Guitar Amps Today‘s Guide: What to look for in an acoustic guitar amplifier
Almost every acoustic guitar has its own subtle flavor of brilliant high trebles, robust, rich midrange voicings, and deep, colorful bass tones that make it an unique and special instrument. The acoustic guitar amp seeks to meet the challenge of magnifying and reproducing the high-fidelity and subtle clarity of the natural tones of the acoustic guitar instrument itself.
As you might suspect, this is no easy task; and, depending on the musician playing the guitar, the kind of guitar, whether it be a classical instrument fitted with nylon strings, a steel-stringed dreadnought, or any of the many variations in size, shape and materials that exist on the market today, and the venue of the performance, there are many elements to consider when selecting which acoustic guitar amp is right for the job.
Perhaps then the first considerations one should ponder when considering an acoustic amp is how it will be used. Will there be competition with other instruments in a live band situation, or will the guitar amp be used in a sound-controlled recording studio; is the musician a singer-songwriter who will also sing vocals in accompaniment with the guitar, perhaps busking amongst the outdoor noise of the world, or is she something closer to a Classical or Spanish guitarist playing in the quiet ambience and romantic glow of a quiet restaurant? These considerations will play a significant part in selecting the proper acoustic guitar amp set-up, and in the way the effects pedals and guitar accessories are configured in-line to offer the best possible tonal clarity for the situation.
Acoustic guitar amps generally consist of a set of input jacks on a circuit board, often featuring tone controls, powering a set of speakers. Many acoustic amp combos offer two separate channels, what is known as dual-channel, to accommodate a guitar and a vocalist in the same single unit. The speakers in an acoustic guitar amp combo are usually larger bass drivers accompanied by smaller high-frequency tweeter horns. Most offer basic built-in effects such as reverb, chorus or delay, EQ band options, and a notch filter to cancel feedback and high-pass noise. Acoustic guitar amps today generally are fitted with multiple input options such as a quarter-inch guitar cable jack, a low-level signal piezo pickup input, or a balanced XLR line input jack; so, whether you’re equipped with a soundhole-mounted acoustical pickup, an acoustic-electric guitar with built-in line out jack, or are simply playing into a free-standing microphone, it is important to know which input options your amplifier can handle. Having proper line outputs is essential when considering your situation as well. Many acoustic guitar amps can be used as heads in combination with powered speakers, external power amps or PAs, or as on-stage monitors so that the musicians can hear their instruments in performance. Another important consideration is the use of external effects pedals and tuners that may have an effect on the line signal from the guitar to the amp; in some instances, depending on the situation provided by the particular musician, style, and venue, these will be looped before or after the acoustic guitar amp circuit.
An acoustic guitar amp’s physical appearance and size, one might suppose, are factors to consider as well. Many acoustic amps are boxed wood cabinets housing the board and speakers, wrapped in vynil, leather or plastic and faced with aluminum or tolex. These follow the traditional style of vintage and boutique electric guitar amplifiers, and are the standard in all guitar amp design. However, several recent acoustic amps are more modernly designed for lightweight, easy portability and smaller space occupancy, and may appeal to a performing musician’s aesthetic.
The price cost of an acoustic guitar amp generally ranges from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, and are in step with the overall wattage output and size of the speakers and components, tone-shaping EQ and effects features, and design aesthetic of the amp.
Today’s acoustic guitar amps are numerous in features and are becoming ever more adept at accentuating the tonal demands of the diverse musical performance landscape. It is essential to consider the environmental scenario in which an amplifier will be used in order to best achieve adequate and accurate reproduction and magnification of the natural tones of the acoustic guitar instrument.
