Best guitar amplifiers of all time

There are several key factors in determining what makes a top-quality acoustic guitar amp wind up on our list. First, of course, is sound quality and how it clearly projects into the audience without clipping or distorting. Second factor is the tone and effects controls and how each sweetens the tone of your guitar. Portability is another important factor. The amount of inputs on your acoustic guitar amp can also make a difference, depending on if you want to use it as a live PA system or jam with a friend. Our list of the best acoustic guitar amps includes both IEC powered and battery-powered amps to suit a variety of gigs and jam sessions.

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Content:

• 7 Best Clean Guitar Amps (That Take Pedals Well)
• Best Small Tube Amp: Top 15 Picks To Practice Your Guitar (Combo & Heads)!
• 18 Awesome Guitar Amp Simulator Plugins
• Silverline
• Guitar Amp Buying Guide for Beginners
• Best Guitar Amps For Home And Stage Use
• Best 5 Acoustic Guitar Amplifiers (2021 Review)
• Seven of our Favorite Fender Amps for Recording and Couch Jams

WATCH RELATED VIDEO: Our 10 Favourite Guitar Amps – That Pedal Show

7 Best Clean Guitar Amps (That Take Pedals Well)

Equipboard is the world's largest community of artists and their gear. Since we have been on a mission to bring you the best music gear for your money. Read about our review process. Equipboard is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. Looking for the best guitar amp is a challenge. After all, when we say best what we typically mean is best for the player, and it quickly turns into a subjective but very opinionated conversation.

We very much recognize that there is not simply one amp to rule them all but that just like everything else, especially in the music world, opinions will vary. And while we definitely agree with that philosophy, we want to bring to the forefront some legendary guitar amplifiers that have earned a place in history for being game changers in one way or another.

The ideal guitar amplifier should be the best option for whatever it is you want to do. In fact, the hardest part of tracking down the best amp for your needs is really just making a decision about what type of tone you want.

Buying a good amp is like buying any other good tool. The Vox AC30 was originally conceptualized in The market was being saturated by the Fender Twin, which at the time had a significantly higher wattage than the AC With the advent of rock and roll the electric guitar began to take off to an insane degree, and soon it became the weapon of choice for hobbyists and professional gigging musicians alike.

However, as the electric guitar exploded in popularity there eventually came an arms race in terms of wattage. Professional musicians required larger and larger amplifiers as audiences grew, and companies were happy to provide them. As previously mentioned, the Vox AC30 was an attempt to capitalize on the growing need for a louder amplifier. Once this amp hit the market it was used by some of the most notable musicians at the time, which in turn led to it being the amp of choice for dozens of professional acts years later.

The most notable feature of the Vox AC30C2 is that it features a master volume switch, which while not an unheard of feature it definitely makes a tube amplifier significantly more controllable. This issue is solved by a master volume control. This allows you to maintain a that great all tube tone without playing at a volume that would be disturbing to those around you. This boost can almost be thought of as an overdrive pedal, as it can take your amplifier from a signature Vox chimey clean to a light overdrive through use of a separately purchased pedal.

Lastly, the Vox AC30C2 is a 2x12 model, meaning it has two twelve inch speakers. As an added bonus, the Vox AC30C2 also has an onboard tremolo as well as spring reverb. Both of these effects are analog, and they sound as good as any vintage voiced amplifier effect. Vox can almost be thought of as the middle ground between Marshall and Fender.

Generally, vintage amplifiers require a significant investment at the outset in addition to requiring an examination from an experienced amplifier tech.

There have actually been several reports of musicians being electrocuted by improperly grounded amplifiers.

So while vintage amplifiers may have a unique appeal, modern reissues are both much safer and significantly less expensive. The Vox AC is a modern iteration of one of the most important amplifiers in music history, and as such it has a lot to live up to. Thankfully for musicians everywhere, this amplifier lives up to its legacy in every regard. As far as all-tube amplifiers are concerned, the Vox AC30C2 is also incredibly fairly priced. Check Price on Amazon. One of the most notable amps in history, the Fender Twin Reverb has been a key component in some of the best albums of rock and roll history.

Introduced in before Fender had even started marketing the Fender Stratocaster , the Fender Twin was a monster for its time. It featured an unparalleled amount of headroom the amount of volume that an amplifier can maintain before it starts to distort , which led to it being used by luminaries such as David Gilmour , Chuck Berry , The Beatles , Jimi Hendrix , Eric Clapton , Keith Richards , Steve Jones , and Eric Johnson.

Unsurprisingly, the Twin Reverb has also been a fan favorite for average musicians as well. Because of the incredible demand for this amplifier, Fender has released several different versions of the Fender Twin Reverb. The most notable thing about this amplifier is that it features tilt-back legs, a feature that too few amps utilize. Tilt-back legs are exactly what they sound like, they allow you to tilt the amplifier at a backwards angle.

This allows the musician playing the amp to hear themselves at much lower volumes, which decreases overall stage volume. Bigger speakers give you a feeling of more volume and clarity without increasing the volume.

This is why larger variants of amp generally come in a head and cabinet configuration, where the head all of the circuitry and tubes and the speakers are separate. Fender reverb is the gold standard against which every other reverb is measured at this point. There have been dozens of pedals that attempt to emulate genuine Fender reverb to mixed results. The sound of this amplifier truly cannot be overstated.

This amp is a classic example of Fender amplifiers, which is a very specific type of tone. The amp is great for essentially anything except genres that require for intense distortion. The amp represents decades worth of innovation, all of which have been leading up to this amplifier. Synonymous with both the blues and sweet country twang this Fender amp is a great choice for any musician who needs pristine clean tones available at any volume.

Founded in by professional musician and electronic designer Clifford Cooper, the English amplifier company produces one of the most iconic amplifiers on the market today. This business model actually proved to be pretty popular in the area, as much like today musicians were fascinated by vintage musical equipment. Cooper invested the profits from his business into producing his own line of amplifiers. Cooper designed the original Orange amplifiers, but they were produced by the Huddersfield based company Radio Craft.

His input was invaluable, because as a touring musician he understood the stress that an amplifier would be put under when used in a professional setting. Originally released in , the Orange Micro Terror is a worthy successor to the legacy that Orange amplifiers have built in their last five decades of business. The amp has a unique appeal to musicians on the hunt for a low watt amplifier, and is easily one of the most affordable amplifiers on the market that offers a genuine tube amplifier tone.

The amp is 5. The main benefit of this is that it cuts down on the space necessary for storage, which is a plus for musicians with limited room available to them. The Orange Micro Terror is also a hybrid amplifier. Hybrid amplifiers combine solid-state and tube technology.

This configuration offers the pros of both approaches. The pre-amp section features a tube, which allows the amp to achieve organic sounding overdrive and distortion. The solid-state power section offers the durability exclusive to solid-state amplifiers, and it also saves musicians from the added cost of having to re-tube an amplifier.

One thing to consider with the Micro Terror is that it does not come with an accompanying cabinet, meaning that one will have to be purchased separately. The recommended cabinet for this amp is the Orange PPC 1x8. We would recommend pairing the Orange Micro Terror with this cabinet as the amp and cabinet are both designed to work together.

The Orange Micro Terror is geared towards modern distortion sounds and classic rock. There is only one channel unfortunately, so in order to switch up the tone mid-song you are going to have to either use a pedal or adjust the amps settings on the fly. In fact, this amp is surprisingly good, and makes this list because it offers outstanding capabilities for the price.

The tones coming from it are amazing, and we can legitimately say that without even considering the price point. Orange nailed the drive and tones here, and if you dismiss the Micro Terror as a novelty because of its size you are in for quite a surprise.

As far as quality is concerned, Orange nailed it. The Orange Micro Terror is representative of the general quality of Orange products. This is pretty unique for a hybrid amp at this price range, as generally cheaper hybrid amps are prone to a number of quality control issues.

The Orange Micro Terror presents a great value to musicians on the hunt for a low cost amplifier that can approximate the organic distortion of a tube amplifier. A peer to Fender and Vox, Marshall is one of the most iconic manufacturers of amplifiers that the world has ever seen.

Founded by Jim Marshall, the original iteration of the company was actually aimed exclusively at drummers. The original Marshall amps were actually intended to be a cheaper alternative to Fender amplifiers, which at the time were incredibly expensive to import to the U. Like many innovators, Marshall actually designed his first products in his garage.

Marshall was also one of first manufacturers to offer a separate head and cabinet, an innovation that went on to become one of defining features of Marshall amplification. The four separate channels clean, crunch, od1 and od2 each feature a different level of base gain in addition to their own EQ. This is great for gigs because it allows you to customize the profile of your distortion without having to purchase any extra pedals.

A noise gate is a pedal or in this case a circuit built into the amp that is used to control unwanted frequencies. It reduces things like amplifier or pickup hum, which is a huge plus if you plan on recording with this amp. Marshall is known for being the amp of choice for the majority of rock music.. Fender is generally considered the gold standard for clean tones, while Marshall is thought of as the pinnacle of a great distorted tone. Vox is somewhere in between the two.

As a general rule, the clean channel on Marshall amplifiers is a bit dark and flat. However, the gain channel on most Marshall amplifiers is great for everything from Grunge to metal. The amp is also capable of producing a great blues tone, and the early Marshall amps were actually used extensively by Eric Clapton towards the beginning of his career. As far as quality is concerned, the Marshall JVMH is representative of the quality that Marshall has always maintained with its amplifiers.

While this amp if a high-end model, there are other Marshall amps that will sound similar but cost you less. Founded in by Randall Smith, Mesa Boogie was originally a small repair shop. The shop gained notoriety for repairing and modifying Fender amplifiers. Modified Fender amplifiers were generally outfitted with a modified gain circuit, which increased the amount of gain that Fender amplifiers were capable of producing.

Eventually, Randall Smith started producing amplifiers based off his modified Fender circuit.

Best Small Tube Amp: Top 15 Picks To Practice Your Guitar (Combo & Heads)!

All you need is an amp designed specifically for acoustic guitars. An acoustic guitar is a hand built instrument that is made so that it sounds a certain way unplugged. The best acoustic amplifiers replicate that sound as pristine as possible. This can be further accomplished with proper EQ controls. Many of the companies on this list are not just great amp builders, but top of the line effects designers as well. As a result, many of the amps on this list have built in effects as a bonus. Then there is the constant battle with feedback.

18 Awesome Guitar Amp Simulator Plugins

When it comes to amps with effects, best is definitely a relative term. There are however, some amps with built in effects that are extremely popular. In this article, I included some popular amps with built in effects that I think would be best for every type of player. Whatever style of music you plan on playing or whatever budget you might have. This is not a comprehensive list, unfortunately that would take longer than I have time for. I promise they are absolutely not as bad as you might think. You can definitely get some great tones out of a Line 6, and since these are ridiculously cheap these amps are the best option to have as a practice amp. Link to More Specs, Pricing, and other info on Amazon here. There are also more versions of this amp as well that are upgrades from this version also.

Silverline

From the small home studio desktop amp to the stadium stack, guitar amps come in many sizes and capabilities. What will work for you will depend very much on a number of factors. What type of music do you want to play? Will you be playing alone at home or with a band? Do you want to be able to turn it way up or keep the volume at a reasonable volume while still getting a good tone?

Guitar Amp Buying Guide for Beginners

Guitar amps come in all shapes and sizes, with many options to choose from. Are you going to be jamming at home or taking the show on the road? In this guitar amp buying guide, School of Rock breaks down the basics of amps so you can find the perfect amp for your needs. Combo amps combine the speakers with the preamplifier and the power amplifier. The preamp shapes the tone of the guitar, and the power amp pushes the sound to the speakers.

Best Guitar Amps For Home And Stage Use

When it comes to tone and loudness, a guitar amplifier is arguably even more important than the guitar! The size, character and functionality of guitar amplifiers varies greatly across the huge market. With so many different amps to choose from, it can be difficult to make the best decision. Though there are plenty of companies that manufacture guitar amplifiers, some stand out among the rest. Fender is not only one of the most well-known and played guitar brands but also one of the best brands for guitar amplifiers. Fender offers plenty of guitar amps for all practical applications and each is designed to sound incredibly good.

Best 5 Acoustic Guitar Amplifiers (2021 Review)

If you're looking to get a guitar amp, then you're in luck because after much research, we have updated our Top 10 Guitar Amps list for This page is sponsored by Sweetwater so you can click through to get the full specifications, the latest price, and purchase any of the Amps stocked by Sweetwater that we have recommended. Guitar amplifiers influence guitar tone in a very big way, as exemplified by how the overdriven amplifier changed the musical landscape in the past, which paved the way to modern blues, rock, metal and other modern guitar styles that we now enjoy. So don't take your quest for a guitar amp lightly, it deserves proper research, dedication and investment.

Seven of our Favorite Fender Amps for Recording and Couch Jams

We recommend all products independently of 3rd parties including advertisers. Even if you have a great guitar, a less than stellar amplifier will hold you back on your tonal journey. To say that an amp makes or breaks your tone is an understatement. While many can argue where tone really is, the last thing in the signal chain is always what puts out the sound into the air and onto our ears, If that takes away from the tone, any effort put into investing in a great guitar or great effects will fall flat. While modelling tech has gotten so advanced that the devices now have enough more processing power than computers years ago, nothing beats a guitar going into a roaring or chiming tube amp.

Guitar amps are, after the guitar itself, the biggest factor to consider when creating your electric guitar sound. Amplifiers play a huge part - some would say the biggest part - in the production of tone and there are a vast array of makes, models and variations on offer to get you the sound you dream of. There are many types of guitar amplifier to choose from based on your taste and needs. There are valve amps also known as tube amps to our American cousins. Solid state amps are based on circuit boards rather than valves.

Where a second input channel was available, we plugged in a Shure SM58 via XLR in order to assess the vocal response from the amps. Our Top Pick was the Fender Acoustasonic This amp is super versatile, and takes both bedroom practice and small gigs within its stride. Our Best Budget option was the Fender Acoustasonic