March 30, 2017
Think back to when you first started playing the electric guitar. Like most beginners, you probably didn't start with all the equipment you have now. Your student guitar and entry-level practice amp didn't deliver the most inspiring tone. Then you got your first 'goodie box', what the salesmen called a pedal. It was most likely a major event! If one pedal was good, more pedals were better. You started connecting them all, taking them all out every time. The chain of pedals began, adding noise, degrading your tone and increasing the chances of equipment failure. Now you are ready to get serious and clean up your guitar tone. Here we will take a close look at your pedals and determine whether they are adding as much as they are subtract from your tone.
March 20, 2017
In recent years, true bypass pedals have become a go-to solution for musicians looking to preserve their tone. True bypass pedals directly connect input to output when the pedal is switched off, thereby ensuring that the pedal’s circuitry does not interfere with the guitar’s original tone when it is not in use. In short, with a true bypass pedal, if it's not on, it's as if the pedal is not there at all. Sounds ideal, right?
March 10, 2017
If you're used to playing electric bass, switching to an acoustic bass for a set can be intimidating. In addition to the technical adjustments you need to make in the move from an electric bass to an acoustic bass, there is also a whole new set of equipment considerations you need to take into account. After all, you can’t show up to that small coffee house gig with your full stack (technically you can, but you might scare the audience away when you load in!)
March 01, 2017
In Part 1 of this series we talked about frequencies of sound and some basic principles of equalization (EQ). Now let’s look at the most common types of EQs you are likely to encounter and how to use them to take control of your sound. Because each type of EQ has an application to which it is best suited many amp makers offer a combination EQ section to give you the best of each in a practical package. We’ll use the Carvin Audio BX700 bass amp combination EQ to explore each of these types but you’ll find these controls are quite universal once you know how they work and how to recognize them.
February 23, 2017
It is highly unusual to come across any sound system that lacks some form of equalization. While many features are only on the fanciest and most expensive systems, EQ is just about everywhere. Yet of all processing equipment equalization is one of the least understood and most underestimated by everyday musicians.
February 17, 2017
While longtime tube amp owners are familiar with operating the standby and power switches, the process may be slightly confusing for new guitarists or those switching over from solid state amps. Solid state amps only have a power switch that turns the amp on and off, but all of a sudden there’s another switch next to it on your new tube amp! Fortunately, the standby switch is very straightforward, yet absolutely essential. So essential, in fact, that all of Carvin Audio’s 50 Watt or more all-tube guitar amp models - such as the V3, X100B, and BELAIR come loaded with one. This article will explain what the standby switch does and how to use it.
February 16, 2017
February 09, 2017
One of the biggest obstacles bassists face when trying to make a dirty or overdriven bass tone sit in a full band mix is preventing the loss of low end in their sound. Sure, a dirty bass tone can really liven up your band’s mix and fatten up the overall sound, especially in a power trio setting or for heavier styles of music, but the last thing you want to do as a bassist is compromise on holding down the low end. Many overdrive pedals, even those intended for bass, have varying degrees of low end loss which may serve as a deterrent to many players considering an overdriven bass sound. Fortunately, there are ways to beef up your bass tone with overdrive while still keeping the low-end fundamental intact.
January 27, 2017
In the first part of this article we learned the basics of configuring extension speakers- as long as you know the total impedance load of your cabinet(s).
So How Do You Calculate the Total Impedance Load?
January 26, 2017
No matter which speaker configuration you select, if you're playing in different venues chances are you'll eventually want to use different cabinets or an extension speaker. Perhaps you chose a combo amp for the convenience and portability, but your next performance will be on a wide stage where you might not be able to hear your amp from the other side. An additional cabinet on the other side of the stage could be a very nice solution (and your bandmates who play over there might appreciate being able to hear you without having to add you to their crucial monitor mix). At first glance, it seems simple enough, after all your amp does have an extension speaker jack, so you might wonder, "Can't I just plug in there and crank it up?" In general you usually can do just that, but there are some things you need to know to get a good result and to protect your amp from damage. Before we look at how different speaker combinations affect the impedance load your amp has to carry, we need to know what's going on.
January 24, 2017
If you're used to the standard three-band EQ section found on many of today's guitar amps, a graphic EQ may seem a little intimidating. And for good reason - all those numbers and sliders are more akin to a mixing board than an amp. However, a graphic EQ system isn't all too different than your regular bass/mid/treble controls and can actually help you fill in many of the gaps that these controls alone can't cover.
January 20, 2017
In a previous article, we discussed DI vs. mic for guitar and bass applications and how either choice could be appropriate for you. But what if you don’t get to choose? At some venues, the sound technicians might have their standard procedure to mic up guitar cabs and DI bass, as a common example, and you may find an old, crusty DI box waiting for you as you bring your awesome rig onstage. That is not to say there is anything wrong with using a DI; rather, that there are ways to use a this setup while still keeping essential aspects of your bass tone.
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