When you’re playing guitar, you may be looking for the right place to sit, but is it okay to sit on your guitar amp?
In general, sitting on your guitar amp is fine and shouldn’t cause any problems (as long as you stay away from the knobs and leads), as these devices are sturdy enough to support a sufficient amount of weight. However, the proximity of your guitar could cause a low hum, and the loudness may be a problem for your ears.
Continue reading to learn when you should and should not sit on your guitar amp, plus the best place to keep this device.
Why Is It Okay To Sit On A Guitar Amp?
You may notice that amps are often stacked at festivals, with many exposed to weight far more significant than your own. That being said, it will depend on the quality of your amp, as some cheaper models will not have the same capacity.
In addition, amps are designed to stack corner to corner so the middle of the casing can be weaker. Make a judgment call based on the hardiness of your device and the size of your body.
If you are sitting on your amp, make sure that you stay away from any knobs and leads.
Why Shouldn’t I Sit On A Guitar Amp?
Generally, sitting too close to your amp can damage your ears…especially if it’s volume is up. Secondly, the closeness of your guitar to the amp could cause some interference and leave you with a humming noise. And sitting on your amp means you won’t be able to hear yourself so clearly either.
While many amps can hold a substantial amount of weight, not all amps are created equal, and some will not hold a person’s weight. It depends on the price and quality of your amp as to how much weight it will hold; in general, the design allows these devices to stack corner to corner, so many can be pretty weak in the center.
Sitting on your amp could be uncomfortable and will not give you the best sound return. If another option is available, such as a chair, then it’s best to use that instead.
Will I Break My Guitar Amp If I Sit On It?
You’re unlikely to break your guitar amp if you sit on it, as many possess a sturdy design. Still, these devices usually stack corner to corner, and exerting too much pressure in the center could cause the wood to break.
The amp itself should be reasonably safe, though, as you’d break through the wood before you damaged the internal structure.
One problem you could face while sitting on your amp is excess heat, which may be uncomfortable for you and could flex any metal casing on the amp, causing a circuit to short or other internal problems.
Is It Comfortable To Sit On A Guitar Amp?
Sitting on your guitar amp is unlikely to be a comfortable experience. For starters, many of them are small devices that sit close to the ground, so your seating position will be uncomfortable. In addition, many amps have a handle or other fittings and bumps that can cause discomfort to sit on.
It seems like performers sitting on their amps is something that looks good in music videos or while busking (playing on sidewalks, parks, etc.)
For music videos, it’s important to remember that in nearly every case the music you see them playing is NOT the music that you are hearing. For the video the artist is just going through the motions and “acting” like they are performing and then a fully mixed and mastered performance is added in post production.
As for busking, the performer is already competing with an untreated setting and ambient city noise, so they probably aren’t too worried about their sound being affected unless they are getting a lot of distortion.
Can You Use A Guitar Amp As A Shelf?
Using your guitar amp to hold your drink is not a good idea as the sonic vibrations can become pretty intense. Not only could these movements shake your drink off entirely, but you may end up with liquid inside your amp, which will not be good for the internal structure.
Don’t put drinks on top of your amp, and don’t allow others to rest their beers on it either. Liquid spills can cause serious harm to your device, and you may end up spending money on re-tubing the device or having to replace it entirely.
Using your amp to hold small items is okay, as long as they can spill or cause damage; an amp is not a good place to put food or drink due to the intense vibrations. In addition, these movements will likely shake off anything that you put on top of the device, so breakable items are not a good call.
Should Your Amp Be On The Floor?
You can place your amp on the floor, but many players opt to elevate their device, and here are several reasons why.
If your amp is on the floor, it will “couple with the surface and boost any low-frequency sounds. This can cause problems, particularly if you are miking the amp for recording. When you raise the amp off the floor, it will disperse the sound far more effectively throughout the room.
Lifting the amp off the floor can also help you as the player because it allows you to hear the sound more clearly.
What Should You Not Touch On A Guitar Amp?
If you need to perform any maintenance work on your guitar amp, always unplug it first. The capacitors hold an electrical charge, which can be painful if you discharge it through your fingers. Once you remove the power, the charge will begin to dissipate by itself.
Avoid touching the caps for a while after you unplug your device; specifically, avoid touching the leads that connect the caps to the circuit. And don’t touch any bare wires on your device until several minutes after you’ve unplugged it.
Final Thoughts.
You can use your guitar amp as a seat without too much trouble, and it’s unlikely to break unless you exert too much pressure. Still, the discomfort and sound interference could be a problem, so if another option is available, you should probably take it.