It comes up any time you talk about amps: Which brand has the best tone? Which model is the best?
Ask guitar players what the best amplifiers are, and you're likely to hear the same three or four name brands over and over, and maybe even the same four or five models. Some players are so picky, they'll refuse to even walk on stage or into a studio without certain brands emblazoned on their amps.
While the prices of “the best” amps are varied, demand and name recognition usually keep their values in the same realm as that of a used car. And whatever your reason for shopping for a new amp, all you know for sure is that you don’t have that kind of money.
Luckily for you, a lack of funds doesn’t mean you have to sound cruddy. These eight under-appreciated amps can help you sound like a million bucks while saving you some money.
Marshall JCM 2000 Series
The Marshall JCM 2000 name is controversial among Marshall devotees due to its modern circuitry. However, the Marshall JCM2000 series represents a true evolution in flexibility, offering players two different gain channels, each with their own gain boost.
The “Classic” channel, a faithful approximation of the original Super Lead circuit, is the star of the amp. Crank up the gain, and this channel offers a thick, ballsy Marshall crunch that rivals the most legendary models. Stick an EQ pedal in the FX loop and you can unlock a plethora of tones, clean or distorted. If you want to shred, the high gain "Ultra" channel is similar to a cranked up JCM 800, making it ideal for lower volumes.
Fender Silverface Series
Derided or straight-up ignored by many as inferior to their ‘60s blackface cousins, Fender silverface amps are misunderstood as lacking in tone. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Silverface amps were prized in their time by some major players, like Neil Young, for being massive in sound and clear in tone. They can nail the thickest and brightest tones in equal measure. Hook up a cluttered pedalboard and you will still hear incredible definition in each effect. Their overbuilt designs make them easy to find today, as they could probably survive an atomic blast.
Peavey Amps from the 1970s and ‘80s
Throughout the 1970s and ‘80s, Peavey produced some of the most popular and indestructible amplifiers ever built. Peavey heads and combos from these eras easily stand up to the heavy hitters from more “respected” brands, but are less than half the price.
Amps like the Peavey Mace and Deuce can go head to head with any Fender Twin any day, and even offer versatile gain and effect channels to spice up your tone. The massive, tube-filled Road Master head is a Marshall-killer championed by Sonic Youth, and its roar is featured on many of their classic albums. Look for the signature aluminum trim and knobs for the best models.
Vox Night Train Series
The Vox Night Train series of amps takes the rich and chiming tone that Vox is known for screaming into the 21st century with amazing results. Boasting tube designs in chromed-out small box heads, these amps are compact and easy to transport without sacrificing tone.
The Night Train’s multiple channels let you go from crystalline AC30 tones all the way to heavy hard rock tone without losing that signature Vox sound. Got lots of effects pedals? The Night Train’s clean channel will let your effects be heard loud and clear.
Silvertone Amplifiers
Thanks to the garage rock revival of the last 15 years, Silvertone amplifiers have reentered the minds and hearts of guitarists everywhere. Originally found in Sears department stores, the wide variety of models boasting tube designs make these amplifiers great if you’re looking for tube tone on a budget.
Plug into a 1484 head and matching speaker cabinet for classic garage rock tone at its rawest. Play in a quieter blues or jazz combo? Pick up an older Silvertone 1331 or 1333 for half the cost of the more famous models of the same eras and get the same classic tube warmth.
Randall RG Series
Randall RG heads are legendary as the workhorse amps selected by Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, Pantera’s Dimebag Darrell and Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo and used on some of their most classic recordings and tours. These high-gain beasts are truly the amps that defined the sound of shred.
Their over-built solid-state design makes them perfect for the road and reliable in the studio. With most models offering multiple channels and unique options — such as the sustain boost of the RG100ES XP — in addition to offering pulverizing tone, these amps are an absolute steal for crafting serious metal and punk tones.
Gallien Krueger RB Series
Not every bassist can afford or lift an all-tube bass amplifier. In response, Gallien-Krueger has pioneered compact solid-state bass amp design with the RB series for decades.
Capable of a heavy growl and huge clean tone, the RB series offers unrivaled flexibility at affordable prices. Their rugged builds makes them easy to transport and reliable on the road. And, with each model offering a different power rating, it’s easy to find the right head for your rig. If you need a killer bass amp at a low price you will not be disappointed.
Blackstar HT Series
The Blackstar HT series offers players on a budget a classic tube amplifier design with modern touches at a very affordable price. While each model varies by power rating and tube configuration, every amp in the HT series features the unique ISF tone control.
The ISF control knob alters the position of the midrange tone cut in a passive guitar EQ stack. Twist the ISF tone control and take your sound from traditional “American” cleanliness to “British” crunch to get a huge variety of tones from one amp.