Guitar amplifiers usually have several signaling pathways (channels) with different sound characteristics. Clean channels only have a volume adjuster; sometimes it is even combined with a tone setting. Jazz guitar amplifiers channels with more distortion usually has a gain adjuster that affects the strength of distortion degree, coupled with a volume adjuster for the output volume. The channels can be selected by pressing a button on the amplifier. Combos incorporate one or more loudspeakers mounted in a common housing.
Guitar amplifiers can be classified into the following categories: according to type, including combo - open or closed, amp head, preamp, power amp as well as rack system. This in addition to electric bass, acoustic guitar, practice, studio and stage amplifier. The use of reinforcing members, such as electron tubes, semiconductors and hybrid is common. Commercially available sound equipment can be virtually combined with a focus on one or more categories. This explains the great diversity of supply.
It is possible to experience some crossover distortion, which does not occur when the amplifier operates in class A operation. In some variants, the full signal from a single power tube is reinforced. The AB mode is usually employed for larger capacities, while the A-operation requires fewer components.
For example, the speaker system usually consists of eight and 15-inch speakers so is a typical Marshallbox with 4 speakers, each equipped with 12-inch and loaded with 100 to over 400 watts RMS power. In many devices, a so-called reverb (spring reverb) is installed for generating artificial reverberation.
On the other hand, there are amplifiers that combine the sound characteristics of the A-operation by parallel connection of power tubes with higher performance. A disadvantage of the A operation is the constant, relatively high power consumption. Swapping the power tube changes sound behavior significantly. Often, the power tubes are not re-measured.
The first tube amps from the 1950s could hardly control the precursors, but the distortion was achieved by setting the amp as loud as possible. This means the power tubes were overridden and the transformer went into saturation. This is what influences the sound of guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix and Alvin Lee (Ten Years After). Technically spoken messages are added to the signal in single-ended tube, which increases even-numbered harmonics (overtones) and the signal is increasingly soft (soft clipping).
The auditory impression of distorting tube amp is described as dense, loud, rough and groovy. This sound is important in all areas of rock music and a typical guitar sound is a vital part of music styles of hard rock and heavy metal. This is probably due to the well-configured override behavior and the higher internal resistance.
In some cases, digital signal processors (DSPs) are used to simulate the behavior of tube amplifiers on mathematical models. They are also known as modeling amps. Nowadays, there are numerous guitar amplifiers that use this method of sound production. Because of greater flexibility and range of sounds, this amp is replacing the classic guitar amps. Since 2006, a new generation of guitar amp simulators provides many musicians with advanced acoustic capabilities. Some equipment employ high quality analog-to-digital converters, and processors of high computing power. The dynamics of classic guitar amp is simulated with the help of fractal algorithms.
Guitar amplifiers can be classified into the following categories: according to type, including combo - open or closed, amp head, preamp, power amp as well as rack system. This in addition to electric bass, acoustic guitar, practice, studio and stage amplifier. The use of reinforcing members, such as electron tubes, semiconductors and hybrid is common. Commercially available sound equipment can be virtually combined with a focus on one or more categories. This explains the great diversity of supply.
It is possible to experience some crossover distortion, which does not occur when the amplifier operates in class A operation. In some variants, the full signal from a single power tube is reinforced. The AB mode is usually employed for larger capacities, while the A-operation requires fewer components.
For example, the speaker system usually consists of eight and 15-inch speakers so is a typical Marshallbox with 4 speakers, each equipped with 12-inch and loaded with 100 to over 400 watts RMS power. In many devices, a so-called reverb (spring reverb) is installed for generating artificial reverberation.
On the other hand, there are amplifiers that combine the sound characteristics of the A-operation by parallel connection of power tubes with higher performance. A disadvantage of the A operation is the constant, relatively high power consumption. Swapping the power tube changes sound behavior significantly. Often, the power tubes are not re-measured.
The first tube amps from the 1950s could hardly control the precursors, but the distortion was achieved by setting the amp as loud as possible. This means the power tubes were overridden and the transformer went into saturation. This is what influences the sound of guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix and Alvin Lee (Ten Years After). Technically spoken messages are added to the signal in single-ended tube, which increases even-numbered harmonics (overtones) and the signal is increasingly soft (soft clipping).
The auditory impression of distorting tube amp is described as dense, loud, rough and groovy. This sound is important in all areas of rock music and a typical guitar sound is a vital part of music styles of hard rock and heavy metal. This is probably due to the well-configured override behavior and the higher internal resistance.
In some cases, digital signal processors (DSPs) are used to simulate the behavior of tube amplifiers on mathematical models. They are also known as modeling amps. Nowadays, there are numerous guitar amplifiers that use this method of sound production. Because of greater flexibility and range of sounds, this amp is replacing the classic guitar amps. Since 2006, a new generation of guitar amp simulators provides many musicians with advanced acoustic capabilities. Some equipment employ high quality analog-to-digital converters, and processors of high computing power. The dynamics of classic guitar amp is simulated with the help of fractal algorithms.
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