When it comes to playing guitar music, there are many factors to take into consideration. From choosing an amp and guitar to checking the strings and tuning your guitar, there’s a lot you need to know to get the best sound from your instrument.
Electric guitar amps are designed to make it easy to replicate common distortion and overdrive effects that squeeze the most out of your electric guitar. On the other hand, acoustic amps produce a cleaner, and more natural-sounding tone. Other differences exist in design and applications.
As you may know, many different kinds of amplifiers are designed specifically for acoustic and electric guitars. This article will discuss some key differences between electric guitar amps and acoustic amps and explore why one is better than the other, depending on your specific circumstances.
Related: will an acoustic amp work with an electric guitar and how to create a dummy load for a guitar amp. Our complete guide to amps and modeling covers the basics in one place.
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Electric Guitar Amp and Acoustic Guitar Amp Overview
Electric and acoustic guitar amps are essential for most professional guitarists. They are used to amplify the sound of an electric or acoustic guitar so the audience can hear it while playing or recording.
The best guitar amps emphasize your instrument’s natural tone while adding its distinct character and presence. There are many things to consider when buying an electric or acoustic guitar amp, such as:
- How you will be using it
- How large a space you will be playing in
- What kind of music you play, and many other factors
However, before I get into that, here’s a brief overview of both types of guitar amps:
Electric Guitar Amp
An electric guitar amp is an audio device used to amplify an electric guitar’s sound. An electric guitar amp increases the instrument’s volume, enabling the audience to hear it more clearly. The amplifier also lets you add new characteristics to the sound or modify existing characteristics, such as echo and reverb, based on your playing style.
How an Electric Guitar Works
An electric guitar amp has two main functions: signal amplification and tone control. It consists of a speaker (or multiple speakers), a preamplifier, and a power amplifier.
First of all, the signal from the guitar flows into the preamplifier. The preamplifier (or preamp) is a circuit that picks up the guitar signal and bumps it up without changing the signal’s sonic characteristics. By the end of amplification, the idea is to add some juice to the signal before it gets to the power amplifier.
You can add more characteristics to the signal or tweak the existing characteristics at the preamp stage. Most controls, including volume, bass, treble, and mid settings, take effect at the preamp stage and enable you to define what the final output will sound like.
Next, the signal flows into the power amplifier, which adds even more juice to make the signal powerful enough to drive the speakers. Lastly, the speakers take in the powerful signal and play it for the audience.
Pros of an Electric Guitar Amp
- An electric guitar amp is louder and more powerful than an acoustic guitar amp.
- Versatility – You can play just about any genre of music with an electric guitar amp, from rock, death metal, pop, country music, and so much more.
- Customization – Plenty of controls allow you to customize your sound, so it sounds exactly how you want it to.
Cons of an Electric Guitar Amp
- Electric guitar amps are usually more expensive.
- They take up more space and are relatively heavy compared to their acoustic counterparts, making them difficult to lug around wherever you go.
- They are also often louder, making them less suitable for smaller venues than acoustic guitar amps.
Acoustic Guitar Amp
Acoustic guitars are unique instruments in the world of music. They are perfect for playing in smaller spaces or venues without the need for speakers and amps.
Acoustic guitar amps work in the same way as electric guitar amps. They have the same basic anatomy:
- A preamplifier
- A power amplifier
- A speaker (or multiple speakers)
The only major difference lies in their design and controls. While electric guitar amps may offer more controls, acoustic guitar amps may feature fewer controls to keep the tone of the output as natural as it can be.
However, you’ll find a few additional features unique to the acoustic guitar amp:
- Optimized effects – Acoustic guitar amplification would be pointless if the final output sounded nothing like the original instruments. An acoustic guitar produces thinner, clearer, and brighter sounds that go well with the singer’s vocals. This is why many acoustic guitar amps come with preset EQ and optimized reverb specifically for the acoustic guitar.
- Feedback control – Acoustic guitar amps are known to be noisy and prone to unwanted feedback. Acoustic guitars can produce a high-pitched screeching or howling noise called feedback when amplified. This is caused by the sound of the guitar being picked up by the acoustic feedback and then