7 Best Amps for Telecaster – Country, Blues & Rock

Author: Dedrich Schafer | Updated: | This post may contain affiliate links.

With its iconic tone, signature twang, and unrivaled playability, the Fender Telecaster has continued to define guitar music for decades. Choosing the best amp for a Telecaster is integral if you want to enjoy its fullest potential.

The interaction between a guitar and an amplifier is what forms the foundation of your tone. Certain amps are better suited to particular types of guitar. In this guide, you’ll find the amplifiers that naturally work best with a Telecaster.

Best Amps for Fender & Squier Telecasters

1. Roland JC-40

Roland’s JC-120 has been used by many great guitarists for over 40 years now, including Zakk Wylde, Johnny Marr and Mac DeMarco

It is a truly fantastic amp, but not everyone needs or wants such a big piece of gear. The JC-40 takes everything that is great about its big brother and puts it into a more compact form.

One of the biggest reasons for the JC-120’s success is its incredible clean tone. For Telecaster players, having an amp with a great clean tone is almost a must.

The JC-40, although smaller, certainly doesn’t lose any of the clean tone of the 120. If you play a lot of jazz or country with your Tele, I believe you will instantly fall in love with the clean tone of this amp.

For the blues and rock players, the JC-40 also has some great distortion. I find it quite easy to get a nice, crunchy distortion from the amp for that classic rock sound.

I do think the distortion is a little bit thin compared to a lot of other amps. If you want some more weight than a distortion or overdrive pedal will be a good choice. The amp handles pedals quite nicely and even has dedicated inputs at the back.

If you want to get some more twang out of your Tele, the JC-40 also has a bright switch. This quickly adds some great sharpness and brightness when you really need it.

I think the main point of interest on the Roland JC-40 is the vibrato/chorus effects. This is genuinely one of the best chorus effects I have heard on an amp.

The chorus can either be set to a fixed setting or manual, allowing you to adjust the speed and depth. But what really makes the chorus effect great is how the amp goes about applying it.

Instead of just layering the effect on top of your guitar signal, it actually combines the two. One speaker will output a dry signal, while the other outputs a wet. This creates a much more natural-sounding, vibrant chorus effect.

PROS

  • Excellent stereo chorus effect
  • Doesn’t sacrifice sound and tone quality for a smaller form

CONS

  • Distortion is a bit thin

2. Vox AC10C1

If you have been playing guitar for long enough, you probably know the name Vox. And if you are familiar with the Vox sound then you already know what to expect from the AC10C1.

The tone on this little tube amp is about what you would expect from a Vox amp. It has a lively, bright top-end with a healthy amount of bottom that helps to round out the sound a bit.

Turning up the gain really brings out that British style crunch. Think Jeff Beck or Keith Richards and that is the sound you get.

The AC10C1 also has a built-in digital delay. With a little bit of reverb, you can easily add some nice weight to your sound.

The reverb is especially effective when playing melodies and licks. It is very tight and responsive, so notes don’t bleed into each other and are still crisp and clear.

I do feel the reverb falls a bit short when it comes to chords, especially open chords. Turning the reverb up too much starts to make chords sound a bit muddier. It isn’t incredibly noticeable or bad, but I think a delay pedal would work better if you are playing more rhythm using reverb.

What really impressed me on this amp was just how loud it can get. It is only a 10-watt amp, but it still packs quite a punch.

You will be getting a lot of volume from this small amp without bothering your neighbors. I wouldn’t use this amp for any gigs, but you can definitely use it in the studio.

This is one of those amps that is just an overall pleasure to play. It sounds great, is lightweight and compact, and is just a simple plug-and-play amp.

If you are a Telecaster player, the AC10C1 will be a fantastic companion. It emphasizes the Telecaster sound wonderfully without the need for any extra pedals or much tweaking.

PROS

  • A lot of volume for a small 10-watt amp
  • A great companion for a Telecaster
  • Great for getting a British sound

CONS

  • Reverb falls a bit short when playing chords

3. Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb

If there is one way to get that true Fender sound with your Telecaster, it is to play it through a Fender amp. And one of the best amps to do that with is certainly the ’65 Princeton Reverb.

The ’65 Princeton is well-known for its clean tone, and for good reason. The clean tone is crisp and sweet. Even before making any EQ adjustments, I was drawn in by just how good the amp sounds clean.

Pushing the amp into distortion is a similar situation. This amp has both bark and bite. It is that classic ‘70s rock sound.

But if you want a more modern sound, the amp also plays really well with pedals. Even digital pedals aren’t an issue like it can sometimes be with other tube amps.

If you are looking for an amp with great reverb, then I can highly recommend the ’65 Princeton. It uses a spring reverb instead of a digital reverb. So, while it doesn’t quite have the same range, it makes up for it with a very organic sound.

Apart from sounding great, the reverb also has the advantage of being highly controllable. The amp features both a speed and intensity setting for tremolo.

I often feel like just having a reverb knob can be a bit too black and white. You can either turn the reverb on or off and simply adjust how much it is on.

But having the ability to adjust how fast and intense the tremolo is, opens up so many more possibilities. You can really set your vibrato sound apart from others when you have finer control over how it sounds.

I also appreciate that Fender includes a footswitch with the amp. This makes on the fly switching between vibrato and reverb as easy as pressing a button.

PROS

  • Sweet and rich clean tone
  • Classic ‘70s sounding overdrive
  • Included vibrato/reverb footswitch

CONS

  • A bit on the expensive side

4. BOSS Katana-50 MkII

The BOSS Katana-50 MKII might be one of the most versatile budget amps today. It is an extremely capable and powerful modeling amp that is perfect for any guitarist that plays a variety of styles and genres.

This versatility lends itself quite well to anyone that plays a Telecaster. Telecasters are themselves, fairly versatile guitars. The Katana-50 MKII is an amp that will enhance your Tele’s sound rather than change or override it.

With 5 amp voicings and 60 effects, you can play practically any genre of music using the Katana. And at up to 50-watt, this thing is definitely gig-ready.

I really like the power control feature as well, this lets you cut the power by half, 25-watt, or even down to just 0.5-watt. This makes it a great amp for quiet practice sessions with your Telecaster and eliminates the need for a second, smaller amp.

As for what the amp actually sounds like, there is often a concern that it will sound artificial, being a modeling amp. But from my experience with the amp, I think BOSS has done a really incredible job.

Each of the amp voicings sound very natural, and the effects done feel flat and static. If you can think of a sound, this amp will probably be able to recreate it. And if you don’t find what you are looking for from the long list of effects, you can easily change and add effects using the BOSS Tone Studio software.

I actually don’t know how BOSS has managed to make such an incredible-sounding, versatile amp while keeping it so affordable. I have never played a better amp that is as affordable as the Katana.

I do wish that a footswitch was included, however. I would recommend investing in a footswitch like the FS-6 if you are planning on gigging with it.

PROS

  • One of the most versatile modeling amps
  • Extremely great value for money
  • Great for gigging and small room practice

CONS

  • An included footswitch would've been great

5. Bugera V22 Infinium

The Bugera V22 Infinium is another great amp if you are looking for that British sound. With a great clean and overdrive, it performs really well whether you’re playing some mellow jazz or kicking into high gear for a loud rock gig.

On the normal channel, the clean tone is smooth, a bit warm, and nicely rounded. This is great for those mellow jazz jams.

There is also the option to plug into the amp’s Bright input. As you would expect this brightens up the sound a bit and gives your guitar a bit more twang, especially great if you play a Tele and country, making it arguably the best amp for country that you can pair with your Tele.

Switching to the gain channel, the V22 produces a rather greasy, but nice and barky. Turning up the gain adds a good amount of aggression for a more hard rock sound.

I do feel like the gain channel is a bit underpowered compared to the clean. You will likely want to boost the presence a bit and turn up the gain on your guitar.

Switching between channels as well as activating the reverb is also made easy with the included footswitch. I like the footswitch quite a bit with its big buttons and LED indicators.

The amp also gets quite loud. You won’t have any trouble playing gigs in small clubs with this amp. You can also cut the power by half when practicing if it gets too loud.

I am a bit concerned about the tubes used in the V22. They are fairly cheap, Chinese-made tubes. I understand the need to keep production costs down. While the tubes do sound great, lifespan is certainly something to keep in mind.

It is also quite heavy for an amp of its size. If you want something a little more lightweight and compact, or just a practice version of the V22, the V5 Infinium provides the same quality in a smaller package.

PROS

  • Excellent clean and overdrive
  • Dedicated bright input for more twang
  • Easy channel switching with included footswitch

CONS

  • Tube lifespan is a bit of a concern
  • Overdrive channel is a bit underpowered

6. Fender Blues Junior IV

The fourth version of Fender’s Blues Junior amps, I was expecting the Blues Junior IV to have a slightly updated look and some minor improvements to sound and function. What I encountered instead is one of the biggest upgrades from a previous version of any amp.

The clean tone has that classic Fender sparkle and chime. Every note shines and chords ring out quite beautifully.

Where the Blues Junior really shines in my opinion, is when playing with a lot of gain. For such a small amp it packs quite the punch. At low gain, you get a very delicate blues sound. It's arguably the best tube amp for blues.

Turn the gain up and you easily start to reach a heavier, Stevie Ray Vaughn type of blues sound. Especially once you activate the “fat” switch to boost the mids and output.

The spring reverb also sounds amazing. It is very natural and vibrant and doesn’t get in the way of the notes. Melodies and chords sound equally impressive with the reverb turned up.

I think the Blues Junior is one of those amps that really makes a Telecaster sing. It brings out everything great about such a guitar while adding a lovely bit of color.

The biggest downside of the amp is that it isn’t very versatile. Like the name would suggest, the Blues Junior is really only suited for playing blues.

If that is all you play, then it is certainly one of the best amps out there. It really brings out the blues tone of a Telecaster. But if you switch between genres often, you will probably be better off going with one of the other amps on this list.

It is pretty loud for a 15-watt amp. Combined with its rather lightweight design, I think the Blues Junior IV is a great amp if you are going on a small club tour. It is easy to take with you and quick to set up.

PROS

  • Lightweight and compact for easy carrying
  • Very loud for a 15-watt, excellent for gigging
  • Chimey and bright clean tone, with raw and powerful gain

CONS

  • Only really suited for blues

7. Fender Mustang GTX 100

The third Fender amp on today’s list, the Mustang GTX 100 is unlike the other two entries. Where the ’65 Princeton Reverb and the Blues Junior IV are suited to one sound or another, the GTX 100 is far more versatile.

Similar to the BOSS Katana-50 MKII, this amp is also a modeling map. It does go quite a bit further, however. Featuring 40 amp models, dozens of effects and 200 presets, it is a true all-in-one.

You really aren’t limited by what the amp can do, but your own imagination. If you can’t find the sound you are looking for among the presets, you can easily mix and match effects and amp models until you get the exact sound you are looking for.

Fender has also done a tremendous job of recreating all of these amps and effects. To me, the GTX 100 sits right up there in terms of sound quality with modeling amps like the Katana.

I never felt like any of the amps or effects were lacking in quality or felt stale while playing with the amp. If you are playing a guitar like a Telecaster this is really important.

You want the amp to highlight the qualities of the guitar. A Fender amp should compliment a Fender guitar. And I think the GTX 100 does that perfectly.

Apart from the fantastic sound, the amp is also really powerful. It comes in at a very loud 100-watts. The volume response is also fantastic and the amp can get fairly quiet with the volume turned down.

You will struggle to find a venue that is too big for this amp. The amp also comes packaged with a great pedal that allows for easy switching between five effects presets.

And at this price range, you are going to struggle to find an amp that easily outperforms the GTX 100. This is quite simply one of the best all-round amps out there.

PROS

  • Massive library of amp models, effects, and presets
  • Incredible value for money
  • Comes with a great footswitch

CONS

  • A bit heavy and bulky

Choosing the Best Amp for Telecaster – Key Factors

Versatility

One of the most important things when looking at amps is their versatility. Do you want something that only does one sound, but really well, or an amp that can cover a broad spectrum of genres?

While Telecasters are really well-suited to styles like jazz, blues, country, and softer rock, they can just as easily take on heavy genres like metal. Jim Root of Slipknot plays a Jazzmaster after all, which is maybe even more limited than a Tele.

So, you really have to just think about whether you just need something that sounds great playing blues, or do you want something that can offer more variety? It really comes down to the types of music you play.

Tube vs Solid State Amps

Whether a Telecaster sounds best with a tube amp or a solid-state amp is a frequently debated topic amongst guitarists. Essentially it comes down to personal preference, but there are some clear benefits and drawbacks of both.

If you enjoy authentic, vintage tones, then choosing a tube amplifier is probably the best option. Despite their reduced wattage, tube amps are generally louder, and they provide the sought-after saturated tube overdrive when the gain is turned up.

The advantage of pairing your Tele with a solid-state amplifier is that you will gain access to an array of onboard effects, presets, and amp modelers. They’re also usually less heavy than their tube equivalents.

Solid state amps have come a long way over the last few decades, where they were once considered inferior to tube amps, many people, myself included, consider them quite comparable.

Tube amps are still a bit warmer than solid state amps if that is something you are looking for. The real difference I think is in the maintenance.

The tubes in a tube amp have a limited lifespan, you are going to have to replace them every 2 – 3 years and they can be expensive. Tubes are also much more fragile and you will need to take good care when transporting your amp.

Solid state amps of course don’t have these drawbacks. Maintenance on a solid state is also usually as simple as resoldering a wire or two. It really is up to your level of care and tolerance when it comes to maintenance.

Conclusion

The Telecaster is such a wonderful instrument that it deserves to be used with a high-quality, complementary amplifier. Hopefully, you’ve now identified the perfect choice for your requirements!

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About Dedrich Schafer

Dedrich is a guitar player, songwriter and sound engineer with extensive music production and studio experience. He mostly listens to classic rock and punk bands, but sometimes also likes listening to rap and acoustic songs.

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