There’s no matching the feeling of hearing the powerful sound of your electric guitar coming from the amp, but sometimes you just can’t afford to be loud when practicing. Does an electric guitar still sound good unplugged, and can you play it that way?
Electric guitars do not sound very good unplugged because they are designed to be used with amplifiers, not alone like an acoustic guitar. Playing an electric guitar unplugged from an amp is not recommended for practice, either, as you may pick up bad habits without being able to hear their effect.
Whether you are just looking to play an electric guitar quietly, to find a portable amp, or want to learn how playing your electric guitar unplugged can affect your practice, keep reading!
Why Shouldn’t You Play an Electric Guitar Unplugged?
Electric guitars are not designed to be used unplugged, unlike their old acoustic friend. This is why their sound remains low and weak.
It is highly recommended that beginners use an amplifier when learning to play an electric guitar, in order to:
- Avoid building bad habits
- Become fully aware of beginner mistakes
- Avoid putting too much pressure on the strings when making chords
When no amplifier is used, this can result in new players learning bad habits and not being fully aware of the mistakes they are making as the guitar’s sound is not being amplified. It could also result in new players putting too much pressure on the strings in their attempt to make them give them a bit more volume.
Once players have gained more experience and are confident in the sound they are creating, an unplugged electric guitar is not as big of a threat anymore. In fact, once an advanced level has been reached it can be useful to practice with an unplugged guitar—but only once a player knows their guitar well.
Why Is an Amplifier So Important to an Electric Guitar?
As stated above, the amplifier does make a difference when it comes to playing an electric guitar, because it:
- Adds strength to the signals made by your guitar strings vibrating over the pickups so they can be heard at higher volume.
- Adds steadiness so that the sound produced by your guitar is refined, allowing for the sound to be amplified in a clear and smooth way.
This is why overall it is always a good investment to practice with a high-quality amplifier as it will help elevate the sound experience of any electric guitar.
What Can Be Used Instead of an Amplifier?
Although essential, amplifiers tend to be very costly. Many guitar players can barely afford to buy the guitar itself and after buying it do not have money left to get an amplifier or they may be simply looking for a more portable solution.
Here is a list of some of your possible options if you are seeking to use your electronic guitar first, while you save for an amplifier.
Use Headphone Amplifiers
If your main goal right now is not to perform for others but simply be able to practice and play for yourself, or you are looking for an ultra-portable solution, then a pair of decent headphones is perfect for you.
A headphone amp is capable of providing users the same sound quality of an amplifier without the need to disrupt those around them. Some of them also have recorders that allow players to save their music so they can listen to it later.
Another good thing about these amps is it keeps your neighbors and others in the house happier as they are not bombarded with your pracitice sessions.
Here’s a few good options for headphone amplifiers:
- Valeton Rushead Max: portable sound that still packs a punch, with a MOD module to swap between chorus, tremolo, flanger, and other effects.
- Vox AP2AC amPlug 2: AAA Battery operated, allowing for users to play it anywhere. Offers three amp modes and nine different effects, while providing users with very clean and good quality sound.
- Traveler Guitar TGA-1E: Comes with rechargeable batteries that last around 4 hours. Offers volume and tone controls allowing users to play the sound they want.
Use an iRig to Make Your Phone or Tablet an Amp
Similar to the headphones amp, this little device allows for users to use their phones or tablets as an amplifier. They vary in price but can often be found under $200 dollars, such as the IK Multimedia iRig 2, which is compatible with most newer phones and offers a direct connection.
Use Your Home Stereo System
Users may choose to plug their guitar to their home stereo through the use of a very affordable adapter that will allow for a quick and easy connection.
This may not sound as good as the headphone amps, nor avoid disrupting others, but it may be a good temporary solution until an amplifier is acquired.
Turn an iOS Device into an Amplifier
Another easy solution to amplify your electric guitar is using your own PC or Mac. This is something most people already have, all that is needed is an audio jack adapter that goes connected to your guitar and computer.
Like the headphone amp, this method also allows for recording of your tunes to hear later. This is a very practical and easy way to produce your own music and add effects to your guitar sound.
While this a good “TEMPORARY” solution, I wouldn’t use it for long. The weight of the adapter and the guitar cord will eventually damage the computers input jack. This is why I bought a digital interface instead.
Portable Solution to a Regular Amplifier
If the main problem is avoiding the burden of having to carry a heavy amplifier when you are on the go, or simply desiring to play at a place without access to an outlet, the answer may be to consider a portable amplifier.
Like the headphones amp, these can be easily transported but the main difference being they are not restrained to just the user but can be heard by everyone around.
Battery-powered amplifiers are the mini version of regular amplifiers, creating almost if not just as powerful sound as a regular one. They are battery operated meaning you won’t need to have access to an outlet, allowing for users to play their guitars anywhere.
This is the usual go to street performers, as it is significantly smaller than a regular amp and the battery life is very durable making it a reliable tool to elevate your guitar sound. Users may choose from a variety of options varying in size, price and features.
If you ever watched the movie “Crossroads” and saw Ralph Machio playing as he was walking down the road this is what he was using. It is a very small amp made by the company pignose. It’s powered by a 9 volt battery and it is not loud but it does make for a nice little practice amp.
What Not to Use as an Amplifier
It is crucial to understand what should not be used instead of an amp. When desperation hits we might feel urged to plugged an electric guitar into anything that will elevate the sound but please take this into consideration before doing so.
Do Not Plug Your Guitar to a Hifi Stereo Audio System
Hifi stereos ( high fidelity) are meant solely for listening to music that is intended for a stereo like record players, CD players, TV or DVD players. They are completely far from working as a guitar amplifier.
At best, the sound will simply sound off and not be representative of what the guitar truly sounds like. At worst, the guitar and hifi system may not play nice and could cause damage to the more delicate parts of a hifi sound system.
Do Not Plug Your Electric Guitar into a Computer Without an Adapter
As mentioned above an adapter should be used to serve as the middlemen between the computer and guitar should be used. Computer audio inputs are completely different than those of an electric guitar and the sound produced will not even come close to an amp. You risk damaging your computer or guitar by plugging directly into the computer’s audio input.
In Conclusion
Electric guitars are designed to be plugged into a sound source in order to get the best of them. There are a variety of options out there to help amplify your guitar sound without the need for a regular amplifier, your cheapest options being a headphone amp or a home stereo adapter that can be found under $3 dollars at most local tech stores.
If you do not desire to buy an amplifier and are simply looking for a way to practice and create music you might one to consider an acoustic guitar instead of an electric one as these produce high-quality sound without the need to be plugged.
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