Buying a guitar amp in 2022 is not an easy decision to make as there are so many great sounding amps to choose from.
I like to keep things simple when searching for a guitar amplifier. It is all about finding the best sound for the amount of money. In all honestly, it is probably not worth splashing out 1 or 2 grand on a new amp. You would be better off upgrading your guitar or if you can spend the cash, practice your guitar playing more often, as practice is the key to becoming a better musician.
You will also notice that I have included pretty much all of the other popular brands in here apart from Peavey as I haven’t heard them before. Sorry Peavey, I will try to listen to your stuff as I really like what you are doing with your amplifiers. The history of Peavey is very inspiring as well.
Amp market is different from the guitar market. You can’t just email a guitar manufacturer and ask to borrow their flagship model for a month or so in exchange for an honest review and then return it.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Fender Champion 100 | Best Overall |  |
| Fender Frontman 10G Electric Guitar Amplifier | Budget Pick |  |
| Yamaha THR10 Desktop Guitar Amplifier and Interface | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Fender Champion 100
2. Marshall Acoustic Soloist AS50D 50 Watt Acoustic Guitar Amplifier
Pros:
- Two channels (left and right)
- Onboard effects
- Dual input jacks/mic input
- Reverb, chorus, and overdrive effects
- Portable and lightweight design
- Available in different colors
- Easy to use
- Great sound quality
3. Fender Mustang GT 40 Bluetooth Enabled Solid State Modeling Guitar Amplifier
Pros:
- Bluetooth enabled
- Versatile
- Excellent sound, clean channel, distortion channel, and the preamp is the best
- Reverb is practically usable
Cons:
- Limited features
- Heavy
- Considering the price range went for versatility and the features are pretty average and not less
Fender is a very well known company in the music industry. They are some of the best companies that make the best electric guitars and the best amps. This particular amp has some of the best features like Bluetooth connectivity. It gives you total control over your sound quality that you always wanted. It comes with a 3-band EQ system which is great for sound quality and overall sound control.
It comes with a 40-Watts that is perfect for anyone who is just starting their career. Not only does it have 1 channel, but you get two different channels. It also has an 8-inch speaker which is sufficient to give you a great sound quality. It can give you up to 60% in volume and an excellent sound quality. The white finish gives it an elegant look.
4. Fender Mustang GT 100 Bluetooth Enabled Solid State Modeling Guitar Amplifier
Pros:
- Bluetooth capability
- 100-watt peak power output
- Digital signal processing
- USB Recording
- STEREO operation
- High-quality digital effects
- USB Cable included
- Two 12" Celestion Speakers
- Made in Mexico
- Fold out legs for standing
- Auxiliary Input
- Headphone output
- Outputs for a footswitch and for recording
- Softube software included
- Stand-alone recording
- Twist-on 1/4" connector
- That vintage sound
The Fender Mustang GT 100 Bluetooth Enabled Solid State Modeling Guitar Amplifier is a quality solid state modeling amplifier. It also includes all of the standard features which you would expect to find on an amplifier including a built-in tuner, line out, auxillary input, and effects loop.The Mustang GT 100 also includes stereo line output for practice along with a dedicated headphone output with a dedicated volume control with independent gain. There are also separate treble and bass controls and there is an output specifically designed for a foot switch.
5. Fender Champion 20
Pros:
- Reasonable price
- Integrated USB out for easy recording
- Great for practice
- Durable
- Great tone
- Perfect for beginners
Cons:
- The amp is slightly too small for an adult
- This does not have an auxiliary jack
In addition to an amp, you have to make sure that the instrument is in top condition. After you pick the best acoustic electric guitar for you, you can then consider strings, cables, pick-ups, u stomers, pre-amps, amps, and other accessories.
Go the extra mile and put some effort into it and it will serve you well for a long time. As my friend likes to say:
“Take care of your instrument and it will take care of you.”
6. Fender Frontman 10G Electric Guitar Amplifier
Pros:
- Professional tone
- Good for people who play alternative or country
- Amazing features for the price
- Lots of volume
- Easy to use
- Plenty of power
The electric guitar amplifier is usually used when the player is performing in a band or playing in front of a big crowd.
Fender is a globally recognized brand when it comes to making quality guitars. This is why we know their amps are high quality too. They have a simple design which makes it easy to use for beginners. It doesn’t have hundreds of buttons and switches which makes this amp a favorite of beginners and experts alike. Over all the Fender Frontman 10G offers great features at a very reasonable price.
There are 10 control knobs on the amp. The amp has two channels and both channels have a Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble, Master volume control to them. The amp also has a two-band EQ in the effects loop section.
7. Fender Acoustasonic 90
Pros:
- Great value for money
- Easy to use
- 10-inch speaker and 90-watt power
- Easy setup with no assembly required
- Comes with a limited 3-year warranty, which can be extended to 5 years by registering within 60 days of purchase
- Reverb and chorus for great sound effects
- Stereo 1/4-inch line-in jack
- Auxiliary input for playing along with your streamed phone or mp3 player
- FenderTM Acousti-vidi’ projection for a wall-filling sound
- Auxiliary input for playing along with your streamed phone or mp3 player
This amps provide great sound effects with the chorus and reverb addition. Perfect for holding small parties at home, you’ll be able to entertain guests with your favorite tunes. This is a simple and compact acoustic guitar amplifier which you can easily pack up and carry along with you on the go.
8. Monoprice 611815 15Watt
Pros:
- Ideal starter amp
- Low price
- Available in a variety of finishes
- Good sound and tone
- Built-in reverb
- Solid construction
Cons:
- Amp settings are adjusted manually
- Reports of poor customer service
- Noisy tubes
- Control panel isn’t sturdy
- No effects loop
We’re happy to recommend the Monoprice 15Watt guitar amp for people who are looking for the best tube amp under 500. This amp comes equipped with a built-in reverb, and a Celestion® speaker so you can hear and feel the power of tube tone. The 3-band EQ allows you to customize your tones.
This amp comes with a spring reverb that can add some depth to your tones and you can easily adjust the decay to find the right balance for your music. It will also give you some impressive sound effects to enhance the sound quality when you play.
An amp is most effective when it’s used with an effects processor, so this model gives you plenty of options for your effects. You get a line out on the effects loop so you can easily connect to your effects program. It also allows you to connect headphones so you can practice when you don’t want to disturb others.
9. Yamaha THR10 Desktop Guitar Amplifier and Interface
Pros:
- Great tone and portable
- Modern effects
- Great extras like 2 special drum sounds
- Sweet remote bundled in the package
- Affordable
- Easy to Use
- Great for practice
Cons:
- New
- Firmware updates on the amp are necessary for optimum use
Why is this the best portable guitar amplifier of 2020 for us? Well, there are several factors that set it apart from the rest. For one, you can run the amp directly from its own power supply, as it comes with a power adapter. You can also power the amp externally, thereby eliminating the need for batteries.
Included in the package, it also features cubase AI recording software and 2 special drum sounds. One can create his own 4 track recording using the package. Though we do not fully discount using the guitar rig, this amp is far more cost-effective and at the same time is just as good.
The amazing part is that it is pretty quick when it comes to effects and switching sounds. The sound that it produces is rich and full. The distortion is also amazing and you can really hear the sounds to perfection. The guitar pedal isn’t that bad.
10. Peavey Vypyr VIP 2 Guitar Modeling Amp
Pros:
- Dual-channel modeling amp
- Pre-set tone effects
- Recording studio
- Up to 50 watts of power
- Works with IBM PC
- Robust cabinet construction
- Three 6" speakers
- 90 day warranty
Cons:
- Very heavy
- Some users have complained about lack of support
- Heavy cable needed
- Quality of factory presets is poor
- It might be a little too complicated for beginners
One of the best guitar amps for beginners has to be the Peavey Vypyr VIP 2 Guitar Modeling Amp. This amp allows you to play your guitar through a program that simulates a virtual amplifier. It comes with preset effects and a recording studio that you can use to learn how to play.
It’s a versatile amp that allows you to record live music or guitar, vocals and voice. This feature comes very handy if you are a musician and need to post your songs on websites that allow you to record live tracks. Your friends will have a good time listening and enjoying your music.
The amp has an output of 50 watts that allows you to play without having to turn your volume too high. The construction is solid and comes with three 6-inch speakers. There is also a headphone jack for private practice. The amp features a nice design that you will love having in your room.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best sounding guitar amp?
What makes a great guitar amp? Good question. The answer is a lot more complicated than you might think. Truthfully, you all want to like your amp and find it to be great. That means the sounds you get from it have to meet a certain standard. But, beyond that, you want it to be easy to use, have features you may need, sound good, and ultimately give you aesthetic pleasure while it sits on your shelf.
So, when reviewing the amps for this guide, it was clear that some were great-sounding but hard to use, while others were full of contemporary conveniences but had what some considered to be a more vintage sound (whatever that means). We scored amps based upon a number of different categories including their sound, construction, and features. Then, through a careful and critical process of elimination, we've come up with the ten best guitar amps in America.
What is the best cheap guitar amp?
When looking for the best cheap guitar amp, it can be difficult to find one that has all of the good qualities at a price that won't get you in the poor house.
At first, it seems like there can't possibly be a cheap amp that has the same sound quality as a more expensive one. The truth, of course, is that not all quality is tied into price tag.
In fact, there are many solid and cheap audio equipment manufacturers, and with some careful reading you will be able to pinpoint the best cheap guitar amp for your needs.
Wondering what are the best features to look for in an amp? There are several, including price, sound, durability, and weight.
For more details about cheap amps, see our buying guide in the introduction.
What is a good beginner amp for guitar?
A familiar problem is guilt at paying too much for an amp when all you really want to do is play guitar. To make things easier, it may be worth considering what might be a good starter amp for a budding guitar player.
Something small, simple, and inexpensive is the best place to start for a newbie. By that, we mean a guitar amp with a practice speaker, even if it’s only speaker in the world, and a fixed impedence load that allows you to plug your guitar directly into the amp.
Does it matter what amp I get for my guitar?
If you want to learn, then it’s likely that you’re at least looking into buying an amp. If the guitar is your main instrument, it makes sense that you buy an amp. However, the type of amp you buy depends on what you want from the amp. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to get a great amp, but you do need to have an idea of what you want from your amp.
Conclusion
If you’re new to playing guitar, you’ll want to know some things first. One of the most important things is the amp. A guitarist can’t really play without one. But it’s not all about the guitar. You will need something that will help you hear the sounds you’ll be making. And there’s no better way to achieve this than with a guitar amp.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Fender Champion 100 | Best Overall | |
| Fender Frontman 10G Electric Guitar Amplifier | Budget Pick | |
| Yamaha THR10 Desktop Guitar Amplifier and Interface | Upgrade Pick | |