Jims music is an authorized ESP/LTD dealer

Jims music has recently become the areas premier ESP dealer. With over 200 different models to choose from, we will be able to find the guitar or bass to meet your needs. ESP also has over 20 signature series guitar lines featuring famous guitar players like Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield of Metallica, Ritchie Sambora of Bon Jovi, Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones, George Lynch and many others. Guitar and bass styles vary significantly. Everything from classic looking vintage series and X-tone semi-hollow bodies to V-series and AX-series guitars that look as intimidating as they sound. LP and SG fans will like the Eclipse and Viper series. With enough models, shapes, options, designs, colors, and hardware to choose from, not to mention many models come with Seymour Duncan or EMG pickups, you should have no trouble finding what you want. Prices range from below 200 dollars to over 6,000 dollars, so we can find what fits your wallet and your ear. Full color pictures and specs for all models can be seen at espguitars.com See any Jims music sales associate for prices.

SEPTEMBER

How to tell a Tube amp from a Solid State

Look behind the amp. Solid states rely on transistors or integrated power chips for power. If there is a heat sink metal housing on the back of the amp, it is solid state. Solid state amps
have great bass sound and produce a lighter, cooler sound.

You can also tell the difference between tube and solid state by the sound. Tube amps are powered by a set of thick glass tubes. They give a more noisy, relaxed sound. These are preferred by most rock and blues guitarists.

Solid state amps usually weigh less than tube amps so they are easier to transport. They are also less expensive and warm up quickly, but repairs generally take longer since transistor components must be serviced by professionals. With tube amps, if one tube burns out, it can be easily replaced. It is also possible to test tubes to determine their quality.

Tube amps handle overdrive and clipping better, this cuts down on distortion and gives a cleaner, warmer sound. Tubes are very fragile. Casings can crack and break with vibrations from frequent moving and bouncing around in a van or trailer. Tube amps must warm up for up to an hour before achieving maximum performance level. Solid state is ready in less than a minute. They can generally take more abuse from road use.

There are pros and cons about both types of amps. It all comes down to player’s preference. Not all tube amps are the same. Not all solid state amps are the same. Ask the Jims Music amp specialist for more info about what amp is right for you.

Do you have something you would like to learn about?

Email us at questions@jimsmusic.biz

October

What is the difference between Speakon, Banana, and ¼” plugs for speakers?

There are basically 3 types of connectors used to connect speakers to amps. The first is ¼”, the same plug used for connecting input jacks to instruments. This plug works well for signal and low-wattage speaker applications, but was never designed to handle high wattage current (500 watts and up). The early alternative to this was to connect the bare speaker wire directly to binding posts on the amp. It made a good connection but took time and skill to connect properly. This evolved into what is now banana jacks.

Banana jacks are exposed metal cylindrical shaped contacts either single or in pairs that slide straight into plugs on the amp. Some amps combine banana plug receptacles with binding posts making it an easy fix if a banana plug gets damaged. The down side is that banana plugs can fall out if they become loose. They can also easily be plugged in backwards.

Some companies years ago experimented with using XLR plugs in place of ¼”. Peavey and Trace Elliot put XLR jacks on guitar and bass speaker cabinets that helped with connectivity and contact area issues, but the connectors themselves did not have easy to connect terminals, they had to be soldered and did not work well with heavier gauged wire.

Now we have Speakon plugs. Speakon plugs combine good surface area contact points, easy installation, strength, bi-amp versatility, and a locking mechanism all in one. The plugs can handle 2 or 4 wires allowing 2 speaker currents to travel through one cord for bi-amping cabs or to allow a through current for daisy-chaining (stage monitors with different mixes). The plugs can be changed easily without solder. They also lock in place and will not fall out of the cab or amp. They have good contact area which allows for high-watt current. Most new mixers and amps come with Speakon outlets for speakers. The only downside to using them is that with multiple wiring options you must make shure that your amp, plugs, wire, and speakers are all compatible with each other.

Jim’s Music has all the items you need for Speakon products. We have cables, 2 or 4 conductor plugs, and amps and speakers that use Speakon plugs. We can also retrofit some older or non-compatible equipment. If you’re not shure what you need, just contact Jim’s Music and we will get you plugged in!