The evolution of amplifiers

The smart way to play electric guitar

The sound pressure of a 100W valve stack coupled to a loudspeaker with four 12″ cones is priceless, but it is equally true that having a myriad of high level sounds available in such a small space and weight is truly fantastic.

From production to recording: the digital revolution

Over the past few decades, technology has revolutionised almost every aspect of communication, making it extremely fast and making distances almost infinite.

Electric guitars: an icon that remains true to itself

Since the early 1950s, with the introduction of the Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul, the queens of the “solid body” in terms of shape, materials and construction, there have been no major changes, and today’s top brands still base their products on the same principles, working more on the design and quality of the pickups and mechanical parts.

However, the electric guitar is incomplete without amplifiers, an area in which much innovative work has been done. The typical electric guitar sound in rock is created by the amplifiers’ valves, which produce effects such as compression and distortion as they heat up.

The interplay with the guitar is absolutely dynamic and this characteristic allowed greats like Hendrix, Clapton, Jeff Beck – the list is long – to find a very personal and recognisable voice.

Helix® LT: a new frontier for guitarists

Another major innovation is Line6’s Helix® LT, an advanced pedalboard that offers a wide range of tones modelled with amazing quality. Is it main advantage? Its small size and light weight without sacrificing tonal quality, making it the ideal choice for today’s musician looking for comfort and versatility.

Amplification revolutionised by digital

Over time, since the late 1970s, especially with Eddie Van Halen, many effects have been added to distortion, such as phaser, flanger, chorus, delay, etc., making it possible to colour the sound even more.

The disadvantages of this system, if you want to call them that, are mainly cost, size, weight, overheating and the delicate nature of the components.

Over the years, the challenge has been to reproduce the same sounds at lower cost and with more modern technology.

Kemper Profiler

Among the products on the market in this area is the Kemper Profiler, a digital unit that covers the entire sound chain from the amplifier to the effects section and allows it to be organised into presets that can be recalled for both recording sessions and live performances.

And while this last feature is not new, the quality of the sounds themselves is. This instrument is therefore a “profiler”, equipped with software capable of reproducing the sound of the best amps in the world.

It also allows you to adjust the parameters as you would on a physical amp and to add effects (including detailed reproductions of the originals) in an excellent way, with the possibility of downloading and sharing presets online. In this way, you can have specially prepared sounds that can be adapted to your needs.

In fact, these multiple qualities have contributed to its popularity and use by professional musicians, who combine this technology with traditional instrumentation to maximise results and experience. The concept behind this model is therefore highly innovative and allows the musician to be assured of compact dimensions and a small footprint, without sacrificing the cleanliness and completeness of the sounds. Last but not least, the wide range of sounds and effects available is also very useful. The road to evolution in terms of product versatility and innovation is therefore all uphill and heading straight for the future.

The evolution of music production

From production techniques to recording, the change is clear, both in terms of the equipment –   For example, software such as Pro Tools is now used instead of desks and mixers that cost the price of an apartment.  –  required and the timing, as many artists record their work and then send it to the studio, rather than travelling there themselves.

In summary, the move towards simplification and widespread use of the latest sound amplification techniques has been strongly supported by IT.