While any guitar amp can work for the blues, there are certain amps that are voiced in a way that compliments this genre of music. Today’s article will be about the best amps for the blues.
Affordable Blues Amps
I highly would recommend the Fender Blues Junior or the Fender Blues Deluxe. Both amps can be found for around the $500 price range and are voiced specifically for blues. I personally own both amps and think they are really great for the price. Sure they don’t beat out expensive boutique amps, but I’ve heard them give amps in the $1000 price range a run for their money!
Expensive Blues Amps
If you’ve got the money to burn, then why not get the best amps for blues. I would definitely take the boutique route. Two makers I recommend are Metropolis Amps and Two Rock Amps. On the Fender side of things, the Deluxe Reverb and Super Reverb do blues very well!
Dirty Blues Amps
If you want more of an in-your-face, biting tone blues amp, I have some great recommendations. Jimi Hendrix, while many may not know, was an incredible blues guitarist especially on numbers like Red House and Bleeding Heart. Two amps I highly recommend for a dirty blues tone would be the Marshall Plexi Superlead or JTM 45/100 and the Fender Tweed Bassman Combo. These amps give you a bit more touch sensitivity on your guitar to really increase your solo ability.
Low Wattage Blues Amps (ideal for Home use)
If you are looking for something not too loud, but with great blues tone, two great choices come to mind. The Fender Champ, a great amp with sparkly cleans for an airy kind of blues; and the Marshall Class 5 will give you more of that dirty-marshall-bluesy-goodness.
Which Amps do Blues Guitarists Use?
Jimi Hendrix – Marshall JTM-45/100 (early years) Marshall Plexi Superlead (later years)
BB King – Fender Twin Reverb
Buddy Guy – Fender Tweed Bassman
Stevie Ray Vaughan – Fender Super Reverb & Vibroverb
Eric Clapton – Marshall Bluesbreaker, Marshall Plexi (when he was with Cream)
Freddie King – Fender Twin
Well there you have it. I hope this article helps you find the best amp for blues.
GuitarToneTalk.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Sure..the big 3..Fender/Marshall/Vox are all hard to beat for playing blues,and lets face it..its got to be a tube rig to “get it right”
Blues is very subjective in tastes/styles/origionality..I use a tube rig that was designed for hard rock/heavy metal..its a 50 watt,1×12’reverb combo that can fill up a room. I was not looking to be/have a copy/clone/wannabe of any major brand amp…just wanted to hear and be myself..and I got what I have been looking for! Respects.