How to Play Music Through a Guitar Amp

This is a Instructable That Will Show You How to Play Music Through a Guitar Amp Enjoy.

Step 1 The Items You Will Need

Guitar/Bass Amp, RCA Adapter Cable, RCA Cable, A Music Device, Mp3 Player/CD Player etc.

Comments

[DYLEGO]

WOW JUST USE A 1/8" TO 1/4" CONVERTER!!! DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!! I DO IT THE EASY WAY AND IT WORKS FINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dfwsupergeek]

the only problem with this is that you convert the signal from stereo (from the mp3 player) to mono (at the guitar input) so you only get the left channel. Not a huge thing for most songs, but a lot of times you'll find that you're missing parts which are recorded hard left and right.

[bricabracwizard]

Unless it's a stereo to mono out lead.

[dfwsupergeek]

True- but those aren't very common, and they're usually easier to make than to buy.

[sgt_rock]

My music "clips" and my amp cuts out to protect itself. I think I need an attenuator. Is there an ible to build an audio anttenuator?

[hippyrob]

haha I have the same amp! CRAZY (not really)

[Texas1845]

You're Not Supposed to plug a powered device into your input jack
An iPod is amplified as opposed to a guitar. Guitar amps have specific components called pre-amps that are made to handle these small signals transferred by the pickup. If you plug in a powered device like your iPod you could fry the pre-amp and end with useless amp

[dfwsupergeek]

the only thing you have to watch out for is to turn the volume all the way down before you power the rig up. If you forget this, you will at least have a SURPRISE, and at worst, you could burn out a preamp chip... I've been doing this for 25 years and haven't burned up an amp yet...
Fats is right in pointing out that effects are powered devices.

[fats]

Effects pedals are 'powered devices'.

[pyrohaz]

I doubt that there is enough power from an iPod because the pre-amp would have protection from extreme power's such as filter capacitors at the input (these would normally stop DC voltage). Also, im sure that you would hear if your Pre-amp was being overdriven because it would sound...well... Horrible!

[dbgk2626]

or... you can just put your earphones on the guitar pick-ups, fiddle with the tone knobs and presto! we have music!

[tjbtcb17]

I'm confused... can't you just use an instrument cable?

[b2gills]

Why are you using an AV cable, instead of just a 1/8 stereo to phono adapter?

[shenkmeister]

DYLEGO is right, just get a 1/4 to 1/8 converter, plug it into the mic input and plug your ipod into it.

[asylum101]

Wait a minute, the yellow? Yellow is video output, how does that work?

[[T]DarkPhoenix]

The yellow one isn't connected to the AMP, so don't worry.

[Texas1845]

Auxiliary jacks are able to accept the load because they don't run through the pre-amp so this would work fine

[voemaster]

i think that it would be easier to use a bass amp and then a input jack for headphones and put it in the input then just hook up your ipod yep its that easy

[0gre]

Interesting. But only because this is the first guitar amp I've ever seen that had an RCA input.

[Houdinipeter]

most practice amps have them, they always advertise "Play along with you're ipod!"

[nubscaper]

yeah, not quite sure why connecting video would work. It really shouldn't. I just use a headphone jack to the 1/4 size jack that fits in the input. good tut though, if someone needs to know.

[CameronSS]

Actually, depending on the design of the headphone jack, it would. The adapter used is intended to be used on something like a video camera, to allow it to be connected directly to a television. The plug is identical in size and shape to a standard 3.5mm audio plug, but it has an additional ring on it for the video-a four-conductor plug. If the contact in the MP3 player jack lines up with the video ring instead of the right channel ring, then the right channel will go out through the video line.

[RonGarza]

The point is to eliminate noise or buzz, and that can be done with a humbucker guitar pickup, which is what amps use. But, don't spend that much money -- you can accomplish the same with an audio transformer. These are cheap and small (thumb-sized). Solder one side's terminals to a plug to the CD player; solder the other side's terminals to a guitar cable (or a plug that will take a guitar cable). I used this setup with "play along" CDs (karaoke for guitar). Clean!

[JoshWaaR]

dude... i just use a 1/4 inch jack to jack lead.. its so much easier

[dogwi11hunt]

you know they make RCA cables with just the sound wires(red/white) that go right into a headphone port? i have a rumble 100 watt and thats what i do. and to guitar man: the fender rumble amp has a specific imput so that this is possible. its even labeled "CD IN" on the amp, but on other amps you make a good point. The problem with doing this is you control the volume from your mp3 player and anyone who has played with mp3/disc players should know it soulds better when you turn the volume down on the player itself and up on the speakers. This barrier makes the mp3 player not sound as great when you turn it up loud, but allows you to play along with music all from one speaker.

[variablechange]

Another thing that's worth noting is that if you use coax to make your cable, it can sometimes be enormously lower noise.

[Derin]

ROCK,GET OUT so that was why you said rock out

[k300000]

would this work with anything that uses RCA cables?

[Derin]

yes

[binary1001011]

for people wondering about different inputs into the amp, what I have done is used a cable I had lying with a male 3.5mm jack at each end. along with an adapter to change one end into 6.3mm. then just plug into guitar port and play. I should imagine it would be pretty easy to solder to 3.5's together to make the cable (using old headphone leads of similar).

[craig3]

what about for the amps that dont have the red and white audio plugs in them? doesn't the mono sound coming from only one speaker sound horrible anyway?

[somerockenguy]

thats a rio mp3 player right? i had a cheba or comthing like that. nice instructable i would do this but my toneport and amp both have audio in jacks for mp3 players.

[GorillazMiko]

There is also another way with this plug that changes the input to this little thing that plugs into your MP3 or whatever. Nice Instructable, my friend has that amp I think.

[x_xPacox_x]

yeah their is a cable like a guitar cable but at one of the ends their is a metal part like on the headphones of and mp3

[Derin]

i diyed that out

[x_xPacox_x]

pardon?

[Derin]

i meant i made it myself

go DIY

[sunset1]

I believe the technical term for the last cable would be a mini 1/8 stereo male plug to mono 1/4 male phono jack. I could be wrong but its close. I use a mini male 1/8 (small headphone)stereo jack to dual rca.. the types of round white and red jacks on the amp cd input. You can then use it on a boom box with inputs. I don't claim to know impedance but a line level input is the way to go or the way I understand it a low voltage input. peace sunset1 P.S. my speeling sucks but this speel checker is awesome. good JOB!:>

[toogers]

haha. speeling. funny.

[riffmaster]

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