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Explore Vintage Guitar Amplifier Brands

To achieve a golden vintage tone, you need a vintage guitar and a vintage guitar amplifier. Explore some of the biggest names in vintage amplifiers and their landmark models before you buy. This list is by no means comprehensive, but will give you a taste of vintage guitar amplifier history.

Chronicle of vintage Marshall guitar amplifiers

Marshall began in 1962. The original amplifier model is the JTM45, with serial numbers starting at 1004. Smooth black covering, aluminum panels, and a rectangular logo with red lettering are all part of the Marshall history. The originals used straight-fronted cabinets and Celestion G12 15″ speakers. In 1965, Marshall introduced its first 100-watt amplifier. It came in a larger cabinet with two 50-watt transformers. Pete Townshend (of The Who) requested an 8″ x 12″ cabinet, and thus the stack was born.

Learn about vintage Vox guitar amplifiers

During the 1960s, Vox was famous for its Beatle Amplifier (yes, those Beatles). Producing 240-watt peak power with a built-in tuner, the Vox brimmed with technology. Its Watchdog load limiter let players crank up the volume without worrying about overloading. People also knew Vox for its five-button foot switch, which let the player control reverb, distortion, midrange boost, tremolo, and repeat percussion.

Find out about vintage Fender guitar amplifiers

One of the earliest names in the electric guitar world, Fender, began in the 1940s. Dating Fender amplifiers can be a challenge, since there were no production numbers. The easiest way of identifying vintage Fender amplifiers is by their face.

• Vintage woodie Fender amplifiers: Woodie amps are so named because of their uncovered wood cabinets and matching wood handles. The controls face the rear. They were made in three finishes: walnut, maple and mahogany. Woodies date from between 1946 and 1948.
• Vintage TV front Fender amplifiers: Tweed-covered TV Front amps look like old televisions with rounded edges. Produced between 1948 and 1953, the amps came in two types of tweed. Earlier models had light tweed, and later models came in darker, diagonally-patterned tweed
• Vintage wide panel Fender amplifiers: Wide panel Fender amps, produced between 1953 and 1955, had a top-facing chrome control panel.
• Vintage narrow panel Fender amplifiers: Narrow panel Fender amps, made between 1955 and 1964, are almost identical to wide panel amps, except for the narrower top and bottom grille panels.
• Vintage brown Fender amplifiers: Brown Fender amps, produced between 1959 and 1963, have forward-facing control panels and round brown knobs. The tweed was replaced by brown vinyl Tolex. Blond models are similar but have a beige Tolex covering with white knobs.
• Vintage black face Fender amplifiers: Black face Fender amps, made between 1963 and 1967, are similar to the brown/blonde amps but have a black Tolex covering and a black control panel. Many people think of these as Fender’s best amps.
• Vintage silver face Fender amplifiers: Silver face Fender amps date from after 1967. They’re similar to black face amps but have a dull chrome control panel.

Get an account of vintage Carvin guitar amplifiers

Like vintage Fender guitar amplifiers, vintage Carvin amplifiers can be incredibly difficult to identify. Early Carvin guitar amplifiers were tube-driven and came in one-, two-, or four-speaker models. Between 1949 and 1965, Carvin only offered tube models.

Spot Good Vintage Guitar Amplifiers

Buying a vintage guitar amplifier can be an adventure. Make sure you know what you’re getting before you pay for it.

Evaluate vintage amplifier vacuum tubes

Vintage amplifiers use vacuum tubes and capacitors instead of solid-state transistors. The difference in sound is similar to the sound difference between a record and a CD. Vintage amps might not sound as crisp or clean, but they have a warm, rich tone. You may need to replace vacuum tubes periodically.

Choose your speaker configuration

Vintage guitar amplifiers come in different configurations.

• Combo amplifiers: Single-cabinet amplifiers are called combo amps. The amplifier and the speaker are together in one cabinet.
• Piggyback amplifiers: Piggyback amplifiers separate the amplifier (also called the head) from the speaker.
• Amplifier stacks: A stack consists of two speakers mounted on top of one another with the head on top.

The quality of a speaker can make or break the quality of a vintage guitar amplifier. Some original speakers are excellent and produce a desirable, vintage tone. Look for original speaker cones in good condition. Popular choices include Celestion speaker cones, Bulldog speaker cones, and Jensen speaker cones.

Get the vintage guitar amplifier controls you need

Vintage guitar amplifiers can have one control or more than a dozen. In general, you’ll want an on/off switch, volume control (sometimes called post gain), and at least one 1/4-inch input jack. If your guitar has active electronics, make sure the amplifier has a low/-6dB input jack that can handle a higher output signal. You’ll also want separate high and low tone controls for treble and bass. More expensive vintage guitar amplifiers can also have a midrange control to adjust the tone between bass and treble. If your vintage guitar amplifier supports reverb, look for a reverb echo control.

Determine vintage guitar amplifier cabinet quality

Vintage guitar amplifier cabinets are usually made out of tweed or black Tolex. If the tweed is damaged, you may have to reupholster the amplifier. You can recondition black Tolex, but it takes some hard work. If the vintage guitar amplifier cabinet is damaged but the electronics are good, you might be able to buy the unit at a discount and score some good hardware.

Detect vintage guitar amplifier transformers

Antique transformers were carefully crafted to allow the greatest transfer of sound. Modern day high-end speakers replicate this process. If the vintage guitar amplifier doesn’t come equipped with its original transformer, make sure that the replacement matches the voltage, and that the output impedance matches your speakers.

Choose good vintage guitar amplifier circuitry

The chain of electrical components in your vintage guitar amplifier head and how the amp transfers electric current has a major bearing on how good amplified music sounds. Although early circuitry was not very well made, pioneers such as Leo Fender and Jim Marshall focused on their circuits. If you’re a purist, you’ll want original circuitry. Always ask if the vintage guitar amplifier contains replacement parts and determine if having them matters to you.

Ensure the vintage guitar amplifier grille cloth looks good

If you’re a player more than a collector, there’s no need to worry if the grille cloth is less than perfect. However, if you’re looking for the perfect vintage guitar amplifier, make sure the grille cloth is in good shape.

Find Vintage Guitar Amplifiers on eBay

Once you know what type of vintage amp you want, go to the Musical Instruments portal, click the Amplifiers link under Guitars, and start searching for item listings on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by brand.
• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find vacuum tube amps, type “vacuum tube amps” (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click “Search title and description” to expand your results. Visit eBay’s Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can’t find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Vintage Guitar Amplifiers With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you’re buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.
• If you want more information, ask by clicking the “Ask seller a question” link under the seller’s profile.
• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.
• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller’s Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?
• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?
• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.
• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay’s quick and efficient resolution tools.