Jazz, just like other genres, has it own specific needs, and making sure you have the optimal gear to enhance your performance is key.
One of these pieces of a kit is the amp, and finding the right one can be quite challenging.
So, in this guide, we will take a look at some things you need to know and review some of the best jazz guitar amps.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Jazz Guitar Amps
Table of Contents
What Size Amp Do I Need?
This is answered by looking at a few things. The first is where you intend to use the amp. If you are buying it for practice in your home, you will want to consider more compact and lower wattage options. On the other hand, if you are playing a larger venue then go for higher numbers.
You will also want to consider the volume you are looking for. The size of the speakers and the wattage all play a part in this. So, in the end, the size of amp you need is all down to what you intend to do with the amp.
Are All Amps Good for Jazz?
Though you can most definitely use any amp for jazz, some will lend a purer tone and a better fit for the genre. You can use either a tube or solid-state, but when talking to experts, most tend to prefer a solid-state over the tube amp. That is because of the clean sound you get. When you choose a good jazz amp, you will want to look for one with:
- Tone quality no matter the volume
- Portability
- Reverb built-in
- Good effects loop
What to Look for When Buying a Jazz Guitar Amp
When you are looking for the best jazz amp for you, there are some features and functions you should definitely take a look at. The features below are the three most important when working on making your decision-making process that much easier.
Sound
Sound is always vital when making this decision, and for jazz, you will want to look for an amp that offers a clean sound. Though some jazz guitarists also look for a bright and lush sound.
Type
There are several types of amps to choose from. The most common are tube amp and solid-state. Many jazz players suggest a solid-state option as they tend to bring with them a cleaner tone. Though they do not have the volume of a tube amp, so if you are looking for an amp that will play a large venue, then a tube amp may be a better choice.
Tone
If you really want a classic jazz tone, you will want true transparency. Choosing the amp dependent on the style of jazz and the mood you want to convey can help make your decision easier.
Comparison Chart of the Best Jazz Guitar Amps
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Best Budget Option  |
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Review of the Best Jazz Guitar Amps
Now that we have looked at what to consider when buying an amp for jazz as well as some other key points of interest, we can dive into our list of the best jazz guitar amps.
Best Overall:
Fender Blues Deluxe
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This amp has a lot of great reviews, and though there are many things about this amp that guitarists love. The traditional Fender tone is always a big winner, and the clean sound is perfect for jazz guitar. The most common concern is a persistent hissing at high levels, but that is still not enough to take away from the praise of recent buyers.
Why it Stands Out to Us
For jazz, you want to be able to use a vintage tone, and with the dual channels, you have that luxury as well as a superior clean sound. This is just one of the fantastic features, but it is by far the one that sticks out to us the most.
Who Will Use This Most
This amp is a great choice for a jazz guitarist but in particular, the intermediate guitarist. The player that has been playing for a while and spends time in small venues and clubs trying to get their sound heard. This is by far the individual that will get the most from this amp.
Bottom Line
This amp is fitted with a lot of great features that will make it easy to develop your jazz styling even quicker. The use of high-quality material in its construction helps with the durability as well as the performance of the amp. These are some of the reasons it was easily our choice for the best overall jazz amp.
Runner-up:
DV Mark Little Jazz Guitar Combo Amp
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The guitarist that has invested in this amp has a lot to say about it, and most of it is very good. Chief among the positive reviews is the volume of the amp and its lightweight build, which helps with transportability. Though some have questioned the reverb quality on the whole, most jazz guitarists would say that this is a great choice.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit is simple and focuses on what makes a sweet jazz sound. The single-channel may not give a wealth of versatility, but what it does offer is a high-quality tone and ease of use that makes this amp one of the best options.
Who Will Use This Most
This amps simplicity is perfect for the beginning jazz artist. It offers nice clean tones without a focus on all the effects, and that will help develop their skills in the preparation of more advanced amps. Whether they are practicing their scales or trying to craft their own songs, this amp will help them do it.
Bottom Line
Sometimes versatility is over-glorified, a simple, clean amp is perfect for the smooth jazz tones. This amp may be fitted with a wealth of effects, but its sound is perfect, and that is why it is easily one of the best options on the market today.
Best for the Money:
Roland Cube Street
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This small but mighty amp has a lot of fans. They seem to love the ability to jam to their favorite tracks through their smartphone and the inclusion of dual channels. The double channels will allow for the use of a guitar and a mic at the same time. The lack of bottom end may be a problem for some, but all in all, most feel it is a great addition to their kit.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Finding an amp that has the portability and quality of sound for an affordable price tag is a great deal. Where there are plenty of features we could have raved about, this is the one thing that stood out to us as the best asset you get for investing in this amp.
Who Will Use This Most
There are a lot of jazz guitarists that could use this amp to improve their performance capability, but if you’re a guitarist looking for portability, then this amp is perfect. In fact, this amp benefits the street performer the most with its lightweight, compact design and ability to run off a battery, many feel it is the perfect fit for these individuals.
Bottom Line
Budget is always a concern when you are making an investment in your future, and this model from Roland is one of the best when it comes to the jazz sound. This unit is durable and compact, and these features are what make this one of the best options available.
Best Small Jazz Guitar Amp:
Fender Mustang LT-25
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
When you scour online and look at all the reviews, you will see a lot of high compliments when it comes to this amp. Many guitarists love the quality of the amps build, and the sound capability and performance are excellent. There have been some reports of hissing when down picking, but other than that, this amp gets a high rating.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This amp is laid out and designed with ease of use in mind. The ease of use is definitely the thing that stood out to use, especially since this amp is very commonly used as a practice amp. Simple is also key when it comes to the material. The quality of the wood is excellent, which helps lift this amp up to one of the best.
Who Will Use This Most
There are a lot of guitarists that could benefit from adding this amp to their kit, but there is one type of guitarist that would get the most from this amp. The beginner can use this amp as a great practice amp. The simplistic build makes it easy to use, and that is great for a novice player.
Bottom Line
This unit, though simplistic in build, has a lot of presets available that give a wide versatility of sound creation capability. This is a definite plus, and that is the main reason that this amp finds its way onto our list.
Best Fender Amp for Jazz:
Fender Blues Junior IV
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The perfect tone and the unrivaled volume capabilities are only a few of the things that guitarists have reported in their reviews. In spite of the fact that it is built with a heavy build that limits the transportability, most feel it is still a top-notch performing amp.
Why it Stands Out to Us
When it comes down to it, when you are trying to locate the right amp, you might be in a place where value matters; you can get a high-grade amp with this unit for a budget-friendly price. Perhaps the best thing about this financially affordable amp is the high-quality breakup you can use to craft an amazing sound.
Who Will Use This Most
Now and then, when you are a working gigging entertainer spending too much money may be a worry. With this amp, you get a top-notch amp that is ideal for little blues bars and venues. This is why this model stood out to us the most and why we feel safe recommending it for guitarists that fit this profile.
Bottom Line
This Fender amp comes with a decades-old name that brings with it a wealth of respect. This design comes with a speaker that improves the volume and tight reaction that works so well when overdriven that you will have the option to develop a sound that is all your own.
Best Jazz Guitar Amp Under $500:
Roland Micro Cube GX 3W
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This amp offers a lot if you pay attention to what recent buyers say. This amp's ability to be powered via the battery, and the volume level for such a small amp is outstanding. There have been some reports of noise on select effects.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The versatility of sound from the effects to the vital build is outstanding for such a compact amp. The effects will allow the jazz guitarist to experiment with innovative sounds to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack.
Who Will Use This Most
Though not really big enough for even a medium-sized venue, this amp is still a viable tool for the traveling musician, especially when considering practice time or even street performing. This amp will work well for the jazz guitarist in both situations.
Bottom Line
This amp is a small unit but packs a punch. For such a reasonable price tag under $500, you get a high-quality option that is easy to transport from gig to gig. That is why this unit has found its way to our list of the best amp options for jazz available today.
Best Tube Amp for Jazz Guitar:
Vox AC30C2
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
When you listen to what guitarists have made this amp their go-to say, they gush about a few of the stunning performance capabilities. The sound quality and simplicity of using pedals are only a couple of things that bring the general respect of this amp to the level it is at. Some may find that the input jack is less than durable; however, that isn’t a major concern and doesn’t devalue their assessment.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We took stock of all the design-build highlights, and there were quite a few. One that stood apart from the rest and had the most effect on the sound of this unit was the utilization of an EL84 tube. This high-grade tube loans a decent tonal quality to the sound of the amp.
Who Will Use This Most
The highlights of this amp will benefit practically any Telecaster players; however, the one that this amp will get the most is the performer searching for a decent practice or home studio amp. The volume consistency and usability are perfect for this guitarist.
Bottom Line
This unit is an extraordinary investment when searching for a simple to utilize control design. In addition, you can by-pass the FX loop for a superior clean sound. This all consolidates together to give the market perhaps the most ideal amp for any jazz player.
Best Bass Amp for Jazz:
Roland JC-120
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Guitarists have a ton of extraordinary comments to make about this amp. They adore the simple upkeep as well as the lack of tone loss when playing. Even though numerous individuals feel that it doesn’t work well with pedals, they would highly recommend it for its clean channel.
Why it Stands Out to Us
There are a lot of extraordinary things about this amp, but what especially stood out to us was the individual triband EQ accessible for each input. This gives this Roland amp a degree of control that is superior to a wide selection of its companions.
Who Will Use This Most
Even though this is one of the best solid-state amps from Roland, it can be an incredible resource for any guitarist due to its clean channel, but the guitarist that will get the most is the jazz guitarist. The EQ control and the perfect tone make this great for the jazz guitarist who needs a fresh, clean sound.
Bottom Line
The Roland JC-120 is effectively the best by and large jazz bass amp available. It is built with high-quality internal mechanisms and parts, and it is also constructed with a frame that increases durability. The bassist will be able to take advantage of the two cone speakers and the effects that will help create the right sound.
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
When you are looking to buy a new amp, there are some aspects that you should consider before buying it. By paying attention to these aspects, you will be sure to find the right amp for you and your musical needs.
Customization
When you are looking to make this investment, you will want to consider how much room for sound creation you have. This may mean looking for an amp that will offer presets, effects, or even amp modeling. These are things that could be important to your sound.
Budget
Understanding what you have to invest in this important piece of equipment is crucial to your decision. By knowing your limit, you will be able to narrow down your field of choice.
Intent
One of the key aspects to consider is knowing the purpose of what you plan to use the amp for. Is it a practice amp? Are you looking for an amp for your home studio? This will dictate so much of what features and functions you look for in your new amp.
Pros and Cons of Getting a New Amp
There are a lot of benefits and disadvantages that you could take into consideration when looking into a new amp.
Pros
These are the absolute best parts of getting a new amp for your jazz guitar.
Improved Sound
With a new amp, you may see improved sound quality and capability. The new model may offer better tubes or circuitry that will heighten the amps abilities.
Tonal Range
Sound isn’t the only consideration, nor is it the only factor in creating a high-quality sound. By purchasing a new amp, you can increase your tonal range.
Customization
New amps often have more effects and channels available to use. This will help build your sound out.
Cons
With any product you buy, there will be some downsides. Here are the ones you will find with a jazz guitar amp.
Price
With a new amp, you may have to pay more. Though there are some great budget options, many high-quality amps will require an investment.
Familiarity
A new amp means you have to learn all new control interfaces and limits, and that could be frustrating at first.
Conclusion
With all this information and the wide variety of choices that we have laid out, it should be easy to make your decision on which of the best jazz guitar amps will be the best for you and your music.
