The 31 best guitar amp brands
Marshall, Fender and Blackstar lead our ranking of 31 guitar amp brands. Compare what each brand makes, visit its official site, or shop it online.
Guitar Amp brands, ranked
TSCentral is reader-supported: we may earn a commission when you shop through links on this page. It does not affect the ranking.
-
1
Marshall
Marshall packs a real punch with the music that they provide to their customers. They are well versed in the craftsmanship of making a device that can provide the best musical journey. All of their items are unique pieces that can be vintage to the look. Modern technology is used to create the exciting features of the products, but they are given more of a character with the aesthetic designs. Marshall has a selected collection of items that are curated for music lovers.
Website: marshallheadphones.com |Brands like Marshall
Popularity 10.0/10
-
2
Fender
Leo Fender’s ambition was to design an instrument that was functional and easy to operate. With that in mind, he created a unique guitar. Fender guitars prioritized volume and fun tones when used. Going back to as far as 1946, Fender has revolutionized the music industry worldwide in practically every genre. Moreover, many people, from hobbyists and amateurs to acclaimed artists, have utilized Fender products, which should assure you of its quality.
Website: fender.com |Brands like Fender
Popularity 9.9/10
-
3
Blackstar
Blackstar is obsessed with the vision of sumptuous luxury. Intangible quality begins with leathers and fabrics hand-selected by our professional strategy team. Blackstar artisans then bring these magnificent raw materials to life, creating one-of-a-kind structures with smooth leathers, rich colors, and delicate underlays complemented with specific hardware and precise stitching. Western boots are among the most well-known in the category. Tall boots are a huge hit with young people everywhere. In the late 20s, booties have gained much traction in the fashion business.
Website: blackstarboots.com |Brands like Blackstar
Popularity 6.7/10
-
4
Peavey
Since 1965, Peavey has enabled musicians to express themselves with absolute Peavey excellence. They've always had a simple philosophy: build goods that will allow musicians to do what they love: write music, perform, and create art. Every day, they follow this passion by starting novel goods for all levels of play in practically every genre. For over 40 years, they have built a distinct portfolio of brands, each born of a desire for creative expression via the best audio technology.
Website: peavey.com |Brands like Peavey
Popularity 6.3/10
-
5
Orange
The best bikes in the world are what Orange Bikes are made to be. They diligently design and engineer each bike for performance, aesthetics, and value out of a profound passion for riding. They take pride in the way their bikes handle and seem. They sincerely hope that making Orange Bikes would make you as proud as they are to manufacture them. By offering groundbreaking features at an accessible price, Orange Bikes seeks to disrupt the market. In addition to delivering a comfortable riding experience, it provides lightweight bicycles that perform superbly in all-weather situations.
Website: orangebikes.co.uk |Brands like Orange
Popularity 5.4/10
-
6
Laney
Laney is a firm that offers musicians to obtain the greatest sound possible from their instrument, no matter where they perform. They've always been about putting amazing audio into your ears, from their first amplifier in 1966 to modern guitar effects pedals today. Laney has over 40 years of expertise developing great-sounding amps and audio equipment, which gives everyone a distinct advantage in producing the best quality items you can trust. You can get the greatest sound for your band or performance with Laney. With their vast choice of audio equipment and processors, you can turn your studio into a Lala land.
Website: laney.co.uk |Brands like Laney
Popularity 5.2/10
-
7
Mesa
Mesa Electronics offers various products, including memory cards and modules, graphics accelerator cards, multi-port serial cards for industrial control applications, and OEM-specific cards. Their products are used in various systems across a wide range of industries where dependability is critical. Mesa Electronics provides the best level of service to its customers by following tight standards and giving exceptional support. The brand Mesa's dedication to customer satisfaction consistently aims to exceed expectations.
Website: mesanet.com |Brands like Mesa
Popularity 5.0/10
-
8
Hughes & Kettner
Hughes and Kettner is the best German maker of enhancers and impact boxes, founded in Neunkirchen, Germany, in 1984 by Hans and Lothar Stamer. The association has become the same, with guitar amps of the greatest quality. The amps result from significant established energy and a journey for a fantasy to make an extraordinary tone open for the brilliant player.
Website: hughes-and-kettner.com |Brands like Hughes & Kettner
Popularity 4.8/10
-
9
Roland
Roland has a long history of music industry innovation. It creates and manufactures electronic keyboards, synthesizers, and digital pianos with outstanding sound quality and unique features as one of the world's top makers of electronic musical instruments. The company's goods...
Website: roland.com |Brands like Roland
Popularity 4.2/10
-
10
Ampeg
Aiming to contribute to society as meaningful global corporate citizens, Ampeg manages its business as socially responsible and ethical. They surprise their customers with high-quality products that showcase new features and capabilities, inspiring them to create and perform in previously...
Website: ampeg.com |Brands like Ampeg
Popularity 3.9/10
-
11
Line 6
Line 6 was founded as a maker of guitar effects and amplifier modeling devices. The idea behind this company is to help musicians create their desired sounds. Over the years, Line 6 has made several revolutionary products that changed the...
Website: line6.com |Brands like Line 6
Popularity 3.7/10
-
12
ENGL
ENGL manufactures musical instruments that provide high-quality sound with correct tones and pitches. Rockmaster is their best-selling model, with crisp sound delights distributed over different wires in a small dimension. It has a medium uplift with precisely controlled eq, a...
Website: engl-amps.com |Brands like ENGL
Popularity 3.4/10
-
13
Celestion
Celestion professional loudspeakers and compression drivers have built a worldwide reputation for unique design, outstanding performance, and unsurpassed dependability. The team has access to cutting-edge design, development, analysis, testing tools, expert technical drawing, and specialized development professionals who can prototype,...
Website: celestion.com |Brands like Celestion
Popularity 3.2/10
-
14
Bugera
Bugera is a music appliances brand devoted to offering the best quality guitar and bass equipment. It has its own music community to let the music lovers feel the music and express themselves through music. They assemble the components of...
Website: bugera-amps.com |Brands like Bugera
Popularity 3.2/10
-
15
Suhr
Suhr is a guitar and amplifier manufacturer where one should look for high-quality music gadgets. Guitar wires and pedalboards can be tested before purchase through their website; they are also known for creating hardware with various pickups. They also specialize...
Website: suhr.com |Brands like Suhr
Popularity 3.1/10
-
16
Kustom
Kustom footwear is an Australian Brand that gives different types of value shoes and boots. Their product mainly focused on men, women, and boys only. They have recently added numerous clothing accessories, socks, and sandals for customers. All the sizes...
Website: kustomfootwear.com.au |Brands like Kustom
Popularity 2.9/10
-
17
Markbass
MARKBASS is a technological firm that creates professional and innovative amplifiers for the most discerning artists. Massimo Giordano founded the firm in Bologna, Italy, in 1988, and it has established itself as a prominent maker of bass amplifiers due to...
Website: markbass.it |Brands like Markbass
Popularity 2.9/10
-
18
Eminence
Eminence has been a company selling professional audio products since 1966. They know the business, and they excel at it. They boast that their speakers are the best in the market. They believe in high-quality sound and try their best...
Website: eminence.com |Brands like Eminence
Popularity 2.8/10
-
19
Crate
Every company has huge amounts of data that needs to be sorted out. Crate is the best solution when it comes to all things related to data. It is a company of expert software engineers and data scientists who access...
Website: crate.io |Brands like Crate
Popularity 2.7/10
-
20
Phil Jones Bass
Phil Jones Bass as the name suggests is a brand launched by Phil Jones himself. The founder happens to be a bass enthusiast himself, which is why he wanted to contribute his own innovations to the musical instrument industry. After...
Website: philjonesbass.net |Brands like Phil Jones Bass
Popularity 2.7/10
-
21
Ashdown
Ashdown music is a significant manufacturer of instrument amplifiers and other items based in the UK and is passionate about everything music. Their primary focus is on bass amplification and has a collection of products, including practice amps, FX Pedals,...
Website: ashdownmusic.com |Brands like Ashdown
Popularity 2.6/10
-
22
-
23
Aguilar
The guitar is for the head, drums are for the chest, but bass gets you in the groin. The right instrument can make or break the quality of the sound. Aguilar, a company that produces gears for bass, has a...
Website: aguilaramp.com |Brands like Aguilar
Popularity 2.5/10
-
24
Carvin
Carvin has been selling amps and audio gear since 1946. Famous for its value to its customers, Carvin never fails to disappoint anyone with its high-quality products. From array systems to loudspeakers and in-ear monitors, it has all the equipment...
Website: carvinaudio.com |Brands like Carvin
Popularity 2.4/10
-
25
WowWee
Wowee! No, that is not an expression but a unique brand that develops and supplies robotic toys and consumer entertainment products. The continuous innovation and cutting-edge technology are what sets this company apart. All the concepts are created by inspiration...
Website: wowwee.com |Brands like WowWee
Popularity 2.3/10
-
26
Supro
Get the best of amplifiers, cabs, and more with Supro. Home to one of the original rock and roll music brands. Supro amplifiers and related products have been withstanding with time with their remarkable superior quality and efficiency, giving you...
Website: suprousa.com |Brands like Supro
Popularity 2.3/10
-
27
Bogner
Fashion and Sportswear are Bogner's specialties. The brand sells all things fashion- from jackets that make you feel warm yet fashionable to comfortable yet trendy T-shirts. The company provides you with the idea of a whole look and takes inspiration...
Website: bogner.com |Brands like Bogner
Popularity 2.2/10
-
28
Warwick
Warwick Academy is the leading co-educational school in Bermuda. It offers a broadly inclusive program for its students consisting of academic study, sports, drama, extracurriculars, music, and community fusion making it a place where one can do much more than...
Website: warwick.bm |Brands like Warwick
Popularity 2.1/10
-
29
NUX
Nux is the leading Italian activewear brand with a versatile, trendy fashion line of seamless clothes using innovative knitting technology. The brand's distinct design and technical skills result in timeless pieces that are comfortable and flattering. Their products are made...
Website: nuxactive.com |Brands like NUX
Popularity 2.1/10
-
30
Trace Elliot
Trace Eliot is a master of providing high-performing and high-quality amplifiers. The company constantly innovates and introduces one-of-a-kind amplifiers that give your instrument a perfect amplified tone. The ELF Ultra Compact Bass Amplifier is a pocket-size product that doesn't compromise...
Website: traceelliot.com |Brands like Trace Elliot
Popularity 2.1/10
-
31
Guytron
Guytron custom built guitar amplifier, innovative design surpasses all other amplifiers currently produced. We strive to create amplifiers of guitarists dreams.
Website: guytron.com |Brands like Guytron
Popularity 0.2/10
Official websites and social accounts
| Brand | Website | X / Twitter | YouTube | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall | marshallheadphones.com | /marshallheadphones | marshallheadphones | – | – |
| Fender | fender.com | /Fender | fender | @Fender | fendermusical |
| Blackstar | blackstarboots.com | /BlackStarBoots | blackstarboots | @blackstarboots | – |
| Peavey | peavey.com | /PeaveyElectronics | PeaveyElectronics | @Peavey | – |
| Orange | orangebikes.co.uk | /orangebikes | – | @orangebikes | – |
| Laney | laney.co.uk | /laneyamplification | laneyamplification | @laneyamps | Laney Amplification |
| Mesa | mesanet.com | – | – | – | – |
| Hughes & Kettner | hughes-and-kettner.com | /hughesandkettner | hughesandkettner | @hughes_kettner | hugheskettner |
| Roland | roland.com | /OfficialRolandAIRA | roland.experience.channel | @RolandExpCh | Roland Cloud |
| Ampeg | ampeg.com | /ampegusa | ampeg | @ampeg | AmpegTV |
Guitar Amps Buying Guide
When it comes to playing modern guitar, the amplifier is just as important as the guitar itself. The guitar amp takes the electric signals from your guitar and amplifies them to a level that can be heard by your audience. But with so many options available today, choosing the right guitar amp can be a daunting task. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to choose the best amp for you.
Types of Guitar Amps
The first thing you need to know when shopping for a guitar amp is the different types of amps available. Here are some of the most common types of guitar amps:
Tube Amps
Tube amps are the most sought-after type of guitar amp for their warm, rich sound. Tube amps use vacuum tubes to amplify the guitar signal. They are louder than many other types of amps, and they are also considered the most expressive because of their sensitivity to the dynamics of your playing. However, tube amps are also the most expensive and require more maintenance than other amps, like replacing the tubes every few years.
Solid-State Amps
The most affordable type of guitar amp is the solid-state amp. Solid-state amps use a combination of transistors and diodes to amplify the guitar signal. They also require less maintenance since they don't use tubes. The sound quality of solid-state amps is often considered to be less warm and dynamic than tube amps, but there are many high-quality solid-state amps available that produce great tone.
Hybrid Amps
As the name suggests, hybrid amps use a combination of both vacuum tubes and solid-state components. They offer the warm sound of tube amps along with the low cost and low maintenance of solid-state amps. Hybrid amps are generally considered to be a good middle ground between tube and solid-state amps.
Modeling Amps
Modeling amps use digital modeling technology to recreate the sound of different types of amps. With a modeling amp, you can switch between the sound of a tube amp, a solid-state amp, or even a vintage amp. While they offer great versatility, modeling amps are generally considered to have a less authentic sound than tube amps or solid-state amps.
Power
The next thing you need to consider when choosing a guitar amp is the amount of power it has. The power of an amp is measured in watts. The amount of power you need depends on where you will be playing and how loud you want to be. Here's a general breakdown of how many watts you need for different settings:
- Practice amp (bedroom): 1 - 5 watts
- Small venue: 15 - 30 watts
- Medium venue: 30 - 50 watts
- Large venue: 50 - 100 watts or more
It's important to remember that higher watts doesn't always mean better sound. In fact, a high-wattage amp paired with a low-output guitar can result in a muddy, distorted sound. It's important to choose an amp that is appropriate for the guitar and the setting.
Tone Controls
The tone controls on an amp allow you to shape the sound of your guitar. Most amps come with at least bass, mid, and treble controls, but some also include additional controls like presence, resonance, and reverb. If you're looking for flexibility in your sound, make sure to choose an amp with a variety of tone controls.
Here's a breakdown of some common tone controls and what they do:
- Bass: Controls the low frequencies of the guitar signal
- Mid: Controls the middle frequencies of the guitar signal
- Treble: Controls the high frequencies of the guitar signal
- Presence: Controls the brightness of the guitar sound
- Resonance: Controls the depth of the guitar sound
- Reverb: Adds a natural reverb effect to the guitar sound
Speakers
The speaker in your guitar amp is responsible for producing the sound that you hear. The type of speaker you choose can greatly affect the sound of your amp.
One important factor to consider when choosing a speaker is its size. The size of a speaker is measured in inches and ranges from 6 inches to 15 inches. Smaller speakers are generally more focused and provide less bass, while larger speakers provide more low-end and volume.
The other factor to consider when choosing a speaker is its construction. There are two main types of speaker construction: open-back and closed-back. Open-back speakers are more common in vintage amps and offer a more "airy" sound, while closed-back speakers are more common in modern amps and offer a more focused sound.
Effects
Many guitar amps come with built-in effects like distortion, overdrive, and chorus. While these built-in effects can be convenient, they may not be as high quality as separate effect pedals. If you're looking for a certain effect, like a specific type of distortion, you may want to invest in a separate pedal instead of relying on the built-in effects of your amp.
Price
Guitar amps come in a wide range of prices, from less than $100 to well over $1,000. As with most things, you generally get what you pay for. More expensive amps tend to be of higher quality and offer better sound, but there are also many affordable amps that can produce great tone. Ultimately, choose an amp that fits your budget and meets your needs.
Conclusion
Choosing the right guitar amp can be a difficult task, but armed with the information in this guide, you should be able to confidently choose an amp that meets your needs. Remember to consider the type of amp, the power, the tone controls, the speaker, the effects, and the price. And most importantly, choose an amp that inspires you to play and create great music.
