Amp reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 170 Reddit reviews across 13 subreddits and 41 posts to rank the best Amp brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/GuitarAmps, r/telecaster, r/guitarlessons, r/electricguitar, r/HeadphoneAdvice. Top-rated brands include BOSS (4.8/5), Fender (4.6/5), Peavey (4.4/5).
Stats
Reviews170
Subreddits13
Posts41
Brands47
Products86
170 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
BOSS
4.8
(16)
"It really is the perfect practice and home use amp."
"I never would have believed I would bond with a solid state amp."
"Hard to argue for value / sound equation."
"Boss Katana or Line 6 Catalyst, both will get you the sounds you want and are budget friendly."
"Best bet for that price range for a real amp would be a Boss Katana."
"Get yourself a second hand Boss Katana (any version) and you're good for the next couple of years."
"Katana. Obviously."
"Get a small practice amp like a BOSS Katana."
"Boss Katana is great."
"I think I want an amp that I would like to grow into so I think I may go with the boss katana that way I won’t have to worry about buying another down the road."
#2
Fender
4.6
(16)
"The LT25 is a great little practice amp and the GTXs are a beautiful expansion upon the LT’s capabilities while being $500 and below."
"Fender Tonemaster Super Reverb."
"Fender Ultra/Ultimate Chorus amps were Fender’s answer to the JC120 and they did it well."
"It’s light, loud, and has good features (attenuator, DI with cab sims)."
"Fender : Champ or Princeton. Can’t go wrong."
"Fender guitars always sound great through Fender amps."
"Fender Mustang GTX50 - has 40 amp models, 70 effects, 30 cabinet models."
"Was great for practicing at home."
"I would save up for the fender mustang gtx50."
"Fender Mustang LT25 is a fantastic beginner amp."
#3
Peavey
4.4
(14)
"I've been rockin' a Peavey Renown 400 for 30 years, and I *love* it. amazing tone."
"I have the RT20 and absolutely love it."
"I’ve got a Supreme XL and it’s the first thing I’d point to if I wanted to convince you “solid state” isn’t a dirty word."
"6505 as I bought one for about £400 years ago and it's my main amp for everything, not sure you can get much better honestly."
"Nothing else under 450 can touch it."
"Bandit or valvestate, both on some sick albums and personally served me well for very little monies"
"Peavey Supreme 160"
"I had one of those Peavey about 15 years ago, but at the time, I thought I wanted something with head and cab, so I traded it for a Hartke GT-60 half stack."
"Any Peavey"
"I personally use a Peavey Stereo Chorus 212. Very clean. Very loud."
#4
Orange
4.7
(12)
"I proudly own and gig an Orange Super Crush 100."
"Orange Dual Baby"
"I have the Dualtop and it's fantastic."
"One of the Orange Baby heads for sure. Light, powerful, sound great."
"Orange makes some damn good solid state amps, especially the new mini heads which can be run straight into a mixing board/interface/daw without worrying about blowing anything up."
"Great price, master volume, hits cleans and distorted tones well."
"Orange super crush 100!! Killer JFET amp!"
"I'd go for the Orange CR120, since I mostly play blues, stoner and doom metal."
"I would add the orange super crush but it’s basically just the updated cr120"
"Orange super crush"
#5
Marshall
4.3
(11)
"Marshall Lead 12/Lead 20/Master Lead 30 are the GOATS as far as I'm concerned."
"They’re terrific and perfect for what you’re looking for."
"I reckon you could be happy with a DSL combo."
"Honestly a DSL40 would work perfectly for this use case, every tech knows how to work on them and they're incredibly common in the EU"
"Personally I'd go for a studio series marshall, the SC (2203) has a master volume."
"Marshall valvestate,mg,lead"
"I got an MG30 in 2005 and it was great."
"I can find the dsl40cr pretty common for $450 in PA and NJ, owned one for a year and can recommend."
"A used DSL20HR is totally in that price range on Reverb. I got mine for about 500 in mint condition."
"It has a bigger cabinet therefore sounds bigger."
#6
Boss Katana
4.8
(9)
"Either get a Katana, Fender Mustang Micro Plus."
"Boss Katana is perfect for what you’re describing."
"Boss Katana, or Orange Crush."
"Boss Katana!!"
"Kitana is the best one out there right now."
"Definitely Boss Katana."
"Boss Katana, if you want lots of authentic on-board Boss effects."
"Boss Katana."
"Boss Katana in that price range."
#7
Roland
4.9
(8)
"The unique true stereo chorus that is undeniably the JC-120 is legendary."
"Roland JC series has made a lot of hit records."
"Jc120"
"Recently got one myself and it’s excellent. Always always love the built in compressor!"
"JC120 was so good. I wish I’d never sold mine."
"Roland JC series"
"The Roland JC120 is legendary for good reason."
"Roland JC120, Sunn Beta Lead, Lab Series L5, lots of old Peavey stuff"
#8
Vox
5.0
(7)
"A Vox AC15C1 is a good companion to a Tele."
"Vox ac15. Built fantastic, mid forward, LOUD."
"AC15 all day."
"AC30."
"Ac15."
"If you want less volume."
"I adore my AC15C1 ... can contend with some drummer."
#9
Boss
4.9
(7)
"Katana. Without a doubt, buy used."
"Great amp to start out with."
"If it’s just for casual practice I’d have to say a Katana 50 for that money."
"I highly recommend the boss katana 50 it should be well within your budget."
"As you are looking for versatility, I would suggest BOSS Katana 50."
"Boss katana 100w head."
"Katana 50. Goes cheap used."
#10
Quilter
4.5
(6)
"I have a Aviator Gold 8 that is so unbelievably good!!"
"The solid state amp that can do it all- including nailing the tube amp thing, BTW - is the Quilter Mach 3. I have the Mach 3 1x12 combo, and I can't imagine needing ANYTHING else."
"Somebody else said Quilter already, but take a lot at the Quilter DirectAmp, and the Quilter SuperBlock series."
"Check out the Quilter Aviator Cub"
"I've heard Quilter is top of the food chain for soild state, under that I'll throw in the Orange Crush but I've heard that the new Orange Baby series are amazing too."
"I was also going to suggest a quilter although maybe one of the smaller orange amps or heads might be better for heavier music."
#11
Yamaha
5.0
(4)
"I'm a huge fan of the Yamaha THR 100 HD. I sold all my other amps after using one for a few months."
"I have two of the Yamaha G series, I want the head, and the 2x12, and the 4x10."
"My G50 is the first iteration so I don't have the parametric EQ unfortunately, but my G100ii has it! Super rad amps, great speakers too!"
"Yamaha THR series ... I have the THR30II, great sounds, has an app for fine tuning."
#12
Positive Grid Spark
4.5
(4)
"I have a positive grid spark and it’s fantastic."
"Not sure how you can beat a Spark"
"Check out spark amps."
"I have a Spark, and love it."
#13
Randall
4.3
(4)
"Early-mid 1980’s Randall RG80-112SC, these are hands down the absolute best/and most versatile sounding amps I’ve played."
"The ol’ RG80 combos are great too."
"Randall RG, century"
"I picked up a Randall rg170es from 1991, and besides being uncomfortably loud…it’s one of the best cleans I’ve personally come across."
#14
Laney
4.7
(3)
"I went with the Laney Ironheart, but I came across an insane deal on an Invective so I bought that today too haha. It sounds insane."
"I ended up with two amps. I decided on the Laney Ironheart :) and bought it and it's coming through the mail now."
"Laney linebacker"
#15
Fender Blues Junior
4.3
(3)
"It's a great Amp, and pairs perfectly with a tele for that classic tele/Fender tube sound."
"Find a used fender tube amp."
"Used Blues junior"
#16
Mesa Boogie
4.3
(3)
"You already have the best amp for around $500. I would just save your cash and wait for the right moment to strike on a Mark V."
"Mesa caliber series, F50, 50 cal or similar. Nomad isn’t bad either."
"Be on the look out for Mesa Boogie DC series. You might be able to find a DC3 1x12 combo for that price."
#17
Fender Mustang LT25
4.0
(3)
"There’s nothing wrong with the Mustang LT25. It sounds perfect for your needs."
"Fender mustang LT-25"
"Fender Mustang LT25"
#18
Positive Grid Spark 2
4.0
(3)
"Another vote for the spark for me. The functionality is super intuitive."
"Spark 2 (much improved from Spark 40)"
"If u can afford, get a spark 2. So many options"
#19
Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb
5.0
(2)
"Save up for a 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb."
"Personally, I would grab a used 68 custom deluxe reverb."
#20
Boss Katana 100
5.0
(2)
"Look for a used Boss Katana 100 watt."
"Katana 100? Cheap, versatile, effects loop, reliable."
#21
Positive Grid
5.0
(2)
"Positive grid spark are the best for this"
"With one of these you can choose between TONS of amp modelers."
#22
Lab Series
5.0
(2)
"I am still on the hunt for the Lab series L5, that BB King used exclusively... Just love me that singing tone!"
"Lab Series L5"
#23
Stinger Audio
5.0
(2)
"Best bang for the buck."
"Best bang for the buck."
#24
Monoprice
4.5
(2)
"Honestly, I love my Liquid Spark too."
"I love liquid spark for plannar."
#25
Positive Grid Spark Mini
4.0
(2)
"Check out the spark mini."
"Spark Mini"
#26
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
4.0
(2)
"If you already love the Fender, the Hot Rod Deluxe can usually be had used for well under your limit."
"Fender hot rod deluxe could probably be purchased second hand for that price."
#27
NVX
5.0
(1)
"Handles over its rated power 1150 @ 1 ohm"
#28
EVH
5.0
(1)
"FAR better than anything in the Marshall DSL line IMO."
#29
Crate
4.0
(1)
"Crate gx,GTX,gt, shockwave, Excalibur,vtx"
#30
Sunn
4.0
(1)
"Sunn beta lead"
#31
Traynor
4.0
(1)
"There was a Traynor custom special 50 on FB for $450 that I was about to get."
#32
Jet City
4.0
(1)
"Jet City 333 is one of a small number in that price range."
#33
Sessionette
4.0
(1)
"Noone mentioned the mighty Sessionette yet! A staple of the 80s and 90s pub scene in the UK. You can pick them up used for a hundred bucks and they are loud as hell with a great clean channel."
#34
Simplifier
4.0
(1)
"I'd go pedal amp like a Simplifier and a class D powered FRFR cab with a neo speaker."
#35
Matrix
4.0
(1)
"Matrix gt1000fx 2 space. Frfr super clean lowest the. 4 lbs weight high watts at 350 watts per side at 8 ohm fully adjustable ohm mix and match."
#36
E1DA
4.0
(1)
"I love E1DA powerdac for this but XS will need real power."
#37
Schitt
4.0
(1)
"Schitt Magni Unity (with the DAC included in the unit."
#38
Topping
4.0
(1)
"I would say a used Topping DX3 Pro+ on eBay."
#39
JDS
4.0
(1)
"A good alternative would be to get a stack like $99 JDS Atom Amp+"
#40
Aune
4.0
(1)
"I would probably go for the Aune Ar5000 instead."
#41
Friedman
4.0
(1)
"Friedman IR-X or IR-J with your power amp of choice, I use a Carvin Mach 100."
#42
Ampeg
3.0
(1)
"Ampeg VH140C"
#43
Harley Benton
3.0
(1)
"Harley Benton Tube 15"
#44
Gallien Krueger
3.0
(1)
"Gallien Krueger 25OML."
#45
Nemesis
3.0
(1)
"Nemesis 1600x4"
#46
Trans Tube
3.0
(1)
"That was my first amp ever and I had to throw it away 20 years later because the pots and buttons were so scratchy and the thing cut in and out. I’m tempted to buy another one just for the sentimental value."
#47
NAD
2.0
(1)
"It actually only supports 2 channels, it's a Stereo only device, doesn't do surround sound at all."
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