Best
Headphone Amp
-
Overall: Provides Up To 17 Hours Of Battery Life.
-
Best Feature: Nine Selectable Effects (Delay X 3, Chorus X 3, Reverb X 3)
-
TedScore: 8/10
Best
Micro Amp
-
Overall: Powered By 9V Battery Or Detachable Power Cable,
-
Best Feature: Jack Instrument Input, Volume And Tone Controls
-
TedScore: 8/10
Best
Budget Amp
-
Overall: Perfect for Beginners And Intermediate Players Who Like Rock And Metal
-
Best Feature: 20 Watts Of Power, Lightweight, And A Built-In Reverb Effect
-
TedScore: 9.5/10
When it comes to playing Electric Guitar, you may wonder if you need an amp. After all, electric guitars produce sound by amplifying vibrations from the strings. But does that mean an amp is necessary for a good sound? The answer is yes – electric guitars need some form of amplifier to produce their sound.
This article will explore why electric guitars need amps, how you can play an electric guitar without an amp and what type of equipment you need to get the best sound out of your instrument.
Why Does Electric Guitar Needs Amp?
The strings vibrate and create sound waves when you play an electric guitar. These sound waves are calm, so they need to be amplified to be heard. An amplifier takes these weak signals from the pickups and boosts their volume so that other people can attend them.
An amplifier adds colour and depth to the sound of the electric guitar by changing its tone. This allows guitarists to shape their sound in various ways, making it more unique and distinctive. An amp also helps to create effects such as distortion, reverb and delay. These effects can add texture and interest to a guitarist’s playing.
Can You Play an Electric Guitar Without Amp?
Yes, it is possible to play an electric guitar without an amp. However, you won’t get any sound out of it unless you use one of these techniques:
How to Play Electric Guitar Without an Amp
(4 Simple Ways)
Playing Unplugged
Playing unplugged is a great way to practice your electric guitar without using an amp. To do this, remove the output cord and play directly on the instrument’s pickups. This will give you an electric guitar’s classic, raw sound without plugging into an amplifier or speaker system.
When playing the electric guitar unplugged, pay attention to your technique, as you may not be able to rely on volume or distortion for effect. Instead, focus on developing clean articulation and clarity in your playing for optimum results.
Using Headphones or Speakers
If you want more versatility than just playing unplugged, you can plug headphones or a small speaker into your electric guitar. This is a great way to practice without disturbing anyone in the house and will provide you with more options for tonal variation.
Be sure to use headphones designed for electrical instruments, as regular stereo headphones may not handle the higher voltage.
Playing With Headphones
Playing with headphones is one of the easiest ways to play without electric guitar amps. All you need to do is grab your favourite pair of headphones and hook up your guitar. This method can be used for practice and recording as it provides superior audio quality compared to other methods.
DESIGNED FOR: Intermediate to Advanced guitarists
FEATURES: Nine selectable effects (Delay x 3, Chorus x 3, Reverb x 3), Authentic cabinet simulation and VOX's proprietary analog technology for tube amp distortion.
OTHER INFO: Provides up to 17 hours of battery life.
Vox amPlug 2 Guitar Headphone Amp
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Lightweight and easy to transport
- 3 channels offer 3 distinct amp tones
- Folding plug mechanism rotates 180 degrees for easy storage
- Fastest way to get an authentic amplifier sound
- Ideal for jazz and fusion sounds
- Automatic power-off feature to conserve battery life
- Not ideal for heavier distortion tones
- Awkward design makes it difficult to access all controls easily
- Switching between each effect's 3 unique parameters can be tricky to manage
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore.
Playing Using Speakers or studio monitors
Using speakers or studio monitors gives you the fullest sound possible and lets you get the most out of your instrument. Speakers and studio monitors are also great for mixing music, as they provide a more accurate representation of what your mix will sound like when played back on other systems. However, speakers can often be expensive and require amplifiers or receivers to use them effectively.
Studio monitors also tend to be more costly than speakers but offer an even more accurate representation of the sound you’re working with.
DESIGNED FOR: Home or Professional Studios
FEATURES: Peak SPL: 102 dB
OTHER INFO: 1/4" TRS, Balanced XLR input and unbalanced RCA line-level input.
