-
Willie Greer
- August 18, 2021
Your electric jazz guitar needs a good amplifier to produce the best quality sound, but will all amps suffice? Our team of audio professionals says no. Without picking the right product, your sound quality may suffer. We have taken the time to compile a few of the best jazz guitar amps on the market to help you choose.
- 25-watt combo amplifier
- Small color display
- Stereo headphone output
- USB interface
- Gain, volume, bass, treble controls
- Headphone output jack
- Closed back design
- Portable handle
- Very affordable price
- Comes in various colors
- Gain, bass, volume, treble controls
- Comes with many sound effects
Reviews of the Top Jazz Guitar Amplifiers
Fender Frontman 10G
Fender amps are known to be an excellent amp for jazz guitarists, and the Fender 10G comes with maximum compatibility for in-home or show use. There is a ⅛” aux jack that works with all other devices that feature the same connection.
The jazz amp has a small profile and is easily transportable to and from venues. The output is 10 watts with 4 ohms, and it even comes with a headphone jack in case you want to practice without disturbing your neighbors.
You can customize your sound output with the treble, gain, volume, and bass knobs.
What We Like
- Delivers a clean tone
- Portable amp
- Headphone jack
- Aux jack
- 10 watts
- 4 ohm
- Adjustable gain, treble, volume, and bass
What We Don't Like
- A little boxy
- No digital reverb circuit
Fender Mustang LT-25
The Fender Mustang LT-25 is a larger model from Fender that comes with a small color display that boosts user-friendliness. Jazz guitarists will also appreciate the beautiful wooden cabinet and the 25-watt output from this jazz guitar amp.
The LT-25 also comes with 30 presets, providing your guitar with plenty of effects. Fender was also very considerate with this amp and also included a headphone jack for silent practice.
The USB interface makes recording sessions easier as well as firmware updates to keep your amp in tip-top performance condition.
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What We Like
- USB interface
- Silent practice headphone jack
- Full-sized amp
- Built-in chromatic tuner
- 25-watt combo amp
- Color display
- 50 available presets with 30 preloaded
- Beautiful wooden enclosure
What We Don't Like
- Very minimal buzzing noise at very high volumes
- Might vibrate
LyxPro AGL20NW
If you’re looking for the best jazz guitar amp at a good price range, look no further than the LyxPro AGL20NW. It’s one of the most affordable on the market, bringing excellent performance that jazz and rock guitarists will love.
One of the best parts about this is the different finishes. It comes in many colors that make a great practice amp that provides a great jazz tone to your guitar. The 20-watt amp allows you to display your jazz creativity with various controls and effects. The clean tones are also thanks to the easily accessible control knobs.
What We Like
- Excellent for jazz playing
- A good jazz amp for the price range
- Secured rubber edges
- Easy controls
- Comes in multiple colors
- Lightweight amp
- Compact amp
What We Don't Like
- Doesn’t work with an acoustic guitar
- Higher gain may give you some noise
Blackstar Fly3
The Blackstar Fly3 is a very small jazz guitar amp that has two channels. There is a lot to desire from the Fly3 because it brings a lot to the table. It’s an excellent portable guitar amp that gives you a clean jazz tone. The mini amp has patented ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) and a digital tape delay effect.
As for connections, the Blackstar guitar amplifiers have MP3 and LINE jacks built-in that works with many of your media devices. Another amazing feature of the guitar amp is it can be battery powered to operate wherever you go.
What We Like
- MP3 and Line in jacks
- Patented ISF
- Very small and compact mini guitar amps
- Can be battery or DC powered
- Clean and overdrive channels
- Comes in different colors
- Digital tape delay effect
What We Don't Like
- May get a humming from A/C adapter
- Only works with Blackstar plug
FLAMMA FA05
Another small amp for jazz guitarists is the FLAMMA FA05 Bluetooth portable guitar amp. There are 7 preamp types, including clean, overdrive, and playing rhythm.
There are built-in EQ and reverb settings to help jazz players customize their tone. Compared to other amps on our list, the FA05 has a Bluetooth connection, which is a huge bonus for many jazz guitar players.
The versatile device allows for silent practicing and gives jazz players infinite opportunities to get creative with the sound. It even comes with a little drum machine with different styles and a built-in tuner.
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What We Like
- Drum machine
- Built-in tuner
- 7 amp models available
- One of the best guitar amps for customized sound
- You can use the same amp for practice and shows
- Great amp for wireless Bluetooth
- Small profile
- Can produce a rich, warm tone
What We Don't Like
- Isn’t compatible with rechargeable batteries
- May not work well with an archtop guitar
LyxPro AGL60
LyxPro knows what jazz musicians want, and it delivers. This particular amp also comes in a wide variety of colors and provides a lot of power, 60 watts to be exact.
The control knobs are all located conveniently on the front and give a jazz guitarist the freedom to set the treble, gain, bass, and volume, among other things. The LyxPro AGL60 jazz amp provides a clean, warm tone with pitch-perfect equalization and three listening experiences.
The amp sounds amazing for live gigs and even street performances. Solo or group playing won’t sound the same again with the addition of these jazz amps.
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What We Like
- 60-watt powerful speaker
- EQ controls
- Features overdrive effects
- Mic input
- 4-ohm impedance
- Delivers a clean tone
- Solid state amp
- Many colors
What We Don't Like
- A little heavy
- Isn’t as portable as some other models
Monoprice 611800
Most jazz guitarists can rely on the Monoprice 611800 to meet their needs. The powerful 40-watt jazz amp drives a 4 ohm speaker for only a 0.5% harmonic distortion. There is a 3-band equalizer, spring reverb, and volume controls that many jazz guitarists can appreciate.
The reverb and the gain are also adjustable for the overdrive, plus there is a line level input that can connect to more devices like a mixing board. The jazz guitar amp is a little heavier than some of the more compact models, but our sonic experts say that it is a sacrifice people often have to make to get the best guitar sound.
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What We Like
- Solid state amp
- Powerful 40-watt amp
- 4 ohm speaker
- Equalizer knobs
- 0.5% total harmonic distortion
- Spring reverb
- Adjustable gain for overdrive
What We Don't Like
- Corners are protected by plastic
- May not sound the best with a semi-hollow body guitar
Jazz Guitar Amplifier Buyer’s Guide
Size and Design
The design and size of the best jazz guitar amplifier will be perfect for your needs. If you are someone who requires jazz guitar amps just for practicing, then a larger amp won’t be a problem. On the other hand, our audio team says those looking to improve their jazz guitar tone in different venues will need portable jazz guitar amps.
Keep the measurements and the weight in mind when looking for your new amplifier. The control knobs should be well placed and easily accessible. Also, ask if there are different colors to choose from. Some people care a lot about the aesthetics and would appreciate different finishes.
While you’re looking at the exterior, also double-check if the corners are well protected, because our engineers say those are the areas that tend to bump and take the most impact. For portable amps, look for carrying handles made from durable materials that won’t snap under the weight.
Power
As you can see, our list includes amps with varying power ratings. We have small miniature models that only give about 3 watts while other full-sized options can reach up to 60. The best jazz guitar amps for you will have enough power to fill the venue.
You can also find ones that produce exceptional power at around 120 watts, but those will be much more costly.
Controls
What types of controls does the amp have? EQ controls are basic, but our experts also suggest looking for gain, volume, and tuning controls.
The control knobs should be easy to read and optimally placed. Having these controls can be the difference between clean sound and minimal distortion, and much background noise.
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Connections
The type of connections your amp provides determines which devices it can work with. RCA, aux, and line level inputs are very common. You may even find USB [1] interfaces that make recording easier. Our expert testers also included one with Bluetooth connection that will pair automatically with any device that supports the wireless connection.
In this day and age, Bluetooth is a ubiquitous presence among electronic devices, which makes it a good idea to include it in your amp.
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Solid State vs Tube Amplifiers
There are two types of amps for your jazz guitar, and they are solid state amps and tube amps. The big question is which type you should go for. Tube amps earn their name because they use vacuum tubes for amplification. Tube amps tend to give off a warmer and cleaner tone. However, a tube amp can also have its drawbacks.
For one thing, a tube amp has a harder time producing a more aggressive tone. They also tend to be larger, which means portable amps aren’t as likely to be tube amps. The maintenance also takes more time since the tubes need to be replaced. You can also find combo options. A tube combo amplifier is one that has an amp and speaker in one model.
As for solid state amps, they use transistors for amplification, which is a more modern approach. Compared to tube amps, a solid state amp is usually lighter and more compact. The best solid state amps are excellent for portability.
The clean tone these amps produce is consistent despite the volume levels, and they may even have digital effects built in to create more custom and creative sounds. Solid states are what our expert musicians suggest for acoustic instruments.
Price
The last consideration for the best jazz guitar amplifier is the price. Do you have an allocated budget for your amp? Luckily, guitar amplifiers are not that pricey, and our experts have included models that range from closer to $50 to ones that are closer to $200. Your choice will depend on what you need, the type of amp, and its internal features.
Another big indicator of the price is the power of your amp. Ones that provide 5 to 20 watts may only be under 200, but ones that provide over 100 watts will cost you closer to 1000. Our team made sure to include some options that can provide 40 to 60 watts that are still on the lower end of the price scale.
Like our experts mentioned before, you may need to sacrifice some power for the portability of a jazz amp. The key to finding the right one is to weigh out which aspect is more important to you.
FAQ
What amps do jazz guitarists use?
Jazz guitarists use solid state Fender amps. This is a generalization, but Fender amps are great for jazz, and solid state amps produce clean tones. On top of that, solid state amps also provide more portability and come at a decent price range.
Are Fender amps good for jazz?
Yes, Fender amps are good for jazz. In fact, the best jazz guitar amplifiers for this type of music. The Fender brand has been around for years and has extensive experience crafting the best amps available for jazz guitarists to showcase their skills.
Our Top Pick For a Jazz Guitar Amplifier:
Fender Frontman 10G
Our top choice for the best jazz guitar amplifier is the Fender Frontman 10G. It’s easily portable and provides excellent sound quality that is customizable with gain, volume, treble, and bass controls. The closed-back construction, corner protection, and rubber feet also add to the durability of the amp for longevity. It will accompany you at practices and shows for many years to come.
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