Pedals are like the small metal chassis of brilliance for guitarists. From beginner, intermediate or more experienced guitarists – everyone uses these as they serve as the tools needed to increase the range of sounds they can produce.
However, despite the amazing result of using these pedals, there is still a question that all guitarists ask – “Can guitar pedals break your amp?”
So, is this just a made-up myth or is it happening? If so, is there any evidence of this?
In this article, we will take a closer look at this issue and potentially answer all your questions. But! Keep in mind that we do not encourage you to purposely damage your amp, instrument or any other gear.
What Are Guitar Pedals
First, let us start with the guitar pedals themselves. Whether you are using boss amps and pedals or other products they all have the same purpose – to produce sounds.
But! What do guitar pedals do? You may be familiar with them as the small “magical” boxes that make you sound dirty and fuzzy. Or to keep things simple, a device that adds some strange twists to your tone.
In general, pedals can serve a variety of functions and add various effects to your guitar tone. This is achieved using transistors, Bucket Brigade Devices (BBD) chips, Charge-Coupled Devices (CCD which are becoming increasingly rare), or digital signal processing.
To keep both hands on the guitar, pedals are frequently placed on the floor (or on a pedalboard that sits on the floor) and are typically operated using a guitarist’s feet. Of course, the pedals can also be operated manually, however doing so might make it challenging to play the guitar at the same time.
The effects that guitar pedals can create are incredibly diverse. However, they all have at least one input and one output, often an on/off button. Boss amps and pedals differ in design, but all of them will surely meet your needs whether you are a beginner, advanced or professional.
What are the risks of using a guitar pedal with an amp?
There are a few concerns when combining a guitar pedal with an amplifier. The very most common is feedback. When the amp is turned up too loud or the guitar pedal is improperly grounded, feedback can happen. If feedback does happen, it may harm the speaker or the amplifier.
The user of the guitar pedal may also receive a shock if the pedal is improperly grounded. The risk of overloading the amplifier should also be taken into account. This may occur if the amplifier used with the guitar pedal is not made to handle the additional power. This might harm the speaker or the amplifier.
Finally, it’s crucial to be aware that some guitar pedals can interfere with radio signals. If the guitar pedal is utilised in an environment with a lot of electronic devices, like a recording studio, this could be an issue.
One way to prevent this issue is to use Boss amps and pedals for they surely work together. As a result, by using Boss amps and pedals you can assure that your instrument and equipment are safe.
What are some signs that a guitar pedal is damaging an amp?
If your amplifier is making odd noises, your guitar pedal can be causing the amp to malfunction. These sounds could be popping, crackling, or even screeching. It’s crucial to discontinue using the pedal as soon as you hear any of these noises to prevent further damage.
If the sound unexpectedly loses, that may be a clue that a guitar pedal is harming your amplifier. At first, this could be challenging to see, but with time, it will become clearer. Stop using the pedal and have the amplifier inspected by a professional if you discover that your amplifier sounds distorted or muffled.
One of the professionals that you can go to is the Boss. Boss has great service and support centres that can fix the problems in your Boss amps and pedals, Roland or from any other brands.
What are some ways to prevent damaging an amp with a guitar pedal?
There are a few ways to avoid using a guitar pedal to harm an amp. The first is to ensure that the pedal is powered properly. In addition, utilizing a pedal made specifically to be used with an amp. Finally, you can use a buffer to protect the amp if you are using a pedal that is not intended to be used with an amp.
Can Guitar Pedals Break An Amplifier?
It is incredibly uncommon for guitar pedals to destroy or harm an amplifier. Guitar pedals cannot “overload” or “fry” an amp’s input stage or circuit board, which is a rare occurrence. The reason is that every pedal generates an impedance level that every amp is made to withstand.
With that being said, you cannot “overload” or “damage” an amplifier which means that the pedals are entirely safe for all guitar amps which should be of little importance to all guitarists.
