of headroom). Many electric amps rely on this distortion for their characteristic sound. Bass amps can have something of a balance between them, as some bassists like a semi-distorted sound.
4. Poweramp power
Acoustic amps are typically somewhat lower powered, as they don't need to drive extreme gain to earsplitting levels. Electric amps are in the middle, with power ranging from very low (for practice amps) to rather high (350W on the new Marshall Mode Four amps). Bass amps require much higher power (generally 150-800+ W) just to move such low frequencies with power.
Any further questions?
1. Speakers
The speakers in acoustic amps are generally designed to have a very broad and clean sound to them. Speakers in electric amps have to be able to compromise between a good clean sound and also good distorted sound. Speakers in bass amps are designed to enhance certain frequencies, and require a good balance between sheer low end power, but also precision of the sound.
2. EQ
Acoustic amps will generally have a much shallower EQ sweep than electric amps will, because the idea is to get an accurate representation of the guitar, not get wild sounds. Electric amps, on the other hand, can have extreme EQ ranges to allow for mid-scooped or mid-boosted sounds. Bass amps focus primarily on the frequencies needed for low bass reproduction.
3. Preamp gain
Acoustic amps need a preamp stage that will allow for a lot of gain before the signal starts to distort (also known as having a lot of headroom). Many electric amps rely on this distortion for their characteristic sound. Bass amps can have something of a balance between them, as some bassists like a semi-distorted sound.
4. Poweramp power
Acoustic amps are typically somewhat lower powered, as they don't need to drive extreme gain to earsplitting levels. Electric amps are in the middle, with power ranging from very low (for practice amps) to rather high (350W on the new Marshall Mode Four amps). Bass amps require much higher power (generally 150-800+ W) just to move such low frequencies with power.
Any further questions?
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lascalaboy
New member
sile2001 said:The difference between acoustic, electric, and bass amps lies in several areas.
1. Speakers
The speakers in acoustic amps are generally designed to have a very broad and clean sound to them. Speakers in electric amps have to be able to compromise between a good clean sound and also good distorted sound. Speakers in bass amps are designed to enhance certain frequencies, and require a good balance between sheer low end power, but also precision of the sound.
2. EQ
Acoustic amps will generally have a much shallower EQ sweep than electric amps will, because the idea is to get an accurate representation of the guitar, not get wild sounds. Electric amps, on the other hand, can have extreme EQ ranges to allow for mid-scooped or mid-boosted sounds. Bass amps focus primarily on the frequencies needed for low bass reproduction.
3. Preamp gain
Acoustic amps need a preamp stage that will allow for a lot of gain before the signal starts to distort (also known as having a lot of headroom). Many electric amps rely on this distortion for their characteristic sound. Bass amps can have something of a balance between them, as some bassists like a semi-distorted sound.
4. Poweramp power
Acoustic amps are typically somewhat lower powered, as they don't need to drive extreme gain to earsplitting levels. Electric amps are in the middle, with power ranging from very low (for practice amps) to rather high (350W on the new Marshall Mode Four amps). Bass amps require much higher power (generally 150-800+ W) just to move such low frequencies with power.
Any further questions?
I'd be better off just DI-ing it to the Church's sound board right?
sile2001
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Well, it kinda depends. A few questions first:
1. How big is the room?
2. Are you playing with other instruments?
3. What kind of guitar are you using?
4. How good is your church's sound tech?
I play in church every Sunday, so I should be able to help you out some here
1. How big is the room?
2. Are you playing with other instruments?
3. What kind of guitar are you using?
4. How good is your church's sound tech?
I play in church every Sunday, so I should be able to help you out some here
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lascalaboy
New member
big room. seats a couple of hundred.
yeah, we have drums, piano, bass often a flute or trumpet and 3-4 singers.
I just got a new Art and Lutherie solid cedar top with a godin qunatum pickup
Sound guy seems to know what he's doing.
yeah, we have drums, piano, bass often a flute or trumpet and 3-4 singers.
I just got a new Art and Lutherie solid cedar top with a godin qunatum pickup
Sound guy seems to know what he's doing.
sile2001
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Yeah, DI that sucker straight into the board!
Your sound man may have preconceived notions as to how to EQ an acoustic guitar, but with its cedar top your guitar will have a drastically different sound. Ask him to start with the EQ flat on your guitar channel and only change it if it needs to be changed. To many sound engineers go hog-wild with the EQ and just murder the natural sound of an acoustic guitar, so start natural and only change if necessary.
Your sound man may have preconceived notions as to how to EQ an acoustic guitar, but with its cedar top your guitar will have a drastically different sound. Ask him to start with the EQ flat on your guitar channel and only change it if it needs to be changed. To many sound engineers go hog-wild with the EQ and just murder the natural sound of an acoustic guitar, so start natural and only change if necessary.
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sonnylarsen
New member
Cedar tops tend to have a darker tone than spruce, on mine we have to knock a bunch of mid out when we go DI...
sile2001
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He very well may have to, but I was suggesting that he start flat and work his way from there, just to get rid of any generalizations that might be applied to the sound.sonnylarsen said:
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lascalaboy
New member
Thanks for that.
I must say, for the price... it is a very nice guitar.... (au$559)
I must say, for the price... it is a very nice guitar.... (au$559)
LI_Slim
voice in the wilderness
I suggest a DI box between you and the board...
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Big Kenny
New member
presonus acoustiq or a sans amp
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OverlookFran
New member
i have a genz benz shen 200 delux acoustic amp for sale. this is the mother of all acoustic amps IMHO. transparent and full of power w/ onboard fx. sooo many features.
DI's are nice, as long as the board ur going into is 1/2 decent. but there is nothing like having a nice combo to bring with you.
let me know if ur interested.
thanks
DI's are nice, as long as the board ur going into is 1/2 decent. but there is nothing like having a nice combo to bring with you.
let me know if ur interested.
thanks