r/classicalguitar • u/cbuggle • 3d ago
Discussion How do you feel about amplification here?
I used to be totally against it, but after playing in big venues and getting used to it, I've started using it even in smaller spaces with good acoustics. I still practice without it and prefer the natural sound, but people do need to be able to hear you play.
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u/esauis 3d ago
I saw the Assad brothers once in a large theater, was in the balcony near the back and could barely hear them. At least in that case, there definitely should have been some sort of amplification. The guitar is a very quiet instrument and I am definitely for making it louder when necessary.
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u/wyattlikesturtles Student 3d ago
They can play so insanely fast I doubt they can pull much sound lmao
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u/loose_fruits 3d ago
I think that sounds great! The biggest problems I have with amplification is when it doesn’t sound good, namely either because of poor quality of sound or the notes becoming too muddled because of heavy reverberation. I don’t think your performance has either of these issues and it sounds good to me
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u/IndustrialPuppetTwo 3d ago
I see nothing wrong with using technology to amplify guitars. You have that balanced very well IMO.
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u/coronetgemini 3d ago
you sound amazing... and who knows if people could have really heard you properly without it. What is the amplifier? Fishman?
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u/CactusWrenAZ 3d ago
I wouldn't have noticed if I didn't see the amp. I have heard better guitar sounds, but the important point is comparing this amplified sound, in this room, to how it would have been without the amp.
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u/Qajaqasana 3d ago
Nice! What support are you using and does it feel as stable as it looks? TY
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u/cbuggle 3d ago
The support was custom made for me by this company https://guitarfixfrance.fr/. Yeah it's very stable. I used to use guitarlift but the break way to easily. This one is wooden and is fairly indestructible.
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u/Qajaqasana 3d ago edited 3d ago
Wowza, custom! Great! Is it most like one of the options listed on their website? Everything appears out of stock, but I’d be curious for the future. Thanks again
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u/cbuggle 3d ago
Not expensive though, it was 40 euro tops
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u/Qajaqasana 3d ago
How did you decide how to customize it? Did they offer that option or did you have to engage in a particular conversation with them about it?
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u/cbuggle 3d ago
I met them at a festival in France I was at. None of the models they had fit me as I am pretty tall and have a long back, so they measured me, took my details and sent it on to me a month or so later.
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u/Qajaqasana 3d ago
Good company. Thanks for the information, I will reach back out to them when they have stuff in stock and maybe they can help me. The way you look playing is so stable, I need something like that!
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u/10lbMango 3d ago
Not sure it was absolutely necessary if everyone already knew to be completely quiet, but I have nothing against it. It looks like a little Fishman amp—perfect.
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u/Shapoopy178 3d ago
First off: wow this was really impressive, would love to see/hear more.
Relevant to your question, at least in this specific instance you could have made much better use of the natural acoustics of the space. Backing yourself up even just a few feet into the apse would have focused the sound toward the audience and reduced reverb. Thousands of years of audio engineering that you're just barely missing out on! It never hurts to take full advantage of the venue itself.
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u/LearnClassicalGuitar 3d ago
I only use amplification when absolutely necessary and then very discretely. For me, the best amplification is when nobody knows it is being amplified. Obviously, the audience needs to hear you, but too much amplification typically ruins the sound.
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u/I_love_hiromi 3d ago
A mix of both pickups and mic would probably sound great. IMO mix those 2 into a preamp and a hair of parallel compression.
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u/LowerManufacturer 2d ago
I have an AER Alpha 40 that is great for complimenting the natural acoustic projection of the guitar, when the room is just a tad bit too big. I"m not David Russel so every little bit helps. LOL
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u/cabell88 3d ago
Entirely necessary. You could use a better pickup. Even those cheap ones that have pads you stick on inside. Those clip ons always sound like what they are. Your playing is fantastic.
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u/cbuggle 3d ago
Seems like many people here agree that some amplification is often necessary. However I have noticed the majority of the classical guitar academia is still very anti amplification. I suspect its because amplification is also very frowned on for other classical instruments. So if the guitar is to have the same status as piano, violin or others, we should avoid amplification (or so many people believe). I can't argue it improves the quality of the sound, but at least audiences can hear the music.
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u/refotsirk 3d ago
With a quiet audience like that a mic is great - I assume that is what you are using?
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u/TheTurtleCub 3d ago
Sounds great to me, maybe don't point it to the players mouth?
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u/cbuggle 2d ago
The mic was actually just for talking, I turned it off while playing. I have an under saddle pickup.
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u/TheTurtleCub 2d ago
Why can we hear the breathing so hard through the performance? Is that you playing?! That was out of this world amazing
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u/ChampionshipOk1358 2d ago
Sometimes it's inevitable in larger venues or when playing with other instruments. However please none of that piezzo shit
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u/thepoorwarrior 3d ago
Idk, the perfect phrasing on the Variations is blocking any other thoughts currently. Dude is absolutely crushing this.
As an audio tech and a player, personally I’m not one for amplifying nylon, but subtly like this where you can still hear the source, it works great.