You have a Tele and want the best possible tone you can get from it. Here are my favorite amplifiers to pair with your Telecaster guitar.
Quick Links To Our Best Telecaster Amp Recommendations
- Fender ’65 Twin Reverb Amp – MY TOP CHOICE! Excellent Telecaster country music and/or blues guitar tones with a nice overdrive when pushing the gain. Fender Telecaster guitarists will love these amplifiers!
- Vox AC15 – The runner up because the tone is incredible when plugged into a Telecaster!
- Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV – a great “go anywhere” option that can handle many genres of music.
- Fender Blues Junior III – for legendary blues guitar tones.
- Fender ’59 Bassman LTD – for guitar players looking for a more vintage vibe and sound from their Telecasters.
Find the best amp for Telecaster options on the market and try them all, if possible. The following is a list of top amps that we picked for this purpose.
Contents
Our Top Telecaster Amplifier Reviews:
1. Fender ’65 Twin Reverb Amp – My Favorite Telecaster Amp!
This amp has a clean tone style that has attracted countless musicians playing both rhythm and lead guitar. It features an all tube amp design that provides warm sound with a great response even at the loudest settings. Inside are two Jensen C-12K speakers that provide excellent clarity so you can hear every note. It has equalizer settings for each. There are also controls for the reverb, speed, and intensity. These amps can provide 85 watts of power with two channels for venues large and small.
If you love to play country music, then this is the amp for you. Pairing a Telecaster and a ’65 Twin Reverb will provide the high-pitched twang that has always been associated with this genre. The original 1965 model may be too expensive for most people but there are reissues that can be acquired at a reasonable sum just like Telecasters. So enjoy the glorious reverb and vibrato with the iconic tone. This amp is also suitable for jazz, jazz, and other genres.
PROS:
- Provides defining country sound
- All-tube guitar amplifier design
- Excellent note clarity
CONS:
- Sensitive treble on vibrato channel
- No dust cover included
- Cheap footswitch for vibrato and reverb
This is a nice guitar amplifier for a Stratocaster too.
Our Rating –
4.5/5
Check The Latest Price On The Fender ’65 Twin Reverb
2. Vox AC15 – My #2 Amplifier For Telecaster Choice
You know that a product is good if it has staying power. This one came out in 1958 and it has continued to be in high demand ever since. It is only rated at 15 watts but it gets quite loud so you can fill a small venue with sound. With a small frame and a light weight, this amp can be taken to gigs across town or in practice sessions from house to studios. It is a bit heavy for its class but still reasonable for big people.
Plug in a Telecaster and you will fall in love even more. It creates a dirty sound with lots of personality. The all-tube amp provides that elusive Vox tone and unrivaled performance. As for the speakers, it comes with either a 12-inch Alnico Blue or a Celestion Greenback. For the inputs, you get jacks for normal, top boost, and footswitch. For the outputs, you get jacks for an external and an extension loudspeaker.
PROS:
- Great for novices who want to play with effects
- Iconic tremolo sound
- British all-tube design for loud sound
CONS:
- Not great with distortion pedals
- Reverb can go overboard quickly
- Heavy for a 15W guitar amp
Our Rating –
4/5
Check The Latest Price On The Vox AC15
3. Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV
Plugging in a Fender Telecaster to a Fender guitar amp makes a lot of sense, especially if you are talking about a Hot Rod Deluxe IV. This 40-watt has a Celestion 12-inch A-type speaker in a light pine cabinet. The name points to the modified circuitry of the preamp which provides better clarity and tone. You can push it to overdrive while maintaining impressive definition instead of succumbing to a mushy sound as is so common. The spring reverb has also been modified for smoother control with the sound remaining the same.
The Hot Rod is fairly light for its class although it is not that small. Portability depends on your tolerance for bulk. In any case, this was not designed to be a “go anywhere” type of amp for all-day practice. In fact, it does not even have a headphone jack. This works best for gigs where you need a loud Fender amp that can maintain clarity when pushed. Some have complained about quality issues but most are happy with this Telecaster amplifer.
PROS:
- Better clarity even at overdrive
- Smoother reverb dial
- Very loud speakers
CONS:
- No headphone jack for practice
- Some quality issues
Our Rating –
4.5/5
Check The Latest Price On The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV
4. Fender Blues Junior III
You can never go wrong with a Fender-on-Fender combo, so go try out the Blues Junior III. Those who would like to start out with a small tube amp should definitely look into this diminutive performer. Don’t be fooled by its size because it can keep up with the best of them. Get this if you are looking for something that can provide a warm tube tone for your Telecaster. This one has 12ax7 pre-amp tubes and EL84 power tubes to get the job done. The 12-inch Jensen speaker add vintage voicing.
The vintage looks add to the appeal. Rock out like a legendary rock star in your own room. Crackup the reverb, tweak the controls, and work your Telecaster for amazing sounds. It is more expensive than the Mustang series but it is worth the upgrade. It tends to have a bright tone out of the box but you can make it warmer by playing with the knobs. You can also get other tones by experimenting with Telecaster amplifier tones.
PROS:
- Great small amp for home practice
- Cool vintage tweed look
- Various tones possible
CONS:
- No amplifier channel switching
- No effects loop
- No external speaker amplifier output
Our Rating –
4/5
Check The Latest Price On The Fender Blues Junior III
5. Fender ’59 Bassman LTD
Here is another throwback amp from Fender. The Bassman LTD features four 10-inch Jensen speakers in a 2×2 configuration. Output power is at a formidable 50 watts which is good enough for many gigs. The case has a tweed look like the Blues Junior III amplifier. At the back of the top handle are the controls with a glossy metallic finish. The tube amp can be coaxed to produce a wide range of awesome tones. Although it was intended to be a base amp, the Bassman works incredibly well as a guitar amp.
If you are into blues, then this is perfect because it is able to produce gritty sound that conveys more emotion. Of course, you can also get a clean tone if you want and play this loud without distortion. Plug in a Fender Stratocaster or a Telecaster. Both pairings will give you lovely music that will hook you in. Check out all of the online reviews and you will be convinced about the abilities of this product.
PROS:
- High volume potential with four speakers
- Can be crystal clear or downright dirty based on settings
- Nice vintage tweed styling
- Light for its class
- Works well in combination with any pedal
CONS:
- None worth mentioning
Our Rating –
4.5/5
Check The Latest Price On The Fender ’59 Bassman LTD
Pairing An Amp With A Telecaster
When you are trying to decide on the right amp to go with your Telecaster, there are some things to keep in mind to get the best result possible. First, there are a lot of different amps you could go for. Second, you should find out if the amp is made specifically for your genre. Thirdly, you will want to know about what sound you’re going for. Lastly, it is important to consider how much power (watts) the amp has and whether or not it will work with your budget.
What Genre Of Music Are You Playing?
When you think about what musical instrument genre or styles you play, it is important to keep in mind that different genres require different amps. For example, if you play heavy metal, you want a very loud and bassy amp. On the other hand, if you plan on playing clean country songs on your Telecaster, it is best to go for an amp that has no extra bass and low volume. The reason for this is because most country music is soft and quiet compared to metal.
How Much Power Do You Need?
You want to be sure that the amp you choose has enough power for your needs. For example, if you only need 15 or 20 watts (which is not very much), then it is best to get an amp in that range. However, if you are looking for something louder like 40-50 watts, then you should consider getting a larger amplifier. It is important to note that the higher the number of watts, the more expensive the amp will be.
Slightly related is the number of channels to consider as well.
What About Your Budget?
Budget is one of the most important factors you need to consider when it comes to picking out an amp, electric or traditional acoustic guitar. For example, if you have a tight budget, it is best to stick with used equipment until you can afford something brand new on the market. However, if you can save up a little more money, then maybe you can even splurge on a better model than what the budget will allow.
Tube or Solid State?
Tube, always tube! It is such a cliché, but it actually has a lot of truth behind it. All else being equal, I find that tube amps have a much fuller sound. This is because they have more “air” in them. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pick an amp if it has the option of going solid state.
When looking for amplifiers that come in both tubes and solid-state versions, I recommend that you choose the tube version for Telecasters.
Top Amps For Teles Conclusion
To get the best amps for Telecaster, you should first look into Fender’s own line of amps because these will surely match well with the guitar. The options given here range from small practice amps to large gig amps. Choose according to your needs and opinion. Most of them use tubes for a warm sound and excellent performance even when cranked to the limits. These won’t be cheap but you will get a lot of value for your money. Also take a look at these new guitar amps 2021 offers.