When shopping around for a reggae guitar amp, the factors you are most likely going to consider are:
...
• Tube amp vs. solid state• Wattage output
• New or used?
• Good clean
When shopping around for a reggae guitar amp, the factors you are most likely going to consider are:
• Tube amp vs. solid state
• Wattage output
• New or used?
• Good clean channel
• Budget ($$$)
With all that in mind, check out these four reggae amp choices—and some thoughts on settings:
Roland JC-120
NEW : $1,200 | USED: $400 to $800
This amp is a favorite among reggae guitar players because of the crystal-clear response you can hear while using the clean channel. It was used by reggae jazz guitarist Ernest Ranglin and Junior Marvin when he played with Bob Marley & The Wailers.
It's a solid-state, combo amp and features two 60-watt speakers that sounds good in live-music venues and recording studios.
The main disadvantage of this amp is the weak distortion channel, so if you are going to play some reggae rock solos, you'll definitely need some effect pedals. On the other hand, this amp is very versatile because it can also be used for acoustic guitar, keyboards and vocals.
Fender Twin Reverb
NEW: $1,450 | USED: $900-plus
This is the guitar amp that was used by Bob Marley and his lead guitarist in the Wailers, Al Anderson. The main appeal of this amp is the classic, vintage sound you get when the tubes are warmed up. Also, by using the vibrato channel, you can get a natural distortion and reverb effect from the amp that will sound much better than any guitar pedals.
This amp is 85 watts and is suitable for any live music setting. If you need something smaller, check out the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, which is a 40-watt combo amp for half the price.
Vox AC30
NEW: $1,000 | USED: $600 to 800
Vox amps were made popular by the