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Here's my understanding (hope it helps):
breaking the signal chain down into *simplified* functional blocks, there are mic-level sources (microphones), instrument-level sources (guitars), and line-level sources (keyboards or electronic drums). The function of these units are to make sound.
Line-level sources have the next functional block built in, namely a pre-amplifier (preamp). This is *one* of the reasons that keyboards, etc, have to be plugged in to a power source. The function of the preamp is to raise a signal's level up to line level and to condition its impedance to match the expected impedance of the next functional block. That's all I'm a gonna say about impedance. A full discussion would (and has) filled many discussions and book chapters. The next block is the power amplifier, which boosts the signal to levels that can drive speakers. so
source -> preamp -> power amp -> speakers -> audience
Mixing boards may have the capability to accept mic, instrument, and line-level sources, in any combination. Some boards are NOT good at accepting instruments. From your posts, this seems to be the case at your church. So for your guitar, you need AT THE VERY LEAST a preamp to bridge the gap between instrument and mixing board. The DSP unit that you have selected will do very nicely for this. I mentioned before that keyboards are usually a combination of source (block) plus preamp (block). your guitar plus DSP does the same thing, just as you surmised. OK so far.
Guitar ampilifers (tube or not, doesn't matter) are a combination of preamp (block) plus power amp (block). Some guitar amps have a line out (or preamp out) that allows the user to take the signal at the junction between the two blocks, and send it to the mixer, for example. You already have the preamp portion of that device, so what you NEED for you application at the church is some kind of power amp that you can set up as a personal monitor (I am assuming that you intend to feed the mixing board with the signal from your DSP). While you are getting used to the DSP that you bought, use anything that you can get your hands on for a monitor! There are clock radios that accept a line level input (think MP3 player). As I mentioned before, computer speakers work well too.
Do you want the BEST guitar amp (power amp) to make you sound the best? Of course. We all want that. My advice is to not run out and buy something that's not necessary for this application; beg or borrow what will get you and your fellow guitar player through these learning stages, wait until you have some experience and know what you want before investing in a guitar amp.
breaking the signal chain down into *simplified* functional blocks, there are mic-level sources (microphones), instrument-level sources (guitars), and line-level sources (keyboards or electronic drums). The function of these units are to make sound.
Line-level sources have the next functional block built in, namely a pre-amplifier (preamp). This is *one* of the reasons that keyboards, etc, have to be plugged in to a power source. The function of the preamp is to raise a signal's level up to line level and to condition its impedance to match the expected impedance of the next functional block. That's all I'm a gonna say about impedance. A full discussion would (and has) filled many discussions and book chapters. The next block is the power amplifier, which boosts the signal to levels that can drive speakers. so
source -> preamp -> power amp -> speakers -> audience
Mixing boards may have the capability to accept mic, instrument, and line-level sources, in any combination. Some boards are NOT good at accepting instruments. From your posts, this seems to be the case at your church. So for your guitar, you need AT THE VERY LEAST a preamp to bridge the gap between instrument and mixing board. The DSP unit that you have selected will do very nicely for this. I mentioned before that keyboards are usually a combination of source (block) plus preamp (block). your guitar plus DSP does the same thing, just as you surmised. OK so far.
Guitar ampilifers (tube or not, doesn't matter) are a combination of preamp (block) plus power amp (block). Some guitar amps have a line out (or preamp out) that allows the user to take the signal at the junction between the two blocks, and send it to the mixer, for example. You already have the preamp portion of that device, so what you NEED for you application at the church is some kind of power amp that you can set up as a personal monitor (I am assuming that you intend to feed the mixing board with the signal from your DSP). While you are getting used to the DSP that you bought, use anything that you can get your hands on for a monitor! There are clock radios that accept a line level input (think MP3 player). As I mentioned before, computer speakers work well too.
Do you want the BEST guitar amp (power amp) to make you sound the best? Of course. We all want that. My advice is to not run out and buy something that's not necessary for this application; beg or borrow what will get you and your fellow guitar player through these learning stages, wait until you have some experience and know what you want before investing in a guitar amp.
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