You don't NEED a Guitar amp!

I stopped using real amps 12 years ago and, I never looked back. It is a lot better than you think!

✅The great $400 guitar I used on 5 albums 🎸

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Content:
00:00 Intro
00:28 No amp, no nothing.
01:16 My issues with real amps
03:08 A failed experiment?
05:27 Getting rid of the amps
09:08 The Amp Is NOT the problem
10:19 An Ironic development
11:23 Finding the Right Guitar
11:30 Like the video? Check out my Patreon page!

My name is Jens Larsen, Danish Jazz Guitarist, and Educator. The videos on this channel will help you explore and enjoy Jazz. Some of it is how to play jazz guitar, but other videos are more on Music Theory like Jazz Chords or advice on how to practice and learn Jazz, on guitar or any other instrument.

The videos are mostly jazz guitar lessons, but also music theory, analysis of songs and videos on jazz guitars.

My Gear:

[JensLarsen]

How I replaced my vintage Gibson with a $400 Guitar:

[mr.minister]

it's really refreshing to see your take on this Jens. Really a virtual amp, or a plugin makes things much easier, effects are so much more easier to tweak and it's more budget friendly for guitarists

[samsantanamusic]

Honestly, I’ve come to the point where I don’t really believe in amps anymore. I don’t think they exist.

[v.rucciinkmusic]

You're a great storyteller, Jens. My sound has nothing to do with jazz, but I really appreciate your content.

[erikpnoman]

Truly one of the most intelligent, nuanced descriptions of the journey every good musician makes. What is particularly of interest is your willingness to think outside of the box. That is not an easy thing to do. Thanks so much!

[simon.benjamin.needlepoint]

Craziest part is that now the sound guys LOVE a direct out! I have the Line 6 Helix and it is an absolute freelance workhorse for almost any genre.

[guitarthings]

Blasphemy...Amps are amazing. I love to feel the air they push. The vibrations, the difference between one amp and another. The difference between different tubes. Using 2 or 3 amps at once.

[davidcayla]

I've got a fender reverb deluxe, added 4 little wheels to the bottom of it. And now the amp follows me everywhere like a good dog.

[kenzuercher]

Interesting approach, Jens. I'm a guitarist who is also an engineer that started making amps due to not being happy with the usual Fender, Marshall, etc offerings. I have a need for an amp a few feet behind me and monitors that don't close off my ears. I started using a 25 watt tube amp that seems to easily keep up with even overzealous drummers (No I don't do metal). I find that expecting the sound guy to give you what you want to hear from a floor monitor or occluding in-ears is asking too much. Stage volume is a big problem and using smaller amps like the Polytone Minibrute does help considerably. I also find most mass produced amps have insufficient bass and midrange and rely on my amp to give me that. Relying on in-ears or a single floor monitor mix while the drummer flails away makes the situation worse in my mind. (A more sensitive drummer is probably the answer LOL)

[petera.michaelsen]

The thing I liked the most about your video was the fact that you spoke of things that inspire us, not even a 10K amp will work for you if it doesn’t inspire you to pick up your instrument and play. Nothing is wrong or right in music amplification, just do what suits you best. Great video!

[auburnamplifiers]

Excellent video. I love how your pacing and clarity deliver the information in a way that is engaging, well supported, and never boring. The world would be a better place if all YT videos were this well done. Many thanks.

[francischang]

For me, playing through a real tube amp is about my personal enjoyment. I use a modeller for recording and quiet practicing.

[sydknee]

I just love the feeling and sound from a real loud tube amp, there’s a warmth and feeling that plugins can’t do.

[TomPI]

In fact, you don't even need a guitar.

[CRUNCHCOLE]

I will keep my tube amps. Been playing them for almost 60 years. I use a Shure 57 to mic it live and an AKG C3000 to record. If you can't get your sound with a 57 you need a different sound man. I used a Carvin 3 pickup tele through a Carvin Nomad for years and got many compliments on my sound. I went to a hand wired Allen Accomplice that sounded even better. I played a highly modded Blues Jr with the Carvin tele and a couple of Strats with Fender Noisless pickups(one with Vintage Noiseless and one with Hot Noiseless(my favorite)) and still got lots of compliments. I played the Blues Jr last week at Church and am taking the Allen back to play. The Blues Jr sounds great but the handwired Allen it the cream of the crop. Best amp I ever plugged into. Modeling amps just sound dead to me.

[TAM-gztc]

I believe every guitar needs to go through an amp and you find the best mic for the tone you seek. There is a interaction between the guitar and amp which is lost going direct in.

[AD-kvkj]

Maybe for jazz uber clean tones. But if you want to really rock, nothing beats a good amp moving the air behind you. A lot of gear heads these days can't seem to admit it, but there is more to playing well in terms of particularly rock music than just having some specific sound/"tone" you like and technical skill and tricks. Air movement and interaction with the amplifier and riding the wall of sound can often be vital for the "soul" of certain kinds of music. I think the reality is, it all just depends on what you're doing. People just want to have one big, trendy and overarching opinion to swing around but reality is complicated and things all depend on the situation and context.

[mrkutzkee]

Hello Jens - I'll try this again because it came across the wrong way... there is the right gear for every occasion and I get why a lot of people prefer modeling rigs. I use them for recording at night sometimes and have played tours with them, when an in-ear-situation was required. in fact, when using in ear monitoring, a modelled sound can be more pleasing and a miced amp is sometimes quite horrible. however, I never have felt comfortable with them playing my own music and I resent the fact that more and more of my students turn out never to have had any experience with a real tube amp rig. imho the tube amp is part of the instrument if we're talking electric guitar and should be at least the starting point. despite the advance in technology and the authentic sounds that can be had, I feel the response and interaction with the guitar is still not quite on par. like hearing back a perfectly recorded and mastered signal, but without the initial "elastic" response a tube amp gives You while playing. or like hugging Your lover wearing raincoats, haha! and that's cool, depending on the situation. I've settled on this comparison: it's like playing keyboard/synth versus a grand piano. both are different animals and have their advantages. if we're talking Jazz Guitar Greats, I totally can see Kurt Rosenwinkel using modellers with his expansive sound approach, whereas it's hard to imagine Julian Lage or Peter Bernstein doing it. but who knows? thanks for Your work, I love Your channel.

[WolfgangSambs]

How about...bringing your own mic to the gig? That’s what I do at least 😅
Knowing how to position your favourite microphone in front of your amp is definitely worth it! 👍

[torreyintahoe]

I'll never give up my Mark IV. It not only sounds great but it feels great.