No guitarist is complete without a worthy partner in crime – a great amp. A great amp will elevate your craft, enhance the listening experience, and set you up to put on the shows you’ve dreamed of.
With the large array of amps on the market, it can feel like a daunting task to choose the one that’s right for you. Whether you’re concerned about functionality, sound quality, or price, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you.
How We Made Our Picks
Editors from the BYJU’S FutureSchool blog researched the most popular guitar amps on the market and cross-referenced that against amps that are popular with guitar players worldwide. The result: a list of vetted guitar amps to help get strumming like a pro.
Let’s discuss 2022’s 25 best guitar amps below.
Orange Micro Terror
The Micro Terror may be small, but it certainly packs a punch. With its 20-watt solid-state output and compact size, this amp is the perfect option for the guitarist on the go.
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Orange TremLord
The sibling to Orange’s Micro Terror, the Orange TremLord, is a fantastic option for the artist looking for a retro-inspired output style. This amp produces a crisp tone that’s all about inspiring reverb and tremolo. Modern pedal-lovers will love playing this for its tones and a punchy platform.
Positive Grid Spark
The Positive Grid Spark is one of the more technologically savvy amps in this group. It’s equipped with Bluetooth capabilities to stream music from your platform of choice, along with AUX capabilities, headphone jacks, and USB plugs. With a total of 30 amp models and 40 effects, you’ll be well on your way to producing great new music.
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Boss Katana 100 MKII
For the artist who wants to record and edit their music, The Katana 100 MKII is a great option. You can easily connect it to your computer and edit your tracks after your session, and even explore the effects that come with the amp – who knows what you’ll be able to create.
Fender Hot Rod Blues Junior IV
This amplifier may appear to be on the smaller side than others on this list. Still, the Fender Hot Rod Blues Junior IV provides excellent sound for intimate performances or practice sessions. Its 12″ full speakers and classic tone are perfect for filling a smaller performance venue.
Fender ’65 Custom Deluxe Reverb
With 22 watts of power and nine tubes, the Fender ’65 Custom Deluxe Reverb is the perfect pick for the guitarist looking to explore a dynamic range within their music. Equipped with both normal and vibrato channels, this is the ideal bet for those looking to explore their blues, rock, or country performance styles.
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Fender Mustang 1 V.2
This amp is the epitome of bang for your buck. Sitting at just $200, the Mustang 1 V.2, features five new amp models and another five new effects. Equipped with a unique pitch-shifting mechanism and 20 watts of power, this is another solid choice for practices and more intimate performances. Better yet, it is equipped with USB connectivity so that you can share your music virtually during your session.
PRS MT15 Mark Tremonti Head
The MT15, the first amp created by American musician Mark Tremonti, is another top pick for small performances and recordings. It is two channeled and includes an FX loop with individual EQ controls for both channels.
Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister Deluxe
The TubeMeister amp comes packed with solid features. The brand’s flagship tube head looks similar to a Marshall but is smoother, even if its gains are fierce. As a result, it can be used for small performances. But it can be turned down to zero watts for entirely silent practice.
Tone King Gremlin Head
Tone King’s Gremlin Head is a low-wattage tube-headed guitar amp offering retro sounds and awesome aesthetics. With enough power to replicate an old black-panel Fender’s tone, yet not enough to be too loud for smaller gatherings, Tone King also allows distortion of the amp’s power section, keeping the feel consistent irrespective of the output level.
Supro 1696RT Black Magick Reverb Combo
We’ve coined the Black Magic Reverb Combo old-school rock in a box. Its defining tonal outputs are smooth yet mighty – undoubtedly strong enough to turn heads. This one’s an excellent pick for heavy rock, and it’s certainly cut out for it.
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Black Volt Amplification Crazy Horse
Black Volt Amplification’s Crazy Horse amp produces vintage-like tunes, instantly making you feel connected with the amp. It has complex but clean tones and a smooth, refined breakup and is aesthetically pleasing, powerful, and reasonably priced.
Marshall DSL40CR
Marshall’s DSL40CR is backed with a strong 40 watts of power. It’s an all-around quality amp that can bring you from a smaller performance to a big gig. With Marshall’s top-notch technology, you’re able to customize the gain and volume, resonance, effects loop, and adjustable power level.
Marshall Studio Vintage SV20H
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Marshall’s SV20H sports a modern compact form and high power rating while embodying the spirit of a vintage Plexi. The clean and thick tones sound heavenly for fans of Marshall. While perfect for recording and small gigs, this amp can give you the Plexi experience and festival stage feel.
Marshall Origin OR120H
The OR120H delivers power and simplicity with a beautiful vintage Marshall-esque tone. With Gain and Master features and a built-in FX loop, using the pedalboard is nothing short of simple. The amp will help you make music your way – be it going back to the ’60s or a new personal sound.
Victory VX The Kraken
Victory’s The Kraken certainly lives up to its powerful name. Perfect for metal lovers, it’s backed with 50W of power and can produce clean, dirt, and saturated grain sounds.
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Vox AC15 C1
The Vox AC15C1 is likely one of the more recognizable amps on our list, as it’s been on the market for over 60 years. Classic, trustworthy, and powerful enough to remain a top amp for half a decade, this amp produces beautifully classic warm tones that will amplify any piece.
Vox MSB25 Mini Superbeetle
For the guitarist looking for a unique amp, Vox’s Mini Superbeetle is one of the most distinct-looking guitar amps out there. A compact and miniature amplifier, the Superbeetle packs power with an onboard reverb and tremolo. For players looking for something different, this is perfect.
Vox Pathfinder 10
Another Vox offering, the Pathfinder 10, is a compact amp that’s the perfect option for jam sessions at home. It combines 10 watts of power with a solid 6.5″ Vox Bulldog speaker. Features include adjustable volume, gain, treble, and bass. There is a headphone jack to ensure that you can practice in peace for those living or practicing around others.
Randall RG1003H
The design of the Randall says enough – it was born to rock. The unit is true to form, offering three channels to drive signals up to 100W, making it one of the most powerful amps on our list. An onboard EQ further enhances its solid technology and channels can be easily accessed through its footswitch.
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Mesa/Boogie Mark Five: 25
Mesa’s Mark Five is certainly on the higher end of the price spectrum, and for good reason. The amp comes in various sizes ranging from 25W to 90W. The Five: 25 sports all of the key tricks, even though it loses out on some features from the top-end model. The EL84 tubes are made for the best guitar amps, offering a distinct Fender-like chime.
Roland Cube Lite
For another guitarist on the go, Roland’s Cube Lite is the perfect travel companion. At first glance, it’s possible to mistake this amp as a Bluetooth speaker, although the two hardly compare. With three tone settings, stereo chorus, and reverb effects, the amp is sure to help you bring incredible sounds wherever you go. Better yet, you can easily connect your mobile device to share your sounds as you’re on the go.
Matchless Nighthawk Reverb 1×12
Matchless’ Nighthawk Reverb is a higher-end heavy rock guitar amp. With a standard tube setup with a pair of EL84s, the amp can create a unique blend of British and American tones, making the possibilities endless. What’s special about this one is that it can blend British and American sounds seamlessly. The resulting tone is stunning and challenging to replicate. It comes with a standard tube setup with a pair of EL84s.
Blackstar Fly
Blackstar’s Fly is another small amp that is certainly still able to pack a punch. Perfect for home practices, its 3 watts of power are quiet enough not to disturb the neighbors but strong enough to help you master your craft. Perfect for the guitarist on the go, it’s battery-powered, allowing you to bring it anywhere and everywhere.
Peavey 6505+
Perfect for metalheads and hardcore guitarists, the Peavey 6505+ delivers powerful sound backed by 120 watts of power. It also provides a foot-switchable lead or rhythm channel for better resonance control. Those looking for a strong and raw sound that’ll leave an impact after any performance should consider the Peavey 6505+.
If you’d like to learn more about playing guitars, read more articles on the BYJU’S FutureSchool blog. BYJU’S FutureSchool also has a research-based music curriculum that incorporates fun and engaging interactive challenges and projects that broadens students’ musical skills and creativity. Sign up for a FREE trial class to check it out.
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