Do you ever experience a loud, unpleasant howling or screaming sound while playing your guitar at high volumes? If yes, then you have experienced guitar feedback. Feedback can be incredibly frustrating and can even lead to hearing damage if it’s allowed to continue at high volume levels. In this blog post, we will explore what causes feedback with guitars and how to prevent it from happening.Guitar feedback is a common occurrence when playing at high volumes, and it can be embarrassing. It’s a phenomenon that can occur when the sound from the guitar’s amplifier is picked up by the guitar’s pickups, re-amplified, and sent through the amp again, creating a loop. This loop results in a high-pitched sound, which is the feedback that we hear. This section provides an overview of what feedback is and how it occurs. We will dive deeper into its causes in the following section.
Understanding Feedback
As mentioned earlier, feedback occurs when the sound from the guitar’s amplifier is picked up by the guitar’s pickups, re-amplified, and sent through the amp again, creating a loop. This loop generates a high-pitched sound, which is the feedback that we hear. Guitar feedback can occur with any guitar style and amplifier combination; therefore, it’s essential to understand its causes to prevent it from happening.In addition to the re-amplification of sound, which creates a loop and generates feedback, feedback can occur in other situations. For instance, when you place a microphone in front of your amplifier, it can pick up the sound and cause feedback. Knowing these different causes and taking the necessary precautions can prevent feedback from happening.
Another factor that can cause feedback is the guitar’s position. You may experience feedback when you point the guitar towards the amp, stand too close to the amp, or play too loud. This is because the sound waves from the amplifier enter the hollow body of the guitar and then re-enter the amp through the pickups. This creates a loop that generates feedback. Understanding the different situations that contribute to feedback can help you avoid them and create a better overall guitar playing experience.To prevent feedback from happening, there are several strategies that you can employ. The first thing you can do is to maintain a sufficient distance between the guitar and the amplifier. This distance will vary depending on your amplifier and the setting, but generally, maintaining a distance of a few feet between the guitar and the amplifier should be sufficient. Additionally, you can experiment with different amplifier settings to find the ideal volume setting that minimizes feedback. Finally, you can also try turning down the gain on the amp or using a noise gate to prevent any unwanted feedback. These strategies combined can help prevent feedback, so you can focus on playing your guitar without any interruptions.
Causes of Feedback
One of the main reasons for guitar feedback is the proximity of the guitar and the amplifier. The closer the guitar is to the amplifier, the higher the risk of feedback is. This is due to the sound coming from the amplifier hitting the guitar’s pickups and creating a loop of sound that generates feedback. Therefore, it is advisable to keep a minimum distance of three feet between the amp and the guitar to reduce the chance of feedback occurring. By maintaining distance, you can enjoy playing your guitar without any unwanted interference.Another factor that can contribute to feedback is the amplifier’s volume setting. The higher the volume, the easier it is for feedback to occur. Therefore, it is advisable to keep the amp’s volume at a reasonable level and gradually increase it to avoid any sudden spikes that may cause feedback. Additionally, it is recommended to use an equalizer to reduce the frequency range that causes feedback. By reducing the risk factors, you can prevent guitar feedback and ensure a smooth performance.
Apart from the proximity and volume, the guitar’s pickups and their quality can also contribute to feedback. The pickups that produce a higher output level are more susceptible to feedback. Therefore, using a guitar with low-output pickups can help prevent feedback from being produced. Another contributing factor is the guitar’s body resonance and wood quality. While playing at high volumes, the guitar’s body can start to vibrate and resonate with the sound produced. This can cause feedback to occur as the sound gets picked up by the pickups and amps. Therefore, using a guitar with a different body construction or shape specifically designed to reduce feedback can help prevent unwanted sounds and improve the overall playing experience.
Preventing Feedback
Another way to prevent feedback is to use a noise gate pedal. A noise gate is a device that cuts off the sound below a certain volume level. It works by detecting the volume of the input sound and applying a set threshold. When the input volume falls below the threshold, the noise gate “closes” and cuts off the sound completely. This method can prevent feedback from occurring and is especially useful when playing with high gain and distortion. You can adjust the threshold according to your desired sound, but keep in mind that setting it too high may also cut off some of the desired sound.
Finally, you can use a guitar with a different construction design that is less prone to feedback. Some examples of such models are “semi-hollow” or “hollow” body guitars. They are designed to reduce feedback due to their construction, where the large pockets of air inside the guitar body help to absorb feedback-causing frequencies. You can also consider using a guitar with a lower output pickup. The lower the output, the less susceptible it will be to feedback. This method may require some experimentation to find the right balance between feedback reduction and the desired sound.When choosing a guitar, it’s essential to consider the guitar’s quality and the amp’s quality. High-quality guitars and amplifiers are less likely to cause feedback, thanks to better build quality and design. Using high-quality cables and isolating pedalboards can also prevent feedback. However, keep in mind that feedback can also be a result of external factors, such as the venue’s acoustics, microphone placement, or loudspeaker design. In these cases, it’s best to work with a sound engineer to find the optimal sound settings.
Conclusion
To sum up, understanding and preventing guitar feedback are essential for any guitarist. By applying the tips mentioned in this blog, you can avoid unwanted feedbacks, and ultimately focus on the music itself. So, make sure to maintain a good distance between your guitar and amplifier, adjust your equalizer settings, use a noise gate, or choose a different guitar that suits your needs. Now that you are well informed about the causes and prevention of feedback, you can take your guitar playing to a whole new level!Guitar feedback can be a frustrating problem and can ruin your performance. Therefore, it’s essential to identify the causes of feedback and prevent it from happening. In this blog post, we explored what causes feedback with guitars and how to prevent it. We described feedback and how it can overlap with the desired sound. We talked about the proximity of the guitar and the amplifier, amplifier’s volume, pickups’ quality, and guitar construction as the main reasons for feedback. Moreover, we mentioned some tips to prevent feedback, such as maintaining a sufficient distance between your guitar and amplifier, using a noise gate, or choosing a different guitar that suits your needs. By applying these tips, you can avoid unwanted feedbacks and ultimately focus on the music itself.
Hi there! I’m Casey Marshall, a guitar enthusiast and repair specialist. With years of experience playing and repairing guitars, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the instrument. Through this blog, I share tips and advice on guitar repair and maintenance, as well as insights into the world of guitar playing.
