Electric Guitar Help

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#1 Post by **palmboy5** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 6:47 pm

Q, my bro just got this.. Gibson electric guitar thing without an amp and when i connect it to speakers it doesnt sound very.. electric-y-ish, lol. is the amp the one that makes it electric-sounding or something? while waiting to get an amp, is there a program for the PC that can change it to electric-sounding?

Q12321 · #2 Post by **Q12321** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:36 pm

How are you connecting it to speakers? Explain the set up, I'll help ye out.

#3 Post by **palmboy5** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:35 am

cable from guitar > large male jack to small male jack adapter > 'line in' creative speakers
or
cable from guitar > large male jack to small male jack adapter > 'line in' bro's PC (nVidia SoundStorm audio) > speakers connected to 'line out'

ive tried GuitarFX and it does make it sound 'electricy' but imo distinguishing separate notes on the same string isnt very easy.. recording the audio and playing back sounds really bad

what does an amp do other than amplify? lol cuz my bro doesnt wanna just play at the comp all the time, he wants to play in his room but it sounds nothing like electric when directly connecting it to speakers

Q12321 · #4 Post by **Q12321** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:33 pm

Okay, quite a few reasons why it doesn't sound electricy...

First, guitar output is high impedance, so hooking it up to speakers directly isn't the best idea, and straight into the line in is the worst idea ever. Too strong of a signal, guitar is unbalanced, non-line level signal. I wouldn't plug into the comp without a DI box.

Anyway, probably doesn't sound like a typical guitar because there is no gain/distortion. Almost every amp out there can give you some distortion. Can you get an amp at all?

#5 Post by **palmboy5** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:23 pm

yeah my bro wants to get "some $40 thing" and i dont think a cheap amp is a good idea, can you recommend some? but not like insanely expensive ones..

lol *unplugs guitar from PC*

Q12321 · #6 Post by **Q12321** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 6:50 am

What's your price range?

#7 Post by **palmboy5** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:33 am

umm.... I dont know... below 80? his guitar is a beginner level so I guess a good beginner level amp

Q12321 · #8 Post by **Q12321** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:20 pm

VERY low price range on an amp...hardly enough for a semi decent practice amp. Hahaha. Either way, here are a few:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MSHMS4

http://www.zzounds.com/item--FEN02348811000

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ROLMICROCUBE

I would really recommend saving a bit and getting the last amp, the Micro Cube. It's actually not all that bad, I have one that I let my guitar students use. Runs on batteries too.

All of those amps are mini amps as well, so they're nice and small.

#9 Post by **palmboy5** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:44 am

lol ah that makes more sense ^^ my bro was like "lets just get that $40 one i saw" and i was like... that cant be..

ill discuss with bro/parents

#10 Post by **palmboy5** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:29 am

wait theyre (roland and fender, marshall doesnt say shit) listing the AC Adapter as an accessory.. does that mean it doesnt come with it?

oh and sometimes, depending on how hard you pick the E (6th) string, itll rattle as the string hits the middle frets, is this normal??

Q12321 · #11 Post by **Q12321** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 3:19 pm

They're pocket amps, usually run on batteries. Pretty much all you can get for that price. I know that the Cube comes with an adapter, not 100% on the others.

If you're getting string buzz when playing your normal way, then:

1. string is too low

2. Neck has backbow, needs truss rod adjustment or to be looked at

3. Mix of the two.

Check if it buzzes when plugged into an amp first, many times you'll get buzz unplugged, but none when plugged in.

#12 Post by **palmboy5** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:24 pm

why would there be none when its plugged into an amp? because you cant hear it over the amp speakers?

Q12321 · #13 Post by **Q12321** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:00 pm

I don't know the theory behind it, probably has to do with how the pickups receive the sound.

#14 Post by **palmboy5** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:33 pm

yeah? well i think its bullshit and imma try adjusting the truss rod ^^ so thats what the allen or w/e wrenches were for

Q12321 · #15 Post by **Q12321** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:25 am

I don't recommend it, you can really fuck it up if you don't do it right. Not to mention if you alter that, you have to change string height and intonation as well.