Otis Singleton
Acoustic-electric guitars can be plugged into an amplifier, but it is not necessary. If you are looking to amplify the natural sound of your acoustic-electric guitar, it is recommended to use an acoustic amplifier, as opposed to an electric amplifier, to avoid a muddy or compressed sound. Acoustic amplifiers are designed to reproduce the natural sound of an acoustic guitar as cleanly and accurately as possible, whereas electric amplifiers are designed to handle the compression and distortion that electric guitar players often seek. Acoustic amplifiers are also similar to PA speakers, which are designed to amplify signals without adding any tonal colour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do acoustic-electric guitars require a specific amp? | Acoustic-electric guitars do not require a specific amp. However, using an acoustic amplifier can improve the sound quality by reproducing the natural sound of the guitar more cleanly and accurately. |
| Acoustic amplifiers | Designed to work with piezo pickups in electro-acoustics or microphones. They have a blank, uncoloured sound with a flat frequency response, allowing them to capture the subtleties of the instrument's tone. |
| Electric guitar amplifiers | Designed to work with the magnetic pickups of electric guitars. They tend to compress and distort the sound, adding a unique colour. |
| Using an electric amplifier with an acoustic-electric guitar | Plugging an acoustic-electric guitar into an electric amplifier will result in a very clean, dead-sounding tone, especially with a solid body. It may be suitable for some music styles, such as jazz, but it will lack sustain and produce unpleasant high-frequency content with effects like distortion and overdrive. |
| Using an acoustic amplifier with an electric guitar | It is possible to plug an electric guitar into an acoustic amplifier, but it may not produce the desired sound. The electric guitar's sound may lack warmth, and additional equipment, such as a preamp or cabinet emulator, may be needed to enhance the sound. |
| Scenarios for using an amplifier | Amplifiers are useful in two main scenarios: 1) when you need to play louder, such as during performances or gigs; 2) when you want to use effects like chorus, delay, reverb, or distortion. |
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What You'll Learn
- Acoustic amps are designed to amplify the natural sound of an acoustic guitar
- Electric guitar amps are built to handle the compression and distortion that electric guitar players want
- Acoustic amps have a less mid-happy voicing and are typically paired with a full-range speaker
- Electric guitar amps add colour to the natural tone of the guitar by exaggerating the mids and reducing the highs
- Acoustic amps are very similar to PA speakers, which are also designed to amplify signals without adding tonal colour
Acoustic amps are designed to amplify the natural sound of an acoustic guitar
Acoustic-electric guitars can be plugged into an amplifier, but it is not necessary. If you are playing for fun, you may not need an amp at all. However, if you want to amplify the natural sound of an acoustic guitar, it is best to use an acoustic amplifier.
Acoustic amplifiers are designed to reproduce the natural sound of an acoustic guitar as cleanly and accurately as possible. They aim to amplify the natural acoustic tone without altering it. Acoustic amps have a blank, uncoloured sound with a flat frequency response. This allows them to capture the subtleties of the instrument's tone. They often include a tweeter in addition to the main speaker cone, providing extra fidelity in the high-frequency range.
On the other hand, electric guitar amplifiers are designed to alter the sound of the guitar, adding compression and distortion. They tend to have a more focused mid-range and reduced definition at the high end. This is because overdriven guitar tones feature a lot of harmonic content at the top end of the audible frequency spectrum.
When choosing an acoustic amplifier, it is important to consider your needs. For example, if you are practising at home, a small amp with 10-40 watts and a single speaker may be sufficient. If you are performing in intimate venues, you will need a small and portable amp that delivers a loud enough sound. For larger spaces, an amp with a higher power rating and multiple input channels with separate tone controls and effects may be required.
Additionally, it is worth bringing your guitar when choosing an amp to ensure that the pairing works well together. While acoustic amps are designed to amplify the natural sound of an acoustic guitar, the quality of the guitar itself also plays a significant role in the amplified sound.
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Electric guitar amps are built to handle the compression and distortion that electric guitar players want
Acoustic-electric guitars do not require a specific amplifier. You can plug an electro-acoustic guitar into an electric guitar amplifier, and it will work just fine. However, you may not get the sound you are looking for. Acoustic-electric guitars are designed to reproduce the natural sound of an acoustic guitar as cleanly and accurately as possible. They have a blank, uncoloured sound with a flat frequency response. In contrast, electric guitar amplifiers are designed to work with the magnetic pickups of an electric guitar. They add colour to the natural tone of the guitar by exaggerating the mids and reducing the highs, resulting in a treble-heavy, compressed, and saturated sound.
Electric guitar amps are built to handle the compression and distortion that electric guitar players often desire from their instruments. Distortion is a feature available on many guitar amplifiers that is not typically found on keyboard or bass guitar amplifiers. Tube guitar amplifiers, for example, can produce distortion through pre-distortion equalization, preamp tube distortion, post-distortion EQ, power-tube distortion, tube rectifier compression, output transformer distortion, guitar speaker distortion, and guitar speaker and cabinet frequency response. Other technologies, such as dual rectifiers and the sag circuit, allow high-power amplifiers to produce low-power volume while preserving high-power distortion.
The choice of amp and amplifier settings is a key part of an electric guitar player's signature sound. Some players are longtime users of a specific amp brand or model. They may also use external effects pedals to alter the sound of their tone before the signal reaches the amplifier. These effects can include distortion (also called overdrive), reverb, chorus, or equalization.
If you are an acoustic-electric guitar player who does not plan on using an amplifier, it is better to invest in a higher-quality guitar instead. Electric pickups can always be added aftermarket if you change your mind. Additionally, if you are looking for a clean and unaltered tone, an electric guitar amplifier may struggle to provide that. However, if you are playing styles like punk or garage, the compressed and muddy sound of an electric guitar amplifier might suit you well.
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Acoustic amps have a less mid-happy voicing and are typically paired with a full-range speaker
Acoustic-electric guitars do not require a specific amplifier, and can be plugged into any guitar amplifier without causing damage. However, the type of amplifier used will have a significant impact on the sound produced.
Acoustic amplifiers are designed to amplify the characteristics of acoustic guitars, and project them through their built-in speakers or a PA system. They are typically paired with a full-range speaker, and often include a tweeter to provide extra fidelity in the high-frequency range. Acoustic amps tend to have a less mid-heavy voicing, and are designed to reduce feedback and colour or alter the signal. This results in a clean and unaltered tone, which may be desirable for certain styles of music such as jazz.
On the other hand, electric guitar amplifiers are designed to work with the magnetic pickups of electric guitars, and produce a more focused mid-range sound with reduced definition at the high end. This can add a crunchy or compressed tone to the natural sound of the guitar, which may be desirable for styles such as punk or garage.
While it is possible to use an electric guitar amplifier with an acoustic-electric guitar, the sound produced may not be ideal. The electric amplifier can make the acoustic-electric sound muddy and compressed, especially at higher volumes. Additionally, the use of effects like distortion and overdrive can result in unpleasant high-frequency content.
Therefore, while acoustic-electric guitars do not require a specific amplifier, using an acoustic amplifier is likely to produce a more desirable sound. Acoustic amplifiers are designed to reproduce the full high-fidelity, flat-range sound of an acoustic guitar, and can provide extra volume when needed without significantly altering the natural tone of the instrument.
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Electric guitar amps add colour to the natural tone of the guitar by exaggerating the mids and reducing the highs
Electric guitar amplifiers are designed to work with the magnetic pickups of electric guitars. They produce a tone with a more focused mid-range and reduced definition at the high end. This is because overdriven guitar tones feature a lot of harmonic content at the top end of the audible frequency spectrum.
Acoustic amplifiers, on the other hand, aim to reproduce the exact sound of the instrument as faithfully as possible. They have a blank, uncoloured sound with a flat frequency response, allowing them to recreate the subtleties of the instrument's tone. They often include a tweeter, in addition to the main speaker cone, providing extra fidelity in the high-frequency range.
While it is possible to use an electric guitar with an acoustic amp, or vice versa, the desired sound may not be achieved. An electric guitar played through an acoustic amp will result in a very clean, dead-sounding tone, especially if the guitar has a solid body. This may be desirable for certain styles of music, such as jazz, but it may not be suitable for playing with a band due to the flat frequency response.
Similarly, using an acoustic guitar with an electric amp will add colour to the natural tone, making it sound muddy and compressed, especially at higher volumes. This may be desirable for certain genres, such as punk or garage, but it will not produce a clean and unaltered tone.
To achieve a more natural timbre when using an electric amp with an acoustic guitar, it is possible to plug the guitar into the effects return, bypassing the amplifier's preamp circuitry and reducing the tonal colour. However, the amp's speaker is still designed for a mid-focused output, so some high-frequency content will be lacking.
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Acoustic amps are very similar to PA speakers, which are also designed to amplify signals without adding tonal colour
Acoustic-electric guitars do not require a specific amplifier, but using one can provide a different sound experience. Acoustic amplifiers are designed to work with the piezo pickups in electro-acoustics or even with a microphone. They produce a blank, uncoloured sound with a flat frequency response, allowing the subtleties of the instrument's tone to be recreated.
Acoustic amps are very similar to PA speakers, as they are both designed to amplify signals without adding tonal colour. Acoustic amps, however, offer guitarist-friendly features such as built-in effects, equalisation controls, and effects loops. They also often have multiple inputs, allowing musicians to plug in a microphone and an aux cord alongside their guitar. This makes them a convenient option for solo musicians or buskers.
When playing an acoustic-electric guitar live, musicians can choose between using an acoustic amp or a PA system. While both can be used to amplify an acoustic guitar's signal, they serve different purposes. A PA system can mix and project (add volume to) a full group of microphones and instruments, while an acoustic amp is used for modelling tone and sending a properly EQ'd signal to the PA system.
Using an acoustic amp with a PA system can enhance the sound experience. The acoustic amp can be used for tone shaping and basic sound shaping, and the output can then be sent to the PA system for further tweaking and amplification. This ensures that a pure and finely tuned sound is sent to the PA system, requiring only additional volume.
There are several acoustic amplifiers available that double as miniature PA systems, such as the Schertler Roy guitar amp and the Bose L1 Pro Series. These amps offer portability, simplicity, and a wide range of input and output options, making them a popular choice for acoustic performers.
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Frequently asked questions
No, you don't need an amp. An electro-acoustic can be plugged in, but it doesn't have to be. However, if you want to play louder for a performance or use effects like chorus, delay, or reverb, you would need an amp.
Acoustic amps are designed to reproduce the natural sound of an acoustic guitar as cleanly and accurately as possible, whereas electric amps are built to handle the compression and distortion that electric guitar players want. Acoustic amps have a less mid-happy voicing and are typically paired with a full-range speaker, while electric amps have midrange-forward speakers.
Yes, you can use an electric amp for your acoustic-electric guitar, but you might not get the sound you're looking for. Electric amps add colour to the natural tone of the guitar by exaggerating the mids and reducing the highs. If you're looking for a clean and unaltered tone, you may struggle to achieve it with an electric amp.
Yes, you can use an acoustic amp for your electric guitar, but it will give you a very clean, dead-sounding tone. This may be desirable for styles like jazz, but if you use effects like distortion and overdrive, there will be a lot of unpleasant high-frequency content.
When choosing an acoustic amp, consider what you will be using it for. There are different kinds of amps for different situations and needs. For example, if you need an amp for practice sessions, a small amp with 10-40 watts and a single speaker will suffice. If you need an amp for intimate gigs, a small and portable amp with at least a 20-watt power rating and two combo jacks is recommended.
