Top 14 Best Guitar Amplifier Brands

The world of guitar amplification is full of all sorts of different sounds. And from many top manufacturers! Without them, we would not have many of the great songs we know and love today.

But not all the different brands are good choices for some reason or another. Whether that be for the sake of tone or the reliability of their products.

In this Killer Rig guide, we are going to look at what we feel are the best guitar amplifier brands available today. Plus, why you should consider them above the rest.

Marshall

marshall amplification

Marshall is one of the most well-known brands in guitar amplification. They are responsible for some of the most iconic sounds in rock and roll, period!

The reason Marshall is so popular is that they make great-sounding amplifiers! Additionally, they are durable with the use of high-quality components. This makes their products designed to withstand years of heavy use.

Marshall amplifiers also have a great reputation for their tone. They offer a range of sounds, from clean and sparkling to powerfully distorted.

Are you looking for a guitar amplifier that can provide you with superb sound and last a lifetime?
Then Marshall is a company you ought to consider.

Their amp models include:

  1. The JCM800 2203
  2. Super Lead 1959 Plexi
  3. JVM410H 4 Channel Amplifier

What Sets Them Apart: Their great reputation, durability, and range of tones. They have always been what Marshall amps are known for, even to this day.

Fender

fender

Fender is another company with a long history in electric guitar amplification. They are probably the best-known company for amplifiers in the world! Leo Fender was known as an amazing designer.

Fender amplifiers are recognized for their clean tones. They have a lot of different sounds and do get a bit distorted. But they are mainly focused on providing great-sounding cleans.

They are also known for being very reliable and are built to last, as they use high-quality components.

You can also expect effects built into both their tube and digital amplifiers. Effects like reverb and tremolo.

Their amp models include:

  1. The Twin Reverb
  2. The Princeton Reverb
  3. Tone Master Deluxe Reverb

What Sets Them Apart: Fender amps are all about giving you great clean tones. They have a wide range of different clean sounds, from sparkling cleans to warm and smooth tones.

Vox

vox amplification

Vox is known for its vintage-sounding amplifiers. They make a ton of different combo amplifiers that have been a big part of music history. These are amps that you can find in most jam spaces and studios worldwide!

Amplifiers made by Vox are known for their distinctive British tones. They have a wide range of different sounds. Both from clean and sparkling to mildly distorted in head and combo options.

They are also renowned for being highly dependable and robust. Their products are built using high-quality components. Some of them even come with some amazing sounding effects, especially in the modelers.

Their amp models include:

  1. The AC30
  2. The AC15
  3. The MV50

What Sets Them Apart: Vox amps are perfect for old-school British sounds, but can serve many needs. They have a great reputation and are known for being very reliable.

Orange

orange amplification

Orange is a brand that makes some of the heaviest-sounding amplifiers on the market. They have a wide range of sounds, from clean and sparkling to extremely distorted.

If you are looking for an amplifier that can get incredibly heavy and thick, then Orange is a great option. You can even still find tube-driven reverb on some models.

Orange amplifiers are also known for their line of tiny, low-powered models. They can get quite clean, but are appreciated more for their gritty and overdriven tones.

Their amp models include:

  1. Rockerverb MKIII
  2. Thunderverb
  3. Dark Terror

What Sets Them Apart: Orange amplifiers are some of the heaviest sounding on the market. They have a lot of different sounds and many output power options, which can be great for practice.

Peavey

Peavey amplification

Peavey has been around since the 1970s. They are known for their awesome-sounding amplifiers. Plus, different models can cover a multitude of music styles.

Peavey amplifiers are quite legendary in heavier music scenes. The 5150 has played a huge role in the sounds of metal!

They can get quite clean as well. But are more known for their distorted tones. They have a large range of different gain levels too.

From light overdrive to full-on metal distortion. There have been many famous artists who have had signature models, like Eddie Van Halen.

Their amp models include:

  1. ValveKing
  2. 6505
  3. JSX

What Sets Them Apart: Peavey makes some of the most versatile amplifiers on the market. They can cover a wide range of musical styles and have many sound options.

Mesa Boogie

mesa boogie

Mesa Boogie is a brand that is known for their high-quality amplifiers. They have been around since the 1960s and are still going strong today.

Mesa Boogie amplifiers are regarded for their great cleans. But more so for the game-changing distorted tones. They have a lot of different models, from small combo amps to large head and cab setups.

They have become a staple in the hard rock and metal scenes and have some great options built into their amps. But they also have amplifiers made for lower gain tones as well.

Their amp models include:

  1. Badlander
  2. Dual Rectifier
  3. Lonestar

What Sets Them Apart: Mesa Boogie makes some of the best-sounding amplifiers on the market. They have a ton of sounds and are perfect for any music style.

Laney

laney amps

Laney is another British amplifier brand that has been around since the 1960s. They offer a decent amount of different amplifiers, from small combos to large head and cab setups.

The tube and solid-state designs of Laney amplifiers are distinct. For years, many artists have cherished them. They may produce a broad variety of sounds, from clear to distorted and overdriven. You will also find that Laney provides amps for bass, keyboards, and more!

Their amp models include:

  1. Lionheart
  2. LA100SM
  3. L20T-212

What Sets Them Apart: Laney is perfect if you are looking for an amplifier with a large range of tones. They have many models to choose from, as well as different types of amplifiers.

Hughes And Kettner

German amplifier manufacturer Hughes & Kettner has been in business since the 1980s. They provide a wide range of amplifiers with several options and features. Some of their tones come from tubes, as well as solid-state circuitry.

Their amplifiers are renowned for having both aggressive and clean tones! All from a large selection of models that provide different options.

Additionally, they have various effects incorporated into their amplifiers. They also contain a wide range of features that cater to different player types.

Their amp models include:

  1. Triamp MKIII
  2. TubeMeister 40
  3. Grandmeister 36

What Sets Them Apart: Hughes & Kettner is a good option if you want a wide range of sounds and options. They have many models that provide different types of tones and effects.

Revv

revv amplification

Revv is a Canadian amplifier brand that has been around since the early 2000s. They offer a great selection of amplifiers with a ton of different options and functions.

Their amplifiers are known for producing superb cleans and outstanding distorted tones! This comes from a large selection of models that provide different options.

They also have a built-in load box and speaker simulation from Two Notes. You are able to utilize their amps without speaker cabinets thanks to this technology. These are modern, state-of-the-art amplifiers that come in many models.

Their amp models include:

  • G20
  • Dynamis
  • Generator 120

What Sets Them Apart: Revv is an excellent choice that has a huge range of sounds and options. Their built-in Two Notes speaker simulation is also an awesome feature. Primarily when you need to play your high-powered amp at night through headphones.

Blackstar

blackstar amplification

Blackstar is a British amplifier brand that has been around since the early 2000s. They offer a wide selection of amplifiers with a ton of different options and control. Primarily solid-state and tube hybrids, they do offer some all-tube models as well.

They also have effects built into their amplifiers. As well as many functions that provide something for every type of player. The founders are ex-Marshall employees that took a new sound in a different direction.

Their amp models include:

  • Fly Series
  • HT Club Series
  • St.James Series

What Sets Them Apart: Blackstar amplifiers are perfect for those looking for a wide range of tones. They have many models that provide different types of sounds and effects. Great for both stage and studio.

Boss

boss amps

Boss is a Japanese amplifier brand that has been around since the 1970s. They are well known for their guitar pedals, but are relatively new to the amplifier game.

They offer a model called the Katana that comes in many sizes and offers a good selection of tones. These amplifiers are known for their awesome tone for the price and their reliability is on point.

Boss also has a lot of different effects built into their modelers that sound just as good as their pedals. The nice thing about these Boss Katana tones is that they go from a light drive to searing leads.

Their amp models include:

  1. Katana 100
  2. Katana 50
  3. Waza 150

What Sets Them Apart: Boss is the perfect option if you need a large range of tones and effects. All in a digital modeler package.

Randall

Randall is an American amplifier brand that has been around since the 1970s. It primarily began as a solid-state amplifier manufacturer. But have also moved into tube options as well in the last few years.

Their amplifiers are known for their great high-gain tones. All of which are perfect for metal and hard rock. They also have many clean and overdrive sounds that come in a large selection of models.

Their amp models include:

  1. Thrasher
  2. RG Series
  3. RD Series

What Sets Them Apart: Randall is an excellent option for a good selection of high-gain tones. In either tube or solid-state models.

Line 6

line 6

Line 6 is an American amplifier brand that has been around since the 1990s. They offer many digital modelers that come in multiple sizes and offer great tones at a lower volume.

Their amplifiers are known for their good tone for the price. They were important in the development of modeling. Line 6 also has a wide range of different effects built into their modelers that sound great.

Overall, when it comes to modeling, Line 6 knows their stuff!

Their amp models include:

  1. Spider V
  2. Amplifi
  3. Catalyst

What Sets Them Apart: Line 6 is a great option that offers the perfect tones and effects in a digital modeler.

EVH

EVH is an American amplifier brand that was founded by Eddie Van Halen in the early 2000s. They offer 5150-inspired amplifiers with a ton of different options and functions.

Their amplifiers are known for their great tones, which are perfect for rock and metal. They also have many output power options and tubes. You can also find that there is a new Hybrid model that is decently priced and sounds good.

Their amp models include:

What Sets Them Apart: EVH is a great option if you are looking for high-gain tones. Either in tube or solid-state models. If Eddie Van Halen’s high-volume rock tone is your sound, these are your amps.

We have a list of the best guitar brands, click here to see them!

Conclusion

The best guitar amplifier brands offer a wide range of tones and options in their products. These brands have been around for many years. They have built up a great reputation and proven their reliability.

Most of them have amazing effect loops and multiple-watt options for power control. This also changes the speaker cabinet response. But they work with all kinds of guitars and are great for recording, stage, and practice.

Some even come with built-in noise gates that help with the higher gain models.

We know this list will provide you with great amps you can trust for your tones in any music type available to us today.

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Author: Don East

My name is Don East, I'm the editor for Killer Rig. I've been playing guitar for over 20 years and have designed and manufactured products like guitar amps, effects pedals, and more. Over the years I have played in many bands and have a deep love for quality gear. I am an electrical engineer and have a passion for music gear, and now want to share what I know with the community!