What kind of amp or sound system do I need for a guitar and mic?

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jr132336

I play guitar and sing and want to start playing some shows and am looking for a new amp. I only have my guitar and my mic, so what exactly do I need to play like bars and clubs and stuff. I am looking for a completely clean amp, because I play blues stuff.

Answer
If you are looking to run both channels through the amp, you will need an amp that accepts both a quarter inch jack and an XLR (mic) input. The best setup for that is the bose L1 system that will run you quite a bit.
You can also try to find a fender acoustic amp that has both channels or a Trace Elliot TA800 that has 2 channels. The vocals will sound mediocre on these types of amps.

The best option is to see if the bar has a sound system and then bring some good "pre" equipment. Get an Avalon U5 DI for an acoustic.

Stephen
http://guitarmann.com

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What kind of amp or sound system do I need for a guitar and mic?

guitar xlr image

jr132336

I play guitar and sing and want to start playing some shows and am looking for a new amp. I only have my guitar and my mic, so what exactly do I need to play like bars and clubs and stuff. I am looking for a completely clean amp, because I play blues stuff.

Answer
If you are looking to run both channels through the amp, you will need an amp that accepts both a quarter inch jack and an XLR (mic) input. The best setup for that is the bose L1 system that will run you quite a bit.
You can also try to find a fender acoustic amp that has both channels or a Trace Elliot TA800 that has 2 channels. The vocals will sound mediocre on these types of amps.

The best option is to see if the bar has a sound system and then bring some good "pre" equipment. Get an Avalon U5 DI for an acoustic.

Stephen
http://guitarmann.com

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How do you add a knob to your guitar for the strap?

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peck3000

I have a knob at the bottom of my acoustic guitar, and I've tried attaching the strap to the top of the neck and it is too awkward. I've heard that you can buy the knob and attach it yourself, but I don't know how, or exactly where to attach the knob.

Answer
Best solution: Take it to a luthier or guitar shop. They have the parts, the experience to do it correctly the first time, and they will preserve the resale value of your guitar. They may have suggestions for other methods to make your guitar more comfortable and ergonomically correct as well.

Do it yourself?

You need: an end button with the screw, a Jeweler's screwdriver, (usually Phillips head but if the screw is a flathead you know what to do) a jeweler's drill, or one of those powered screwdrivers and a very very thin (read tiny) drill
optional: some wood putty or Elmer's Glue

1. First determine if the area you want to put the end button will hold the weight of the strap and that there is enough wood to hold the screw in place.

2. Now look inside and really make sure. A dental mirror and a flashlight will usually do the trick

3. Drill a small (did I say small, I meant really really small, you know, Tiny) hole, directly into the place where you want to put the end button. Do not try to do this without drilling the hole. You will be in danger of splitting the wood. Maybe not the same day you install the end button, but eventually! (Cue the background monster movie music)

4. Insert the screw into the end button, then screw the entire assembly into the guitar, slowly and gently.

(This is optional, but I always dip the screw in a little bit of glue or wood putty before I put it into the guitar, then wipe off the excess. I think it makes for a tighter fit and seems to act like a washer to some extent. that part is up to you. If you do it though, wait for the thing to dry before you put a strap on it, usually 24 - 48 hours.)

Wipe off the guitar, no matter how you decide to do it, there will be a few wood shavings at least. Put your toys away and be sure to seal the wood putty or glue if you decided to use it.

Some music stores sell the locking end buttons. Some of them need a special strap and some of them have an adapter you just put on the strap you like, but if it saves you from dropping your guitar on a hardwood stage floow just once, it's worth it.

One other thing you may want to consider before you install an end button. Some transducer pickups contain female input jacks that also serve as end buttons. This way you can get both upgrades done at once. Again, better to go with a luthier unless you are:

A. Really handy, much handier than me!

B. Possessor of all of the proper tools or willing to buy them

(Usually cheaper i the long run to get it done professionally. Remember that last reason and say it once again with me:

"Preserves The Resale Value of the Guitar!!!"

You may need to trade it in on a Martin or Taylor someday and you want to get more than sixty dollars for it.

(If you attach an end button anywhere but where it is recommended, You will want to substitute that screw for a modified nut and bolt. You want both a rubberized and lock type washer on both sides because if you have ever tried to cram your hand inside of a guitar to install one of these puppies, you definitely do not want to try to do it twice. Besides, there is nothing more irritating than washer rattle, especially when you are on a gig and don't have the tools or time to fix it. If you are installing the female quarter inch (stay away form the 1/8" if you can) or XLR jack, you don't need a nut and bolt because the screw assembly tightens onto itself. Remember the rubberized washers though. They can be a lifesaver and if they don't come with the kit, spring for the extra dollar or two to get them.

Another nice place to have an end button is on the heel (also known as the spine in some areas) since it allows you to take off the strap (still recommending a locking strap here) without untying it from the headstock.

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What is the difference between acoustic and electric acoustic guitar?

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???

it sounds like a stupid question, but i'm starting in like a week, acoustic guitar, but the teacher said i just need an acoustic guitar. nothing specific. i know NOTHING about guitars. so help please!!! and what are some good acoustic guitars for a beginer?? and whats the 6 string and 12 string difference beside the number of strings? i know i asked a lot of questions but i really have no idea. help!

Answer
Alright, I really want to help you in your musical life. Whatever you do, do NOT get a 12, 7, or 8 string guitar, that's not even for advanced players, that's for people who want a whole new instrument. Only get a 6 string guitar. There are three types of 6 string guitars: acoustic, acoustic-electric, electric, hollow electric, semi-hollow electric. Don't even think of the hollows or electrics yet, only stick to acoustic for now. I highly recommend that you start with a full sized dreadnought acoustic-electric, with steel strings and a cutaway; and not nylon strings. An acoustic guitar is a 6 string guitar without any electronics at all, just a traditional steel string guitar. An acoustic-electric guitar is basically an acoustic guitar with the capabilities of connecting it to an amplifier or XLR inputs (You don't need to worry about the XLR inputs, you'll learn about it later.), and it also has a three-band EQ (EQ=equalizer, which includes bass, middle or mid, and treble and sometimes a phase button which sharpens your sound, all these redefine the sound of your guitar while it's connected to an amplifier. Now some also come with built in tuners with display lights to tune it which'll come in handy more times than you breathe because everytime you pick up your guitar, you'll need to tune it. If you combine all these features, you have a preamp and pickup. A preamp is all these gadgets combined basically. A pickup is something to give your guitar the power to connect to an amp.).

I know it's a lot to read, but I really want to help guitarists acheive their musical goals. These are all available at Guitar Center, but you can find them at other places too.

If you have the money for expensive guitars, here are some I recommend: Fender CD140SCE NAT acoustic-electric guitar $300 (Which I recommend the most out of EVERYTHING because I have experience with it, and has all of the features stated above, and I have experience with it, so I know what it's like, and best of all it's beginner friendly and great for all levels of guitarists. It's the best guitar for the lowest price.), Ovation CC24 NAT acoustic-electric guitar $350 (Which I recommend second, out of EVERYTHING because it has all of the features stated above, and more.), or the Ibanez AEG10E.

Now if you're on a really tight budget (since acoustic-electrics are usually $100 more just because it has some sort of electronics on it), you'd probably stick to acoustics only. I recommend the Ibanez IJV50 acoustic jampack $100 (which comes with the acoustic guitar, strap, gig case/bag, extra picks, extra strings, chromatic tuner, chord chart to help you learn, and other extra accessories. I think for a hundred bucks, that's the best deal you can get, knowing that it's a quality guitar.), or the Ibanez IJAE5 jumpstart acoustic-electric $200 (which comes with all of the jampack accessories, including wires and an amplifier, which for two hundred bucks is a real deal. The only problem is that at Guitar Center they either are out of stock or they don't sell it anymore, so if they don't have it, try somewhere else.) I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that all of your guitars have cutaways, which you'll see on guitars that on the right side of the body of the guitar, it has a small cut to reach higher notes. I really hope I helped you.

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How do i record an acoustic guitar video with good audio quality?

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Brandon Ta

Hello i tried recording a fingerstyle guitar cover on youtube with my sony hd that costs $400 but it sounds like crap. How do i record a guitar cover with studio quality sound? i have lots of studi EQ and mixing software.

Answer
First priority is recording a good sound. You'd probably record this separately with one or two condenser microphones into an audio interface, and synch this with the video in a video editing program.

Using one mic is easy enough; using two mics is trickier. The AT2020 condenser mic works great on acoustic guitar. You could get the regular XLR connector version (AT2020) that plugs into an audio interface, or the USB version (AT2020 USB) that plugs straight into the computer.

AT2020USB: http://bit.ly/sq5N9O

Position it 6-12 inches above the 12th fret, with the diaphragm angled toward the sound hole. You could add a little stereo reverb in your sound editor to make up for it being just one mic. Two mics is a hassle so I don't recommend it.

If you do want two mics, then pick up two condenser mics and a good audio interface like the Roland Quad Capture (http://bit.ly/sS0oMR) -- you'll get better sound quality with an audio interface than with the USB version of mics. If you really want to go higher end, get a pair of oktava mk012 mics, and use an XY stereo mic'ing technique like these: http://www.homestudiocorner.com/stereo-mic-techniques/

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How do I run my guitar to an XLR plug on my PA Mixer Amp?

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hello

How do I run my guitar to an XLR plug on my PA Mixer Amp?

The guitar has normal 1/4" mono plug. I want to plug it into an XLR jack on my PA.

Also, how will phantom power play into my being able to do this?

Answer
You would use a DI Box with 1/4" inputs and XLR outs like this ( http://cgi.ebay.com/Behringer-DI100-Studio-and-Stage-DI-Box-NEW_W0QQitemZ260075572499QQihZ016QQcategoryZ3278QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem ) This box will convert your 1/4" mono plug to a balanced XLR. Phantom power should not be used on this connect. Phantom power is used to provide power to condenser mics. Hope this helps!

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How do i record an acoustic guitar video with good audio quality?

guitar xlr image

Brandon Ta

Hello i tried recording a fingerstyle guitar cover on youtube with my sony hd that costs $400 but it sounds like crap. How do i record a guitar cover with studio quality sound? i have lots of studi EQ and mixing software.

Answer
First priority is recording a good sound. You'd probably record this separately with one or two condenser microphones into an audio interface, and synch this with the video in a video editing program.

Using one mic is easy enough; using two mics is trickier. The AT2020 condenser mic works great on acoustic guitar. You could get the regular XLR connector version (AT2020) that plugs into an audio interface, or the USB version (AT2020 USB) that plugs straight into the computer.

AT2020USB: http://bit.ly/sq5N9O

Position it 6-12 inches above the 12th fret, with the diaphragm angled toward the sound hole. You could add a little stereo reverb in your sound editor to make up for it being just one mic. Two mics is a hassle so I don't recommend it.

If you do want two mics, then pick up two condenser mics and a good audio interface like the Roland Quad Capture (http://bit.ly/sS0oMR) -- you'll get better sound quality with an audio interface than with the USB version of mics. If you really want to go higher end, get a pair of oktava mk012 mics, and use an XY stereo mic'ing technique like these: http://www.homestudiocorner.com/stereo-mic-techniques/

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How do you add a knob to your guitar for the strap?

How can i connect my guitar to the computer? Also a guitar rig question included?

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gesundheit

elaborate? fender amp, jackson electric guitar. if i use guitar rig After i download guitar rig what do i do?

Answer
Hey Bleh,

The best option is to get an interface that is built to handle that conversion. Something like an MAudio PreUSB is an inexpensive solution where you can plug in one or two instruments to the interface and then connect the interface to the computer via a USB cable. This will give you the best sound. It's possible to run your sound from an amp, but amps usually sound better via a mic. You could get an sm57 mic, run it through the interface via an XLR cable, and you'd be good to go.

The more money you want to spend, the more you can. You can buy all sorts of preamps, software such as pro tools and plug-ins galore.

Stephen
http://guitarmann.com

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What device can I use to plug in a guitar and an XLR mic into my computer?

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Scott P

I'm buying a condenser microphone (XLR) ton record vocals and I want to connect it to my computer, it would also be nice to connect my guitar directly up to it and use Garage Band's virtual amps. I think this is called a pre amp but I havnt really seen one that connects both guitar and XLR to the computer, but usually both to another output. What should do? Thank you!

Answer
What you need is an audio interface. Audio interfaces combine several different things. First, they have pre-amps to get your signal to an audible level. Second, they (almost always) have phantom power, which is a method of supplying power to condenser microphones. Third, they have A/D-D/A converters, that will take an analog signal and convert it to 1s and 0s so that the computer can read it. You can find beginner interfaces for anywhere around $80 and up. Things to keep in mind are whether it is compatible with the software that you're using, and whether it has as many channels of input as you want.

-KDecka

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