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Electric and acoustic amps are designed for different purposes, and while it is possible to use an electric guitar with an acoustic amp and vice versa, the sound produced may not be what you're looking for. Acoustic amps are designed to reproduce the natural sound of an acoustic guitar as cleanly and accurately as possible, whereas electric guitar amps are built to handle the compression and distortion that electric guitar players want from their instrument. Electric guitar amps add colour to the natural tone of whatever is plugged in by exaggerating the mids and reducing the highs. Acoustic amps, on the other hand, have a blank, uncoloured sound with a flat frequency response, allowing them to recreate the subtleties of the instrument's tone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Body | Electric guitars are made of thick slabs of wood or a solid block of wood. Acoustic guitars are built with thinner sheets of wood and have a completely hollow body. |
| Sound | Electric guitar amplifiers add colour to the natural tone of the guitar by exaggerating the mids and reducing the highs. Acoustic amplifiers aim to reproduce the exact sound of the guitar without adding any tonal colour. |
| Use | Electric guitar amps are built to handle compression and distortion. Acoustic amps are designed to reproduce the natural sound of an acoustic guitar as cleanly and accurately as possible. |
| Purpose | Electric guitar amplifiers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can use different technologies. Acoustic amplifiers are designed with guitarist-friendly features such as built-in effects, equalisation controls, and effects loops. |
| Power rating | For larger spaces, an amp with at least a 40-watt power rating is recommended. For busking, a portable amp with at least 60 watts of power and its own power supply is ideal. |
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What You'll Learn
Electric guitar amps are built to handle compression and distortion
Electric guitar amps are designed differently from acoustic guitar amps. Acoustic amps are designed to reproduce the natural sound of an acoustic guitar, aiming to amplify the original sound without distorting it. In contrast, electric guitar amps are built to handle compression and distortion, allowing electric guitar players to manipulate their instrument's sound.
Compression is a form of natural compression from amplification. It is created when anything with a "gain stage" is added to the signal chain, such as a preamp, boost, compressor pedal, overdrive, distortion, or fuzz. Compression alters a signal's dynamics, leaving the frequency balance, harmonic content, and distortion levels unchanged. It acts as a volume control, automatically adjusting its level based on the input signal. The speed at which the compressor responds is the attack time, and the speed at which it resets is the release time. Compression strength refers to the amount of attenuation applied to the peaks.
By applying compression, electric guitar players can achieve a range of effects. For example, medium attack times allow some picking dynamics to come through, while medium-to-slow release times can enhance the output. Using compression with a hard knee or fast attack eliminates the peak at the front of a note. Sustain is achieved by adjusting the release time, allowing the compressor output to increase as the input signal decays.
Additionally, compression can be used to enhance clean guitar signals by adding sustain. While compression makes the overall sound quieter, it is often paired with "makeup gain" to raise the level of the quietest signal. Studio compression is used more subtly to help guitar parts sit in the mix and enhance details. It gently narrows the dynamic range, ensuring that loud parts are not overpowering and quieter bits can be heard.
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Acoustic amps have a tweeter to extend the higher ranges
Acoustic-electric guitars are acoustic guitars that are fitted with a pickup system. The body of an acoustic guitar is built with thinner sheets of wood, while electric guitars are made of thick slabs of wood. Acoustic-electric guitars usually have a pre-amp fitted on the side of the guitar, with switches, controls, and knobs for the integrated tuner, tone controls, and equalizer.
Acoustic amps are designed differently from electric guitar amps. Acoustic amps aim to reproduce the natural sound of an acoustic guitar as cleanly and accurately as possible, adding volume without distorting the sound. On the other hand, electric guitar amps are designed to handle the compression and distortion that electric guitar players often desire.
When choosing an acoustic amp, it is recommended to bring your guitar along to test the pairing. The purpose of the amp should also be considered, as different amps are designed for different situations and needs. For example, practice amps typically produce 10-40 watts and come with a single speaker, while amps for larger spaces should have at least a 40-watt power rating and multiple input channels with separate tone controls and effects for each.
While acoustic amps typically do not have tweeters, some guitarists may prefer to have a tweeter to extend the higher ranges. This is because the primary sounds out of a guitar are in the midrange, and the roll-off at higher frequencies may be undesirable to some. However, others argue that the higher frequencies tend to add screech, and it is not worth it to have a dedicated tweeter. Ultimately, the decision to include a tweeter in an acoustic amp depends on personal preference and the specific instrument and amp being used.
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Electric amps add colour to the natural tone
In contrast, acoustic amps are designed to reproduce the natural sound of an acoustic guitar as cleanly and accurately as possible. They aim to add volume without altering the tone. Acoustic amps have a blank, uncoloured sound with a flat frequency response, allowing them to recreate the subtleties of the instrument's tone.
If you want to use an electric amp with an acoustic guitar and achieve a more natural timbre, you can plug your acoustic guitar straight into the effects return, bypassing the amplifier's preamp circuitry and removing a lot of the tonal colour. However, you will still be lacking some high-frequency content, as the amp's speaker is designed for a mid-focused output.
Ultimately, there is no "correct" way to use a guitar amp, and it's worth experimenting with different setups to see what works best for you.
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Acoustic amps are designed to amplify signals without adding tonal colour
Acoustic amplifiers are designed to amplify signals without adding tonal colour. This is achieved by reproducing the natural sound of an acoustic guitar as cleanly and accurately as possible. The goal is to increase the volume of the natural acoustic tone without altering it. Acoustic amps are designed to work with the piezo pickups of electro-acoustic guitars, and they often include a tweeter in addition to the main speaker cone, providing extra fidelity in the high-frequency range.
In contrast, electric guitar amplifiers are designed to add colour to the signals coming through them by compressing and distorting the sound. Electric guitar amps exaggerate the mids and reduce the highs, resulting in a muddy and compressed sound that is desirable for certain genres such as punk or garage.
Acoustic amplifiers are built to handle the natural acoustic tone, which is generated by the hollow body of the guitar. The hollow body amplifies the sound by allowing the strings' vibrations to resonate, creating a fuller tone with better sound quality and volume.
When choosing an acoustic amp, it is important to consider the purpose and the specific features required. For example, an amp for a home music studio may require special features such as multiple effects, USB connectivity, and mic modelling. Additionally, the wattage and input channels of the amp should be considered, especially when performing in larger spaces or busking in public areas.
In summary, acoustic amps are designed to amplify signals without adding tonal colour by faithfully reproducing the natural sound of acoustic instruments. This is in contrast to electric guitar amplifiers, which are designed to alter the sound by adding compression and distortion.
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Electric amps have a more focused mid-range
Electric guitar amplifiers are designed differently from acoustic guitar amplifiers. Electric amps have a more focused mid-range, which is a result of the compression and distortion that electric guitar players often seek from their instrument. The mid-range can be beneficial for giving the sound more presence and thickness, which is why it is often used for rhythm parts to get out of the way of vocals that occupy the same frequency range.
The mid-range on electric amps is also highly interactive, and there is no true "flat" setting. To boost the mids, you can turn down the bass and treble and turn up the gain. This is the case for most amps based on the original Fender designs, which incorporate the Fender tone circuit. An exception is Ampeg, which employs the hi-fi style Baxandall circuit, which is more versatile and usually has a mid-control.
Acoustic amps, on the other hand, are designed to reproduce the natural sound of an acoustic guitar as accurately as possible. They aim to add volume without altering the original tone. Acoustic-electric guitars are acoustic guitars fitted with a pickup system, and they usually have a pre-amp fitted on the side with switches, controls, and knobs for the integrated tuner, tone controls, and equalizer.
When choosing an amp, it is important to consider your purpose. For example, a small practice amp for home use will be different from an amp for busking, which needs to be portable and have its own power supply.
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Frequently asked questions
Electric guitar amplifiers are designed to handle the compression and distortion that electric guitar players want from their instrument. They add colour to the natural tone of whatever’s plugged in by exaggerating the mids and reducing the highs. They are designed to work with the magnetic pickups of an electric guitar.
Acoustic guitar amplifiers are designed to reproduce the natural sound of an acoustic guitar as cleanly and accurately as possible. They aim to add volume to your natural acoustic tone without making it different. They have a blank, uncoloured sound with a flat frequency response. They are designed to work with the piezo pickups of an electro-acoustic.
Yes, you can use an electric guitar with an acoustic amplifier, but you may not get the sound you want. The main issue with using an electric guitar through an acoustic amp will be the use of overdrive/distortion pedals, as acoustic amps are not designed to overdrive and distort.
Yes, you can use an acoustic guitar with an electric amplifier, but you may not get the sound you want. Acoustic guitars are likely to sound muddy and compressed through an electric amplifier, especially at higher volumes.
