Guitar / Bass Amplifier Info & Education

Some of the awesome adjectives bassists use to describe their ideal tone- for instance, “grindy,” “punchy” “clanky”- can be attributed to a single knob present on many of today’s bass amps. While the big picture of overall tone depends on a myriad of different factors, from the amp and cab to the bass itself, and of course the player’s technique, the often-overlooked high mids knob can be just what you need to dial your tone into its sweet spot.

It goes without saying that there’s nothing quite like an all-tube guitar amp cranked up to its sweet spot. In fact, many tone aficionados will tell you that this setup is the only way to go if you’re serious about your guitar tone. However, weight and portability are often a factor with all-tube amps (with the exception of smaller, more compact designs like the V3M). And if you’re in a position where you’re downsizing your transportation to save on gas or just do not want to lug a heavy amp to the gig, you may find yourself wondering if there’s something else that can come close to the sound of an all-tube amp. And while nothing will sound exactly like it, there are a few options that may prove to be worthy substitutes. 

Aside from drummers, bassists generally have the most weight to carry at load-in. Bassists stand out among the rest of the band with their huge, heavy bass cabinets that often take two people to move and have a huge onstage footprint. Of course, smaller combos do just fine at smaller venues, but there are still some bassists who prefer the headroom of a “big rig” in nearly any gigging situation. These players, contrary to popular belief, are not necessarily egocentric showoffs who like to have the biggest rig onstage and the loudest instrument in the mix- in fact, there are many reasons why a big rig can help support the overall sound of the band.

Sometimes we learn to do something without understanding why it is important. For example, these days most players with tube amps know that we have to get our power tubes biased when we replace them. But the reasons why always seem just a bit mysterious because the related folklore among musicians clouds the issue. You could play a tube amp all your life without knowing or caring about the reasons, especially if you have a great tech to maintain it. Still, having a grasp of the general concept can give you more options in fine-tuning your amp's performance. It could also provide just enough information to get through a tube failure in a pinch.

We've discussed how to get a killer overdriven bass sound at length in previous articles, but what about all the bassists out there who want a clean sound? Don't worry, we haven't forgotten about you!  For some serious pocket grooving, stripped down, low volume acoustic gigs, or certain styles of music, such a clean tone is indispensable. Whether you're a bassist who likes to play with overdrive looking to clean up your act or a clean bassist who wants to make your sound even cleaner, this article will help you dial in your rig.

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.

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?

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!)

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.

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.

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.