Best solid state guitar amps

Once upon a time, tube tone was all that mattered to guitar players.

All Combos. All Heads. Solid State Amps are lighter, quieter, and packed full of features; making a brilliant alternative to valve amps. They were originally designed for jazz guitarists and bass players who demanded an exceptionally clean sound and shied away from the overdriven sound valve amps were famous for. Although sometimes used interchangeably with digital amps , solid state amps are their own category of which digital modelling amps are a subset. These amps can actually be all-analog such as the famous Roland Jazz Chorus.

Best solid state guitar amps

If you were to be told that our list of the best solid state amps will tempt even the most ardent tube purist, you might think the Guitar World team have lost it… but you would be dead wrong! Often supremely dependable, built to last, and some with the added bonus of being as light as a feather, the solid state amp can be the gigging musician's greatest ally. Whilst useful features like cab simulated outputs, auxiliary inputs and options to plug in headphones can make them just as effective for bedroom players and those starting out. Whatever you need, there is a solid state amplifier that would be a great addition to your collection, and with this buyer's guide, you can be sure to find the right amp for you. If you'd like to read some more in-depth buying advice about the best solid state amps, then scroll to the bottom of the page. If you'd rather get straight to the product guide you can find that directly below. An amp that gives you all the benefits of the tube original, with none of the drawbacks. As a do it all amp for players of any level, the Boss Katana still stands above its rivals in terms of features and sound quality. For fans of filth - something that solid states have famously struggled with - the Orange Super Crush provides tube-like response, dynamics and volume in a solid state package - though you could be forgiven for being fooled that this monster has glass in it. A special mention has to be made for the Roland Jazz Chorus , because as well as being a solid state behemoth, it happens to have - in our opinion - the best chorus effect of all time built in. The feature-set is almost the same too, but with two game-changing additions. Firstly, an attenuator dial enables you to lower the output power in five stages from watts right down to 0.

Reasons to avoid - Needs the software for deep editing. Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb.

The quick list 2. Best on a budget 3. Best for home use 4. Best for beginners 5. Best practice amp 6. Best tube amp 8.

Despite their rocky history solid state amplifiers and solid-state combo amplifiers are becoming increasingly popular, shaking the bad reps they once earned for themselves in the past. Solid state amps are without a doubt a far superior technology. Until recently, to own a model which was truly capable of giving a vacuum tube amplifier a run for its money, you had to have a substantial bank balance. With modern technological advancements and a reduction in fabrication costs, there are now plenty of low watt solid state amplifiers, from trusted leading brands such as Fender, Marshall, Roland, Orange, and Boss which are genuinely capable of providing a comparable, warm sound. Some of them even go above and beyond to keep up with the latest digital music trends, offering Android compatible apps and downloadable software. Below we have reviewed and recommended the current Top Ten competitors based on popular opinion as well as our own. Essentially the Roland Jazz Chorus is a scaled down, lower 40 watt version of the Roland JC Jazz Chorus, arguably the bench setter for clean electric guitar tones during the last 40 years and used by a number of professionals including James Hetfield. It is equipped with the same plethora of onboard effects for modern electric guitarist and produces the same unmistakable JC clean tone as its esteemed, high watt predecessor. Additionally, the Roland Jazz Chorus JC offers a true stereo input for performance enhancement when using effects pedals and other amp modeling and effects gear.

Best solid state guitar amps

Once upon a time, tube tone was all that mattered to guitar players. But thanks to modern digital modelling technology, pro-quality tones are accessible to everyone. For many years, the flattering compression, clipping, saturation and non-linear response of valve amps that most guitarists crave seemed beyond the capabilities of solid-state technology. Other than the Roland Jazz Chorus and a handful of other notable exceptions, throughout the 80s and 90s, solid-state amps were mainly confined to the bedrooms of beginners, with even the space-station-sized digital racks of stadium guitarists having valve preamps and power amps at their core. Over the past two decades, digital modelling has changed everything. Sure, valves fail, but they are easy to replace, and tube circuits tend to be much easier for amp techs to repair than modern digital ones. A well-maintained tube amplifier from is more than capable of delivering the goods on stage and in the studio for decades to come. That said, many of the new generation of digital modelling amplifiers offer a stunning and endlessly inspiring array of tones and effects to play with, not to mention the ability to swap tones with other users and download profiles of classic tube amps that are way beyond the budget of mere mortals. And even low-powered valve amps are loud.

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The THR10 II expands on the first truly good-sounding desktop amp — adding on three new amp types to its arsenal of impressive classic amp emulations and all-new wireless connectivity that allow it to sync with a Line 6 GT10 transmitter. So, with the right pedalboard it can be the backbone of quite a versatile rig. Does it sound identical? But on top of that, it packs some seriously immersive stereo effects. The AC15 C1 delivers that signature chime whilst remaining portable enough for regular gigging. Best combo amp Onboard, there are 30 amp models and 40 effects. Two separate inputs mean you can run two different instruments via the same amp which could be handy in a pinch, and you also get some quality effects with reverb and tremolo. Most Popular. Reasons to avoid - Obscure control labels.

The quick list 2.

Read our full Blackstar HT Club 40 review. The six amp voices give you plenty of flexibility to blend in - or stand out - depending on your use case, and the Celestion speaker delivers a lovely, balanced guitar tone. The AC15 C1 delivers that signature chime whilst remaining portable enough for regular gigging. A modeling amp like the Fender Mustang LT25 is the perfect tool for this kind of job, as it gives beginners plenty of choices without leaving them feeling overwhelmed. If this sounds like you, then the Orange Super Crush delivers superb tones with minimal fuss. Tonally versatile and portable, the DSL40CR is an all-tube tone monster that offers excellent value for money for gigging guitarists. As should be expected by the kings of stompboxes, the internal effects are superb and can be expanded further with the use of the Tone Studio Editor application and switched on the fly with the addition of a footswitch. It packs in a host of Boss effects, along with a selection of great-sounding amp models, and will easily manage the step up from practice to small gig. You get two channels with two inputs each, giving you plenty of flexibility in how you shape your sound. Similarly, the XLR out is a very welcome recording feature that some will choose to use on stage too. You see, tube technology was terribly flawed. Inputs: 1 instrument, power amp in, aux in. Our expert review:. Enter the Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb, which aims to give you all that tube sass without the back-breaking weight or window-shattering volume.