Jazz Amp Recommendations
 

Ok.. So a while back I got a Epi ES-175 for my 19 yr old son. He's in college and plays in a Jazz band (drums, bass, Trumpet, Trombone and Sax) and him on Guitar.

I've been loaning him my little Vox 15 Pathfinder. But it isn't enough amp ... Turned up it is too distorted and buzzy for him (playing clean jazz). It's pretty much a practice amp. Not really enough to keep up.

Trying to figure out an amp... Needs to be lightweight and smallish.. Since it will be in his dorm (4th floor walk up). I'd like to keep it around $300.

I'm thinking solid state.. Not necessarily a modeling amp. Since he doesn't use effects. Just a touch of reverb.

Wish I hadn't sold my Bugera 22. That prob would have been perfect.

So What would you suggest?

Stretch your budget a bit and/or wait for a coupon day at your local big-box store - there's no reason you can't buy another one... :guitar:

Hi Jake. You might want to check out the Fender Mustang series amps. They are modeling amps, which your son doesn't need, but they sound surprisingly good and are fun to play around with. I bought one for my son a few years ago, the 100 watt version, and it is plenty loud with clean headroom. More complicated than my Princeton, but he likes that.

Roland Cube 60 or 80. Used way under your budget. Weight and space friendly.

hunter

Thanks for the replies..

Yes.. That Bugera was nice especially with new JJ tubes!

I have played through a Mustang III before and liked it a lot. I even gigged it a couple times. That would be a good choice, although I know he wouldn't use most of the effects.

The Roland amp is a good idea too. They have a nice reverb and chorus . As I recall. Will check into the 60.

There's an Ibanez TSA30 compbo on Reverb for $340 with free shipping. Ibanez TSA amps have fantastic clean jazz tones. You can have it shipped right to him.

If you're going solid-state check out a Fender Champion 40 - effects engine/front end from the Super Champ x2 combo with a 40W SS power stage and a 12" speaker, in a 19-pound box; FYI they've gotten some excellent reviews, there's sufficient clean power for a medium-size jazz gig, and at $179 new/~$100 used you almost can't afford not to own one. BTW these little Fender SS amps really come into their own with a speaker swap (think "American" voicing for jazz) - the (discontinued) cult-favorite Frontman 25R 1x10" can cover anything from country clean to hard rock with an Eminence Lil' Buddy/Ragin' Cajun/Copperhead under the hood - and since it's about the best way I know to breathe new life into an amp (or tweak the tone to your liking), a Champion 40 could be turned into a formidable performer with a mellower speaker like the (no pun intended) Cannabis Rex or Swamp Thang (my personal fave) for not a lotta bucks...

Good stuff..

Gmountain - Thanks, I checked on that Ibanez.. But it is in NZ and prob not worth taking the chance on.

Steve D.. That Fender Champion 40 may be a good one to check out .. price is right too. Even with a speaker swap..

Reverb has another TSA30 for 429, with make an offer. Might be worth offering $375.

Roland amps are synonymous with Jazz players is my understanding.

/\/\/\
That's a cool sounding little amp!

Thanks.

Polytone minibrute are a top amp

i have the roland cube 60d and it is a great amp. i've read where people set it to the JC setting and it sounds like the famous jc120. and, i agree.

play music!

Polytone mini brute. Can be found in your budget. It will NEVER be outgrown by him.

Here's a comparison between the brute and a cube. Both sound great to me.