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270 Part V: Gearing Up: Outfitting Your Arsenal TEAM LinG
Figure 15-1:
A typical
practice
amp.
If you’re planning on picking out an amp at the store and playing it there,
check out the following steps for correctly plugging in and getting ready to
play:
1. Check that the amp is plugged into the wall or into a power strip and
that the outlet is live.
Outlet issues can sometimes be an obstacle in places where the outlets
are controlled with a switch.
2. Find the volume knob(s) (some amps have more than one) and turn
them all the way down — usually fully counterclockwise.
This adjustment ensures that you don’t produce any sudden loud
noises, which can, at the very least, scare and disturb people around
you and, at worst, blow a fuse or damage the speaker.
3. Turn the amp on with the power switch.
Many amps have a lamp or LED (light-emitting diode) that shows that
electrical power is flowing successfully and that the amp is on.
4. Turn the tone controls — bass, middle, and treble — to their midway
point (about 12:00 if you picture the dial as a clock).
This ensures that you get a neutral, uncolored sound from the amp.