The 5 Best Amps For Clean Tones & Guitar Pedals 2024

Are you looking for a powerful amp that will give you clean tones and serve as a great platform to use pedals with? Well, look no further!

I’ve done the hard work of researching all the best amps on the market so that you can make an informed and quick decision.

In this blog post, I’ve outlined five of the best amps for clean tones – perfect for any guitarist who wants the best out of their rig.

It’s critical to point out that these amplifiers are top-tier choices, but many great amps have yet to be included. I wanted to keep this article short and punchy, so some excellent options were left out. One of these options will work for you, but don’t get mad if you don’t see the amp you’ve had your eye on missing on this list.

Alright, with that out of the way, ready to find out which ones made our cut?

Let’s get started…

TL;DR: My Top 3 Picks

The best amps for cleans in 2024

1. Dr. Z Z-28 (Editor’s Choice)
   
2. Roland Jazz Chorus (Best Solid-State)
   
3. Supro Keeley (Best Pedal Platform Amp)
   
4. Boss Katana (Best Value for Money)
   
5. Fender Twin Reverb (Best Vintage Clean Tone)

My favorite choice for a clean pedal platform amp comes from an amplifier that doesn’t even have a dedicated effects loop. It might sound crazy, but what goes on underneath the hood of the Dr. Z Z-28 makes this one of the best guitar amplifiers for taking whatever pedal you throw at it.

The secret sauce of the Z-28 is in the tube choice in the preamp and power amp section. This amp features an EF-86 preamp tube into a 12ax7 preamp tube. This tube combination provides a monster amount of clean gain and is exceptionally dynamic and responsive. This clean gain is critical for ensuring that any pedal you throw at it will work with the guitar amp and not choke out your tone.

The power amp section features a pair of 5881 tubes with a sing 5AR4 rectifier tube. This tube pairing has become a favorite of amp builder Dr. Z. This is for its ability to retain the clean tones of an American amp while getting the mid-range punch of a British amp at a higher gain. For the sake of looking for the best clean guitar amps, the Z-28 allows you to maintain excellent dynamics at a high or low volume.

Speaking of volume and clean tone, the Z-28 features a phase-inverted master control. This control lets you roll back the amplifier’s volume without affecting the tube-driven tone of the amp. So this makes it a very versatile amp for at-home use, in the studio, and on the stage.

The Dr. Z Z-28 guitar amp is a straightforward amplifier that features a single channel with a volume, treble, bass, and post-phase inverter master knob. While this setup may seem limiting to some guitar players, the amount of tones you can coax from this all-tube amplifier is astounding.

The Z-28 is an expensive guitar amplifier for a very straightforward amp. However, the build quality, great clean tone, and hand-wired design make this a fantastic amp purchase.

It comes in a combo with a 12-inch Celestion Creamback speaker or as an amplifier head. To run stereo effects, you must purchase the amp head and connect it to a speaker cabinet with more than one speaker. The combo amp doesn’t have an output to connect to external speakers.

Suppose you’re looking for a well-made amplifier with a high-fidelity clean sound that your pedal board can shape. In that case, you need to seriously consider the Dr. Z Z-28 today!

The Roland Jazz Chorus solid-state guitar amplifiers are known for their pristine cleans, fantastic bucket-brigade chorus, and twin speaker configuration.

If you are looking for an amplifier that will need minimal maintenance (tube amps can be a pain), fits any budget, and will take whatever pedal you throw at it, the Roland Jazz Chorus is worth a look.

Because this amp doesn’t use any vacuum tubes and uses transistors instead, the clean tone of this amp can be pushed without adding dirt or distortion. This makes it an excellent Jazz amp and one of the best pedal platforms.

Every Jazz Chorus has twin speakers allowing you to maximize your stereo time-based effects, like an analog delay or “whoosing” flanger. This is something that any other guitar combo amplifier (besides the Fender Twin) can give you.

Also, there are quite a few extra features that make the Jazz Chorus a serious bargain. Each model has a built-in reverb and chorus effect. The larger JC-40 and Roland JC-120 also come with distortion, but to be honest, the sound of this distortion might make some users long for something more “tube-like.”

There are quite a few different options, which can be daunting for first-time users. I recommend the JC-22 for those who want an amp for their home studio or at-home practice. If you’re playing live shows, then the JC-40 should suffice, but if you need your amp to be LOUD, go with the Roland JC-120.

Suppose you’re not a staunch lover of tube amps, and hearing the word “solid-state amp” doesn’t make you cringe. In that case, you’ll find the Roland Jazz Chorus one of the best clean guitar amps for the money.

Many guitarists are searching for a tube amp that will allow them to put guitar pedals into the signal path and use the amplifier as a springboard into new sonic territories. An amp that won’t stand in the way of the guitar tone and their inspiration.

The Supro Keeley is a crystal-clear tube amp that delivers a flexible and dynamic response to whatever guitar pedal you run through it. The Keeley keeps things simple with a volume and master control and two-band EQ to help you shape your sound without distorting or overloading the amp. Also included is a transparent effect loop to add depth to your mix with a range of modulation and time effects without overloading the preamp.

The Keeley also uses a solid-state rectifier stage to keep transients snappy and headroom high. As you add in your effects pedals, you will feel the responsiveness and dynamics stay consistent when playing through this amp. 

The Keeley comes in two different options. The 1970s 10-inch design with a more balanced and transparent speaker or the 1968 design with a 12-inch Creamback for more British-inspired bluesy amp tones. The ’68 will “dirty” up your clean tones, so if you’re looking for a blank canvas, go with the ’70s.

The Supro Keeley lineup of amplifiers isn’t the most versatile amp on its own and is pretty expensive. However, because this clean amp has been designed in partnership with Keeley Electronics to be a perfect pedal platform, you are ensuring that your purchase will work well with the pedals you’ve already invested in.

If you’re looking to shape your guitar tones with guitar pedals, and are looking for the best clean guitar amp, look no further than the Supro Keeley lineup of amps today!

The Boss Katana is one of the most popular modeling amps in the world. It’s an incredible all-in-one amplifier that gives you access to multiple amp sounds, effects, and expansion in a lightweight package.

Because the Katana is a solid-state amplifier, you will get an excellent clean tone no matter what amp model you choose. However, all the built-in effects you can access make Katana’s the best clean guitar amps for many players.

While there is nothing like a rich, resonant clean tone, being able to experiment with modulation effects on the fly is a really fun feature. You can achieve this with the other options on this list; however, you must invest in many different pedals.

With the Boss Katana, you have 60 different effects to play with to add more depth to your clean signal. On top of that, you can expand to external speakers to take advantage of stereo effects. You also have speaker cab simulation outputs for silent recording or removing stage volume from your live performances.

Even if you already own a few great amps, the Boss Katana would still be a great addition to your rig. It makes an excellent practice amp because of the silent headphone jack and the variable wattage control to help you keep your amplifier at apartment-friendly volumes.

The flexibility and scope of the Boss Katana are immense, and it’s worth reading a dedicated product page to see all this can do.

The bottom line is if you are looking for the best clean guitar amps that pack a ton of value, then the Boss Katana is a no-brainer choice.

You can’t have an article on the best clean amps and not include a Fender. Fender amps are synonymous with twangy, crisp, clear tube amp tones.

The four 12ax7 preamp tubes feeding into the 6L6 power tubes are the secret mojo behind this high-headroom, very powerful amp with a gorgeous clean sound. The Fender Twin Reverb has two channels. Both channels have input gain, a bright switch, and EQ. The second channel features spring reverb and tremolo effects that produces classic tones you’ve heard on countless records.

The two Jenson speakers keep the clean guitar tones crispy and sharp. While the tilt-back legs help keep stage volume down and that ability to hear yourself up.

This amp gets extremely loud. So if you are looking for the perfect amp for practicing your licks at home, consider another option unless you have a perfectly soundproofed room. In that case, wear earplugs!

The Fender ’65 Twin Reverb is one of the best guitar amps of all time, and having one in your collection, if you are a vintage clean tone kind of person, is a must!

What makes great clean guitar amps (especially for guitar pedals)?

Many things go into the design of an amp that makes it either a good or bad amplifier for clean sounds and pedals. While this topic is well beyond the scope of this article, the following things should be considered when doing further research.

Headroom

Headroom is the amount of power available before overloading tubes and circuits. While pushing vacuum tubes to break up is often a desirable and sought-after sound for guitarists, you want more headroom if you’re looking for pristine clean tones in a guitar amp.

The type of preamp and power tubes used in the construction will indicate how much headroom tube amps will have.

Classic power tubes used in American amps are 6L6 and 6v6. 6L6s are generally utilized in higher-wattage amps and have higher headroom and broader frequency response. While 6v6s often have more compression and break up faster and at lower volumes and less frequency response. The Twin Reverb uses 6L6s, which is a reason the amplifier stays clean and “hi-fi” at differing gain stages.

Similarly, British Amps often use EL34 and EL84 power tubes. The EL34 is similar to the 6L6, while the EL84 is like the 6v6. However, it’s worth mentioning that the tonal characteristics are different between these tubes, which gives the distinctive American or British “Invasion” sound.

Higher headroom amps also tend to take guitar pedals better because they have a wider dynamic range and won’t “choke out” your signal.

Tube Amp vs. Solid State

Tube guitar amplifiers use vacuum tubes to create the sound, while solid-state amps use transistors. 

Tube amps have a warmer, richer tone with a natural distortion and are known for their classic “valve” sound. They need more maintenance than solid-state amps and are generally more expensive. You will want higher headroom for great tube amps for clean tones. Typically, this is found in higher-wattage amps.

Solid-state amps have a much cleaner, clearer sound but lack the warmth of tube amps. They’re less temperature-sensitive, more reliable, and require less maintenance over time. Solid-state amps make fantastic amps for clean sounds because they have headroom for days. However, they may seem less loud than a valve-state amp. So you can’t take the wattage as 1:1 when comparing the two.

Another thing to consider with solid-state amps is that they sometimes have a more “sterile” sound, which can make gain and distortion pedals sound fizzy and thin.

The Bottom Line on the Best Amp For Cleans

The best guitar amp for clean tones depends on your musical style and preferences. Higher-wattage tube amps such as the Fender ’65 Twin Reverb are great for classic American rock ‘n’ roll sounds with plenty of headroom.

On the other hand, solid-state amplifiers can provide a cleaner, clearer sound that is better suited for jazz and indie amp stylings.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of preference and experimentation to find the right amp for your sound. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. But with the proper research and experimentation, you can find the amp that best suits your clean tone needs.

Thanks for reading!