How many of you plug in when practicing while using an archtop.

[Dave70]

In late September I finally got a new Guild Newark St. X175, and so far I've played it unplugged more often that not. I was plesantly suprised how resonant it is and I still haven't changed the strings to a heavier set. (except the G, changed that to a wound.) I practice unplugged usually because of my sleeping little ones.

Today I played it through my Roland JC, man it sounds great with some reverb and there's many tone possibilitites with the pups. In general I prefer the neck for my solo arrangements though. Since this guitar has a pretty nice unplugged sound I'm really wanting to try the A150 model, hehe but I'll have to wait until next year to consider buying that.

As to plugged/unplugged affecting technique, I just adapt and play! Doesn't take much time to adjust, to me anyways...

[Cunamara]

I don't usually plug in for practice at home; if no one is home then I will, but those windows of opportunity tend to be brief. I plug in for rehearsals and gigs. Plus I love the sound of my archtop acoustically.

[rkettner]

I almost always plug in. However, some times I'll play for 5- 10 minutes before I realize the volume is turned off. I do most of my practicing on my Eastman AR 371 & it sounds great acoustically as well as through an amp. So, it's a win-win situation.

[eddy b.]

I always practice on whatever gear I will be playing the gig on so I almost always practice with my amp.

[Danny W.]

When I was eleven years old I was equally interested in music and electronics, so I bought a goldtop from a pawnshop for $75 and built my own 2-6L6 amp. Ever since I've considered the amp an equal part of my instrument and thus prefer to plug in even when just playing at home.

Danny W.

[basinstreet]

I manage to piss off enough people constantly playing it unplugged to even think about turning my amp on

[Endorphins]

It's an electric guitar, so I always plug in.

[Epistrophy]

Normally I don't. I have been living in a block of flats for years, so usually I play unplugged. It's a limitation, but then again, I have gotten used to it during my life. I would have to get out of the town and probably move to the countryside so that nobody would be bothered. During the night I grab my solid body, any kind of archtop is loud enough unplugged when everyone is trying to sleep.

[ah.clem]

Not unless I notice that I'm not plugged in. But I keep the amp at a very low volume in any case, so I have a good blend of acoustic and amped sound from my carved guitars. The laminates I use mostly unamped as I'm usually sitting on the couch just running exercises. I have never really cranked the amp up so that I can't hear the acoustics unless I was messing about. I can rock the house from my studio, but don't really see the purpose. If I was a good player, I would run both a mike and the amp, but if I did that playing as I do, I would just look (and feel) like a douche.

[tonedeaf]

I am a bit deaf so even on a carved archtop I have to pick differently without an amp than I would using an amp, so I always use an amp.

[Gilpy]

When practicing for my non-jazz gigs, of course I plug in. Otherwise, almost never. I love the pure sound of wood and strings. Also, I pick up the guitar many times a day and play all over the house. I don't want to be confined to the room where my amp is.

[sgosnell]

Ah, the thrill of necromancy.