Posts Tagged ‘bass amplifiers’
Stratocasters, telecasters, SG, LP, jazz, these are just a few of the better known styles of electric guitars. Precision, jazz, LP, and violin or “Beatle Bass” are just a few styles of bass guitars.
After you have chosen what style of bass, or electric guitars it is time to team it up with the bass amplifiers or guitar amplifiers that are available. Most people wold stop there thinking they have everything they need, but the guitar and amp is just the beginning of what you need.
When you were purchasing your guitar did you think about how you would transport it from one place to another, or if you were playing it and wanted to set it down somewhere, without a stand where would you put it. How about tuning your new guitar, without a tuner how would you go about that. How about an elementary thing like a guitar strap, would you think about picking one up. These things and more are why you should be looking for either electric guitar packages, or bass guitar packages.
I have played bass guitar since the mid 60’s and I think it is the most exciting instrument to play. For those of you just starting out playing bass there are some things about amplifiers you should know about.
Because of the low frequencies that bass guitars produce bass amplifiers are built differently from guitar amplifiers. The speakers that are used for bass use heavy duty drivers, some professional bass players use a sub-woofer from a PA cabinet paired with the speakers from their bass amplifier to give them more powerful lows. You will also find the construction of the speaker cabinet is larger and more sturdier that that of a guitar amplifier. Bass amplifiers also have a limiter circuit to stop the main circuitry from overloading and causing damage to the speakers.
When you’re performing with a band it’s important to understand a little bit about musical mechanics. It’s not as though you can simply get on stage and start singing/playing your instruments to a packed audience and expect them all to hear you. You’ll need a few pieces of equipment to get the show on the road – starting with a bass amp.
A bass amp is an amplifier which is used exclusively for an electric guitar and electric keyboard. Without a bass amplifier no one in the audience can hear what you’re playing on the keyboard or the bass. For people that don’t know much about music, it’s best explained like this: electric instruments need amplifiers to work while acoustic instruments do not. Though the industry standard would be an eight-by-ten bass cabinet, it would be wise to purchase a practice amp first, so that you can master your sound and sing.
While most people can name off several of their favorite guitarists with ease, most bass players are overlooked and stay confined to the shadows of the stage. In my opinion, this is a travesty. The bass is an integral component of all bands, particularly the standard four-piece ensemble that is the prototype of rock bands.
Perhaps this is why some of my favorite bands-Pink Floyd, RHCP, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, etc.-don’t gloss over the importance of the bass. These bands are not afraid to turn up the bass amplifiers and let the oft overlooked player shine. The next time that you are listening to your favorite band, pay attention to the bass line and note how the song hinges on it and all of the other instruments follow its lead.
One of my favorite pastimes is attending concerts. Over the past few years I have become somewhat of a (self-described) aficionado, traveling around the Pacific Northwest to attend various events. While the band is, obviously, the most crucial element to any concert, I have developed a list of other essential elements that contribute to a great concert.
~Sound Quality: It doesn’t matter how good the band is if they are playing on subpar equipment. The best shows, in my opinion, come from the large acts that have the money to invest in top-of-the-line guitar amplifiers and other equipment.
~Stage Show: No matter how good the music is, it is still important to have a solid stage show to keep the audience visually stimulated as well.
~The Venue: Not only does the venue play a huge role in the sound quality, but it also sets the ambiance for the show. Seeing an acoustic concert in a classical theatre or going to a rock festival at The Gorge of the Columbia River can enhance even the most mundane performance.