What’s more important, your guitar or amp? Phil X reckons he has the answer
Many guitarists contract Gear Acquisition Syndrome and end up with stacked pedalboards, but the fundamentals of any electric guitar rig will always be your guitar and amplifier.
It’s only natural, then, that the debate surrounding whether your choice of guitar or amp is more important has raged since time immemorial.
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And there’s prominent voices on both sides of the debate. Math rock whizz and Covet guitarist Yvette Young reckons amp is more important, asserting that a “cheap guitar doesn’t mean a bad guitar”.
But Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X finds himself on the other side, saying the guitar is the core of everything, so getting a good one should be your priority.
Asked in the new issue of Guitarist whether he’d rather have a cheap guitar and an expensive amp or an expensive guitar and cheap amp, he replies: “You know, what’s in your hands is almost more important.”
He explains: “But I think I’d have to get a better guitar and a cheaper amp. You can always get around on a cheaper amp or then go get a cheap pedal to make the cheap amp even better.
“But if you’re playing a really shitty guitar, you’re really limiting your progress.”
Of course, the guitar vs amp debate is highly nuanced, and although price point offers some measure of product quality, this isn’t always the case.
Phil X does make the good point that if you’re a beginner playing a poorly setup guitar – with high string action, for example – you’ll be hindering your ability to get to grips with certain techniques and get the most out of your playing.
That said, on the other side of the argument, the sound that comes out of your amp has a huge effect on inspiration. If the sound isn’t right, your creative spark may not be ignited in the same way as if you were working with a better guitar tone.
So what can we conclude from all this? The guitar vs amp debate will remain aflame for the long-foreseeable future. But at least proponents on the guitar side can count Phil X among their allies.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
