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Guitar Amp

The basic function of the guitar amp is to make the signal of the guitar louder so that it will produce sound through a loudspeaker. Although typically associated with electric guitars and rock music, the amplifier was actually popularized in Hawaii in the 1930s before the electric guitar was invented. And acoustic guitars continue to use guitar amps. Bass guitars also use amplifiers, often with more fans built in to keep the amplifier cool.

Beyond simply amplifying sound, amplifiers are capable of modifying tone and creating certain sound effects when turned to the proper settings. These tone controls started out very basic and simple, but by now musicians have experimented with distortion and amplification effects so much that an archive of new sounds and possibilities has been opened.

Amplifiers come in different types and sizes. Solid state amps are often used by electric guitarists, though many prefer the sound of vacuum tube amps. Compact amps conjoin the amplifier head and the speaker in one compact unit, and are often used for musicians while practicing. With the amp head form, the amplifier head is joined to the speaker by speaker cables.

 

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