Best Amps For Electric Guitar (2024 Update)

I bought a Fender Champion XL 50 for a small light weight amp to bring to local jam sessions. I have to say I am not disappointed. I know there's no comparing solid state to tubesl when it comes to filling up a room with sound but this little amp cranks. It's closest competition is the Boss Katana and those are really nice. I like the ones I've played, but I'm really into that clean Fender sound and this amp has it in spades. You get the full range of cleans, from black or silver faces to tweeds. There's overdrive and high gain models in there too but as I said it's the cleans that sold me. It is a two channel amp, but I'm not sure why anyone would use the first channel as tall the digital goodies are on the second. That being said, the digital reverb in this amp has a bit of a whistle I don't like. Instead I used the chorus on the amp and a Boss Fender Reverb pedal. If your playing on a stage lugging around a forty pound tube amp may be the thing to do, but for sitting around a garage with friends this amp will save your back and please your ears.ADarkBard

I usually don't leave comments, but feel I must let the frustrated AMP user know, yes Jessica there IS a Santa Claus! Was looking for an AMP that was "SIMPLE" – On channel 1 ONLY the volume is usable, I didn't check but probably the Bass & treble too! On Channel 1 the gain control is set and turning the knob does nothing, and none of the FX are accessible! I was so busy checking out Channel 2 that I didn't check to see if Treble & Bass could be adjusted. You have 12 "Voice Settings" and 13 FX Selections. So I checked out all 12 Voice Settings combined with all 13FX settings – add this to checking these out with a single coil Strat and a Jazz/Full Shred Charvel DK24. I feel this is one of the BEST choices I have made in electric guitar choices! The AMP sound CLEAN!!!! I Imagine Channel 1 would be great with an Accoustic as well! Don't have one though! Channel 2 is GREAT and I don't need any more than it has to offer. It is so uncomplicated & stress free! If you are an expert guitar player and can concentrate more on AMP settings, rather than playing, then go for the Katana 50 MKII, or the VOX Cambridge. I was thinking hard on all three. When I got to GC I had pretty much decided on the Fender Champion 50XL. The VOX Cambridge is $150 to $160 more, with only $10 between the Fender & Katana. Since what is on the AMP is all my mind can handle, I decided to go with the Fender 50XL. It has to be on of the simplest AMPS to operate. I do have an Ibanez Tube Screamer, and if I have a need I can look at other pedals down the road. I do plan on getting a Cry Baby! Latter down the road I might get more pedals, but for right now this AMP has all I need. The Celestion Speaker sound GREAT! I couldn't be happier – it is as loud as I need – It's EASY to learn – NONE of the settings sounded muddy, muffled, or shrill. If I was going to get an AMP that needs a lot of downloading, I would have gone with the VOX Cambride. Glad I traded in my old AMP!Karl, M

Great overall amp. The obvious comparison is the Boss Katana 50. I tried both and I found I could dial in a sound I like from the Champion easier than the Katana. The Katana has way more features and the connect-ability. I prefer just plug in and playing which was far easier with the Champion. One of the largest selling points for me was the headphone jack feature for silent playing. The Champion has it right in front of the control panel and it's a 3.5mm jack. The Katana has one but its on the back and it's a 1/4inch jack which would require an adapter to 3.5mm. The location and the fact that it's 1/4in jack gave the Champion the edge. I also preferred that taller design of the Champion. It made it more comfortable to reach and adjust. Some of the cons are the knobs. especially for the "voice" and the "fx-select". A rotary knob would make it far easier to select the presets. Fender does provide a 3 color LED light that changes when you reach the next model or effect. However, a rotary knob that stops at the preset would be a better. Another con is that the reverb effect is combined with chorus and delay. I would much prefer it to be on it's own rather than combined. This is something that the Katana has. Overall the Champion is great for home use and I would recommend it to someone that wants a good amp that is easy to just plug and play. If you want more effects and enjoy experimenting then the Boss Katana would be a better choice.E. Bran

Every guitar player on God's green earth should have one. The different tones offered with the app inspire you to play differently. It allows you to play along with the songs you love, and download the tone. It also tells you the chord progression to the song. It's an amazing Amp, and if nothing else the GREATEST speaker in the world. I could absolutely ruin my neighborhoods night with the most absurdly clear version of my favorite songs. But I could Also practice at midnight with out waking up my roommates using my headphones.
Amazing tones made by professionals. If you care about being a musician… you need this Amp. This Amp was recommended to me by John Moyer… of disturbed.Teryn Surratt

As a practice amp, you will soon lose interest if the tone is thin, boxy and generally sounds like crap. The Spark is none of this. An incredibly wide range of tones are available via the app with sounds that you just don't expect to come from such a small package. The sound is loud, rich without the boxiness that you seem to get with amps loaded with small speakers. If you've used PG's Bias software, you'll be in very familiar territory – great emulations that have a depth that rivals some of the serious modelers available now. The effects, while not giving you a massive selection, supplies pretty well every type of effect you would ever need. The reverbs and delays are particularly good and while more than good enough for noodling at home, are more than up to the task of recording. The unit is quite sturdy with a timber cabinet and looks great – very traditional with an "English" type of styling. Using the Spark as a Bluetooth player for music is more than up to the task – good bass, clean mids and treble and loads of volume. The app overall is very good with some truly inspiring practice opportunities, though the function where the app analyses your playing and constructs a suitable backing track is hit and miss and is probably the weakest part of the app. Bluetooth connection for both control functions and audio playback is stable and very quick to pair with your device. Overall, I don't think you will find and amp sounding this good with the flexibility and functions available, from anywhere else and that is before taking into consideration, the extra functions the app gives you.Mick G.

I bought this amp on the back of all the rave reviews on YouTube etc. For me, it's just not a finished product yet. It feels very "beta". The hardware seems robust and of good quality. The modelled sounds are very good, albeit very bass heavy. But most of that can be EQ'd out. There are several problems I couldn't live with, and had to sell it on. The hum problem which is due to the supplied, un-earthed PSU was very apparent in my example. I contacted Positive Grid support about the issue in December 20, and as of selling the amp at the start of March 21, I had not yet received the replacement PSU. There are temporary workarounds, but I wanted the problem sorted permanently. As said above, the sound is very bass heavy. The amp models' EQ can be used to deal with the guitar tone, but music playback through the unit via Bluetooth has no EQ control, so the sound quality is very poor. In addition to this, the playback level is far too high. When using as a Bluetooth speaker it is very difficult to get the volume low enough using the tiny trim pot volume control for comfortable listening when sat in close proximity to the unit. The Auto Chords feature is a gimmick and needs serious work. It only works for E standard guitar tuning. For example, when listening to a song in dropped standard tuning such as "Yesterday" (guitar tuned down one whole step) Auto Chords will show fingerings for F, Em, A7 etc instead of the G,. F#m, B7 shapes that are required. At the very least, a "transpose" button is required to allow for dropped standard tunings that are very common. When using the tuner, you have to look at the lights on top of the amp. The app should have a screen that displays the tuner on your connected device when in use. The app metronome tempo can only be set by tap. It should have the ability for the user to enter the exact required BPM by inputting the figure required, or selecting the tempo with up and down or + and – controls. All of these niggles were too much for me to live with. Hopefully Positive Grid implement the changes in future releases, but I won't be buying Spark again until they do.Paul

Based on a friend's recommendation, I purchased a new Boss Katana 100 MK 2 in June 2021. The first thing that impressed me was it's power…it seemed to be a real 100 watts in a portable and lightweight package. I was able to dial in some useful tube-like tones right from the start with the clean channel. The Katana warmed up quickly to single coil or hum bucking pickups. The tone "variations" are also very useful for dialing in the right sounds to your liking. The delay adds the right amount of sparkle to your overall sound…very cool! Unfortunately, I was not able to get much help from the Boss Tone Studio when I downloaded it to the amp. (The response was: "Amp not connected"). Another disappointment is no Boss Tone Studio for iOS users…really guys? The required Boss foot switch is another issue…look online to see pedal "hacks" that use standard one-button or two-button formats. (Save a few bucks with a regular pedal). All in all: I'm very pleased with the amp. The line-in is a great feature to use with backing tracks along with the headphone jack for late night practicing. The basic amp tones has a realistic tube texture that reminds me of Marshall, Fender or Vox models.Scotty, M.

I have had the 50 watt for several months which is a great amp, but decided I wanted more foot switching options provided by the GA-FC controller. I figured if I was to buy the 100 watt it might as well be a 2X12. The 100 2X12 sounds awesome. And it is really loud to play at home even on the .5 watt setting. I'm tired of messing with tube amps and effect pedals so the Boss Katana series is just what I need. I have not dived in to the software and deep settings on either amp yet. These are apparently had to get. SAM Ash had it on backorder from Boss. The web and phone support at SAM Ash is great. Chris from phone support helped me complete the order and was super knowledgeable and helpful throughout. He even called me back a couple of times to update status and follow up once it was delivered. Oh… And the 2X12 is way heavier and bigger than the 1X12.Pupster

I bought this amp after not playing for a couple years, been playing around with it for about 4 months before writing this review and I have to say I'm pretty disappointed with it. At first I loved it because of the on board delay effect and I still find it to be a fun addition to this amp. Onto the bad, the eq knob doesn't adjust the tone as much as I had hoped and the overdrive isn't adjustable. If you're gonna play clean this is a great practice amp but if you're looking for a cheap amp that does a lot of things this ain't it palBrandon I

Super clean tones and the built in delay is hella cool! Always love purchasing from AMS, the payment plans are the only way I can buy the gear I want/need!very fast shipping and customer service is always superior. Would recommend this amp for anyone practicing in an apartment like myself. I’m was surprised at how powerful the 10 watts sounds when I have it cranked.Evan

It's not a bad little practice amp. There's not a lot lot of range on it, but it doesn't boast to be. It has a fairly nice clean channel. The overdrive is a bit lackluster, but it offers a decent little punch. Speakers sound good. They have a good sound just using this as a speaker for an MP3 player through the AUX in. If you're looking for nice cleans and a decent little rock sound in a small form this will do the trick. The AUX and headphone jacks are a nice touch, and do their job. If you're looking for a more heavier sound I would suggest the 15e for a couple of dollars more. Definitely not disappointed.Charlie

Got this amp for playing in the bedroom. I'm playing an Epiphone Les Paul Vintage Edition guitar via a VOX StompLab SL1G. I've been able to get good sound through the amp with some nice warm tones. Beefed things up a bit with some grunge and it handled it very well. At higher volumes the speaker remains clear and free of cracking as I have had in other smaller amps. It's a steal for the price and does what it was intended to do.ShaunH

I'm working out of the country and have a small apartment so a big amp is out of the question. This this sounds great at all volume levels and fits in my big suitcase. It's light so it doesn't even make my bag too heavy for air travel.Big T 13

I think they're amazing little practice amps if you can pick one up for under 50 bucks you won't be disappointed I highly recommend themwinvillanth

Hi just a few lines about anyone considering one of these wee beasts, best practice amp I have ever had (over 40 years of playing) No hisses or buzzes, idiot proof to use, you can create & save 5 settings – as easy as pressing 1 button. Its got a tap button for the delay which takes few goes to get right if you're not used to one, you can get a really good Queen, Dokken, AC DC etc sounds out of it, the clean channel also vgd its surprisingly loud and stunning sound quality for its weight & size. – Its a shame they don't do a full size head (amp) of it, I had a THR 100 head and the distortions where pants, nothing like this,this is a different league. Totally recommend one of these wee monsters.allannightstar64

Fantastic product. I use it as a bass practice amp, guitar practice amp, tuner, laptop speakers, audio interface to record. I only play at bedroom volume so it’s replaced my old guitar amp, bass amp, audio interface, speakers/monitors, pedals… all in 1 small package with 1 power and 1 USB lead. The Guitar practice amp gets plenty loud & I love the built in models. I aim for a “low gain valve breakup” & the models deliver – the “5W” amp for compressed lead stuff, the DC30 for everything else. Deluxe is fun too. Marshall is pretty harsh to my ears, but plenty tweakable & each to their own. Really happy with the 10C over the 10 or 10X, it suits me perfectly. Bass practice is just that – it doesn’t get awfully loud before distorting, but the tone and depth is far superior to most practice amps. The 6 Presets are a great convenient feature, so simple to use. Independent “amp” and “laptop” volume knobs is such a simple but effective feature, far more convenient than mouse clicks or fiddly dials. As stereo speakers for a laptop they’re not amazing, but with some iTunes style EQ it can sound good. I had to get the steinberg driver for Mac OSX direct from them, the Yamaha site didn’t seem to help, but dead easy. Some small compromises as expected, one bigger thing is the reverbs are not subtle enough for my liking – I’m sure it’s tweakable through the edit software, I haven’t tried yet. The soft carry case (sold separately) is pretty beefy too – great quality. I cannot recommend the 10C enough, it delivers to an excellent standard on so many levels, some minor compromises, well worth every penny.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I use this amp on small gigs, in a semi-acoustic duo, where I play electric guitar and my partner plays acoustic guitar and sings. This amp is just loud enough to compete with her as amplified by our Yahaha Stagepass 400 PA. The tone is fantastic, and the amp holds the bottom end of my Strat, where my Roland Minicube would not. The amp models are useful, and the effects are nice sounding. The biggest drawback is one that was completely avoidable: printing the labels for the controls gold on black makes them hard to read in dark rooms and on stage. They should have been printed in white, for maximum contrast. A line out would be a great feature in order to go direct to the PA. Last but not least, the on off switch on top can easily be flipped on when in the gear bag, and it is prominent enough, and flimsy enough that I could imagine it getting broken off. So it's perhaps not the most road worthy piece of gear I've ever seen.BruceKap

This amp is versatile and easy to use stand-alone. It has a great selection of amp models built-in, along with enough effect and delays so that you can find something that you like fairly quickly. I like the clean and boutique models with some reverb. Then I played around with the other models, adjusting settings and effects. You can adjust everything on the amp, not necessary to connect a computer. I did find it confusing initially due to all the different methods required, i.e. "press a button", "press and hold", "press for 2 seconds", etc. That's why I read the manual a few times! Line6 puts a nice 2-sided "cheat sheet" on top of the amp around the carrying handle which is a lot easier than flipping through small pieces of paper staring at small font printing. So don't remove the amp-topper sheet and toss it in the box with the rest of the packing material :-). The best feature of the Catalyst amp is the manual channel. This is WYSIWYG. Adjust the knobs and controls just like a "regular"amp. You can then save the settings once you get something you like. In the future I will connect the amp to the computer and see what else you can do. Right now I am quite happy with the Catalyst amp and I highly recommend it. Go get one!Gene

After suffering a disabling back injury I needed an amp that was easier and lighter to move and set up than the tube amp combos I was used to playing through. I never cared much for the solid state amps as they could never duplicate the warmth a tube amp provided and was considering retiring from live performance altogether. Then I heard about the Catalyst series of amps and decided to try them out and was amazed! My bandmates were as well, telling me how much more clean and clear my sound was. Programming channels was a snap ( just follow the "cheat sheet on top of the amp and read the manual) and the manual button provides the familiarity of a regular amp, and at a third of the weight of my Blackstar 40 watt tube combo I can continue to perform without dealing with debilitating back pain from moving a 70 pound amp. I was so impressed I went back to GC and got the 60 watt Catalyst as well for home and playing at open mic and jams. I couldn't be happier with these amps and am grateful for the help and guidance the folks at Guitar Center in Concord Ca. always provide.Stephen

I have a few amps that I'm selling and a couple that need work – I picked up this Catalyst 60 on a whim so I'd have something reliable and portable while I'm moving amps around my local used market – but I'm super impressed with this amp and am probably going to upgrade to the 100w model! (In fact, I'll get two because I play in stereo!) I found it impossible to get a bad sound out of this, I plugged in direct with my Vox Virage DC and tried all the possible pickup combinations and did not want to stop playing. Great cleans, great crunch. The higher gain amp settings had me revisiting the metal riffs of my youth, haha. I haven't dived into the software editor because: I haven't needed to. This thing sounds great out of the box.FitzG

This is a great little amp. The sound is clear, and it fits in my son's backpack for when he needs to take it to school.ktw1050

It arrived earlier than expected. Just what we needed to have our son practice His Bass playing for school . At home . Thanksjistilwel-5

The luxury of having a small, reliable amplifier that's loud enough for small gigs is incredible. I run it through a small, closed-back 1×12 cabinet. There's not a TON of headroom, but it can EASILY be heard over a drummer, even if the drummer is loud. Its natural tone is bland as can be, so it's best to use an equalizer pedal, and possibly even a compressor pedal to make it sound a bit more tube-like if that's your schtick. Here's the bottom line: you buy this product for convenience. It's not a recording amp. You buy it because you can get it from gig to gig easily. Because you don't want to hurt your back or worry about your tube amp dying on you. Because it sounds just good enough. Practically speaking, you don't need more power than this. If your gig is big enough for you to need more headroom, your gig probably has a PA system that you can mic your amp into. Reduce your stage volume, save your hearing, and make it easier for your sound engineer to get your levels right. Goal: make your job easier. This product will make your job easier.Tuna

First off, the base clean tone of this thing is very not bad. Well-rounded & full bodied. However, the base tone will be disengaged of powering a preamp-type pedal. I use a Diezel VH4 overdrive pedal with the 44 as a preamp/power amp setup, and I like the tone as much if not better than any solid-state amp head out there. But if you're trying to get tube punch out of it, a 212 cab is about as much as you can push before you start losing oomph. It will drive a 412, but you'll lose some punch along the way. A great fly rig solution if you like showing up with a guitar and a pedalboard & using a house cab, or a no-brainer if you tire of hauling too much gear.Ninja Joe

This is an amazing amp. Mesa Mark Vs are among the legendary and now I know why. Can run all the way from sparkling cleans to Metallica and everything in between (blues, 60s 70s 80s rock, etc) It has changed the way I play and in many cases made my distortion, boost and overdrive pedals irrelevant. For some people Vox, Fender, or Marshall amps make them really happy, but for me, this is it. Some tips: It has a lot of adjustability which makes it so versatile, so read the manual when you get it or you could get lost. Plenty of YouTube videos out there on how to adjust it. Also, with its small speaker and 25/10 watt adjustment it may appear to be a bedroom amp, but it's not. It is a very powerful amp and bedroom volume is just breathing on the master volume (less than 1 on the dial, if there were numbers) But all is not necessarily lost! My solution was to buy a JHS Little Black Amp Box volume knob and put it in the effects loop ($65) and the volume became very controllable while being able to crank up the tubes and get that amazing Mesa sound. I'd guess an eq pedal could do the same. The only question is which one is better for you: the 10' speaker 5:25 or the 12' speaker 5:35? Weight, size, cost, and use will decide that.Phil

Just picked one of these and it's been a joy to play. Pretty easy to use with quite a few options. Was able to dial in some tones that sound like my $800-1k tube amps. Honestly this amp is the best bang for your buck amp available imo. I really love the Waza Craft Greenback speaker. I love the .5, 50,100 watt options. Haven't even explored the software yet but I'm confident enough in this amp to give it a 5 star already. This of course is keeping in mind the fact it's essentially a budget amp price. You won't regret spending the money imo. Awesome job, Boss. 🤘 🎸Jason Faust

Sound: Right out of the box? I didn’t even adjust EQs. Set volume and gain, and started playing. Took 0 effort to get 98% of the way to my live tone that is an Orange Rockerverb 100W MK2 and Marshall 212 with V30s. Features: I love the Tone Studio. I did have to pull a star from Ease Of Use because it may be confusing if you’re not good with computers. Ease of Use: If you can’t get a good sound out of this amp, return it, sell your guitars, and find a new hobby. That’s how easy getting a good sound out of this is. Quality: Seems pretty decent. I wouldn’t call it robust, but it doesn’t FEEL as cheap as the price would suggest. Value: 100% worth the price. I’d have paid $100 more for it if I’d have known how good it would sound. Manufacturer Support: I’ve dealt with Roland/Boss in the past, and they’ve always been wonderful. The Wow Factor: Looks good, sounds good, price is good. A perfect practice amp, that could stand in for a small venue in a pinch. Naturally my live rig is a bit much for my apartment, but this is just what the doctor ordered. Overall: Solid state amps have come a long way. A REALLY long way. I’ll be honest, being a tube snob, I had very low expectations. I could have set the bar in the same area as I would a $2,000 and it still would have hopped it effortlessly.Kenny

I have a 2003 MG15DFX and wanted the newer version with 30 watts. The max loudness on this 30 watt model is the same or lower than my old 15 watter, and I tried two of these new in box. The four channels are nice; you can use either manual or program modes. I don't like that the Tap + Store buttons say "Tuner" yet there is no tuner unless you buy the $75 optional foot pedal. Moreover, the tuner is on the foot pedal but you can't switch it on/off from the pedal itself; you have to reach over to the amp and then press and hold the two buttons on the amp. The reverb no longer has Hall like the older model; it just gives you Plate and Spring. The overall tone is shrill and hurts my ears after about 15 minutes in the same way that modeling amps do. In fact, I suspect that this IS a modeling amp, just not advertised as one. In fairness, it has a fat, punchy low-end and lots of gain. The gain reacts very well to how hard you pick, which is perhaps the nicest feature. New players who like Marshalls will dig this, but I seriously think something like Line 6's Spider 75 blows this thing away for value and versatility. Of the two I bought and tried, the first had a wrinkle in the tolex covering, the second had white paint on one of the knobs right out of the factory-sealed box and the cabinet buzzes when I hit certain notes. Both have the same low output compared to my old 15DFX. YouTube videos make the MGCFX sound like a dream, but after getting it home I'm uncharmed.Slappy

I play guitar as a hobby and have a Peavey amp that just couldn't get the sound I wanted even with effect pedals. If you want a good 80's-90's heavy metal sound, then this is the amp. With the foot controller you can store the different stored sound you want, hit the button and you have it. I play at the house so the 30 watt is more than enough volume. I don't need whopping volume so this amp is perfect for me. However the maximum volume should be around 7 or 8. Any volume higher than that has a little roughness to it. This is a GREAT little amp and it doesn't bust your bank account. I've had the amp 5+ months and play it for about two hours a day and have had NO PROBLEMS with it whatsoever. For the money, you get the awesome Marshall sound and quality. I use no effect pedals with this amp and have no problem getting the sounds I want. I don't know why other people claim they can't get the proper sound, maybe they don't know how to adjust the amp to their liking or maybe they're trying to use effect pedals with it. I had to play with it a bit and figure it out but once I did I was in love with it. I recommend it to anyone whom wants an awesome amp that doesn't put you in debt. I highly recommend getting the foot switch too.Rutbuster1

Took them a while, but Boss have blown the competition out of the water with an amp that sounds as great as it is versatile, and provides an amazing platform that’s as at home in the studio as it is in the rehearsal room.Zach G.

It is a great amp. Very good sound and options for the price. It is not heavy which is a big deal to someone who has had back surgery. I gave it a 5 in spite of one big complaint. When you turn it off you hear a loud "POP!" Wow, is that loud is what I thought the first time I heard it. I read about it online and there is a simple fix. Find an old set of ear phones or ear buds that you would use on a cassette player or a Sony Walkman. (Yes, these are ancient electronic relics from the past for you younger people. You might ask your parents if they have a cassette player and borrow the ear plugs.) Just plug that earphone jack into the "PHONES" input BEFORE you turn it off. THEN you only hear a little blip when you turn it off. THEN just pull the jack out of the "PHONES" input before you start it next time.chasmigu

This amp is better than I thought. I've had it for over a year. I use it for practice sessions (classic rock mostly), and I haven't gone over '4 1/2' on the volume (it does give good feedback if you want it). I did upgrade the speaker to a 12" 'Celestion' Vintage 30 and am absolutely happy! This could easily be mic'd for larger venues. Lightweight, powerful enough, and the effects are a good assortment. One small glitch…when using the footswitch, there is a short, instantaneous volume boost when the pedal is pressed for distortion. Could possibly be a problem for recording. Besides that, 5 stars for me.Myk

After playing acoustic guitar for 15+ years and rarely plugging in, I finally decided to make the plunge and try out an electric. I was advised by a buddy to not buy too big, that 15W-20W would be plenty to practice with. So, I found this little Champion at Sam Ash, and so far it's been great! I bought the display model and have had no issues at all with it. Great sound, enough presets and effects to play around with, and sounds great clean too. Having a blast and loving it.Nate-O

Wzmacniacz idealny do ćwiczeń w domu. Głośny, brzmienie ładne, nie pierdzi i głośnik daje rade. Wersja biała tego wzmaka i symulacje wzmacniaczy idealne do rockowo bluesowych klimatów. Szczególnie dobrze prezentują się tu kanały czyste.Obsługa sklepu i czas wysyłki bez zastrzeżeń. PolecamAriel

First of all, being able to save 128 of your perfectly dialed in presets with an all-tube amp is so amazing. One feature I really like is that as you move into different banks, it will keep your sound your playing on until you select a preset in your new bank. I own this amp, I've done a few gigs and recordings with it and it sounds incredible. I highly recommend using a cab with vintage 30s in it.. I think you'll get the best tone with those speakers. All the channels are great, I use the clean, lead and ultra the most.. but only because the crunch isn't my style. Sparkly clean channel. Tons of great, heavy, clear distortion from both lead and ultra channels. The digital built in effects are great.. the only downside is the reverb is digital and I prefer a spring reverb. But with all the other qualities of the amp, eliminating other pedals, giving me the best tone I've had, and giving me instant access to my favorite sounds, possibly getting a spring reverb pedal in the future is no big deal. It has the best features, great tone, great price = best amp to me.ESPguy-suFG3

I am nowhere near famous, but you would never guess that by my soon to be moth-balled rig. I use to lug, and get quite a work out doing so, Mesa's Roadking, Triple Rec, Triaxis, Mark IV and Studio Preamp amps with 2 Simul-Class 90/90 power amps and get this, 4 Recto Stereo 4×12 cabs with 2 Randall CS215 ( 2 x 12 + 15) cabs with a 22 space rack system, plus midi controllers out the butt. Thats a lot of gear to drag out to play for a few hours but I have been through so many amps trying to down size and STILL get my tone. Everytime I would buy something, it would sound great until I tried to gig with it and then I would hate it and start looking for something else. My search is over though with my recent purchase of the H&K Switchblade 100. It gets amazing tone, compariable to a Mesa Dual Rec and plus I can leave my noisy rack system at home and save my back by not lugging all that Mesa gear. I still use 2 of the Recto cabs with the 2 Randalls but now I only have to take one head to get my sound. Now if I can just figure out a way to down size my guitar store on wheels, I'll be a happy man. Just one question, an all tube amp with quality internal effects, what has taken amp companies so long to think of this?Danny7String

I saw reviews on this head and I'm glad I bought it! For any metal style of player it's pure punch and metal tube sounding! I'm extremely pleased with this head and recommend it to anyone who wants that perfect sound which can be dialed in anyway you like. The effects are very good and can be adjusted to your liking with just a twist of a knob and they all sound awesome. I must admit though unless you want to keep turning your guitars volume knob off you should go and get a noise gate and use it for the high gain channel which does have some noise at high volumes but of course this is a tube head and should be expected! And YES, this head is LOUD! I use it with a Marshall full stack with Celestion T75's and my guitars use EMG 81's and I recommend this head to anyone for any style of music especially metal! So what are you waiting for, go and get one!GTO 1968

I really like this amp. I bought it used at a really good price, so I was very pleasantly surprised at how nice it sounds. It has loads of power and nice tone. I bought it as a practice amp, but I wouldn't hesitate to use it on stage in a small club.voltyr

THE 8 INCH SPEAKER IS ALITTLE WEAK SOUNDING ,CAB IS BUILT WELL, EFFECT ARE GOD THE ACTIVE EFFECT IS REALLY KOOL SOUNDING,WELL WORTH THE 100 DOLLARS I PAID JUST NEED TOO UPGRADE SPEAKER SIZE TO A 10 INCH!!PAUL

Fantastic amp for the price! The clean channel is great, and has time delay effects that is unexpected for an amp in this range. The overdrive is excellent too, and you can control different frequencies as well. It also has two inputs for guitars, and a microphone input! So you can jam with friends and sing along. At 40w output, it is pretty loud. If you are in the fence, get it! You won't regret it!integrationbyparths1