What are the more popular amps for jazz guitarist?

Revelation · #1 08-03-2011, 08:07 AM

I have a Fender Twin which I think it nice, but I was curious what you folks use with your favorite jazz guitar, and what sound are you trying to obtain with the amp?

jorgemg1984 · #2 08-03-2011, 08:11 AM

I advise you to use the search function, you will find plenty of threads about jazz amps. A lot of people use Fenders (or clones) and "jazz amps" like Polytone, Henriksen, Acoustic Image, Evans or Jazzkat. Cabinets like Raezers Edge or Resdstone are also very famous.

hot ford coupe · #3 08-03-2011, 09:21 AM

I know there are loads of other threads about jazz amps, but I love talking about my favorite stuff. I use Ampeg reissue amps. My main amp is a j-20 Ampeg while in my home, I use a Reverberocket reissue. My bass amp is the BR-100 which is sort of a solid state version of the great B-15. The sound I get is clear amd bell like. The bass resopnse is strong and smooth but it doesn't over power the treble strings with "mud".

Revelation · #4 08-03-2011, 09:49 AM

Do you find the small amps to have a boxy sound? I don't know I tried my Mesa/boogie Express that has a one 12" speaker and it sounded boxy with a semi hollow guitar. My Fender Twin with the two 12" speakers and open back sounds to much better.

Do most prefer tube amps over solid state?

marcwhy · #5 08-03-2011, 12:27 PM

I love tube amps, and my main rig right now is a 20W combo (w/ extension cab) by Jack Anderson in Washington.

FatJeff · #6 08-03-2011, 12:45 PM

A lot of people who play jazz also like the Roland Cubes.

barrymclark · #7 08-03-2011, 12:45 PM

Diggin on my Roland Cube 80x right now but I hope to build an amp similar to the Gibson BR-1 from the mid 40's just after WWII.

The_Dude · #8 08-03-2011, 12:57 PM

The Ibanez Wholetone Jazz Combo Amp with its 15 inch speaker has been getting some good reviews:

Ibanez WT80 80W 1x15 Wholetone Jazz Guitar Combo Amp: Shop Guitars & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

I stared using mine some two months back and really enjoy its clean warm jazz tone.

Meggy · #9 08-03-2011, 01:04 PM

I have a Polytone Minibrute which I'm fond of, plus a Roland Cube 80XL which I also like. I'd probably prefer the Polytone of these two - it has a warm/rich quality to the sound, the Roland is a bit less coloured and cleaner. But right now, I'm just loving an old Yamaha G50 112 I've just aquired - honestly, the nicest sounding amp for jazz that I've used, it has the classic warm jazz tone in spades, and the amount of detail/articulation it brings out is fantastic. Really responsive and dynamic too.

teleman3726 · #10 08-03-2011, 01:12 PM

I use a Princeton reverb and it's excellent. My tele's sound pretty funky through it, too. I recently demo'd one of the Riveras. That was sweet. Probably a fuller sound than the Princeton. I'd buy one, but I have so much crap lying around (guitars, amps, FX, cords, etc.) it would be pure sloth.

hot ford coupe · #11 08-03-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revelation

Do you find the small amps to have a boxy sound? I don't know I tried my Mesa/boogie Express that has a one 12" speaker and it sounded boxy with a semi hollow guitar. My Fender Twin with the two 12" speakers and open back sounds to much better.

Do most prefer tube amps over solid state?

To tell you the honest truth, I have severe arthritis in my lumbar spine. If I still was able to lift it and carry it like I was able to before, I'd still be using my Fender Twin. It's a great amp with a fantastic sound. The reason I got away from it in the first place, was the pain it left me with. I couldn't move it anymore. I then went to a Fender Vibrosonic which was about 2/3 the weight of the Twin which was approximately 70 lbs. That also got too heavy. I then went to a Kustom 12 gauge, a solid state amp with a 12" speaker. It weighed 25 lbs. and sounded fantastic. I used that until I found the Ampeg reissues which are about 25lbs. each. (I use one as a vocal amp and one for the guitar). The sound is nice and smooth with just an ever so slight amount of breakup that gives a nice vintage tone when used with a DeArmond floater. Like the D'As I use, I love the vibe of those old Ampeg Diamond Blues

AZanshin · #12 08-03-2011, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatJeff

A lot of people who play jazz also like the Roland Cubes.

I Love My Cube!

mr. beaumont · #13 08-03-2011, 05:55 PM

I love my henriksen...it's great for gigging or recording.

Previous to owning it, I liked solid state for gigging and tubes for recording.

I never notice small amps sounding "boxy" unless the amp is distorting...I hardly ever play with distortion.

There's something special about an old 6L6 based amp like a fender or ampeg.

But for convenience I'll keep my henriksen. Sounds different than a tube amp, but also great.

Atticus · #14 08-03-2011, 10:32 PM

For a while people were looking at the Fender Mustang III as an alternative to the Roland Cube. I dig my Mustang, very good for non-jazz stuff as well as varied jazz sounds.

BrightSizeLife28 · #15 08-04-2011, 05:19 AM

Tough... Convenience vs Tone. Twins are great, but for a small jazz club (w/PA) it's just too big/ loud. I prefer solid state for the convenience, and my Evans JE200 sounds great too. Lets just say I'm selling my Twin... it's just building up dust these days.