Electric Guitar - Amp Settings! How to learn?

Question

Can anyone recommend a good resource for learning how to use an amp? Like, a website, or a book, or even just tell me yourself?

I've been teaching myself to play electric guitar, and it's fun as h**l, but made more difficult by my not knowing how to get the sound I want from the amplifier/speaker setup I've got it jacked into.

The amp/speaker combo has a variety of settings, with k***s for Master Volume, Volume, Gain, Treble, Middle, and Bass, in addition to some effects settings, like delay, wah, etc. I've tried tweaking the settings to get different sounds from it, but all I've succeeded in doing is getting progressively more Effed Up sounds from the speaker =)

I'd like to learn how to set the amp to get a clean guitar sound, as though I were playing an acoustic, as well as a more characteristically 'rock' or 'metal' sounds.

Can anyone recommend a good resource for learning how to do this?

Answer 1

Hey Elliot

First, put all the k***s in mid center. The master volume has to be at 8 , and the gain at 2.

In other words, the higher the gain, the more distortion. You want a clean sound, then the master volume has to be all the way up.

As for the treble, mid, bass, put them in the middle and experiment.

If you want a more punchy sound, lower the mid a new notch and raise the bass a few notch.

If you need more highs, raise the treble.

Note that , when you put all the k***s ion the middle, and you put the master volume at 3 and the gain at 7 or 8, you get the rock distorted sound.

the more gain, the more distortion.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Hey Elliot... Please disregard the answer that the volume on your amp HAS to be set at 8.  You dont say what type of amp you have.. but.. for example.... if its a  Fender Twin Reverb.. um... hope you live on a big chunk of land and have ear-plugs in when trying this.... as at this volume from this type of amp will cause hearing damage, and.. if its late at night on a residential street... the cops will definately be called.. from a few blocks away no less!  

    You also dont specify if its a tube or solid-state amp.  The correct term for running the gain higher than the volume setting on a tube amp would be "tube saturation", not distortion.  Lots of your blues players achieve their sound this way.   But... for a clean tone, whether solid-state or tube... the gain should be at a very low setting.....volume higher.  And you should also start with tone controls at "12 o'clock", or straight up.   Sounds like you have an amp with built in effects, or a modeling amp.  If theres a bypass switch for the effects, or "effects off", try engaging that.  Also, if you dont have a manual for the amp.. you should be able to go to the manufacturers website and download one for free!   For rock/metal, there are typically 2 types of sounds you can get.  Pre-amp and Power-amp distortion.  (Listen to some Asian rock bands, they prefer Pre-amp distortion).  

     http://www.tonesettings.com/tone/

  Once at this site, you should be able to select your brand of amp and hopefully this will help you out. Also, just google "guitar tone" as well.... there are a TON of good links out there!  

Good luck.. and keep on playin!