Electric Guitar played through AVR

M

Max-Powers

Gawd
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
558
I am looking for a hobby and thinking about learning how to play a guitar. I have my HTPC hooked up through my Denon 1909. I want to know if I can use my AVR as the amp for a guitar and play though my speakers.
Also, any recommendations on someone looking to buy and start out with an electric guitar?
 
no, you cannot do this, at least without a preamplifier, which your Denon does not have
if you purchased a pre-amp for your HTPC (a few soundcards have them, theres a myriad of USB and FireWire devices as well, look at M-Audio, E-MU, and Creative for soundcard solutions, Alesis, M-Audio, Line6, PreSonus and others for external boxes), you could connect your guitar to that, and have your computer output audio to the Denon, and use those speakers as monitors (basically, do not connect your guitar in any way directly to the Denon), if you need more explanation, feel free to ask

as far as good electric guitar for you, I'll leave that for someone else to answer
 
If you're running the guitar through the HTPC (and then to the AVR), then you're going to probably want to buy an interface box as obobski mentioned. You need to have a hardware device of some kind that's going to be able to amplify your guitar signal to line-level strength that your PC, etc, etc is expecting.

The other thing that those devices give you is out of the box support for ASIO which allows for a very low latency audio stream (without ASIO there's a massive delay between playing and hearing it.) This is necessary when you're doing any sort of effects modeling through your PC, which you're going to want to do. (without any sort of amp/effects modeling your elec guitar sound going straight through an AVR will sound flat and boring.)

Prices for these boxes vary. I have an E-MU 0404 USB which I've been pretty happy with, but there's even cheaper single purpose boxes that will allow you to interface a guitar with a PC. Some devices are even sub-$50. From there you can download trial versions of various amp modeling software (Amplitube, Guitar Rig, ReValver, etc.)

As for the guitar, just do some research on various price points and find a model that's well reviewed for a dollar amount you're willing to spend. Should go to a guitar shop and get a rough idea of what feels comfortable in terms of body style/shape. Personally my first guitar was more than what I needed as a beginner, but the fact that I spent more money on it, and that it was actually a nice guitar made me want to play it more. If you buy something cheap, there's going to be less draw to keep at it.

edit:
not to mention that because the interface devices are converting your guitar to digital, it allows you to very easily record anything you're playing straight to your computer. I've found that hearing yourself play *after* you've played it is a very different experience. You pick up on shitty rhythm and all sorts of other stuff that you never notice while you're playing it.
 
Last edited:
While what others have said will work, I wouldn't go with what they're suggesting. I would leave the HTPC completely out of the loop, since it's going to be more expensive, and won't be as versatile.

I would start with a multi-effects pedal and a cheap guitar. Once you have the multi-effects pedal you can plug it into the receiver and get a decent sound. The benefit of going this route, is you can take the pedal with you and plug into a PA system if you eventually start playing with friends, so you can put off buying an amp for a while.

For a guitar, go to a guitar shop and play different ones, and see what you like. You should be able to find a good starters guitar for ~$150-$200.
 
To get the most out of a beginner guitar, I would use craigslist. I have been buying guitars off of craigslist for years and I am always satisfied with what I get. I just recently got a Made in Mexico Fender Strat with a nice leather case for 160 bucks. That guitar is a great all around guitar, and it costs 500 new from musician's friend. I am in the middle of refinishing it :) I am gonna put a pretty Avodire veneer on top and stain it up :) should make a great country guit-box.

If you don't have a problem with used stuff go for craigslist. I would go to a guitar center and just tinker with them, and definitely try out a strat or a tele. They show up like CRAZY on craigslist from people that want to learn but never get around to it and decide to sell.

As for an amp, GET ONE. Get one off of craigslist, or get a cheap one from guitar center. They are indispensable to have for a beginner. you can move it, you can crank it, you can store it away, etc. Having a multiFX processor will get you to make sound, but if you are tied to your hometheater system you will most likely get bored of always having to turn it on, sit next to it, not be able to move it, etc.

Don't invest too much money into learning in the beginning. You, like most, may not follow through with the learning and end up selling your stuff (to a guy like me) for alot less than it is worth. Set yourself a budget and stay within it. Learn first, buy fancy stuff later!

Just my 2 cents :)

ok now for some shameless guitar porn:

My baby:

body-1.jpg


A 2001 Gibson SG Standard, fully customized to my Gold-on-Tuxedo likings:

IMG_0141-1.jpg

IMG_0166.jpg
 
Hurdler said:
I would start with a multi-effects pedal and a cheap guitar. Once you have the multi-effects pedal you can plug it into the receiver and get a decent sound. The benefit of going this route, is you can take the pedal with you and plug into a PA system if you eventually start playing with friends, so you can put off buying an amp for a while
Click to expand...

This is probably the cheapest and least complicated route, and does give you the added mobility. Some of these will also have PC interface functionality too if you spend more money. I have a pod x3 live that I've been pretty happy with.
 
hughJ said:
This is probably the cheapest and least complicated route, and does give you the added mobility. Some of these will also have PC interface functionality too if you spend more money. I have a pod x3 live that I've been pretty happy with.
Click to expand...


The only problem is that the words "Cheapest" and "Pod X3 Live" don't even belong in the same paragraph.

I would look into the vypr series by Peavey. They sound great, and are nice and cheap. And they have tons of built in effects and tones. Then you get the best of both worlds :) From messing around with them in stores I thought they sounded really good!


15 Watt ($100)

30 Watt (200)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top