Every guitarist’s dream is
to stand behind a wall of
amplifiers and lean back
against the sound;
we want our tones to sing with sustain and ring out with
commanding bravado. Unfortunately, most of the time, we find
ourselves in our rooms and our studios, with angry spouses,
groaning roommates, pissed off neighbors, and children wincing
in pain as they cover their ears and run. When non-musicians are
in close quarters, they never quite seem to understand the ageold explanation, “but the dynamics are better when it’s loud!”
For all they care, players can take their guitar and dynamics with
them to the curb. While a select few are blessed to crank the living
daylights out of 100-watt stacks and get that singing sustain all of
us are chasing, most of us are in our rooms and apartments, with
kids, roommates or spouses in the next room. When inspiration
strikes, (and it can strike at some very inopportune times), or
when we finally find time to sit down and play, we need some way
to get our ideas recorded or into the air at a reasonable volume,
with all those lovely dynamics that other non-musicians near us
can’t seem to stand. Like many before me have said: now is one
of the best times to be a guitarist. Many amp companies have
caught onto this home and studio market, and are putting out
incredible “lunchbox” style amps for silent home recording or
practicing, without sacrificing t