amplifiers Flashcards
what was the original use for an amp?
to amplify the electrical signal of an electric/acoustic guitar so it would be produced at louder volumes
what do amps nowadays allow you to do?
- modify tone
- add reverb & FX
- control how much distortion is sent through the amps cone
when was the first amp and what was it used for?
1909, audio amplifier by Lee De Forest, was used to make the first AM Radio machine not used for instrument volume/ tone control
what happened in the 1930’s?
introduction of electrolytic capacitors, could plug into all electric points
when did electronic amplification begin to popularise?
1940’s
when was the tube powered amp created and what was a limitation of it?
1945 by Kauffman and Fender, not the best quality at this time
in 1947 the williamson valve amp was created, why was it good?
high quality, this amp was one of the first to be used for instrument use
what was introduced in the mid-1950s?
higher power amplifiers meaning better audio quality at higher levels than ones prior to the mid-1950s
the mid 1950s had use of tone controls but what were its limitations?
is was simple, the amps at the time had a poor bass response, meaning little could be adapted on the amp itself without sounding dissonant
what happens if you connect the output of one amp to the input of another?
distortion effects
when did distortion become available through amps?
1960s
what happened in 1962?
first transistor amp introduced by Kay, offered longer life and low heat generation
what did gibson introduce in 1963?
solid state star fire line
what genre did distortion become a big part of in the 2000s?
blues rock and metal tracks, became necessary for guitar amps to all come standard with distortion and overdrive controls
