We, as humans, always look up for comfort. Let it be playing the drum or a guitar. The biggest hurdle between comfort and guitar is its wire. At some point, every guitarist questions, can electric guitars be wireless?
Yes, electric guitars can be wireless. You get two options for converting them wirelessly, either through the analog or digital system.
It will require you to put in some effort but believe me, it’s worth it. That is not as hectic as it seems nor as big-budgeted as your studio won’t afford.
You can get tips and tricks to ease the process in the article.
Contents
Can Electrical Guitars Be Wireless?
As mentioned in the introduction, you can easily convert your wired guitar to wireless by putting in some effort. You have to take care of a few things.
The first thing is proper knowledge of the analog and digital systems available in the market and finding your perfect match. The next thing is the compatibility between the guitar and the transmitter. Thirdly, best for your budget, and last but not least, how to connect the system altogether.
Amplifiers, receivers, and transmitters are your best friends in each case.
The output very much depends on the match between your guitar and communication devices. They must be compatible with each other. Else your highly functional guitar will produce junk.
Perks of Going Wireless
Going wireless is a fascinating idea that every guitarist will consider once.
The first and foremost advantage wireless will give you over the wired guitar is inbound movement at the stage. Wires usually restrict this movement because of guitarists due to the limited stretchable length of the cables.
Being economical is another peak perk that wireless offers. You buy a wireless system once, and with proper care and tuning, it lasts longer. On the other hand, wires need replacement from time to time because they wear out and are torn away.
Setbacks You Must Consider Before Going Wireless
Where the wireless system gives you absolute freedom, there are many things you must consider before going wireless, as these factors may significantly influence your choice.
Costly
After reading the heading, you would be wondering because the title contradicts my previous position on wireless guitars.
Wireless electric guitars will save money, but their one-time cost may be expensive for some users compared to wired guitars.
Especially if you want to avoid latency issues and other bugs, I suggest going for high-end transmitters and receivers.
Latency Issues
As mentioned in the previous heading, latency and delays are common issues in wireless systems. If you have an analog system or low-end transmitter and receiver, latency issues will occur.
Other possible reasons for the problem are limited human understanding of the instruments and locations to play the guitar. As obstacles and specific locations will directly impact the latency.
Short Battery Life
Another unfavorable problem for many guitarists is the short battery life of electric guitars. With the wires, the power guitar gets a continuous power supply to the guitar, so the battery life issues automatically cancel out. If you are someone who has long-live performances or long recording periods, you may need to rethink the innovation because
Hard to Carry Around
Where a wireless electric guitar system can provide you with absolute freedom on the stage, it will be tiresome to carry around your gadget. Because this time, it will require carrying each compartment separately, and chances of losing a part will elevate.
Another point that adds to the demerits is if one part, for example, the transmitter, is not working, your whole setup will be useless.
Different types of Wireless Transmissions
There are two types of wireless systems to satisfy broad spectrum needs under the headings of analog and digital.
Here is how they differ from each other:
Digital Transmission
There are two types of wireless transmissions, radio, and digital signals. It converts manual signals into the discrete value of 0 and 1 and gives output in the form of mechanical waves. The Digital system is the latest one with few bugs and errors and selling like hot cakes.
In addition to a bug-free environment, it provides you with better sound quality, less lag, and above all, it is economical as you don’t have to pay any usage bill.
Its user-friendly interference will make you comfortable as soon as you start using it.
Please note that if you are using older or low-end digital systems, you may face bugs and latency issues to some extent.
Radio Transmission
Radio transmission is as old as wireless systems. The analog system utilizes a remote technique to capture and process the input and convert it into output. It consists of a transmitter, receiver, and run-down version containing companders for input and output. The range of radio transmission is 50 kHz.
With digital transmission chipping in, radio or analog transmission is losing its worth due to many shortcomings such as latency issues, yearly bills, elevated rates of interference, decreased output quality, and much more.
But still, many guitarists looking for the classical finish touch will opt for it.
How to Tackle Sound Quality Issues in Wireless Electric Guitars?
The quality of the output decides the success of your tune, no matter how much effort you put into playing the guitar, the presence of latency and interference will take all your dedication to ashes. The question is, how can one tackle the sound quality issues? Here are a few tips and tricks that can prove beneficial.
Latency Issues
The first thing to do is to buy a decent transmitter-receiver set. Both the bodies should be compatible with each other and the guitar. Choose high-end setups as there are fewer chances of latency.
- Recording at appropriate distances also helps in lowering the latency rates.
- Keeping care of charging the gadget also aids in coping with the latency problem to some extent.
- The use of audio editing software also proves beneficial in eradicating the issue.
If the issues don’t resolve, you can seek help from a professional to check for any serious problems present in the set itself.
Interference Issues
Interference issues are usually related to the analog system of transmission. It occurs when more than one frequencies collide with each other.
- I suggest you keep a channel with little traffic and choosing a compatible frequency band will aid in lowering the interference.
- Reducing the bandwidth of the amplifier is another step you should consider.
- Keeping the guitar and transmitter-receiver dust and dirt free will also demote the chances of interference.
- Keeping the transmitter and receiver at a decent distance is another remedy.
- Ensure that each instrument is also fully charged.
- If still the issue remains, check for the infrastructure faults and wear and tear.
Wireless Setups Available in the Market
Manufacturers and marketers have seriously entertained the idea of wireless electric guitars, and today, there are various options available in the stores under different price tags. Here are some of the refined choices that you may consider:
Xvive U2 provides a rechargeable wireless system that boasts a compact vogue. It includes a transmitter and receiver that is sufficiently tiny to suit in hand. U2 provides up to seventy feet / twenty meters of operative distance among the road of sight. Due to this, you will have enough house to maneuver on stage cleanly.
U2 offers four-channel choices at a combination of 4Hz for license-free use. But, it should be a minimum of 3M far away from shutting native space network signals to confirm the clarity and lowest interference.
With 4-5 hours of battery life, you have enough juice to perform most live shows. And so, the USB Y-Cable permits you to charge it.
The next on my list is LEKATO WS-50. It is a wireless transmitter-receiver set with a frequency range of 24 bits to 48 kHz. Its USB-style wireless system will fit any space, let it be your studio or live performance stage, and is easy to carry around on the go.
Its 6ms and less tested latency rate promise interference and latency-free coverage with smooth output. Its more lustrous features include a 10 dB dynamic range, up to 4 different channels for interference-free gain, and less than 6ms transmission delay, ensuring natural touch in the final results.
It will prove an excellent choice for those with long recording sessions as it promises a 5-hour long battery life, enough to fuel one complete session.
Do Electric Guitars Have to be Plug-in?
Yes, the typical electric guitars available today need a plug-in for their work. The primary plug is usually the power cable, as most are non-rechargeable and need a constant power source.
Secondly, the AMP is the central need of all the guitars for crisp output. Some wireless AMPs are available in the market. But they are not in use, so AMP is the second plug-in your guitar will need.
To avoid inconvenience and bring versatility, guitarists are experimenting with wireless guitars. But the majority still prefer wired guitars.
Another reason why old guitarists are reluctant to switch from wired guitars to wireless ones is unreliable batteries. What if your guitar shuts down in the middle of your memorable performance?
Are Wireless Guitars a Thing?
Yes, you can create your wireless cum wired guitar with some tools and techniques. There are various ways to do so, but one of the simplest is the use of a receiver and a transmitter. A wireless stringed instrument system is sometimes created from 2 components – a transmitter and a receiver.
The transmitter consists of a jack plug leading into a little pack via a cable that then wirelessly transmits your stringed instrument signal to the receiver. But again, here I will mention that be careful with your instrument.
If you are not practicing professionally, experimenting with your guitar may lead to drastic outcomes, eventually damaging the guitar. Choosing a high-end transmitter and receiver aids in avoiding quality issues in the future. Another aspect that you should keep in mind is compatibility. Make sure the transmitter-receiver set you are buying is compatible with your guitar.
Do All Electric Guitars have Wires?
All Electrical guitars and convertible acoustic guitars as they have a similar plug for a cable—a ¼ in. (0.635 cm) gap. However, their area unit can vary according to the customer’s needs and preferences.
Many customary styles of wires are available within the market. Thus you have a wide variety to choose from, but you ought to take care you’re shopping for the right one. Most electrical stringed instruments use the ¼-inch instrument cable, but the guitar market is rapidly accommodating advanced options.
You should check the wire needs of your guitar before buying one.
You should check the wire needs of your guitar before buying one. You should also give a demo try to wireless guitars with transmitter-receiver sets.
Present and future trends are settling towards wireless options as they offer a lot of conveniences. In near future, electric guitars will start accommodating Bluetooth and other wireless technologies.
CONCLUSION
Most electric guitars have wires, but some latest electric guitars can play wirelessly with the correct setup. If you compare the wired electric guitar to the wireless ones, unfortunately, the bugs ratio is higher in wireless systems.
One of the reasons for that is up-to-the-minute arrival in the market, and things improve with time and feedback from the user. Guitarists and music enthusiasts are expecting that the wireless guitar will pave the way for more versatile stage performances, as it will introduce more freedom for the guitarists.
At the same time, many setups available in the market provide the users with comparatively fewer bugs and high performance. Newbies and average studio users regard them as expensive. If you have an extensive budget, you can try one of these. Else you can also create your personalized wireless guitar if you are confident in your skills.
