Possible blog post:
Can a Guitar Amp Ever Achieve Infinite Sustain Without Pedals?
If you’re a guitarist who loves to play with distortion or overdrive, you may have dreamed of having infinite sustain, the ability to sustain a note or chord indefinitely without decay or fading. Some of your favorite guitar heroes, from Jimi Hendrix to Eddie Van Halen, have used tricks and effects to achieve this magical sound, such as using a feedback loop or a sustain pedal. However, is it possible to get infinite sustain from just your guitar and amp, without any external pedals or gadgets? In this post, we’ll explore this question from different angles, including the physics, the technology, and the creativity of guitar playing.
## Physics of Sustain
To understand how sustain works, we need to understand what happens to a vibrating string of a guitar. When you pluck or pick a string, it starts to vibrate back and forth, creating a wave of sound. The frequency of the wave determines the pitch of the note. However, the energy of the wave also dissipates over time due to friction and other forces. This means that the sound gets quieter and weaker as time passes, until it becomes inaudible. This decay of the sound is called the envelope of the note, which consists of three stages:
– Attack: the initial burst of sound when you pick or pluck the string.
– Decay: the gradual weakening of the sound as the string loses energy.
– Sustain: the steady state of the sound when the string is still vibrating but the decay is stabilized.
The sustain stage is what we’re interested in when we talk about infinite sustain. If we could somehow prevent the decay from happening or slow it down significantly, we could create a sustained sound that lasts as long as we want it to. However, this is easier said than done, as we’ll see in the next section.
## Technology of Sustain
In the context of a guitar amp, sustain is a function of several factors, such as the type of pickups, the type of strings, the type of guitar, the type of amplifier, the volume and gain settings, and so on. All of these factors interact in complex ways to produce the final sound that you hear from your amp. Some amps are known for their sustain, such as vintage tube amps like the Fender Twin Reverb or the Marshall Plexi, which have a natural compression and harmonic richness that can enhance sustain. Other amps are designed to be more clean and transparent, which may not be ideal for sustain but can be useful for other styles of playing.
However, no matter how good your amp is, it cannot create infinite sustain without some kind of external assistance. This is because the physics of the vibrating string and the natural decay of the sound are still in play. A guitar amp can only amplify and shape the sound that it receives from the guitar, but it cannot add energy or prevent the energy loss from happening. To achieve infinite sustain, we need to find ways to artificially sustain the sound beyond its natural decay point.
## Creativity of Sustain
This is where creativity comes in. While there are no pedals or gadgets that can magically create infinite sustain, there are many creative techniques that guitarists have used over the years to achieve sustained sounds that are close to infinite, and sometimes even more interesting and expressive. Here are some examples:
– Feedback: By placing the guitar close to the amp and adjusting the volume and gain settings, you can create a feedback loop that sustains the sound with a high-pitched screech or hum. This can be controlled and shaped by changing the position of the guitar and the angle of the pickups, as well as by using the volume and tone controls on the guitar.
– Harmonics: By plucking or tapping the string at specific points on the fretboard, you can create natural harmonics that sustain longer than the actual note. This is because harmonics are nodes of vibration that cancel out the decay of the string. Harmonics can be used to create eerie and haunting effects, as well as to add texture and complexity to a sustained sound.
– Tremolo: By using a tremolo arm or pedal, you can create a pulsating effect that sustains the sound by alternating the pitch or volume of the note. This can be used to create tension and release, as well as to simulate the sound of a choir or a synthesizer.
– Slides and bends: By sliding or bending the note up or down, you can create a sustained effect that simulates the sound of a human voice or a horn. This can be used to add expression and emotion to a sustained sound, as well as to blend harmonies and melodies together.
By combining these and other techniques, guitarists can create sustained sounds that are as unique and varied as their playing styles and musical genres. While some of these techniques may require some practice and experimentation to master, they can also be used spontaneously and intuitively to express a feeling or a mood in the moment.
## Conclusion: Is Infinite Sustain Possible?
So, can a guitar amp ever achieve infinite sustain without pedals? The short answer is no, not in the strict sense of sustaining a note or chord indefinitely without any external assistance. However, the longer answer is that sustain is not just a static effect, but a dynamic and creative aspect of guitar playing that involves both physics and artistry. By understanding the limitations and possibilities of your guitar and amp, and by exploring the different techniques and styles of sustain that guitarists have developed over the years, you can create sustained sounds that are truly your own. Whether you use pedals or not, whether you play alone or with a band, sustain can be a magical and inspiring dimension of your guitar journey. So, keep playing and keep sustaining!
Image Credit: Pexels