What Makes an Amp Great for Pedals?

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As more and more guitarists rely on pedals as the centerpiece of their tone, the need for amps as pedal platforms has never been greater. Be sure to watch until the end as Sweetwater‘s Mitch Gallagher covers what makes an amp great for stompboxes while demoing a few dirt pedals used in a pedal-platform setup. Check it out!
After you watch, check out Sweetwater.com today for all your music instrument and pro audio needs! 👉 imp.i114863.net/Ry3W6N
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[@sweetwater]

What's your favorite pedal platform amp? 🎸

[@dannyllerenatv8635]

Fender Super Reverb and TR Traditional Clean

[@claytonfairchild8213]

Morgan RCA 35

[@anthonyfesta1224]

I just bought a Orange Rocker 32. I’m liking it a lot.

[@guitfiddleblue]

Quilter TB202

[@phillippitts6294]

Katana

[@RedCarRecords]

Solid videos recently, Sweetwater. Very good info for those on that noble tone chasing quest! 🤘

[@sheedog7242]

I've played every amp under the sun and chased my tone forever. I've tried multi channel amps but ultimately become dissatisfied with the drive and lead tones. Trying to control volume for stages, sound guys, or smaller venues is also part of the struggle in searching for your tone. My ultimate tone was discovered when I bought the 64 Fender DR hand wired series. I go into my wah, Tubes Screamer 808 w/ Kealey Mod, Timmy OD, Phase 90, MXR M300 Reverb, MXR Carbon Copy. I've got the best clean with the amp, awesome overdriven rhythm tone with the 808, and then a more sustained lead tone by stepping on the Timmy OD. Whether it's my bandmates or other musicians I've never received more compliments or inquiries on my tone. I figure after 35 years of gigging I deserve to get something right!!!

[@lush462]

Cool! I am planning to buy the 1964 deluxe reverb... was in doubt between the fender and a tone king imperial.

[@sheedog7242]

@@lush462 I own both. The Tone King is LOUD. Now you can use the attenuator and it is great for "home" playing but it changes the tone enough that I wouldn't be happy with it for my live playing. You can't go wrong either way with those options IMHO

[@lush462]

@@sheedog7242 I ordered the Tone King lol. Couldnt resist.

[@andredegiant3876]

I use a Blackstar HT1 MKII (1 watt) with a 4ohm Warehouse speaker for home use and it sounds killer with pedals. You don't need a monster amp to get great results 🤙

[@Lunamist72]

I can attest to this. I ran my HT1R through my rectoverb's 12" 75 watt speaker and it sounded outstanding--and better than the rectoverb distortion, if I'm being honest.

[@andredegiant3876]

@@Lunamist72 Nice! Yeah the stock speaker isn’t terrible but it’s definitely a little fizzy at certain settings and has that typical 8’ boxiness lol

[@macsarcule]

I go into a super clean Boogie Fillmore 100 combo on one side and Roland JC 40 on the other. Loads of headroom and nice mix of warm tube + “cleanroom” digital. 🙂 Both from Sweetwater.

[@forrestw62]

Milkman TheAmp 100, works great driving my celestion neo 250 cabinet, and reference headphones. Works well going into warmer speaker cabs also.

[@ew6629]

Got a Magnatone Panoramic Stereo purchased from Sweetwater! Great pedal platform.

[@LEUNN_]

what supro amp is he playing through?

[@Greg-rd8qr]

Now I know! Thanks

[@SomeKindOfMadman]

I’ve owned the Hot Rod Deluxe, it definitely takes pedals very well. I’ve been debating on investing in a Roland Jazz Chorus amp because of its clean tone, but haven’t heard many overdrive or boost demos with that amp.

[@Doug_Seidlitz]

That Pedal Show did an extensive demonstration of the Jazz Chorus taking pedals.

[@Ryan-kw7gj]

I love my JC40, but have never found an OD that works well with it.

[@SomeKindOfMadman]

@@Ryan-kw7gj thank you for the reply. My always on pedals are; LovePedal TChula as boost; than; Nobles ODR-1 (mild boost that can clean up with light picking); lastly Cali76 Comp. Basically if those pedals are compatible, I’m planning on purchasing JC-20

[@SomeKindOfMadman]

@@Doug_Seidlitz thank you for that. I appreciate the info., going to do my research with the episode.

[@tomasorrtiz]

I use the Jazz Chorus 22 with a Tumnus Deluxe and Friedman Smallbox OD. EQ flat on the amp, dry without reverb and chorus, kick on the Smallbox, clean boost after OD. Sounds like ac/dc and GNR to me.

[@williampaul69]

If money or loudness is not a concern I’d suggest the Hiwatt

[@aghostofthenow7135]

Fender Deluxe Reverb. 😎

[@johndiloreto3738]

I use a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III for my pedals and it's superb. I keep it as clean as possible while loud, and run a Keeley compressor always on for my clean tone. I then boost them for gain with a Blues Driver, an MXR Super Badass Distortion, and a Blackout Effectors Musket Fuzz

[@michaelwallace1189]

If it hasn't had a problem yet, take it to a good amp tech and have them replace the IC caps and the five watt resistors. The tech should life the resistors off the board so they don't burn the board and destroy your expensive amp. If nothing is wrong, yet, You might be lucky, if you do it soon enough.

[@VonBluesman]

When talking a small to mid size amp, a Fender Princeton and a Fender Deluxe can not be beat for the price, just like the Strat and Tele, Fender got it right the first time.

[@modelcitizen1977]

My Hot Rod DeVille 4x10 is the best pedal platform I’ve used yet. It feels like it has unlimited headroom.

[@michaelwallace1189]

Have you had to replace the five watt resistors and get them off the board yet? Or the IC caps? These will cause a critical failure and if you really love your amp, it's worth the cost of the modifications.

[@francescofusca4466]

I've 2x12 version

[@theplatinumpearls]

Marshall JCM2000 and Orange CR120.

[@geetarbube]

Fender HRD

[@anup_pinkfloydian]

Howz fender hotrod Deluxe 4?

[@michaelwallace1189]

They haven't changed the design flaws, so I would say made to fail.

[@francescofusca4466]

My Fender HR Dv 212

[@wierdlygruesome]

Supro amps are awesome platforms one volume one tone get all the sounds you want

[@mojekh]

5E3 😊

[@endezeichengrimm]

It has to have a simple circuit without much filtering and gain stages. Of course, the smoother it is, the better it is.

[@Artec619]

Saying 'Fender' on the front

[@peterhughes8699]

Generally agree except for 1 thing - if we accept that time based pedals, and EQ's sound better, and the controls function better, in an FX loop (except where you're specifically shooting for the vintage muffled analog effect) then...... no amp can be considered a good pedal platform unless it has a high quality FX loop. So none of the amps listed in this video are great for pedals imo cos none have a loop. They might sound great with overdrives and distortions but all the time based pedals, and EQs, plugged into them will sound and operate less than optimal

[@idanramos1942]

I agree with you, a loop is also a must to have if you want to integrate preamps like the Victory VX series or Synergy modules for more tonal options, I was in the search for the perfect pedal and preamp platform (in a combo format) and came up with this list: Supro/Keeley, Fender hot rod deluxe, Vox AC30S1, Mesa Fillmore series, I also had high expectations on the Rivera Stage IV (it has an FX loop) but the Reverb is before the loop which is weird if you want to use modulation and delay... I got the Fillmore and an EVH 5150 III 50W head (and I am not a metal player) but found that the EVH heads have a great clean channel, great fx loops, and work very well with my synergy syn1 modules and Victory preamps...

[@peterhughes8699]

@@idanramos1942 ok you ended up with great amps imo but Fenders and Vox ACs don't have loops so not sure what you were thinking there :)

[@kkjhn41]

The Supro/Keely amp that is used in this video does have an FX loop. Also, plenty of time - based effects sound great in a pedal board going directly into the front panel guitar inputs of lots of different amps. You may think that everyone in every case sounds muffled to you and that they are operating less than optimally but you cannot say that we all agree on your assessment. It's your opinion and that's fine but there are lots of players that have a different opinion which is fine as well.

[@peterhughes8699]

@@kkjhn41 No I'm not saying everyone agrees with me. Most players with loops on amps I've met do however. If your amp has a loop you have the option of either going up front, or in loop. With an amp with no loop you only have 1 option. That's why no amp can be considered a great pedal platform unless it has a good FX loop :)

[@bennyharderguitar]

I won’t buy an amp without an effects loop. I currently use the Revv D20 as a clean pedal platform.

[@gktde9874]

Plexi Marshall

[@phillippitts6294]

I love my katana!☠️☠️☠️🤟🏼

[@michaelwallace1189]

Tell me more. I'm considering a Katana as a solid state backup for when I need new valves and or service.

[@phillippitts6294]

@@michaelwallace1189 if you’re playing onstage you might want the 100 watt 2x12 . All kinds of tone’s available. 3 or 4 programmable channels depending on wattage. 50 vs. 100 watt. It loves pedals, you can change wattage. Not heavy, definitely reasonable on the used market. And you can go online and download a load of things. Hope this helps. 🖖🏼

[@hyderameer-xn9dh]

Hey, I m on the same path. Just need a great pedal platform. Katana is coming in my financial range, should I go for it without being worried?

[@phillippitts6294]

@@hyderameer-xn9dh you can find a used one fairly reasonably priced. The katana artist sounds pretty darn good.🖖🏻

[@rockdaddy2168]

My theory is if you need a distortion pedal you bought the wrong amp. I'm a tube guy ( the only solid state amps I have are tube hybrids for bass guitars). Yes they make tube amps that deliver gain beyond your wildest dreams. I have a Peavey Joe Satriani that channel 3 has so much distortion available they had to put a noise gate on it so it won't spooge all over itself. (Not to mention my original 5150 Block letter) My Marshall 410H 4th channel has more gain and distortion than any amp Marshall ever built. My Rivera KR100 and Bonehead can take you to beyond what you really need. And my Rivera TBR2s can blast you into space. Distortion pedals are solid state or IC chips trying to sound like tubes. (Did I mention I have a Masters degree in electronics) Enough about distortion. Let's talk stereo chorus. I loved my Rolland 120. Everyone loves their Rolland, except when you have to move it. Pristine sounds, however if you want to use a distortion pedal I agree I've never found one that sounds good with it, except a Rolland VG99 or GR55 with a synth guitar. Great distortion sounds. I use those and a Godin LGXT when I need a wide variety of effects and instruments in the studio. Amp's gone now. However, back to stereo chorus. I found the Rivera S120 to be a very sweet and warm all tube stereo chorus amp. It has 2 seperate 60 watt tube power amps and a 2 channel tube preamp, one Fender voiced and one Marshall voiced or bypass them and use the power amps. A true stereo chorus . I have 4 combos, each with different 12" speaker pairs: JBL120s, EVM12Ls, Jensens, and Vintage 30s. Also a S120 head. Yes I have gone freaking crazy (I'm deranged) over these but as a collector I just watch the values go up every day. If you can find one of these I recommend the head and 2 speaker cabinets on opposite sides of the stage, mind blowing. However the combo let's you unplug the internal speakers and use external cabinets also. As far as a pedal platform all Rivera amps take to pedals like a calf to a teat. Made for it. There are some tube distortion pedals out there that are decent alternatives. I've never needed them but I've heard them, you might give them a try. We are all chasing our own ultimate tone, it is a journey and a fun one. Good luck. PS: If It's Too Loud, Your Too Old. (70s mantra)

[@kkjhn41]

So many hearing damaged 70's musicians including myself, so much for that stupid mantra.

[@michaelwallace1189]

I agree. I didn't used to, when I used a fender. I learned after I got a Blackstar that the amp distortion is miles better than any pedal I have ever tried. Now I'm addicted to fuzz and compression, but that's another story.

[@electricurinal]

Hahaha..... "the two common ways of using an amp is to use your amp with pedals, or to use your amp.... with pedals." lma0

[@kirksmart6978]

A

[@RJ_HTx]

Fender !!!!! Since most pedal builders use fender amps as a test amp.