10 Iconic Guitar Amps That Defined Music History (With Neural Amp Models)
Explore 10 iconic guitar amps that changed everything—all available as Neural Amp Models on TONE3000.
Some pieces of gear are so legendary they become synonymous with entire musical movements. From the Marshall Plexi powering the birth of hard rock, to the raw power of a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier melting faces on nu-metal records in the 90’s, these ten amplifiers have left an indelible mark on music history. And thanks to advances in AI and neural amp modeling, you don’t need to own these rare or expensive amps to experience them. Let’s check out these iconic amplifiers, along with their NAM profiles, so you can plug into history and hear how they sound for yourself.
1. Fender Twin Reverb
The essence of the Fender Twin Reverb tone can be boiled down to two words: clean and loud. Its massive headroom delivers tons of high-end sparkle, letting you keep it clean while still cranking it up enough to overpower even the loudest drummer. The built-in spring reverb tank and tremolo channel add to the shimmering vibe. For over 70 years, this amp has being the weapon of choice for players who value clarity over crunch.
“As for the actual solo, it was just more or less what I played every night. It’s just a Fender Twin and the Strat” — Mark Knopfler on recording “Sultans of Swing” with the Fender Twin Reverb
Download Neural Amp Model ➝ Fender Twin Reverb
Notable Fender Twin Reverb Players: Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Keith Richards, Jerry Garcia, Johnny Marr
2. Vox AC30
The Vox AC30 is the iconic amplifier that gave the British Invasion its voice. Guitarists like it for its warm, chimey clean tones and sharply-defined midrange. But they love it because of the musical way it breaks into an incredibly sweet overdrive when you push it hard using the Top Boost channel. That edge between clean and dirty is where the magic really happens on the AC30.
(Image credit: www.brianmayworld.com)
“Instead of a harsh, fuzzy overload you get a very smooth saturation which sounds more like a human voice than a fuzz-tone. That ‘voice’ was the voice I wanted, and once I found it, it became part of me.” — Brian May on the Vox AC30’s role in shaping his guitar sound.
![VOX AC30 CH [Hyper Accuracy+]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.tone3000.com%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fz7105by6qnq.jpg&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_4kBvkXhFNN5Aar1wFTojYwoghupY)
Download Neural Amp Model ➝ Vox AC30
Notable Vox AC30 Players: Brian May, The Beatles, The Edge, Tom Petty
3. Dumble Overdrive Special
Alexander "Howard" Dumble was a genius whose legacy is a source of both joy and frustration for guitarists. His Dumble Overdrive Special enjoys a mythical status, with some even calling it the greatest amplifier ever made. So where does the frustration come from? He made only about 300 of these amps, meaning there are more people who have been to space than who own a Dumble. So, good luck actually getting your hands on one IRL.
If you have $175,000, this could be yours!
Download Neural Amp Model ➝ Dumble Overdrive Special
Notable Dumble Overdrive Special Players: John Mayer, Robben Ford, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jason Isbell
4. Marshall JTM45
As Marshall’s first production amp, the JTM45 brought a British twist to the Fender Bassman it was inspired by. Creamy overdrive and expressive mids made it a blues-rock staple almost immediately upon its release, finding an early champion in a young blues guitarist named Eric Clapton. In fact, his iconic “woman tone” wouldn’t exist without the JTM45—he used one with his Les Paul during his early Cream years.
If it’s good enough for Clapton, it’s good enough for you.
Download Neural Amp Model ➝ Marshall JTM45
Notable Marshall JTM45 Players: Eric Clapton, Angus Young, Peter Green, Gary Moore
5. Marshall Plexi (Super Lead 1959)
The Marshall Plexi delivers more raw power, massive presence, and big-ass balls than just about any amp made before or since. It’s the sound of Hendrix, Page, and Young, which means it could be fairly called the official sound of rock. It pushes hard, but slams back with energy and harmonic richness. When it’s dimed, it doesn’t just distort, it sings. In the world of guitar amplifiers, the Marshall Plexi is the icon of icons.
The only way to make playing a theremin look cool is by playing it through a Plexi. (Image credit: Neal Preston)
![Marshall 1959 BRBS SIR #36 Slash [Standard]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.tone3000.com%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faxmolb0d7qi.jpg&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_4kBvkXhFNN5Aar1wFTojYwoghupY)
Download Neural Amp Model ➝ Marshall Plexi
Notable Marshall Plexi (Super Lead 1959) Players: Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Angus Young
6. Hiwatt DR103
Built like a tank and clean as a whistle, the Hiwatt DR103 balances thunderous volume with generous levels of clarity. It sits beautifully between clean and overdriven tones, while retaining definition at high gain levels. It's ideal for guitarists who want their notes to ring out in complex chord voicings, making it a favorite for power trios like the Who and Rush.
"Once I found the Hiwatt amplifier I stuck with it. I tend to choose a guitar that fits the amp rather than the other way around.” — Pete Townshend
Download Neural Amp Model ➝ Hiwatt DR103
Notable Hiwatt DR103 Players: Pete Townshend, David Gilmour, Noel Gallagher, Alex Lifeson
7. Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
Even though it was designed for jazz players, the JC-120 made its mark producing the most recognizable guitar sounds of the new wave and post-punk era. Andy Summers of the Police played it on every one of their records, and it’s a staple on albums from bands like The Cure and the Smiths. Arguably the cleanest sounding amp ever made, the JC-120 also has a fanbase in the hard rock and heavy metal world—James Hetfield and Slash both reach for the Roland when going for bright and clear tones to contrast with their hard, distorted leads. Ironically, it seems like the only people who never really joined the cult of the Jazz Chorus are jazz players.
“The Roland JC-120 has been a staple in my collection … It is a no-fail amp in just about every situation.” — Andy Summers
Download Neural Amp Model ➝ Roland JC-120
Notable Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Players: Andy Summers, Robert Smith, James Hetfield, Johnny Marr, Billy Duffy
8. Fender Bassman
Originally built for bass, guitarists fell in love with the Bassman for its warm cleans, great headroom, and the way it breaks up when pushed. It’s not just about overdrive, though, the power section and the natural compression when driven are part of what gives many classic rock tones their backbone. And being a bass amp by design, there’s just a whole lot of ass on this amp. (I’m pretty sure that’s a technical term, right?)
The Fender Bassman isn’t just for the bass, man. (Image credit: Steve Thorne / Getty Images)
Download Neural Amp Model ➝ Fender Bassman
Notable Fender Bassman Players: Buddy Guy, Brian Setzer, Bruce Springsteen
9. Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
With the rise of nu-metal and heavy alternative rock in the 1990s, guitarists needed more gain, more aggressive distortion, and tighter low end. The Dual Rectifier delivered. Its high gain channels are thick and heavy, yet with enough articulation that fast licks still cut through the mix. Sonically, it's the equivalent of getting punched in the face by a fistfull of razors.
Metallica Live Rig: Kirk Hammett’s Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (Image credit: Mesa Engineering)
Download Neural Amp Model ➝ Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Notable Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Players: Kirk Hammett, Adam Jones, Jerry Cantrell
10. Supro
The Supro is less ubiquitous than the other amps on this list, but its cultural significance is undeniable. Its raw, fuzzy, vintage tones are largely responsible for the definitive guitar sounds on Led Zeppelin I. Its smaller wattage gives it character when pushed: breakup happens earlier, the tone is rough-around-the-edges but full of personality. This is the ultimate example of break, don’t bend.
A young Jimi Hendrix was an early adopter of the Supro Thunderbolt. Things worked out pretty well for him.
Download Neural Amp Model ➝ Supro
Notable Supro Players: Jimmy Page, Derek Trucks, Ry Cooder
Amplifying Culture
These amps didn’t just amplify guitars. They amplified ideas, genres, and movements. Connecting with this rich history by actually playing these amps is something every guitarist should experience. If you can’t make that happen in the real world just yet, make sure you take the opportunity to experience them with their incredibly accurate Neural Amp Models available right now on TONE3000. If you do own some of these amps, you can be a guitar legend in your own way by capturing NAM profiles to share with the community.
