What is the best-looking amplifier of all-time?

[Jack Hanson]

What would be your choice as the best-looking amp ever made? Not necessarily a steel guitar amp, or an acknowledged classic, but the one with a coolness factor that's off the charts. My personal choice would be the 1964 - 1966 Ampeg B-12XT Portaflex.

[Brooks Montgomery]

Probably not my old bandmate’s beer-stained Super Reverb?

IMG_3028.jpeg

[Max Lee]

The Mesa boogie models with dark green tolex, brown piping, and wicker grill cloth have always oozed class IMO. I just wish they were my type of amplifier!

[Bob Carlucci]

You would be hard pressed to find cooler looking, more visually appealing amps than those made by Valco in the 50's and 60's.. They made amps under probably a dozen names, and even some of their cheap ones had wonderful visual character... Supro amps especially were retro and innovative looking at the same time.. Some Valco amps looked like they were designed by an architect that specialized in 1930's Art Deco design.. Always loved the look of old Valco amps... oh yeah, they sound good too!...bob

[Fred Treece]

+1 on the tweedy wicker Mesa Boogie. It was everything a combo amp should be, including cool-looking. I used a Mark IIc with my steel for about 3 years and thought it sound great.

I like the beer-stained Super too

A close runner-up in amp eye candy would be this dooder.

IMG_2209.jpeg

[Mike Neer]

Gibson GA-79RVT

gibson.jpg

[Erv Niehaus]

Mike,
That's the 1st time I ever saw a Gibson amp like that.
Is that yours? If so, how does it sound?
I used a Gibson amp with my 1st electric steel guitar and I thought it sounded kind of "muddy".
Erv

[Jerry Overstreet]

Old Kustom tuck and roll. Black or a virtual rainbow of metallic colors. https://vintagekustom.com/ literature.

[Jack Hanson]

Old Kustom tuck and roll. Black or a virtual rainbow of metallic colors. https://vintagekustom.com/ literature.

Yep! And don't forget the similar looking Plush, which was basically a Twin Reverb copy inside a Naugahyde tuck'n'roll cab.

[Mike Neer]

Mike,
That's the 1st time I ever saw a Gibson amp like that.
Is that yours? If so, how does it sound?
I used a Gibson amp with my 1st electric steel guitar and I thought it sounded kind of "muddy".
Erv

That’s not mine, but back in the 80s I was this close to buying one for $200 but turned around for a minute and it was gone. The amp was stereo to boot. They go upwards of $3k now. I ended up with a mint condition 66 Super Reverb for $300 instead.

[Richard Sinkler]

I always thought these Rickenbackers were cool. I saw Steppenwolf using these.

[Jack Hanson]

Even though these things were unreliable and sounded relatively crappy, I always thought the Thomas Organ Vox Super Beatle amps looked really bitchen.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Good friend of mine has one of those Ampeg Porta-Flex flip top bass amps in excellent shape that sounds fantastic. Cool indeed.

The button tufted Plush reminds me of the padding surrounding a cocktails bar I saw once..or twice...or....

[Richard Sinkler]

Even though these things were unreliable and sounded relatively crappy, I always thought the Thomas Organ Vox Super Beatle amps looked really bitchen.

Vox would be my 2nd choice. Love them.

[Greg Cutshaw]

I owned one of these Emmons amps. It worked for a few days then died and I swapped it for a Twin Reverb with D-120 JBL's.





My runner up is the Webb 6-14-E

[Jim Newberry]

IMG_0935.jpeg

Now, if I could get my paws on one…

[Tim Rose]

Super

[Fred Treece]

I knew somebody was going to mention Kustom. I think the parent company must have been Michelin. Or maybe Pillsbury.

[Nathan Pocock]

IMG_6565.jpeg

I think Morgan makes some beautiful cabinetry. I have a 4x12 of theirs that is gorgeous.

[Jerry Overstreet]

I knew somebody was going to mention Kustom. I think the parent company must have been Michelin. Or maybe Pillsbury.

Yeah I guess my affinity for them comes from my connection with 50s and 60s hot rods and custom builds back then. Tuck and roll, button tufted interiors were de rigueur back then.

I have friends that have original Kustom stacks in basic black and one of them has one that is green metallic...takes me back.

[Dave Grafe]

It sounds great too...

[Bill Sinclair]

I recently parted with this trippy Montgomery Wards gem from the late 60's. The cabinet is pretty clunky but the grill cloth is the star of the show. About 35 Watts from two cathode-biased 6L6's driving two 10" speakers. Valco made amp. I found the weight and handle placement too awkward after a couple gigs so it became a living room-only amp until I let a local music store sell it for me a couple months ago. The '48 Silvertone that's in my Avatar gets pretty regular use and makes me smile to look at. I guess I'm a sucker for wacky grill cloth.

SAM_0418.JPG

P5040005.JPG

[Jack Hanson]

Some great-looking amps, each and every one of 'em! Gotta love the Epi Electar, the Fender Super (was there a cat in the house?), the Airline with the psychedelic grillecloth, and the Silvertone. Thanks for sharing, guys. I dig the looks of my 1941 Kalamazoo that appears to be covered in prewar wallpaper, too.

[Steve Lipsey]

John Cipollina's amp from Quicksilver Messenger Service

wykv9g0vmtq91.jpg

[J. S. Smith]

Drip edge