GUITAR GUIDES

You’ve just got your fancy new guitar restrung, tuned, and ready to rock, but something is missing.

You pluck a few strings and strum a few chords, but you’re not quite hitting the sounds of your favorite songs. What’s missing?

A guitar amplifier of course! Amplifiers connect to your guitar via a 1/4 inch cable and give some serious “oomph” to your sound. They typically come with an assortment of knobs that let you balance your overall tone.

In this article, we’ll be arming you with the information you need to make a purchase that will serve you a lifetime, as well as giving you our personal recommendations across several different price categories.

Finally, as in everything else, it’s crucial that you research, and preferably even field test the sound that comes out of each amplifier with your own equipment. Some guitars naturally produce more treble, and some really push out the bass. 

These variations can significantly affect your personal enjoyment of an amplifier, especially on cheaper models with fewer knobs to dial to your preferences.

This is why the classic bit of advice is that you’ll get more mileage from your set-up if you opt for a cheaper guitar and a more expensive amplifier.

Your sound will be crisper and more accurate, and the versatility you’ll have with the added features makes it less likely that you’ll need or want to upgrade in the future.

On the flip side of things, some items labeled as “amplifiers” are actually amplifier heads.

These heads are, quite simply, the controls. 

Instead of tethering players to one unit, companies that manufacture and sell amplifier heads instead prefer to give players the opportunity to use their own speaker systems.

These are fantastic for already excellent home audio setups and are a lifesaver for those who need multiple speakers to play on stage.

When one head is powering multiple cabs, that’s what’s referred to as a “stack,” a term that you’ll hear quite often if you stick with the guitar long enough.

To make things simple, almost the entirety of this list will be comprised of combo amplifiers except for our “Premium” price bracket, where players might be more likely to prefer their existing sound set-ups.

Why not start with the most expensive option designed for one of the greatest guitarists to ever live?

The JVM-410H (Amazon) is the premier model for anyone serious about rocking out since it offers all the versatility one could want when trying to find that perfect tone.

With four channels designed to power two standard 4x12 cabinets, you’ll be strumming rich, warm overdriven notes thanks to the tube technology that’s so highly sought after. 

The included six-way footswitch also lets you swap through personalized settings on the fly to ensure that you’re getting crunch or reverb when and where you want it.

Is it overkill for most players?

Absolutely, but when paired with high-end speakers it also produces by far the best sound that only gets better the louder you turn it up.

Check the current price on Amazon (Marshall JVM-410H)

Cementing their name in music royalty with this top-of-the-line tube amp (Amazon), Vox demonstrates that the convenience of a combo amp doesn’t necessarily have to come at the cost of a worse sound.

The 12-inch speakers project rich tones that can comfortably fill a medium-sized room thanks to its 15-watts of power, with an awe-inspiring array of effects to boot.

Two channels can be set independently to suit your tonal preferences, and both can be enhanced through the use of the excellent included effects. In particular, the reverb is stellar.

It has a lot of depth without compromising on the naturalness sound, which can be hard to accomplish without a dedicated effects pedal.

Once you toss in an EQ pedal to help balance out those mids, you’ll have an amplifier built to serve you for years, or even decades, to come.  

Check the current price on Amazon (Vox AC15C1)

The Vox AV30 (Amazon) is the first look we have at a “modeling” amplifier, which is an amplifier that attempts to recreate the sounds of technologies like vacuum tubes through computer emulation.

That means while those traditional Vox issues with subpar distortion are still present, players will still get tons of mileage from this little guy no matter what style of music they prefer.

Perhaps the best feature though is its lightweight at just 31 pounds (compared to over 50 with some models) and the ability to hook up another speaker.

This makes it great for traveling with your bandmates since you’ll have a lot of flexibility depending on the size of the venue.

Check the current price on Amazon (Vox AV30)

If you’re looking to get sounds like your favorite 70s and 80s rock bands, then look no further than the Ibanez TSA15 (Amazon) to satisfy those lofty expectations.

This 15-watt tube amp ranges from clean to bluesy depending on whether you prefer the clean channel or fat, overdriven sounds that are accentuated by the included tube screamer.

With the flick of the toggle switch, your lead playing will develop subtle hints of Stevie Ray Vaughan or Kirk Hammett to help you rise above the rest of the mix. 

It may be slightly underpowered for live shows, but it still sounds excellent, so if you’re rocking a small venue you might want to bring it along just in case.

Check the current price on Amazon (Ibanez TSA15)

At this price point, we start to delve into the territory where amplifiers can be used for recording but are more well-suited to jamming and practice.

Case in point, this Marshall (Amazon) still sounds quite nice for the price, but compromises somewhat on the clarity of your clean channel output thanks to its 30 watts of power funneling through a comparatively small 10-inch speaker. 

However, what you’re getting for the money is a ton of included effects like reverb and delay, and a line-in input to play your music through the speaker and jam along to the tracks.

It won’t give you that soothing tone of a tube amp, but for bedroom playing and those initial steps into the recording world, you could do a lot worse.

Check the current price on Amazon (Marshall Combo Amp)

If you like your amps to be simple to operate and consistently sounding great, then this Orange Crush (Amazon) is an excellent option for delivering all the punch you could ask for.

It has limited versatility since it only offers clean and dirty channels, but if you’re happy with that classic Orange sound, then you know what you’re getting and won’t need much else.

While it doesn’t get incredibly loud and the speaker is somewhat disappointing when compared to more premium models, it does still have some handy features like a built-in chromatic tuner which is a life-saver when you quickly need to go from E to Drop D between songs.

Non-rockers might not appreciate the vintage qualities of the sound, but at least the headphone jack can help keep you playing long into the night worry-free.

Check the current price on Amazon (Orange Crush 20RT)

If you’re an absolute beginner or are on an extremely tight budget, you’re going to want something that’ll last you a good long while.

While that can be tough to guarantee in budget models, Donner puts longevity worries at ease with this robust little amplifier. At just under 11 pounds this Donner Electric Amp (Amazon) is light and perfect for the bedroom nightstand but is sturdy enough with its hard casing to withstand the abuses of lengthy travel. 

With just two channels and no effects aside from gain, it can be hard to recommend for people looking for the biggest bang for their buck, but it gets the job done admirably.

The tone is nice, if somewhat muddled at low volumes, but it absolutely sings when cranked up with the Boost turned on.

Check the current price on Amazon (Donner Electric Amp 10W)

The Fender Frontman (Amazon) might be one of the most popular budget amplifiers around and is aimed exclusively at practicing players.

This focus can be seen in the limited number of options and controls, the tiny speaker, and only one channel to tinker around with. Thankfully, the sound is quite lovely, with one major caveat.

Since the speaker is only 6” it really isn’t big enough to push a lot of deep, bass-heavy sounds. This results in your playing sounding rather flat and lacking depth when you crank it to high volumes.

Thankfully, it isn’t as noticeable at lower settings, so if you’re looking at an amplifier to be used in a small apartment, you shouldn’t find too much to complain about here.

Just don’t play it with other musicians, since you won’t be able to hear anything.

Check the current price on Amazon (Fender Frontman 10G)

Narrowing down these choices to one arbitrary metric like “best” is always tricky since the best model is one that’s going to fit your personal lifestyle and needs.

The best value amplifiers on offer among our preferred budget models though are the Marshall Combo Amp (check price on Amazon) and the Orange Crush 20RT (check price on Amazon). 

Both amplifiers are in that price sweet spot to deliver some impressive sounds, combined with a variety of features to suit players of various levels.

There are cheaper amp options out there, but as a player, you’ll quickly outgrow them and feel stifled due to their lack of customization and comparatively weak-sounding audio.

Either of our selected models will serve you well for many years even as you improve since they’re powerful enough to be played in a variety of settings and have just enough tools to let you experiment to find your perfect tone.

Looking for some more details on some of the brands we’ve spotlighted? 

Well, look no further, because in this section we’re going to give you a quick crash course of some of the top players in the amplifier world.

Getting their start in 1962 in the historic city of London under the leadership of Jim Marshall, a drummer, Marshall first entered the world of amplifiers the following year with the old JTM45.

This amplifier quickly gained notoriety for its excellent blues and rock tones which vaulted the company into popularity.

Since then, Marshall has been one of the most renowned companies when it comes to guitar amplifiers.

Their trademark “crunch” is one of the most iconic sounds even to non-musicians and are still prominently featured as a critical selling point. After growing competition from American companies in the 80s and 90s, Marshall continued to modernize by adding now standard features like channel-switching. 

This kept their fans happy by continuing to add value to their products, and it’s this same constant push for improvement that keeps them relevant among musicians.

They have models to fit a variety of price ranges and offer everything from amplifier heads to combo solid state amps.

The British nemesis to Marshall founded a full 15 years earlier in Dartford, Vox launched their first amplifier in 1958.

However, it was their AC30 which was revealed a year later that continues to capture the hearts of rockers around the world. Following this initial surge, they gained widespread popularity by working with some of the greatest bands ever like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Queen over the ensuing decades.

Despite this overwhelming success though, Vox wouldn’t be able to sustain it and quickly went through long cycles of financial difficulty and new owners. This continued until the early 90s, where they were bought by Japanese company Korg. 

Vox remains a venerable amp manufacturer to this day, and the brand still carries a hefty premium.

​They’re known for well-made, reliable products and have branched out into everything from footswitches to their hybrid “Guitar Organs.”

Their most significant hit, however, remains the AC30, which continues to be sold and still garners high praise as one of the finest amplifiers ever made.

You can’t mention anything related to guitars and not say Fender as one of the most influential, successful brands.

Founded in 1946 by Leo Fender, the company quickly embodied American values such as reliability, quality, and affordability for the masses with their iconic Stratocaster guitars.

​Their history with amplifiers dates back over 70 years, which means that they know how to make ‘em better than almost anybody.

While none of their products ever gained a level of fame comparable to the AC30 or JTM45, they delivered consistent quality in packages that were attractive and affordable, which led to a dedicated core following.

Their focus has always been on catering to as many people as possible, and this can be seen to this day with their popular Frontman series of amplifiers.

These flood the low-end market and are well-reviewed due to the unique tones they output. However, Fender amps struggle to remain viable in premium price brackets where companies like Marshall tend to dominate.

Founded 50 years ago by Clifford Cooper in the United Kingdom, Orange is the newest of the companies on this list but has built quite an impressive resume in that comparatively short time-frame.

While they were dealing initially with second-hand equipment, the company saw their start with amplifiers with their infamous “Pics Only” amps in 1972.

The traditional heavy sound that the company is known for today found its origins in these models which were unique enough to help them stand out from their competitors and find success in a growing market. 

In 1992, the company was sold to Gibson who used the Orange name for their own line of products. This lasted for five years until the brand was independent once again, inspiring a refresh of the products that they were so well known for. 

Today, the company is more popular than ever thanks to famous guitarists like Noel Gallagher and Brent Hinds exclusively using their amplifiers.

Their trademark sound and style can be found across a wide range of Orange Crush amplifiers that occupy all positions of the price spectrum. Most of them include handy features like built-in tuners, giving them great value and making them ideal for beginners.

That said, they all sound great, and there’s an Orange amp to suit the needs of almost every class of player, so give them a try!

Amplifiers are perhaps the most important purchase you can make for your electric guitar set-up.

They provide the projection, power, and effects you need to deliver memorable experiences to anyone listening. That also means that it’s never an easy purchase to make.

Whether you’re looking for a 10-watt tube amp or a 50-watt solid-state, there’s something on our list to please even the most discerning listeners.

With our handy buying guide and brief overviews of some of the most iconic companies, you have an ultimate resource for selecting a tool that’s right for you.