• Preamp sensitivity depends on factors such as volume.electric guitar image by Blue Moon from Fotolia.com
  
  

High Sensitivity is Best for High Volume Sound

• A guitar preamplifier, or preamp, takes a low level signal and amplifies it before sending it to an amplifier or recording equipment. Preamp sensitivity is referred to as low or high, and you will want high sensitivity if you play with high volume. High preamp sensitivity allows you to achieve more volume out of current equipment.
  
  

Low Sensitivity is Best for Low Volume Sound

• Low preamp sensitivity will suffice if you play at moderate to low volume levels. Less distortion and less feedback are benefits of low preamp sensitivity. Less residual noise is an additional benefit while still increasing sound quality.
  
  

Bottom Line

• The amount of sensitivity that a guitar preamp should have will depend on how the guitar will be played. High sensitivity is best for high volume, and low sensitivity is best for moderate to low volumes.