🔊 Amp Knowledge

Learn the signature tones of classic amps and find your sound

8
amps
4
tone categories
1952
earliest model
6+
brands covered

📖 Amp Types

Combo

Amp and speaker in one box—portable and simple

Pros:portable, plug-and-play, good value
Cons:limited wattage choices, speaker not swappable

Head + Cabinet

Amp head and cabinet separated for flexible pairing

Pros:customizable, higher power, more tone choices
Cons:bulky, expensive, requires cabinet

🎛️ Tone Categories

Clean

Clear, bright tones for jazz, country, and pop

Crunch

Light to medium drive for blues and classic rock

Chimey

Bright, sparkling highs—classic British sound

High Gain

Heavy distortion for metal and hard rock

Clean(2 models)

Twin Reverb
FenderCleanCombo195285W

Twin Reverb

The king of clean: glassy highs and iconic spring reverb. Often called the cleanest guitar amp ever.

📖 Story

Born in 1952, the Twin Reverb is Leo Fender's masterpiece. Designed for loud, pure clean tones, its 85 watts and huge headroom make it a studio and stage staple.

crystal-cleanheadroomspring-reverbscooped-mids

Notable users

Stevie Ray VaughanKeith RichardsThe EdgeEric Johnson

Best for

clean-tonescountryjazzbluesstudio

Recommended settings

volume:4-6
treble:6-7
bass:4-5
reverb:3-4

💡 Tips

The Twin has huge headroom—overdrive requires loud volume or pedals. Pairing with a Tube Screamer is classic.

Deluxe Reverb
FenderCleanCombo196322W

Deluxe Reverb

The Twin’s little brother—easier to break up and a studio secret weapon.

📖 Story

Many consider the 22-watt Deluxe Reverb Fender’s sweet spot. You get iconic cleans and sweet breakup at reasonable volume.

sweet-breakuprecording-favoritespring-reverbtouch-sensitive

Notable users

Larry CarltonRobben FordMike Campbell

Best for

bluescountryrockrecording

Recommended settings

volume:5-7
treble:6
bass:4
reverb:3

💡 Tips

The Deluxe starts to sweeten around volume 6–7, a favorite sweet spot for many players.

Crunch(2 models)

1959 Super Lead (Plexi)
MarshallCrunchHead1965100W

1959 Super Lead (Plexi)

The sound of British rock—mid-forward with creamy overdrive when loud.

📖 Story

In 1965 Jim Marshall built this 100-watt beast for Pete Townshend’s need for volume. The "Plexi" name comes from the plexiglass front panels on early models.

british-crunchmid-focusedharmonic-richnessdynamic

Notable users

Jimi HendrixJimmy PageAngus YoungEddie Van Halen

Best for

classic-rockhard-rockblues-rock

Recommended settings

presence:5
bass:4
middle:6
treble:6
volume:7+

💡 Tips

A Plexi needs volume to overdrive. Use an attenuator to get the sound at lower levels.

Rockerverb 50
OrangeCrunchHead200450W

Rockerverb 50

A modern take on British drive: thick yet clear with signature Orange mids.

📖 Story

Orange is known for its unique look and sound. The Rockerverb line blends classic British tone with modern features.

thick-midsbritish-crunchversatilebuilt-in-reverb

Notable users

Jim RootBrent HindsJimmy Page

Best for

stoner-rockdoomhard-rockalternative

Recommended settings

gain:5-7
treble:5
middle:6
bass:5

💡 Tips

Orange mids cut easily in a band. The dirty channel doesn’t need extreme gain.

High Gain(3 models)

JCM800 2203
MarshallHigh GainHead1981100W

JCM800 2203

The voice of 80s metal and hard rock—more gain and tighter lows than a Plexi.

📖 Story

The JCM800 became Marshall’s flagship in the 80s and defined the era’s heavy rock tone.

tight-low-endaggressivecutting-mids80s-rock

Notable users

SlashZakk WyldeTom MorelloKerry King

Best for

hard-rockmetalpunk80s-rock

Recommended settings

presence:6
bass:5
middle:7
treble:6
preamp:7
master:4

💡 Tips

Pairing a JCM800 with a Tube Screamer or SD-1 is a classic metal combo for tighter tone.

Dual Rectifier
Mesa/BoogieHigh GainHead1992100W

Dual Rectifier

The modern high-gain standard with huge lows and endless sustain.

📖 Story

The Dual Rectifier defined 90s high-gain. Its rectifier switch lets you choose tight or looser low end.

modern-high-gainthick-low-endscooped-midssustain

Notable users

Dave GrohlJohn PetrucciMark TremontiMetallica

Best for

metalnu-metaldjentmodern-rock

Recommended settings

gain:6-8
treble:7
middle:4
bass:6
presence:5

💡 Tips

Scooped mids can get lost in a band—boost mids to cut through.

5150/6505
Peavey/EVHHigh GainHead1992120W

5150/6505

Eddie Van Halen’s signature amp—tight, fierce, and endless sustain.

📖 Story

The 5150 (named after Eddie’s studio) set the high-gain standard from the 90s onward.

tight-gainaggressivemetal-standardsustain

Notable users

Eddie Van HalenTriviumAs I Lay DyingBullet For My Valentine

Best for

metalmetalcorehard-rockshred

Recommended settings

pre-gain:6-8
low:5
mid:5
high:6
post-gain:4

💡 Tips

The lead channel has plenty of gain already—no extra drive needed. The rhythm channel is great for crunch.

Chimey(1 models)

AC30
VoxChimeyCombo195830W

AC30

Sweet chime and sparkle—the signature British Invasion sound.

📖 Story

Launched in 1958 to satisfy The Shadows' demand for volume, the AC30’s EL84 tubes and Top Boost circuit create a tone that’s hard to replicate.

chimeyjanglytop-boostcompressionclass-A

Notable users

Brian MayThe EdgeRadioheadThe Beatles

Best for

british-invasionindiealternativejangle-pop

Recommended settings

normal-volume:5
brilliant-volume:6
treble:6
bass:4

💡 Tips

The Top Boost channel is the AC30’s magic. No master volume means you need volume for overdrive.

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