As guitarists, we all love the enticing prospect of plugging in a new pedal for the first time. But at Sweetwater, we know that, when it comes to playing nice with your pedalboard, not all amps are created equal. Of course, if it’s a modern guitar amp that has an effects loop, then you can be reasonably sure it will work well with your pedals. Conversely, you might assume that vintage-style guitar amps (without effects loops) are, inherently, not pedal-friendly. But that’s a generalization that would eliminate some of the most pedal-friendly amps ever made, a premier example being the Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb reissue.
- Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb
- PRS Archon 50
- Magnatone Baby M-80
- Supro 1968RK Keeley Custom 12 Combo
- BOSS Katana-100 Gen 3
Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb
We’re under no illusion that pedal compatibility was a prime consideration when Leo Fender designed the Princeton Reverb back in the early 1960s. But it just so happens that the Princeton is one of the most-recorded guitar amps in history — and it takes pedals like a champ. One of the most beloved and versatile guitar amps ever made, the Princeton Reverb delivers classic, sparkling Fender tone plus spring reverb and tremolo. It’s the ideal size and weight for gigging guitarists who want a moderately powered combo amp that can plow through the mix onstage or in the studio. And it makes the perfect pedal platform for modern guitarists. For proof of that, it’s the amp that Nashville session ace Don Carr has chosen time after time to demonstrate guitar pedals in his Sweetwater inSync videos.
Packing two 6V6 output tubes that push 12 watts through a 10-inch Jensen alnico speaker, the Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb 1 x 10-inch 12-watt tube combo amp sets our pulses pounding. It’s not the most powerful amp in this group, but for sheer usefulness in the studio, it will go toe to toe with any of them. Last but certainly not least, the ’65 Princeton Reverb is also available in a gorgeous Sweetwater-exclusive Lacquered Tweed enclosure with a 12-inch Eminence Cannabis Rex speaker, making any vintage-amp lover gush over the aesthetics.
PRS Archon 50
Frequenters of high-gain guitar work and the pedals that complement, rejoice! The PRS Archon 50 is a ferocious, all-tube, 50-watt combo fitted with a 12-inch Celestion speaker built to handle both the chaos of high distortion and the sparkle of clean tones with equal appeal — and at not-window-shattering volumes. This makes it an exceptional choice for players who favor pedals that really turn up the heat! One great draw of the dual-channel Archon 50 is that, despite its luxuriant sound, this amp is incredibly simple to navigate and adjust to your liking, resulting in expedient sonic command from the pedals on your board. This streamlined layout includes per-channel Volume, Master, and 3-band EQ controls plus universal Presence and Depth parameters to sculpt the perfect degree of depth for your tone. To make matters even better, this combo features an effects loop, offering a tailor-made path to efficiently run all your go-to effects with ease. Metalheads, hard rockers, and distortion devotees — the Archon 50 is in your wheelhouse!
Magnatone Baby M-80
When it comes to premier amp building, few do it better than Magnatone. And for guitarists seeking a premium combo amp to receive and showcase their carefully designed effects signal, none are quite as alluring or travel-friendly as the Baby M-80. Equipped with NOS 6AQ5/6005 power tubes, three 12AX7 preamp tubes, and a 10-inch ceramic speaker by Warehouse Guitar Speakers, the Baby M-80 flaunts a golden sonic disposition that can handle any sound you’re searching for. Don’t believe it? Flip its Hi/Lo Gain switch and see for yourself! Whether your forte is a clean slate of chorus and reverb or a devious drive chain of distortion and fuzz, the Baby M-80 is ready to accommodate. Its FX Send and Return I/O ensures smooth sailing for pedalboards of various sizes while a 2-band EQ and Gain and Master controls make fine-tuning perfectly straightforward. Let’s be honest, we’d all be kidding ourselves if we didn’t stop to admire the show-stealing magnificence of this combo’s midcentury-modern finish! And we have to point out that it comes in Slash Purple Python Tolex as well!
Supro 1968RK Keeley Custom 12 Combo
Why do certain effects pedals sound better with some amps than they do with others? There are a lot of factors, and Supro and Keeley took them all into account with the Keeley Custom 12 combo. It has very high-input headroom, which means your boost and drive pedals won’t produce unwanted muddy preamp distortion. You can drive the preamp tubes if you want, though — just crank the input volume and roll the master volume back to taste. A solid-state rectifier bolsters the headroom while giving you faster transients and more output power than a tube rectifier can traditionally provide. Also, to the benefit of your pedalboard, the custom speaker is voiced for balanced tone that accurately reflects your tone choices, while also sounding incredibly vibrant.
The Custom 12 has everything guitarists have come to love about Supro amps — high-input headroom for dynamic tone, signature midrange girth that’s always appropriate, and a touch-sensitive, harmonically rich response. Its 6V6, Class A power section drives 25 watts into a Celestion G12M-65 Creamback speaker, delivering a British-voiced sound that does justice to complex pedal-crafted tones. Complete with a 2-band EQ, a transparent effects loop, and a master volume control for accommodating any room, the Supro Keeley Custom 12 combo is an extremely versatile tube amplifier.
BOSS Katana-100 Gen 3
Our last entry for best pedal-platform amps is none other than the BOSS Katana-100 Gen 3, the third iteration of BOSS’s versatile and world-renowned solid-state modeling amp. In addition to its incredibly attractive price point, the Katana-100 Gen 3 comes brimming with creative capabilities. With assignable Cab Resonances and six amp characters to choose from, including the newly developed “Pushed” tone, this 100-watt beauty comes powered by BOSS’s acclaimed Tube Logic technology and packing enough modes to master any musical mood — and blend marvelously with any pedalboard. Whether you’ve got a vast array of effects on your board or are simply working with a few of your favorites, the Katana-100 Gen 3 makes a fabulous host. Why? Not only is it equipped with an effects loop for outboard integration, but its five independent effects types already offer built-in reverb, delay, and modulation controls. What’s more, this unit supports USB effects loading from over 60 BOSS pedal choices through the BOSS Tone Studio software. Already running a couple go-to pedals? Let the Katana-100 Gen 3 fill in every missing puzzle piece.
Sweetwater Has Your Perfect Pedal Amp
So, whether you rock a packed pedalboard or have just a couple of stompboxes you can’t live without, you need an amp that shares your enthusiasm for the little critters. Your Sweetwater Sales Engineer is ready to help you pick the perfect amp and pedals for your needs and budget. Give us a call at (800) 222-4700, and you’ll soon be playing through your ultimate guitar signal chain.
