What's The Best Jazz Guitar Amp?

**drewdea** · 01-12-2012, 01:51 PM

I play a Gibson ES-175 (circa 1974) and an ES-135 (post 2000).

I've played and owned a bunch of different amps over the years and finally came to the realization that the amp needs to match the guitar (and the situation).

I had an amp made for me that I consider a great blues amp. It works for jazz too but before I settle on that concept, I would love to know what do you all consider to be the best jazz amp?

Thanks!

**mr. beaumont** · 01-12-2012, 02:10 PM

The only way I can answer that is with what is the perfect amp for me, and that's my Henriksen Jazzamp and Redstone speaker cabinet.

I'm willing to bet others say the same thing, that there is no "best" in general, only the "best for you"

**Joe Carlson** · 01-12-2012, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

that there is no "best" in general, only the "best for you"

Yup. Although I guess the gold standard would be a Fender Twin.
For awhile it seemed like the Acoustic Image into a RE cab was top dog, then the Fender Jazzmaster Ultralight had its 15 minutes, but then the Twin bounced back. I have absolutely no data to back this up. Pure conjecture!

**BenThayer** · 01-12-2012, 02:31 PM

You might check into a recent thread about the upcoming Fender George Benson Amp and our specification speculations. Lots of good input. Good Luck!

Fender George Benson Amp

**mtierney** · 01-12-2012, 04:22 PM

There was also recently a thread that you could probably find by searching for "unconventional jazz amps" where people posted everything from PA systems, to bass amps, to half stacks. It all depends how you use it. The forum can't even unanimously say whether you should go tube or solid state, let alone give a specific amp!

I used to use an AC30. Which sounded great for jazz, set right. Now I use a Mesa Lonestar. Which sounds great for jazz, set right. Right now, that's my amp of choice for everything that I do. Sometimes I play through an old Gallien-Krueger solid state bass amp (can't remember the model, but it has a 10" speaker), which sounds great for jazz, set right. I love Twins, Blues Jrs, and I especially love Princeton Reverbs. But I'm a tube kind of guy, and those are just my choices; I bet Mr B sounds great through his Henricksen, it's just not for me. People love the Roland amps too. It depends on the sound you're going for.

**EddieLastra** · 01-12-2012, 04:57 PM

I play a Rivera Jazz Sumprema Jazz.

For compact quick get up&go I use a Roland Cube 60.

Other nice amps I've had in the past:

Fender Twin Reverb: the greatest workhorse amp, but too heavy for my aging body to lug around

Polytone MiniBrute: A popular solid state amp, but not too crazy about it

Evans FET500: A great sounding solid state amp, but quite heavy.

AER Compact 60 Classic: Actually was for my acoustic nylon string, but actually sounded great with my archtop. Pound for pound the best for it's compactness, lightweight, and amazing sound to come out of a 8" speaker. Would get one of these again.

Fender Twin Custom 15: Twin reverb with a single 15, one the best sounding amps I've ever had, but with the 15" Eminence speaker it weighed in at 90lbs, waaayyy too heavy

As others have mentioned, amps are a very personal and subjective thing

**jorgemg1984** · 01-12-2012, 05:05 PM

The Ultimate Guitar Amp

12 pages of fun. If you use the search function you will find much more.

There is not such a thing as a perfect amp for jazz (or for rock or blues or...) and you will get a lot of different opinions here. Some like tubes others solid state. The ones who like tubes also don't agree on Fender or Amper or Gibson or Mesa or... The ones who like soild state don't agree on Polytone or Henriksen or AI or Evans or Cubes or 80s amps... Of course you will get lots of great opinions here but nothing replaces trying out for yourself.

Even those who agree on let's say Fender won't agree on model. Those who have heads also don't agree on 1x12 or 2x12 or 1x10 or 2x10 or 1x15... It's very personal.

My personal opinion: Fender Jazzmaster Ultralight is better than most things I have tried. Of course some tube amps like a blackface Fender are just perfect for jazz and will be my next purchase. And just to prove my point I don't agree on the Blues Junior or Henriksen recommendation already done.

**jorgemg1984** · 01-12-2012, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by EddieLastra

I play a Rivera Jazz Sumprema Jazz.

Eddie how do you compare this EL34 amp to the 6L6 Twin? Do you use with archtops? I am curious about it.

**EddieLastra** · 01-12-2012, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Eddie how do you compare this EL34 amp to the 6L6 Twin? Do you use with archtops? I am curious about it.

Yes, I've played archtops through both the Rivera and Fender. I think the tone qualities that come out of the Rivera are more "complex" but has more to do with it's engineering than the type of tubes it is using. Forgot to mention I've also had the Rivera "Quiana" w/ single 12" which has 6L6's like the Fender Twin. I thought of it as a Fender Twin on steroids, but overall I still go with the Suprema 15 as it sounds great with any of my guitars.

As I mentioned, I think the Twin Reverb is an all around proven workhouse, can't go wrong with it, it's just way too heavy for me to lug around.

**mr. beaumont** · 01-12-2012, 05:35 PM

Maybe someday I'll have a big enough name to get anything out of a twin.

For the gigs I get, turn the twin up to where it sounds good and I'm not getting asked back!

**NSJ** · 01-12-2012, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Maybe someday I'll have a big enough name to get anything out of a twin.

For the gigs I get, turn the twin up to where it sounds good and I'm not getting asked back!

I remember you extolling the virtues of lugging a guitar and amp over the shoulders, hands-free, and walking to the L. I can still do it with the Henriksen Convertible, amp bag, guitar and gig bag, although I can't really walk that fast and have to mind the balance.

**MikeJ** · 01-13-2012, 05:11 AM

I mostly now use a Phil Jones Super Cub.. really impressed with the sounds from my JS.. Light and easy to carry.. Ulbrik tube amp now sits quietly in the corner.

cheers

Mike

**Pat Clare** · 01-13-2012, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

The only way I can answer that is with what is the perfect amp for me, and that's my henriksen jazzamp and redstone speaker cabinet.

I'm willing to bet others say the same thing, that there is no "best" in general, only the "best for you"

Is the henriksen a combo with the redstone as and extension,
or are you just using a henriksen head?

**mr. beaumont** · 01-13-2012, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Pat Clare

Is the henriksen a combo with the redstone as and extension,
or are you just using a henriksen head?

It's a henriksen head and redstone rs-8 cab. Great natural sound...

**drewdea** · 01-13-2012, 02:45 PM

Thanks all .... even though the responses vary greatly, this really helps ...

for the record I had more that a few polytones and they didn't have the presence I wanted although listening back to recordings, it has it's sound. I just sold my Fender twin custom 15, yes very heavy but also the sound lacked some life. Also had a mesa boogie mk3 .. never could get the right sound from it. I was lent a hot rod deluxe which I put a marshall tube pre-amp in the front end and that worked pretty well but not quite there. I have a blues junior, that sounds pretty good actually but pales in comparison to the hot rod deluxe. Currently I'm using a custom amp built for me by Ray Latvala that is based on a 59 Bassman but with verb. I'll try evans, Jazz cat (though no one has mentioned that so far), Cube 60, and some of the others mentioned above. So far though the Latvala amp (although it's my blues amp) is at the top.

-Drew

**Pat Clare** · 01-13-2012, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

It's a henriksen head and redstone rs-8 cab. Great natural sound...

I have a henriksen combo, and was wondering how it would sound with an extension speaker.

**mr. beaumont** · 01-13-2012, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by Pat Clare

I have a henriksen combo, and was wondering how it would sound with an extension speaker.

I'm guessing great...but then, I might consider a henriksen extension cab too...

Originally Posted by kris

nice compact set!!!

Indeed! That was my plan.

**mattymel** · 01-13-2012, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Insufferable_Rhythm

Any modifications from the original circuit on your Headstrong?

i did have somebody tweak the reverb a bit as it was a little too prevalent for me. but otherwise no. though i still wish i had a real deal BF PR.

**AlohaJoe** · 01-13-2012, 05:17 PM

I got very lucky and landed a '65 Fender Princeton Reverb and I love it (the 'silverface' PRs sound great too and are less expensive). If I need more oomph I'll mike it or take an ext cab w a 12". Sometimes I'll haul an old 150w Poly instead, depending on the venue. If gear was stolen I'd miss the Polytone but it's more readily replaceable than the PR.

**NSJ** · 01-13-2012, 05:35 PM

Anyone ever A/B a Henriksen with an Acoustic Image??

How do you compare the 2? I've heard that the AI is less "colored", more flat, perhaps better for fully carved acoustic guitars?

I'm approaching the point where I'll have more amps than guitars! Go figure. I've kept all my amps (Polytone, Fender Twin, Henriksen, Lunch Box, Phil Jones Cub). I was thinking of adding or trading for a AI head--it should work with a Henriksen cab.

**jorgemg1984** · 01-13-2012, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by Joe Carlson

Oh yeah! Don't ge me wrong about the Jazzmaster. I have one and use it all the time for smaller gigs. Great amp, just kinda low profile. I also have a Twin, and when the room allows, that is always my first choice. Yeah, a Twin is heavy, but you only have to move it once, you have to play the thing all night.
Regards,
Joe

Try the jazzmaster ultralight with a large open.back 2x12 at 4 ohms. I actually love the stock cabinet but this might surprise you.

**jorgemg1984** · 01-13-2012, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by Pat Clare

I have a henriksen combo, and was wondering how it would sound with an extension speaker.

I had one with an EV - much better than the stock speaker. I know a guy that has a Tornado in one and loves it.

**Bryon** · 11-08-2013, 01:46 PM

Hi I'm new to this forum and I was wondering what everyone thought about the new Fender Mustang iii Modelling amp. for jazz. I play jazz, as well as other styles. I also play lap steel and was looking at one of these to do both. I can't fill my music room with more amps for different jobs and this may not be the best at anything but it may cover enough bases to be good at a number of applications. Thoughts anyone?

Thanks
Bryon

**trojun74** · 11-08-2013, 06:52 PM

Hey Troy here from Canada....Getting back into the Jazz scene after 25 years and getting gear together, I found the all Canadian tube amps by Traynor to be inexpensive and very groovy.No chinese parts here,so I was told.