1 Amplifier types

1.0 Introduction

They come in all shapes and sizes: bass guitar amplifiers. Just when you thought you've seen them all, a new weird boutique amp system pops up, using space-age materials like Titanium, Kevlar, Carbon composite and/or Neodymium and looking more futuristic than you thought possible. The bottom line is: they all break down to simple schematic blocks that do the same thing: amplify an electric bass guitar.

Below is a schematic diagram of a basic bass guitar amplifier system in its simplest form. All setups incorporate these subsystems.

preamp tone controls power amp loudspeaker

This chapter discusses three common setups that incorporate these subsystems, and, as needs, power and cost increase, add more subsystems.



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