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5 Easy Ways To Amplify Your Acoustic Guitar

By: Dave Thomas

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When you learn acoustic guitar you probably aspire to playing in front of people or on a stage eventually. The big problem for an acoustic guitarist is volume.

In larger settings, this simply is not practical. Venues with exceptional acoustics, multiple instrumentalists playing the same parts, and quiet, attentive audiences work for orchestras, but it is quite impractical for an acoustic player. Instead, electrical amplification is the prevalent solution. This does not mean playing an electric guitar, per se, but instead focusing on equipment that more faithfully projects the actual tone of an acoustic guitar.

1. Microphone

A common choice is simply to place a microphone near the guitar and play through the PA. This is one of the easier solutions, because most venues do have a PA already installed. It is also probably the most faithful reproduction of the sound, while increasing the volume. However, it is the most sticky:

* The microphone can feedback
* Using a microphone will not selectively pick up your guitar so background noise can be a problem
* Slight changes in the guitar's distance from the microphone will create an audible change in volume.
* The guitarist must be absolutely still while performing.
* You have to spend more time setting it up to avoid the feedback issues

2. Magnetic Pick Ups

Magnetic pick ups usually affix to the sound hole of the guitar and work similar to the pick ups on electric guitars. The string movements are detected by magnets, which relay the signal to the amp. This is one of the more hassle free solutions. As an add-on, a lot of magnetic pick ups can be put on and taken off a guitar with ease. A very nice benefit for people with vintage or expensive guitars. These pick ups do not work for classical guitars because the nylon strings do not effect the pick ups.

3. Piezo Pick Ups

These are very similar to the magnetic pick ups discussed above. However piezo pick ups are put into the bridge of the guitar and detect the vibration of the string. Since it is reading the string vibration directly, piezo pick ups work on classical guitars. Attaching piezo pick ups could require permanent alterations to the guitar. A large amount of modern Acoustic-Electric Guitars come with these installed.

4. Hybrid Acoustic Electric Guitars

There are quite a number of hybrid guitars out there made specifically with acoustic amplification in mind. Some are more electric guitars with a piezo bridge to give an approximation of an acoustic guitar sound without having to change guitars. Others are acoustic guitars with piezo bridges. There are also designs that attempt to more thoroughly hybridize the design. To buy a guitar just for performing is a personal preference. Quite often the main reason for hybrid guitars is simply to eliminate the need to carry individual acoustic and electrical guitars to performances, even though you may lose some sound quality.

5. Acoustic Guitar Amps

Most electric guitar amps nowadays should not be used with acoustics, sometimes to the extent of having specific genres and styles in mind. While a standard electrical guitar amp can be connected to an acoustic guitar, it is usually not a good choice as using an amp intended specifically to amplify an acoustic guitar. The qualities an electrical guitarist look for in an amp are not the same as what an acoustic guitarist looks for, something to bear in mind when looking for an amp.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Discover the secrest to playing your favorite songs on guitar quickly and easily right now - Learn Acoustic Guitar Dave Thomas is a guitarist and writer for www.learnguitarblog.com

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