Guitar amplifiers have greatly impacted the evolution of music since the days of Rock ‘n’ Roll. From the early blues sounds to the thunderous riffs of modern heavy metal, a few guitar amps have shaped our sonic landscape and defined the sound of generations of guitarists like no other. In this article, we’ll look at the eight most important electric guitar amps of all time. We’ll also take a look at their technical features and the legendary guitar heroes who made them famous.
Our picks for the 8 best Guitar Amps of all time
1. Marshall JTM-45 — Jimi Hendrix
The Marshall JTM-45, or “Plexi,” hit the scene in 1962 and quickly became one of the most influential British guitar amps in music history. Its impressive volume made it the symbol of a powerful rock sound. Even after it was rebranded as the JMP Super Lead in 1967, it remained the gold standard for British rock sound.
Its 100 watts and two voicings give you lots of sonic versatility, depending on the tube configuration. The most famous Plexi sound is achieved by combining EL34 tubes, and also by using EL34 tubes in the power amp and ECC83 in the preamp.
Of course, it was Jimi Hendrix’s sound that made the Plexi famous. “Purple Haze” is a great example of how a Marshall amp could sound. The extreme volumes, real tube distortion, and all kinds of effects (fuzz, fuzz, and more fuzz) offer their unique charm and have greatly contributed to making Jimi one of the most iconic guitarists in the world, even today.
The Plexi (named after the Plexiglas control panel used on the first round of models) offers a powerful, rather aggressive sound. With 100 watts of tube power, you can be sure that assertive riffs and powerful tones will hold their own on any stage. This guitar amp is a must-have for anyone looking to experience the classic rock sound in its purest form. My advice is to play and enjoy it with a Les Paul (and a beer).
2. Fender Blues Deluxe — Guitar amp for John Mayer and SRV
Yes, I have included a rather modern Fender guitar amp in this list of the best guitar amps. So? With good reason! The Fender Blues Deluxe was introduced in 1993 and is a more than successful homage to the classic Fender amps of the 1950s (the Tweed era sends its regards). Its warm, deep, and wonderfully creamy tube sound makes the Blues Deluxe the perfect blues amp for me.
The amp comes with 40 watts and a 12-inch Eminence speaker. 6L6 power tubes (for plenty of headroom) work hand in hand with 12AX7 preamp tubes, which are known for their clear sound. The amp has two voicings (Normal and Drive) and a spring reverb that adds depth to the sound. That’s all you need.
Even though none of the big names are officially known to use the Blues Deluxe, to my ears both John Mayer (compare “Gravity”) and some songs by Stevie Ray Vaughan (“Lenny”) sound a lot like Blues Deluxe. I like the simplicity and raw energy in the tracks and the shimmer and clarity of the respective guitar sounds.
The combination of clear treble, firm bass, and a rich mid-range makes the Fender Blues Deluxe the perfect blend of classic sound and modern technology. Get mad at me all you want, but I think it’s even better than a Twin Reverb (we’ll get to that).
3. Vox AC30 — Brian May
It’s amazing how powerful 30 watts in guitar amps can sound. Introduced in the late 1950s, Vox AC30 is an integral part of the British Rock ‘n Roll sound. From the British Invasion to today, Vox AC30 has played a crucial role as a guitar amp—both live and in thousands of studio recordings.
Technically, the AC30 offers little in the way of power (30 watts) or speakers (two 12-inch speakers). ECC83 and EL84 tubes provide the sound that is often referred to as “chimey.” However, the top boost circuit is particularly worth mentioning, as it gives the sound of the small combo some meat.
One prime example of using the Vox AC30 is, of course, Queen’s Brian May, who uses this amplifier (or nine of them) intensively. Especially with “Stone Cold Crazy” – so beautiful can British tube amps sound. And even today, the Vox AC30 is a timeless classic that has not lost any relevance in modern music production.
4. Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier — Dave Grohl
The Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier is not so much a single guitar amplifier as much as a whole series, the development of which began as early as 1989. When Revision C was launched in 1992, the Rectifier quickly established itself as the standard for modern metal sounds. Initially developed for the then highly popular Hair Metal bands, the Dual Rectifier was particularly popular with emerging and established bands from all kinds of Metal.
The Dual Rectifier comes with three voicings, each with its own character and switching options between tube and diode rectification – hence the name. With its 100 watts, this amp is more than capable of filling large stages with a penetrating and powerful sound. The guitar amplifier can also be tamed a little thanks a switch that dials it down to “only” 50 watts.
To my ears, the best example of a properly played, cleanly cranked Dual Rectifier is the Foo Fighters’ guitar sound. Dave Grohl, in particular, seems to feel extremely comfortable with the combination of semi-hollow guitar and Mesa amp. Live guitar amplifiers are often used side by side with AC30s.
5. Peavey 5150 — Eddie Van Halen
The legendary Peavey 5150, developed based on the Soldano SLO100 and in collaboration with Eddie Van Halen, was launched in 1992. As the leading amplifier for high-gain rock and metal, the amp made a name for itself under Eddie’s fingers and is still used by numerous bands today (users include James Hetfield, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, and Prince).
The original 5150 offered an insane 120 watts of power and two voicings that ranged from (somewhat) clean to extremely distorted. 6L6 tubes provide plenty of power, and it’s not for nothing that the 5150 is notorious for its enormous volume and piercing sound. It’s THE sound of the 90s.
Produced until the early 2000s, the “5150 brand” is now at home at EVH and is offered under this label in different variants – from 100 watt guitar amplifiers to effect pedals, everything is available.
6. Hiwatt DR103 — David Gilmour
The Hiwatt DR103, launched in the late 1960s, is closely associated with David Gilmour and Pink Floyd: the amp’s excellent headroom and versatility combine perfectly with experimental soundscapes and ambient sounds.
Developed by David Reeves, the DR103 impresses with its exceptional sound quality and ability to remain crystal clear and assertive even at high volumes. It delivers a true 100 watts, relying on four EL34 power tubes and four 12AX7 preamp tubes—classic British, in other words.
The prime example of the Hiwatt DR103 in use is David Gilmour with Pink Floyd. The strength of this amplifier is particularly evident in songs like “Comfortably Numb”. Gilmour’s soft, atmospheric solos and his clear, assertive sound were significantly influenced by the DR103. The amplifier helps to convey the nuances and depth of his music perfectly: Gilmourish
7. 1959 Fender Tweed Twin Amp — Joe Bonamassa
80 watts of power, a tweed cabinet, and two 12” Celestions make the Twin an absolute monster— at least in terms of volume.
Tweed amps from American production runs were already extremely popular in the late 1950s, and today, the original parts are almost unaffordable and, therefore, in the hands of collectors and enthusiasts. It’s up to you which of the two camps you count Joe Bonamassa in.
The sound, however, is exactly what the great blues and rock guitarists loved about tweed: Brilliant dynamics, snappy drive sounds, and a fat but compact bass sound. Since only a little more than 700 guitar amplifiers were built at the time, an original is almost priceless today. So, out of pure charity, Fender and Joe Bonamassa joined forces and re-released the ’59 Twin Amp in 2018.
8. Marshall JCM800 — Zakk Wylde, Jeff Hanneman
The Marshall JCM800, introduced in 1981, once again made Marshall the standard for Hard Rock and Metal bands. Named after Jim Marshall’s initials (and his license plate), this amp ushered in a new era of high-gain sounds: the JCM800 was one of the first Marshall amplifiers with a built-in master volume control, which allows for fat overdrive sound even at low (relative) volumes.
The JCM800 delivers a whopping 100 watts of power from EL34 output tubes and is built like a tank: simple and robust. The amp shines bright even on wilder stages. Just ask guitarists like Zakk Wylde or Kerry King, who have more than thoroughly played the JCM800 in the 2023 variant. The great Jeff Hanneman, who died far too young, also relied on the JCM800 (absolutely rightly so).
In terms of sound, the JCM800 delivers a rich, very vivid sound even away from distortion orgies – thanks to its beautiful dynamics, even one channel is enough. The British characteristic of the tube comes through absolutely and, at a reasonable volume, is really fun.
Conclusion on the best guitar amps
As guitarists, we are fortunate (and expensive) to be able to do a lot with our sound, not only with numerous effects units and instruments but also with guitar amps.
It is striking that even in times of ever-improving digital modeling, software modules and the like, the classic tube does not seem to be replaceable. In my opinion, there is more to it than pure sound voodoo, but I am happy to be proven wrong. I hope you enjoyed my little compilation. If not: As we all know, taste is a matter of opinion – I am looking forward to your comments!
More on the best guitar amps of all time
Originally published at Gearnews.de by Jan Rotring, translation by Julian Schmauch.
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