Taking it Beyond the Basics

I started this blog because even though electric string instruments are becoming more and more common, using them to get satisfying sounds with effects pedals and an amplifier is not. I believe that one cause of this problem, as anyone who’s ever looked for equipment to buy has discovered, is that the world of, wait, strike that, universe of amplifiers and effects is insurmountably dizzying. Indeed, there are so many options, combinations and stylistic considerations that getting the sound that's inside your head out into the air can literally be a lifelong process of exploration.

Reaching this goal takes a lot of technical understanding even for electric guitarists and electric bassists, for whom most equipment was designed. So does that mean that we electronically-inexperienced string players are proverbially screwed? Well, let's just say that we'll have to do more homework than they will.

Do you wanna give up yet?

I find that several important considerations for intelligently selecting and combining* amps, effects pedals and an electric violin/viola/cello are largely ignored (at least on this here electric violin interweb), but that doesn't mean they're abstruse concepts. In fact, they make a lot of sense, but we just have to go looking for them in outside places. Try the Harmony Central Amps and Effects forums or articles available on well-known amplifier manufacturers' websites (like this one from Bogner Amps).

When searching for help via string instrument websites, all I've found were very general suggestions about how to get a "good sound" from your amp (several of which I now believe to be wrong) and a few suggestions about things to avoid. Unfortunately, "good sound" is such a broad term that it's useless.

In the beginning of one's "search for tone," "good sound" might only mean faithfully reproducing your instrument's unamplified signal. However, add some distortion and by that definition, "good" is exactly how it won't sound! So what's a body to do? Well, that's where this blog comes in. ;) Arrogance aside, it's really helpful to find a gearhead** guitarist and pick his/her brain; that's what I did.

In subsequent posts, I plan on writing several how-to guides, product comparisons, newsy things, hopefully an interview or two, and other important electronics topics uncommon to the string world. However, I want to be clear about what this blog will not be. This blog is not a superficial beginner's guide, an index of luthiers/manufacturers, a list of important players or anything else that's been thoroughly covered elsewhere.  I will, however, devote space to products and players who I feel are not getting enough attention. My intention for this blog is to provide much more than just the simple information so commonly available, thus empowering serious players with the knowledge they need to take their sound beyond the basics.

*What do I mean by "intelligently selecting and combining" amplifiers, effects and electric instruments? I don't mean you're stupid if it doesn't make sense (because I know that things can become confusing). I mean: 1) you have a clear idea of what sound you want to get from your equipment and, 2) you're at least pretty sure you know which pieces will give it to you. That means having done some research on available products and knowing what equipment is used by the players you admire.

**Gearhead: a person whose compunction towards buying electronic musical equipment has reached dangerous levels, the amount of which is surpassed only by his/her knowledge of said equipment.


Does this make sense? If you have a question, something to add, or you just think I'm full of it, that's why a comment section is at the bottom of the page.