Are you looking for the Best Daw For Guitar? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Choosing the Best Daw For Guitar can be difficult as there are so many considerations, such as Avid, MAGIX, IK Multimedia. We have done a lot of research to find the top 20 Best Daw For Guitar available.
The average cost is $367.39. Sold comparable range in price from a low of $93.99 to a high of $1699.99.
Based on the research we did, we think PreSonus Studio One 5 Artist is the best overall. Read on for the rest of the great options and our buying guide, where you can find all the information you need to know before making an informed purchase.
20 Best Daw For Guitar (20 Sellers)
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Features:
- Our most personal upgrade yet.
- Subtle (and not-so-subtle) user interface improvements combine with powerful customization features to free your mind for music and stay focused.
- Smart templates.
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Good sound quality . Quality build . Lightweight . Portable
Features:
- Guitar amplifier 50/25/0.5w 1 x 30.5cm with 5a voice
- Emulated cab/recd output headset
- 4 tone slots
$99.99
4.8
Features:
- Improved editing workflow to make hitting deadlines easier.
- Audio to chords, lets you focus even more on the music.
- Sample accurate volume automation.
$579.99
4.6
Features:
- Award-winning 64-bit floating-point steinberg audio engine with up to b4: d7 khz, 5.1 surround, flexible routing and full automatic delay compensation
- Complete suite of over 90 high-end audio and midi vst effect processors
- Variaudio for midi-style note editing of monophonic audio tracks, automatic voicing harmonization and auto-tuning effects
$579.99
4.8
Features:
- Designed for professional producers, film composers, and mix engineers, steinberg cubase pro 12 is a complete music-production environment that combines sophisticated audio and midi tools with pristine audio quality. offering…
$359.99
4.8
Features:
- Cubase pro 12 from steinberg condenses decades of music software development into the most advanced and intuitive audio production environment available today. used by star producers and musicians for composing,…
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Compact . Portable . Good sound quality . Build quality
Features:
- Built in usb audio/midi interface
- Knob-based interface
- Eight simultaneous effects categories
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Easy to use . Easy to set up
Features:
- The 3 different preamp circuits offer various options for tone shaping
- Configurable inputs let you create detailed customized sounds with ease
- Amplitube 4 deluxe software allows you to control and monitor the settings with ease
Features:
- Powerful mixing and automation
- Powerful midi editing and recording
- Flexible browser and workflow features
$239.99
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Good sound quality . Quality build . Lightweight . Powerful
Features:
- Absolutely like new condition.
- Just a few weeks old, no issues just got.
- A pod go and dont need both.
$99.00
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Performance . Durability . Flexibility
Features:
- The latest edition of the fastest way to learn guitar* and bass, newly upgraded and improved
- Get results fast with a proven method studies show that over 95% of players have improved their skills using rocksmith
- Learn at your own pace rocksmith adapts to your skill level, and now includes expanded practice tools and a customizable learning curve
$1699.99
4.8
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Good sound quality . Portable . Size . Visual appeal
Features:
- 8-in/8-out
- 800 x 480 pixel lcd screen
- 6 mics and 70 effects
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Compact . Good sound quality . Portability
Features:
- Engineered with 4 knobs to adjust the sound output
- Its 1/4" jacks let you attach the pedal with your guitar
- The screen allows you to check the modulation status
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Good sound quality . Attractive . Portable . Quality build
Features:
- One of the best desktop/practice amp in the market.
- The bluetooth connectivity and the app are serious upgrades.
- The speakers quality on this thing is just phenomenal and they sound almost like my professional monitors.
Reviewers Noted:
Portable . Quality build . Good sound quality . Attractive . Easy to use
Features:
- Loaded with essential mic models and onboard effects
- Battery powered, so you can take your music anywhere
- Usb connectivity for recording, playback, and preset editing
Reviewers Noted:
Portable . Good sound quality . Lightweight . Easy to use . Quality build
Features:
- 230 mm (9-1/16 inches) depth
- 116 mm (4-5/8 inches) height
- 181 mm (7-1/8 inches) weight (including battery)
Reviewers Noted:
Easy to use . Portability . Size . Weight
Features:
- Xlr mic inputs help reduce unwanted noise and distortions
- Usb interface lets you connect compatible devices conveniently
- Led indicator allows you to track the status of the selected functions
$181.99
4.8
Reviewers Noted:
Portable . Good sound quality . Quality build . Easy to use . Lightweight
Features:
- 8 cosm amp tones including new amp simulation "extreme"
- 8 dsp effects, the effect of "heavy octave" and dedicated processors delay / reverb with spring reverb emulation
- Memory function'
$674.95
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Quality build . Easy to use . Attractive . Weight
Features:
- 50-watt 2-channel all-tube guitar amplifier head with infinite shape feature
- 2 voice switches
- Emulated output
$749.00
4.8
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Quality build . Easy to use . Attractive . Powerful
Features:
- The first signature amp from mark tremonti
- Two channel (clean/lead) valve head
- 15/7w switchable power
1. Presonus Studio One 5 Artist

Product Details:
Presonus studio one 5 artist provides all the tools necessary to compose, record, produce, and mix. presonus studio one 5 artist will revolutionise your workflow and change your approach to production. crafted to enhance your creativity, the interface is extremely intuitive, thanks to the simple drag-and-drop approach. recording, producing, and mixing has never been easier. studio one 5 artist comes fully loaded with highly-realistic virtual instruments that will spark your creativity like never before. state-of-the-art guitar modelling software provides larger-than-life tones which can be expanded, should you desire even more vintage amp mojo. feel empowered by the limitless number of tracks, effects, and busses, that allow you to work exactly how you want. without compromise. you will be able to publish finished recordings to soundcloud, directly from studio one 5 artist. unlock your creative potential today!
Specifications:
Windows | from 10 (64-Bit) |
min Space on HD (GB) | 20 GB |
Display | 1366 x 768 |
Additional System requirements | ASIO-comp. Audiointerface (Windows) |
max. Samplerate (kHz) | 384 kHz |
Max. resolution in bit | 64 bit |
Hardware In/Outs | Unlimited |
Audio Tracks | Unlimited |
MIDI Tracks | Unlimited |
Instrument Tracks | Unlimited |
Floating-point Resolution | 64 bit |
Pitch | No |
Clip-Matrix | No |
Notation | No |
Video-Playback | No |
Surround Support | No |
Virtual Instruments | 5 |
Effects | 32 |
Library (GB) | 7 GB |
AAX DSP | No |
AAX native | No |
ARA | Yes |
Audio Units | Yes |
VST2 | Yes |
VST3 | Yes |
Reviews:
I started w/ version 4 when it 1st came out and then went ahead and got this latest version 5 and I gotta say it's an impressive update as far as features and plug in U.I. redesign. Could I have went without this update? Sure but when I saw the excellent payment plan here on AMS I figured what the heck? Glad I did because I have found the show feature to be really useful along w/ a few other nifty ad ons they put in there, you can definitely tell this is a well thought out software and the update was no exception!Bang Therapy
I have been a long time user of studio one, and was expecting an instant download after purchase like most websites provide. This one makes you wait for a physical copy of your license/subscription per se. Im sure when I get it, I will love it. Hopefully! I guess we'll see when it finally comes. Super annoyed right now…rocsteady
Superb very user-friendly and is a great DAW. It comes with 4 instruments and heaps of effects and loops download the software that comes as a bonus to get lots of goodies more effects and instruments loops Can`t go wrong I`ve tried them all. in my opinion, PreSonus Studio Artist 6 ($159) is all that a home musician needs. Also, have Abelton Standard ($561) but way more complicated?Mark K
2. Boss Katana 50 Mkii Combo Guitar Amplifier

Product Details:
The boss katana-50 mkii guitar combo amplifier is a versatile amplifier that provides incredible sound for any guitar player. this amplifier has five different amp characters, giving you plenty of options for finding the perfect tone. additionally, the onboard effects have been expanded to five categories, providing even more processing power. the editor software has also been updated, making it easier to configure your sounds. stage-ready 50-watt combo amp with a custom 12-inch speaker. tube logic design approach produces class-defying power, authoritative punch, and cutting presence. five unique amp characters (clean, crunch, lead, brown, and acoustic), plus newly voiced variations for each. five independent effects sections (booster, mod, fx, delay, and reverb), with three selectable variations in each. dedicated pedal fx for foot-controlled wah and pedal bend.
Specifications:
Amplifier Type | Solid State Guitar Amplifier |
Application | Performance |
Power | 100 Watts |
Speaker Size | 12" |
Number of Speakers | 2 |
Stereo | No |
HF Driver | No |
Channels | 5 |
Compressor | No |
Effects | Multiple Effects |
Effects Loop | Yes |
Direct Output | No |
USB | Yes |
Bluetooth | No |
Aux Input | Yes |
Headphone Output | Yes |
Footswitch Input | Yes |
Footswitch Included | No |
Cover Included | No |
Display | No |
Power Supply | Internal |
Reviews:
This amp is fantastic. For someone that is so used to having different modellers, tube amps, multi fx and stompboxes this is now all I need. I've been meddling with allsorts kf gear for 17 years in my search for tone. I feel I am now at the end. Managed to dial in 4 very usable great sounding patches in minutes just using the front panel, something I've not been able to do with any amp or modeller in a while. It djents, it can do blues crunch, it can do straight rock grit, chimey clean, and just big standard chuggy metal very well. It's quite light, but when you turn up the volume you can feel air moving, like you can with a much bigger cab or with a valve amp. For a 1×12 it isn't boxy at all, very open sounding. The Waza speaker is very harsh in the top and highs to begin with when you first switch it on, but after a few hours use the speaker breaks in and the harsh highs all disappear. For someone that has always used Celestion V30's this Waza speaker is just amazing and I'm definitely leaving it as is! The dynamic response to picking and rolling your volume knob down is just how a valve amp responds – light picking = cleaner tones. Dig in with your pick and the amp comes alive. Fantastic all round amp, Boss really have nailed it with this one.
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
3. Steinberg Cubase Elements 12 Daw Software (Boxed)

Product Details:
Designed for singer/songwriters, tv composers, and home recording artists, steinberg cubase elements 12 provides a streamlined music-production environment that combines fast and intuitive tools with pristine audio quality. this software can be used for composing, sequencing, beat making, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering—making it ideal for producing and scoring tracks from start to finish on a budget, in all genres. elements 12 features several updates and enhancements including midi remote integration, audio to midi chords, sample-accurate volume automation, bluetooth midi in windows, and numerous performance improvements, as well as workflow enhancements and native apple silicon support. for superior audio quality, cubase elements 12 utilizes a 64-bit audio engine compatible with resolutions up to 192 khz. the software offers 48 audio, 64 midi, and 24 instrument tracks with full automatic delay compensation and flexible routing options, and can accommodate up to 24 physical inputs and outputs as well as 16 group channels. users have access to 45 audio fx plug-ins, three virtual instruments with over 1000 sounds, sidechain inputs, and the ability to integrate with yamaha's motif keyboard workstation.
Specifications:
Graohics minimum | Graphics card with native Windows 10 support |
Graphics | Graphics card with Metal support |
CPU cores | 4 or more |
RAM minimum | 8 GB |
Hard disk free space for installation | 1 GB |
Hard disk free space | 70 GB |
Display resolution minimum at 100% UI scaling | 1440 x 900 |
Graphics (GPU memory) | 4 GB or higher for 4k displays |
Internet connection | For activation |
Apple silicon-based Mac | Native App, Rosetta 2 App |
OUR PART | CUBASE-12-ELMENTS |
Reviews:
most professional recording softwareLewis F.
Great DAW at a great price.Reviewed by Absolute Music custo
Ich habe Cubase schon sehr lange auf diversenRechnern gehabt, aber damit zu arbeiten war mir immer zu aufwendig. Permanent waren die Grundeinstellungen jedesmal verschwunden, wenn ich ein neues Projekt angefangen habe oder ich an einem bereits bestehenden weiterarbeiten wollte. Ich habe dann irgendwann einfach keine Lust mehr auf den Frust gehabt und Cubase nicht mehr angefasst. Die Profis werden jetzt vielleicht sagen es hätte an mir gelegen, und wahrscheinlich haben sie damit auch recht. Im Rahmen eines Bandprojekts war jetzt erforderlich damit zu arbeiten und ich musste den alten Access Code erneut freischalten lassen. Das habe ich telefonisch gemacht und das war für mich eine wunderbare Erfahrung. Der gute Mann am anderen Ende der Leitung war dermaßen nett und kompetent, so eine freundliche Beratung eines Services habe ich schon ewig nicht mehr erlebt. Er empfahl mir, nach genauer Besprechung meines Bedarfs, das freigeschaltet AI 12 auf Artist 12 per Upgrade zu Switchen, um den gleichen Standard zu haben wie meine Bandkollegen. Ich kann den Service von Steinberg nur in höchsten Tönen loben. Jetzt bin ich total zufrieden mit meinem Setup und alles funktioniert bestens.
4. Steinberg | Cubase Pro 9.5 Recording Software

Product Details:
Cubase pro condenses almost three decades of steinberg development into the most cutting-edge daw anywhere. used by star producers and musicians for composing, recording, mixing and editing music, cubase pro combines outstanding audio quality, intuitive handling and a collection of highly advanced audio and midi tools. whether you record an orchestra, a huge live rock show, or a band in the studio, cubase pro is sublime in every sense of the word. pro editing. the many top-of-the-line tools that come with cubase pro let you edit and enhance your recordings in the most convenient and efficient way. edit multiple tracks at once with the smart track edit groups, quantize your recordings with the straight-forward audiowarp tool set and push your vocal and monophonic audio recordings to perfection with the stunning variaudio 2.0 audio editing and pitch alteration tool. state-of-the-art mixing. the state-of-the-art mixing environment in cubase pro is unmatched in terms of flexibility, quality and workflow. vca faders and control link groups let you master even complex mixing situations. the 5.1 surround support makes cubase pro the first choice in many film studios worldwide. the powerful control room concept seamlessly integrates performer mixes and monitoring setups into your recording and mixing workflow. the list just goes on and on. outboard inside. cubase pro adds over 80 high-quality audio effects to your mixing arsenal. the beautifully spacious reverence convolution reverb, the series of multi-band processors including multi-band compressor, expander and envelope shaper, the surgically precise frequency eq, voxengo’s spline curveeq, the surround panner, and this is only to name but a few. cubase pro also supports the integration of external effect devices and instruments, such as hardware synthesizers or hardware signal processors, into the sequencer signal flow.
Specifications:
Zoning 2.0 | New single window workflow |
Reviews:
Well, since I had to buy a new computer, I had to replace Cubase 5. The plus side is the new 9.5 version added a few nice plug-ins. The metering also seems better. However, the visual aspect of it, went backwards to me. While it will take time to get use to the new program, I just don't understand why you would make your product more cluttered looking, and to me the left side view seems kind of redundant. Much prefer the ease I felt on the older version.R.W.
For the price around $100, it was about what I expected, but it was sometimes a little complicated as far as setting up audio inputs and outputs. It tried to automatically setup my audio output, but I ended up having to do it all over because it didn't create a stereo mix fader. Because of the Groove Agent, I was able to import and use some drum samples.dalan1972
I've given this an "Excellent" in spite of the fact I have some problems with it. I appear to be missing certain files as Groove Agent SE, Padshop, Retrologue 2 & Halion Sonic SE plus a few other things seem to be absent. I've contacted Steinberg support & am currently awaiting their response which I'm hoping won't be just to tell me I've done something stupid when downloading! What I've got works fine & I'm pleased with that – I'm hoping that will still be the case with the whole thing once the problem gets sortedReviewed by Andertons Music Co.
5. Steinberg Cubase Pro 12 Daw Software (Boxed)

Product Details:
Designed for professional producers, film composers, and mix engineers, steinberg cubase pro 12 is a complete music-production environment that combines sophisticated audio and midi tools with pristine audio quality. offering a fast, flexible, and intuitive workflow, this powerful software can be used for composing, sequencing, beat making, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering—making it ideal for producing and scoring tracks from start to finish, in all genres. cubase pro 12 offers several new features including midi remote integration, variaudio with scale assistant, audio to midi chords, and the fx modulator, as well as improvements to the audiowarp engine, logical editor, and general editing workflows. for superior audio quality, cubase pro 12 utilizes a 64-bit audio engine compatible with resolutions up to 192 khz. the software offers unlimited audio, instrument, and midi tracks, and can accommodate up to 256 physical inputs and outputs as well as 256 group channels. notable features include full 5.1 surround and virtual reality functionality, full automatic delay compensation, flexible routing options, and support for external instruments and effects. users have access to 81 audio fx plug-ins, 18 midi fx plug-ins, eight virtual instruments with over 3000 sounds, variaudio 3 for pitch and time correction, and a host of improvements over the previous versions.
Specifications:
Audio/MIDI/Instrument tracks | Unlimited |
Physical inputs and outputs | 256 |
Group channels | 256 |
VST instrument slots | 64 |
Included MIDI/Audio effect plug-ins | 18/81 |
Included VST instruments | 4 |
Included instrument sounds | > 3,000 |
External instruments/effects | Yes |
Professional score layout and printing | Full |
Chord track/Chord Assistant | Yes/Yes |
Side-chain inputs | Yes |
Advanced comping | Yes |
Phase-coherent multi-track AudioWarp | Yes |
VariAudio 3.0 | Yes |
Advanced audio export | Yes |
Audio alignment | Yes |
Track edit groups | Yes |
Control room | Yes |
Dolby Atmos for Music | Yes |
VCA faders | Yes |
Frequency 2 dynamic equalizer | Yes |
Spectral Comparison EQ | Yes |
Reviews:
most professional recording softwareLewis F.
Great DAW at a great price.Reviewed by Absolute Music custo
Ich habe Cubase schon sehr lange auf diversenRechnern gehabt, aber damit zu arbeiten war mir immer zu aufwendig. Permanent waren die Grundeinstellungen jedesmal verschwunden, wenn ich ein neues Projekt angefangen habe oder ich an einem bereits bestehenden weiterarbeiten wollte. Ich habe dann irgendwann einfach keine Lust mehr auf den Frust gehabt und Cubase nicht mehr angefasst. Die Profis werden jetzt vielleicht sagen es hätte an mir gelegen, und wahrscheinlich haben sie damit auch recht. Im Rahmen eines Bandprojekts war jetzt erforderlich damit zu arbeiten und ich musste den alten Access Code erneut freischalten lassen. Das habe ich telefonisch gemacht und das war für mich eine wunderbare Erfahrung. Der gute Mann am anderen Ende der Leitung war dermaßen nett und kompetent, so eine freundliche Beratung eines Services habe ich schon ewig nicht mehr erlebt. Er empfahl mir, nach genauer Besprechung meines Bedarfs, das freigeschaltet AI 12 auf Artist 12 per Upgrade zu Switchen, um den gleichen Standard zu haben wie meine Bandkollegen. Ich kann den Service von Steinberg nur in höchsten Tönen loben. Jetzt bin ich total zufrieden mit meinem Setup und alles funktioniert bestens.
6. Steinberg Dac Cubase Pro 12 Competitive Crossgrade Daw Software (Download)

Product Details:
Cubase pro 12 from steinberg condenses decades of music software development into the most advanced and intuitive audio production environment available today. used by star producers and musicians for composing, recording, mixing and editing music, cubase pro combines outstanding audio quality, flexible handling, state-of-the-art audio and midi tools with a range of inspirational vst instruments and effects in a way that cements your personal approach to music production. uniting technical innovation and artistic inspiration, cubase pro represents an awesomely powerful yet instantly accessible music production environment. enhanced logical editors for a more customizable experienceraiser – powerhouse limiter for the final touchcreate dolby atmos music completely “in the box”pro improvements from our post production system nuendo | steinberg dac cubase pro 12 competitive crossgrade daw software (download)
Specifications:
Audio/MIDI/Instrument tracks | Unlimited |
Physical inputs and outputs | 256 |
Group channels | 256 |
VST instrument slots | 64 |
Included MIDI/Audio effect plug-ins | 18/81 |
Included VST instruments | 4 |
Included instrument sounds | > 3,000 |
External instruments/effects | Yes |
Professional score layout and printing | Full |
Chord track/Chord Assistant | Yes/Yes |
Side-chain inputs | Yes |
Advanced comping | Yes |
Phase-coherent multi-track AudioWarp | Yes |
VariAudio 3.0 | Yes |
Advanced audio export | Yes |
Audio alignment | Yes |
Track edit groups | Yes |
Control room | Yes |
Dolby Atmos for Music | Yes |
VCA faders | Yes |
Frequency 2 dynamic equalizer | Yes |
Spectral Comparison EQ | Yes |
Reviews:
most professional recording softwareLewis F.
Great DAW at a great price.Reviewed by Absolute Music custo
Ich habe Cubase schon sehr lange auf diversenRechnern gehabt, aber damit zu arbeiten war mir immer zu aufwendig. Permanent waren die Grundeinstellungen jedesmal verschwunden, wenn ich ein neues Projekt angefangen habe oder ich an einem bereits bestehenden weiterarbeiten wollte. Ich habe dann irgendwann einfach keine Lust mehr auf den Frust gehabt und Cubase nicht mehr angefasst. Die Profis werden jetzt vielleicht sagen es hätte an mir gelegen, und wahrscheinlich haben sie damit auch recht. Im Rahmen eines Bandprojekts war jetzt erforderlich damit zu arbeiten und ich musste den alten Access Code erneut freischalten lassen. Das habe ich telefonisch gemacht und das war für mich eine wunderbare Erfahrung. Der gute Mann am anderen Ende der Leitung war dermaßen nett und kompetent, so eine freundliche Beratung eines Services habe ich schon ewig nicht mehr erlebt. Er empfahl mir, nach genauer Besprechung meines Bedarfs, das freigeschaltet AI 12 auf Artist 12 per Upgrade zu Switchen, um den gleichen Standard zu haben wie meine Bandkollegen. Ich kann den Service von Steinberg nur in höchsten Tönen loben. Jetzt bin ich total zufrieden mit meinem Setup und alles funktioniert bestens.
7. Boss Me80 Guitar Multi Effects Processor

Product Details:
This pedal is packed with almost any effect you can think of, all easily accessible through the foot switch system saving you the trouble of navigating through tedious menus. use with boss software on your computer to generate your own patches or download stage ready patches from the website. built in usb/midi interface allows you to connect straight to your computer for di recording with all of your effects. battery powered and comes with power supply.
Specifications:
Interface | Built in USB audio/Midi Knob-based interface |
Effects Categories | Eight simultaneous effects categories |
Reviews:
Sound: OK, so the pre-set programs are hit and miss for me. But that had to be expected, as I am not plugging a guitar into it, but rather a Korg RK100-S2 keytar. For obvious reasons, the cleaner patches, and patches designed around arpeggios sound decent, while the shredding metal patches sound like ass. I'm sure they would both sound good if I was hooked up with an actual 6 string. Features: The most useful feature as far as I'm concerned, are all of those knobs all over the front of the unit. They make it so easy to dial in the sound. Especially when compared to the all digital products like the GT-1. I had a GT-1B last year, and it was aggravating to modify sounds on the fly. The other most useful feature is the Tone Central app. OMG!!! Last month, I trashed Korg's design decision in their app for modifying the keytar's sounds. The window can't be resized, the lines of text are nearly microscopic, it isn't REMOTELY intuitive to figure out how to re-write the patches. Boss' Tone Central app is the EXACT OPPOSITE of all of that. Full screen, each effect section is on screen alone and has 3 different ways to modify the settings. Get things the way you want, name your patch, and click "write," then choose where you want it saved, and click "OK." It couldn't be simpler. Ease of Use: If the preset patches are hit and miss, the "manual mode" is why I bought this board. The keytar really needs some effects to come alive. This board is simply a placeholder until I can build a quality keytar/synth specific pedal board. Compression, delay, and/or phasers can add a lot of depth to my sound depending on what I'm currently using. Those dials make it super easy to get the sound right quickly. It does sort of suck that they are on the floor, but how could that have been avoided without bluetooth and a phone app? And, if that was the case, I wouldn't have bought it in the first place! Quality: I bought this "blemished." My guess, based on the condition of the box that the factory shipped to zZounds, is that this took a fall off of a shelf in the warehouse. One end of the box was mangled badly! Thanks to Boss' attention to detail in packaging, and legendary build quality, I got this product without a scuff, scratch, or dent for 20% off. I like that build quality. (Feel free to play football with some of those synth specific stomp boxes guys! *wink-wink*) Value: Before my fretting hand got too badly damaged to play bass anymore, I wanted the bass version of this product. I believe that it was discontinued, and I missed my chance. I got the GT-1B but didn't like working with it. When I saw that this was available, I didn't hesitate to put it into my cart. Only then, after the fact, did I realize that it was in "blemished" condition. I almost went back and put a new, full priced one in my cart simply because I didn't want the hassle of potentially returning a broken product. So, yes, I do believe this is worth the normal retail price. Manufacturer Support: In the 12 years I've been playing, I've owned several Boss products from tuners to metronomes to multi effects pedals and I have NEVER had to reach out for support. In my estimation, that's the BEST form of customer service! The Wow Factor: G.A.S.! I can't play guitar a lick. But I've bought guitars in the past simply to hang them on the wall. I can't say that I would ever buy THIS product if I didn't need it. But I'm sure that it will still find some place in my home studio, even after the actual pedal board is complete Overall: An easy recommendation for the guitarist on a budget. Depending on one's needs, stomp boxes and pedal boards can become quite pricey. Between this, the Tone Central app, and the hundreds of additional patches available there, if you can't get the sound you're looking for, the problem lies mostly with you.
I have been buying and selling multi effects for many years. I loved them all, even the silly ones such as the RP50, 505, ME30..too many. I guess my favorites were the Korg AX3000G(which I thought was ahead of its time) and the Digitech RP500(awesome reverbs, mods and filters),and even some Pods for their amp sims too. Yes yes.. they all had their short comings in different avenues.. Boss reliability is were a part of Ny early playing days since the 80s..and to this day, I use Boss single pedals almost exclusively as my main rig. I just love the simplicity of their individual pedals and this unit is the only one that comes close in terms of the logic of its settings. I love KNOBS, and the ME80 has plenty to go around with. SIMPLICITY is the key . No more scrolling up n down a screen on the floor which I can hardly see. Now is the ME80 the best sounding multi-effect out there? No sir! With all the current technologies which can produce units such as The Kemper, Fractals, Boss GT1000, and other high res IR capable units from Zoom and Line 6(including some very capable Chinese newcomers), the ME80 can be seen as kind of outdated to some, The ME80 is certainly not what the top guns use these days, especially when occupying an arena concert stages I'm sure(but I bet they still use one or two boss pedals in their rig lol)..Also, Let's not forget that the ME80 initial introduction day to the world was just about eight years ago.. shall we? But guess what, it's still alive and kicking! And that is exactly why you still see it here for sake in 2022 ar least until Boss comes out with some new monster that can handle the GT1000 chipsets and adding more KNOBS to its chassis. The ME80 is gorgeous, it sounds good, and it has a personality. It also has more to offer than its predecessors such as the ME50/70..I mean, the addition of a separate footswitch for reverb,EQ and a simple patch recall?? I would recommend this unit for any small club or a tight rehearsal space for a quick setup and a speedy wrap-up after a show, when it's finally time to go home, no patch cables required.I AM KEEPING THIS ONE FOR MYSELF! Till I get to warm up for Bruno Mars(not happening soon lol),My main Boss rig is staying home, and that goes to my crybaby and the Budda volume pedal with all them patch cables entourage.James
I don't want to program guitar effects. I don't want to read cheesy names for effects that I can't immediately recognize or understand. The young people like that stuff but I am old and old school. The ME-80 gives me my old stomp boxes but grouped on a modern platform. It is basically foot pedal controlled with a very nice expression pedal and 8 on-off pedals. The foot pedals work flawlessly. But the thing that makes this unit awesome is the knobs. You can turn a knob, set a value and get instant feedback on what you did and look at it anytime to see what it is set at. If you know stomp boxes then you know exactly how this thing works. It has by my estimation about $4K worth of stomp box effects and amp emulations. Whether you want an old Tube Screamer or a Big Muff Fuzz. This thing has it. And it has many new stomp box effects like the amazing Tera Echo, Harmonist, Freeze and a Looper. It has just about every effect you could want and you can play multiple effects at the same time. As far as I am concerned this is the greatest thing since sliced bread. And I am an original POD user. I still plug into the POD now and then. But the POD is history. The ME-80 is what I like today. I even commissioned a guy to build me an angled stand to boost up the knobs and pedal to make it easier for me to dial in changes. I had it painted orange to match my Orange Crush 35RT amp where I port the ME-80 output. Lastly, if you insist on being a programmer, they let you do that as well and offer a ton of presets online. You can hook up by USB to your computer and program away. Brilliant. The one down side… you have to buy an AC/DC adaptor for $30 or use up a lot of batteries. Well since I figure that I saved over $3,600 compared to the cost of all these effects bought stand-alone, I happily coughed up the $30.Brianne
8. Ik Multimedia Axe I/o Audio Interface

Product Details:
Axe i/o is a professional 2 in/5 out audio interface and controller – designed specifically with the needs of the recording guitarist in mind, providing best-in-class sound quality and powerful features aimed squarely at making your recordings faster, easier, and better than ever. there's plenty of youtube videos heralding this device and the modeling suite (amplitube) that you can purchase separately online.i'd list this as better than "very good" but it's picked up some burnishing on the right side (pictured). i've had it sitting on a rack shelf since i purchased it this past spring and must have rubbed the right-hand side against the rack rail at some point. i have the original box, but that got crushed somewhere along the way and is also pictured.i've added more electronic devices which required more inputs, so this has been phased out for a larger focusrite device.
Specifications:
Connector Type | XLR |
Number of Panels | 4 |
Frequency Response | 3 Hz – 35 kHz |
Dynamic Range | >117 dB |
Audio Interface | USB |
Reviews:
Overall: I've been looking to upgrade my Focusrite 2i2, Apogee Jam+, and iRig Pro Duo combination (don't ask!) for quite some time because I was never completely happy with the constant tweaking required for guitar tones without high end harshness and sizzle. zZounds had the AXE I/O on sale for $299, so I went for it. One interface to rule them all, LOL. The mic pres are at least as good as the Scarlett. The midi and expression pedal inputs work as expected for keys, drums, wah wah, etc. AXE I/O has plenty of clean volume on the headphone out. The JFET and Z-Tone controls are subtle but make all the difference with my Fenders and Gibsons. Again, harshness, brittleness, high end sizzle…GONE. e. Easy setup and installation of control softwaref. Amp-Out/Re-Amp is a great feature. Lots of ways to experiment here. Plays nice with Logic Pro. No noticeable latency at 256. Highly recommended for guitar players using amp sims.
Have been using Amplitube for more than a decade, it has always been ok although version 5 has really come of age. Sounds fantastic with Bass (as always) and now also with Guitars. Needs to be tweaked a bit more to get the best out of it but that's a good thing. The AXEIO interface is the perfect solution for any guitar with its versatility and SQ. Overall this package is awesome for writing and recording at home and also final takes, it's that good! Value for money as a package deal is a no brainer. Well done IK Multimedia.funkedalic
Solid unit with great guitar/bass input options. The software is great and the new tonex capture software adds another level of flexibility. The guitar out is very clean and was one of the main reasons I purchased as I needed a reamp box, this brings that capability with all the other features and for someone that hasn't invested heavily in software this product also came with the option to choose two extra IK product upgrades (as well as Tonex and Amplitube "Max")stevevaifan
9. Image Line Fl Studio 20 Fruity Edition (Boxed)

Product Details:
Fl studio 20 is a complete music studio for windows and mac and includes all the tools necessary to produce and record music on the computer. the software sequencer or daw (digital audio workstation) comes in three versions, which differ in the scope of the included plug-ins and functions. studio-compatible recordings (from the producer edition) with multiple tracks are also possible as well as extensive editing, automation and arranging. fl studio makes it quick and easy to transform musical ideas into ready-made pieces of music. the sophisticated step and track sequencer quickly turns any idea into a club-ready beat. for the perfect mix, a 105-channel digital mixer with effects and tools is available. the finished song can be exported and saved in various audio formats. the fruity edition is ideal for beginners in computer-based music production to create creatively complex melodies and chord progressions, to work with existing samples and to use the favorite vst plug-ins. also interesting for musicians who already have a sequencer software such as. use cubase and have always wanted a pattern-based working. the fruity edition can be easily integrated as a vst or rewire client into the existing sequencer software.
Specifications:
Vectorial Interface | Resize and rearrange the user interface. |
Multi-touch | Designed for touch control. |
Live DJ Control | Powerful live performance, clip-triggering. |
Advanced Help System | Context aware manual (press F1). |
MIDI Learn | Powerful MIDI controller linking options. |
Visualizer effects Plugin | Render 4K videos straight from FL Studio. |
Fruity Edition | Basic Melody & loops creation |
Reviews:
I am a producer, synth pop song writer, and music video director. I have been fortunate to learn from the best in Los Angeles, including Grammy Award winner and recording engineer, Tom Weir. I assembled my dream studio over the past 2 years. I have a Lexicon outboard reverb, but could not afford the PCM hardware. I was thrilled to find out Lexicon put out an AAX plug in that works with Protools 11. My PC utilizes Windows 8.1, so the most recent Lexicon PCM Native Reverb Plug In did not work. Lexicon recommended uploading their previous version. This worked perfectly. I was able to download and run this plug in without problem in my other computer that has Windows 10 Professional as its OS. The reverbs are natural, lush, and smooth. They are truly world-class. The graphic displays helps me understand intuitively how the reverb is processing the sounds. I did not notice any problems with my computer locking up or slowing down while using the plug in reverb. The advantage of this plug in is that I can utilize several Lexicon PCM-class reverbs simultaneously – which is not possible with outboard gear, unless one invests in multiple units. That would have been cost-prohibitive for me. I am thrilled to have world-class reverbs in my Protools 11 DAW. Thank you Lexicon 🙂delailahandernest
I am interessted in music making since end of 2019. So.. i tried to figure out wich programs are used by professional producers. At all, there are a lot of Digital Audio Workstations (DAW's) on the market. Big name are Ableton Live, Apple Logic Pro and FL Studio. Most of time i am working on Windows 10 and Arch-Linux. So Apple Logic Pro droped out for me. For both DAW's you will find a lot of free knowledgment. So i choose FL Studio cause AVICII, MARTIN GARRIX and other (for me) great Artists use(d) it. After 2 weeks playing a lot with the software and watching tons of videos, i can work with it. For newbies like me, some times it is very hard to implement the idea you have in your head.. cause there is so much functionality.. There are so many very professional plugins included like Reeverb 2 or Fruity EQ 2 Yes, you have to spent a lot of time with the program and yes, it isnt easy at all. Also it isnt cheap and you can buy tons of extra external plugins (VST), but you will get a great tool kit to create awesome music. So if you ask me if i can recommend it for new producers, i would defintly say yes. By the way.. i also used the trick and bought the education licence, after that i upgraded it to an regular license.Stefan
FL studio 20 is THE BEST DAW in the market right now. I started with FL Studio 4 back in 2006, and I felt in love with it ever since. I love the layout, love how easy it is for someone who doesn’t know music theory to just use whatever melody you might have in your head and FL studio can help you make that happen quick! FL Studio 20 is NOW what every Pro Tools, Cubase etc lover used to wish FL Studio was back in the days; you can do so much with this version and the OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS!! Recording vocals is easy and amazing at the same time, adding effects to your mixes, mastering is pretty easy compared to mastering on Pro Tools or any other DAW. So for all of you who have not made up your mind about FL studio 20, BUY IT!! You won’t tegret it!’ SPECIALLY!! with the options that American Musical Supply offers, like 0% finance charges with your debit card, which I have been using with AMS since 2010. Will definitely recommend it!!Olegario I Taveras
10. Line 6 Spider V 30 Mkii Guitar Amp

Product Details:
Amplifiers for practicing and performing guitarists whatever drives your creativity, spider v mkii amplifiers get you there with all the ease or depth that defines your personal musical vision. plug right in and immediately rock a traditional amp tone, or enjoy tweaking parameters until you’ve devised an absolutely unique and awe-inspiring sound. from the compact spider v 20 mkii practice amp to the full-featured gigging machine that is the spider v 240 mkii stereo combo, there’s a spider model to inspire every type of player. completely new presets—including vintage amp presets voiced by a renowned tube-amp maker, and artist and iconic song collections— deliver classic and modern sounds with all the rage, subtlety, sheen, and roar guitarists desire. whether you seek instant gratification, or starting points for crafting your own tones, the 128 presets in spider v mkii amps have you covered. with a choice of more than 200 amps, cabinets, and effects to work with, your perfect tone awaits—whether you’re a conventional player or a blazing iconoclast. need to embrace your need for sonic experimentation? no problem. spider v mkii amps provide enough options and flexibility to transform metal tones into fire-breathing dragons, clean sounds into a galaxy of ambient textures, or brit-rock excursions into waterfalls of shimmer and chime.
Specifications:
Length | 16.25 in |
Height | 0.1 in |
Width | 9 in |
Reviews:
I was really surprised at how good this amp sounds. Years ago I tried Line 6 and was not at all happy with the tone; but this is another story. It does take me awhile to dial in a specific classic rock tone, but when I do, it sounds better than any other amp that I've tried. I have tried the Marshall Code, Blackstar id Core, Vox Valvetronix, Boss Katana; as well as some all tube amps. The only other amp that is a close 2nd is the Fender Mustang GTX; also a great amp. The Spider V is fairly easy to operate. It offers lots of choices for amp models and cabinets. I like that it has variations of a mic'd cabinet. The parametric eq is a plus. I haven't played around too much with the effects yet, so I can't comment on that. The only negative thing I could say is that when you're editing a preset and want to hear how it sounds before you save it, you only have a short time before it goes back to the Home Screen. This really is a small price to pay for the quality of the amp and all the versatility it has. I like the App too. Musicians Friend got me a great on this as well; and their agent is following up making sure that I'm satisfied. The funny thing is that I came across this by accident. I placed an order for a Peavey amp that was on back order. I called Peavey multiple times, but they never returned my call. I also emailed them, but they didn't respond to that either. As far as I'm concerned, Peavey doesn't have any customer support.crrkr
Been playing about a year, so my review is from the perspective of a complete newbie. The things I like- Lots of presets, mobile app functions, computer interface, and loads of user created effects available. Nice and loud, but no real basis of comparison to say if clarity is better or worse than other comparable amps. Don't likes- The micro-usb interface. I had to get an adapter and it's just not as good a connection as nearly anything else would be. IMHO, micro-usb is far too flimsy. Connecting to PC is far more problematic than just using the spider mobile app. It's probably a little more complicated than it should be for a beginner, but it's feature rich for the money.Nic T
I had a Line 6 120w amp for years that I regrettably sold a while ago and was looking for another amp. I looked at all the amp reviews I could find and decided that the new Katana was the way to go. I got the Katana home and absolutely loved it but the second day I had it it started a really loud buzzing that I couldn't stop. It probably was an easy fix but the fact is the amp was way too powerful for my purposes and their software wasn't compatible with the new Catalina OS. I returned and started looking again. I saw the 60w Spider V and the price was excellent so I made an on the spot decision to buy another Line 6 and I'm really glad I did. The tones this amp can get are incredible. There are so many amp models and cabs that you can dial in pretty much any tone you want from a crispy snapback country clean to the most vicious heavy metal and everything in between. You can use the presets as they are or you can use them as a baseline and tweak to your own liking or you can start from scratch and build your own rig from the ground up. The controls are intuitive and easy to use but there are some features where you'd have to be a professional to really know how to use or even care to use. The software and the mobile app are so easy to use and give you all the options at your fingertips. The amp comes with a lot of presets that I find are completely useless but there are a lot that are excellent as I already talked about. There are only four empty slots for your own custom presets and I wish there were more but if you use the mobile app you can have your own tone library on there. I bought the FBV3 foot controller so that gives me a lot of flexibility to have various effects. One of the limitations is the lack of good effects though. There's enough that if you work at it you can get a decent sound but there could be some better ones. Overall I would recommend the amp. Don't listen to the naysayers or the amp snobs, it's a quality amp and extremely versatile.Just Plain Joe
11. *rocksmith 2014 Edition Remastered

Product Details:
The latest edition of the fastest method to learn guitar and bass, rocksmith 2014 edition. remastered has been newly upgraded to help you learn to play more quickly and effectively than ever. join over three million players who have used the award-winning rocksmith method. whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, rocksmith gets results fast. rocksmith becomes your personal guitar teacher as it monitors how you play, dynamically adjusts the difficulty to your skill level, and slowly introduces more notes and phrases until you're playing songs note-for-note. plug any real guitar or bass into your console or pc using the included rocksmith real tone cable and learn to play with your favorite songs. this latest edition adds six bonus songs to a tracklist filled with 50 hits. you can also expand your library with over 800 songs available for purchase. countless people gave up on their dreams of learning to play guitar because their experience was too frustrating and too time consuming. now with rocksmith there is a better, faster way to learn guitar.
Specifications:
Genre | Rhythm music |
Platform | Sony PlayStation 4 |
Release Date | 4 October 2016 |
Multiplayer | Yes |
ESRB Rating | Teen (13+) |
ESRB Content Descriptors | Mild lyrics, mild fantasy violence |
PEGI Rating | 12 |
PEGI Content Descriptors | Bad language |
Australian Government Rating | Mature (M) |
Publisher | Ubisoft |
Developer | Ubisoft San Francisco |
Reviews:
This is a great product to learn how to play some of your favorite songs on a real guitar or bass – not some button pushing plastic mock-up. Ubisoft includes a variety of old classics, modern hits and everything in between. There's also an "arcade" section to work on things like chords, string picking, slides, and more. Tons of songs to download from your favorite artists and add to your library (additional cost). It's CRITICAL that you include the "Real Tone" cable to be truly effective. Give it 60 days, and you'll be jamming to your favorite riffs in no time!sloburn
I wanted a guitar based game, so I tried it out not expecting anything special. I couldn't have been more wrong. It's so much fun. I've played guitar for over forty years and though I don't feel like I am learning anything from playing the game, I can see how someone new to playing guitar could surely benefit greatly from it. I would recommend this to someone who is serious about wanting to learn. The initial stages are kind of boring for those who already know how to pick or can find notes on the neck. Newcomers to guitar or bass (this version needed a $10 addon for bass), will welcome the slow pace and have a great feeling of accomplishment when they complete a song. The only gripe is that tacking on this game is greatly improved if the audio is sent directly to a receiver instead of through the TV's HDMI port. Overall this is a quality game (it is a game), with the added ability to actually learn how to play guitar or bass!!vcamargo99
Great way to learn to play guitar or bass at your own pace. Of course you'll need your own guitar or bass, but this package is ready to go. You get lessons, arcade style games to help teach you technique, and of course the best part….songs to play along with! Not to mention there are tons of songs you can download from Ubisoft and expand your music collection, and they are reasonably priced. The songs provided are great, and they scale to your skill level so it doesn't have to be too hard or too easy, it will remember and scale to you! Of course you can always turn off the dynamic difficulty and crack up the toughness and try to see if you can keep up with the pros =) The game also has split-screen multiplayer, so you can play lead while a friend plays rhythm or bass. One of the great things about the cable is it's universal, meaning you can use it on Xbox, PS4, PC, etc., so you can always take your cable and guitar to your friends house without having to worry what platform they are on. Just plug your cable in to their system and you're all set. Highly recommended to anyone looking to have a blast while learning to play a real instrument. I went from not knowing a single chord to playing riffs from songs in about 10 sessions. The best compliment is when you play a riffwithout the game playing and someone says, "Hey, I know that song!". That's the moment you'll realize this was totally worth the purchase price.jerrylive365
12. Line 6 Helix Guitar Multi Effects Processor

Product Details:
Helix rack is a new kind of guitar processor: it’s not only a tour-grade rack mounted multi-effect processor that sounds and feels authentic, it’s also one of the most comprehensive master controller for guitar systems ever built. start by recreating the tones in your head with the new hx modeling engine – the new amps, cabs, mics, and effects will feel familiar to anyone who has ever spent time in the studio getting the best guitar sounds from both vintage and modern gear.
Specifications:
Inputs/Outputs | 8 each |
Footswitches | 12 |
Screen Resolution | 800 x 480 |
Dimensions | 560mm x 301mm x 92 mm |
Weight | 6.6 kg |
Reviews:
I have been with Line 6 for many years. My very first amp from Line 6 was a Line 6 AXSYS 212. I also have the POD 20, POD XT Live, POD HD 500, the Spider 3-120, the Spider 4-150, and the practice amp 15 watts. While on tour I used the Flextone 3-2×12 amp. THE REVIEW: First and foremost tone and sound are most important to me. The models are definitely rich and pure in tone. The well thought out connectivity and the ability to maneuver the effects chain in any order that I desire is a plus and the ability to have unlimited effects in a chain is superb! I like the touch sensitivity to the switches that allows access to parameters for on the fly editing. Additionally, there is better processing with all of the effects. The headphone volume is a great option that adds to this already exceptional unit. Also, the stomp box mode allows the Helix to be used as a peddle board rig. Thumbs up for the large screen display and the scribble strips. Last but not least, the unit is very sturdy which makes it easy to travel with. There are so many BELLS & WHISTLES included in the Helix unit that it's too much to put into one review. So with that being said, I am COMPLETELY satisfied with my Helix!
Helix is fantastic for all studio musicians. You can construct so many different sounds with it. Since 3.0, the Helix is a complete package as far as guitar processors go: you have all different amps, cabs, effects, acoustic sim, synths, polyphonic transposition, harmonization, oversampling. Lots of in/outs, lots of ways to route it. The workflow is great: you have the computer editor. You can back up/restore your Helix, email the backup to yourself, etc. The Helix can absolutely replace your entire signal chain and be used as the only piece of gear to process your guitar sounds. The same could not be said about the Helix when it was on earlier firmware versions. Now, the Helix itself is very cheaply made. I thought I'd purchase one and never need to use anything ever again– wrong! After about a year of light use, the buttons stopped working reliably, then an LED stopped working. Helix is assembled using cheap Chinese parts that are tiny! For example, the footswitches are not what they appear to be–there are tiny tactile microswitches underneath. The Helix will not withstand nonstop gigging for more than a year, unless it's regularly serviced/cleaned, etc. It's a real shame because it can sound great, but something is always failing, or about to fail.Dimitri
Overall: I just received the Helix Rack yesterday so I only have a few hours in the drivers seat but that's enough to learn how truly awesome this thing is. I've owned a lot of Line 6 products over the last 20 years, in fact I still have a spider V240 and a POD HD Pro X but the Helix is so far out of their league they will probably never get used again in my studio. The design is sleek, easy to navigate, user friendly and just all around beautifully designed. The large full color screen is not only eye catching but makes navigating the menus effortless. Even though I'm modeler savvy, I've had no previous experience with Impulse Responses, in fact, I hadn't even heard of them until I started researching the Helix Rack and quite honestly I didn't think that I would care to use them… Well… I was wrong. It's amazing what these things do for the quality and authenticity of my tones when recording. As I mentioned earlier I only have 2 days under my belt at this point but most of that has been recording scratch tracks just to hear the result of these I.R's. I also love the fact that Line 6 still adds all of the necessary physical knobs and controls to their equipment in the days of everything being digital. The idea that I can play almost uninterrupted while tweaking many different parameters on the unit itself without a pedal is always a selling point for me. Not taking anything away from the foot controller but when I'm seated in front of my rack, using my hands to adjust the unit itself is just somewhat more convenient at times. Next, the user space… I thought that my POD HD Pro X had a lot of space for user presets but It has nothing on the Helix. I will probably never fill all of the user List's or even come close to it but It's always better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it. Also, let me jump back to the large screen again, I have a laptop on which I keep all of my editing software for my studio equipment. I always plug in my Spider V240 and POD and use the Spider V Remote and POD HD Pro X edit software respectfully because in most cases sitting behind my recording console and tweaking my sound is just much easier to do with the computer apps than the equipment. The Helix is the first and only piece of equipment I've owned where the display is laid out and organized in a way that is very similar to a computer or tablet app and so even though I have the Helix Edit app running on my computer right next to me, making adjustments on the front of the Helix Rack in many cases is actually easier and faster than grabbing a mouse and using the comp app. I could write much more describing my total satisfaction thus far but I will wait 'till I have used it for another month or so and update my review at that time. I will leave you with this thought. While conveying my total happiness to my brother last night regarding the Helix Rack, I went so far as to say that I feel that this could be the last guitar processer I ever buy and if not it's pretty close.Fred
13. Zoom Ms50g Multistomp Guitar Pedal

Product Details:
Choose from 55 classic effects and famous amps with the size and weight of a typical single stompbox, the ms-50g includes a thorough lineup of high-quality effects types. it features 47 stompbox effects and 8 amp models. along with distortion, reverb, modulation and other classic effects, its amp models simulate some of the most prized pieces of live and studio gear. intuitive, easy-to-use we have further refined the simple user interface that was revolutionary in our g3 and g5. the lcd shows the current effect in use, while the scrolling function allows you to easily view the flow of your effects chain. with this intuitive, easy-to-use interface, creating amazing sounds is a breeze. use up to six effects all at once the ms-50g allows you to utilize up to six effects simultaneously, as well as arrange them in any combination. this gives you the ability to craft classic sounds, as well as lush, complex tones. leave the rules you learned behind and enjoy creative freedom with the ms-50g.
Specifications:
Number of Stompbox Effects | 47 |
Indicator Type | LCD |
Number of Amp Models | 8 |
Output Jack Size | 0.25" |
Number of Output Jacks | 2 |
Reviews:
I could spend all day yapping about this pedal…In my travels i've tried countless pedals, but got tired of having 'too many' pedals. The weight, the time it took to hook it all up. I also busk, or play where electricity isn't available, and wanted a setup where i could make one trip with everything, and keep the weight down. I've always been a fan of ZOOM products, so trying out the Multistomp series was a no-brainer for me. The 50G met all my requirements, and exceed them all after i got one and started using it. Tones that are as good as any higher priced pedal, the versatility is second to none, and the price is killer for what this pedal can do. I would say the the Bluetooth version was my favorite, then the 70CDR, then the 50G, with the 50G's new 3.0 update, the 50 G is now my favorite pedal…period. The 50G started with maybe 50 patches, now it has 172, and best of all it has the Exciter patch, which to me is required on any pedal board. All i can suggest is watch the countless demo videos of this pedal. I would recommend this pedal for any level of guitarist, i would also recommend the MS-70CDR, watch the demo videos of the 70-CDR vs Strymons…amazing I cant say enough good things about the 50G, i believe it's near the perfect all around pedal. The Multistomp series are easily, in my opinion, the best bang for the buck pedals madeLocorogue
The MS-50G pedal is first class. It is every bit as clean, quiet, and well built as the Boss pedals. It is not a replacement for the Boss line. Zoom pedals have a character of their own. Personally, I like the Zoom tone. But I'm not a guitar player. There is a great ~15 minute YouTube instructional video for the MS-50G. I got over the learning curve for writing and storing effects by watching this video, then I bought pedal. It replaces several pieces of my high quality studio gear when I need fast results that are of high level audio quality. Zoom delivers with this product. After I watched this video I purchased the pedal. I also like my G1X as a companion to this pedal. The G1X has a nice volume/expression pedal.Sean
I needed something for my living room and practicing while watching TV late at night without a full pedal board or multi-effects box. This along with a Boss RC-3 and a mini mixer for my wireless headphones provides everything I have in my studio at a mini level. The sounds are good enough. There are enough options in sound to play most anything. Eventually I'll try this little beast as a sub for my full pedal board and see how it works in a live jam. One pedal to do everything. It's not perfect but it is great. I wish Zoom would provide updates to it and a better manager. It's pretty old by today's standards and if Zoom provided updated files they would sell even more if these great little boxes. B&H had the best deal available and as always they provide excellent service. Thank you B&H. I'll Be Back, lolThomas G
14. Yamaha Thr10ii 20-Watt 2×3" Desktop Guitar Combo Amplifier

Product Details:
Specifications:
Amplifier Type | Solid State Guitar Amplifier |
Application | Practice |
Power | 20 Watts |
Speaker Size | 3" |
Number of Speakers | 2 |
Stereo | Yes |
HF Driver | No |
Channels | 1 |
Compressor | No |
Effects | Multiple Effects |
Effects Loop | No |
Direct Output | No |
USB | Yes |
Bluetooth | Yes |
Aux Input | Yes |
Headphone Output | Yes |
Footswitch Input | No |
Footswitch Included | No |
Cover Included | No |
Display | No |
Power Supply | External |
Reviews:
I have played through the almost decade old THR10c, which is a fantastic little amp. Through a SM57 in front of it and out to the PA and you can sound great. But I thought that by now, with Yamaha buying Line 6 about 5 years ago, the newest version of this little amp would have some state of the art effects. Wrong! The effects, and the apps that control it are seriously out of date. I mean, the reverb, tremolo and chorus are fine. But they remain exactly as they did ten years ago. No upgrades and nothing fancy. The app is poorly designed and not that easy to use. and there is no way that I have found access the THR10C classic blues models all in one place. So its actually hard to get the classic blues and country sounds that I need all in one place. I went back to my THR10c and sold the new one.Bruce
dial in your sound in seconds not minutes, I look at it and then I want to play my best, those amp lights man, wow, dim the lights you will see. No instructions needed. if you need to move some Air for clubs shows or band practice this is not the one for you. What it does is creates a killer vibe for personal guitar growth, very organic and the tones? Man, you have got to play through it to believe it. It will cover any genre and crash most all the competition in the personal practice amp catagory. its about quality tones at lower DBI, it's not a marshal and it doesn't want to be. You can boot this sting up 3 at night and sound like your at an arena in your bedroom without waking up the neighbors and your flat-mates. No getting up or leaning over the amp to adjust setting like a marshal. No LCD's to mess with with or crummy menu diving. Traditional Bluetooth audio is pretty decent for using the amp speaker for guitar youtube vids and playing along instrumental tracks. Someone else said terrible sound, what??? you have got to be kidding me, id call that person an amateur guitarist. the biggest stars have these in the studio, tour buss and green room, hotel room. amazing for writing sounds, its the sound you have always wanted without going deaf sounds good anywhere. saves your hearing from the ringing. if you want to expand this sound on stage get the 30 which has proper outs for studio and stage, and re-amp it. leave it on a partially cleanish tone for your genre, then output to normal amp setup, the smiles will come. Of course many are still going to need their volume pedals but in a lot of situations, if you know how to gain control and then crank it for a lead/ chorus, (id drive it out to the mains / monitors for ramp) but it sounds amazing as you turn it up, the character truly changes, for the better. it's pretty wild. its pretty good about feedback. iv heard people hook these up on tour or use them in the greenroom preshow, it's that good. stick with the new models that are lighter and sound better. these are industry standard personal practice amps. again, if you are gigging you will need some sound reinforcement, but I would find a way myself, it's just not that hard to figure out. it's never fed back at me once and I'm jamming right infant of the cab on me desk. no surprise loud feedback sounds like other amps. small, light goes anywhere. probably need that case if you travel a lot. metal, country, hard rock, pop, blues jazz, hip hop, it nails it. the 30 could drive your current big amp. whatever magic is going on with the sound, full gain w guitar at full gain, is something that has to be heard not seen.J
Upgraded from the original cream colored THR10 after finding out that all three of the original THR10 amps (boutique, classic, and high gain) were consolidated in one amp and that the speakers underwent an upgrade (10W->20W). Sonically, the tones in this amp are superior to those of the original THR10, which makes practicing and playing very satisfying and inspiring. Note: Boutique and high gain amps can only be accessed through the desktop or mobile THR remote app. This isn't the case with the larger THR30 amp. All amp models can be access through the unit. The remote app also allows the user to change cabinets to further tweak tone. Here is why I rated this product 4 stars. * Mobile THR remote app crashes all the time. I've been using the remote app on my laptop exclusively. Yamaha rep informed me that this tends to be the case with iPhone users. Doesn't seem like they plan on fixing this anytime soon. * Setting the unit up as an audio interface was not clear at all. The original THR amps required downloading the yamaha steinberg usb driver and selecting this as your driver in your DAW. After configuring your MIDI and audio source in the DAW, you would then get sound. Well, that's not how it works on this amp. I reached out to yamaha after repeatedly getting errors from my DAW about the yamaha steinberg usb driver. Long story short, tech service couldn't figure out the issue and told me to request an exchange for a new unit at GC. After hooking up the new replacement, I got the same error. Turns out you have to download the ASIO THR10ii/30 driver on yamaha's site, not the most current yamaha steinberg usb driver. Select this driver in your DAW. Then you have to go into the app's settings and check the box for "record dry." Now you can configure your MIDI and audio source. I'm baffled about how yamaha's own techs did not know that the steinberg usb driver is not compatible with the THR10ii/30 amp.Ben G.
15. Yamaha Thr5a Acoustic Guitar Amplifier

Product Details:
The thr5a from yamaha is a desktop modeling guitar amp that simulates four different microphone types and is specifically designed for use with electric-acoustic and silent guitars. in contrast to normal stage amplifiers, the thr5a is intended for off-stage uses such as recording and practicing. equipped with a usb port, the amp is capable of being used in conjunction with your computer for advanced editing of guitar sounds, recording and playback using the included software package. the thr5a is equipped with a 1/4 inch guitar input as well as an 1/8 inch aux input that can be used for connecting your mp3 player for jamming along to backing tracks. the two full range 3 inch speakers are designed to accurately reproduce stereo playback from the 1/8 inch input as well as the sound of your guitar without the need of any additional speakers or amplification. engineered to give you a variety of tonal options, the thr5a includes four built-in microphone simulations which include condenser, dynamic, tube and nylon presets. there is also a clean electric guitar amp model for even more possibilities. the thr5a offers a selection of effects that make use of yamaha's virtual circuitry modeling (vcm) technology, which is designed to emulate yesterday's vintage analog gear within today's digital production environment. the effects include compression, chorus, flanger, tremolo, delay, phaser, reverb and noise gate. the thr5a can be connected to your computer via usb for a variety of advanced functions. for in depth editing of the amplifier's tonal characteristics and unlocking additional effects and parameters, the downloadable thr editor can be used. in addition, you can record and edit your guitar playing using the included cubase ai music production software.
Specifications:
Product Type | Combo amplifier cabinet |
Designed For | Electric guitar |
Total Output Power | 10 Watt |
Controls | Volume, tone, master, effect, delay/reverb, tap/tuner, mic type selector, blend/gain |
Amp Emulation Modes | Condenser, dynamic, tube, nylon, eg cln |
Features | Chromatic tuner, LED display, 44.1 kHz sampling rate, Virtual Circuitry Modeling (VCM) |
Speakers Included | 2 x speaker – 5 Watt |
Driver Details | Speaker: 2 |
Connections | Audio input Phone line AUX input USB – 4 pin USB Type B |
Required Qty | AA type |
Included Accessories | Power adapter, stereo audio cable, USB cable |
Width | 1.1 in |
Depth | 0.5 in |
Height | 0.7 in |
Weight | 4.41 lbs |
Reviews:
Purchased a Yamaha SLG200S and wanted an amp to go with it, as this part of the silent guitar family it was a no brainer. The size, tones, volume, software, portability and that fact it can be battery powered are all plusses, and it looks great with the faux tube glow. It's plenty loud and sounds great, make sure to use the software to really dial in the sound. Currently the only amp I own, as the only powered guitar I have is the SLG200S.
A great mini amp suited to acoustic guitars for private use applications in living rooms or bedrooms. The sound quality is very crisp and clear. There is a choice of microphone emulation to simulate mic-ing up your acoustic guitar. The signal from this mini amp can be fed into a PA or a mixing desk using the Phones output socket. This amp is not really suitable for rock electric guitar sounds like crunch and distortion. The Yamaha THR5 is more suitable for this purpose.Danny
I have looked at the Yamaha THR line of amps many times in various retail shops. Finally saw one on MF in open box condition. Thought, "What the heck." Looks and functions as new. I bought the THR5A to use with my acoustic-electrics. I wanted a small portable amp with good effects for small venues and home practice. For me, a solo singer song writer playing originals, this little amp is a true gem. I use it for effects support in stereo, the other line run through my 40 watt Fender Acoustasonic. For years I have used the durable Acoustasonic as my PA, monitor, and for my vocals, and my Boss RC3 Looper. The THR5A is used simply to tweak the sound of the guitar. The effects are very nice, lots of range to dial in. The modeled Mics offer enough variety to cover the 3 different AE guitars I use. (Carvin AC175, Carvin AE185, Huss and Dalton CM). I can even use my OCD pedal through the THR5A for playing blues leads over the Loops. I would recommend this amp to any player of AE guitars because the sound quality out of this small inexpensive amp is truly amazing. But remember young squires, the THR5A is a very low watt amp with tiny speakers, so do not expect it to support you in a setting of more than 15-20 attentive listeners!Surflad
16. Boss Katana Mini Guitar Amplifier

Product Details:
Juice up your guitar output while you're on the go with high-quality sound with the boss katana-mini lightweight personal guitar amplifier. since this amp is so lightweight and portable, you'll be able to take quickly transport it anywhere your shredding will be appreciated. once you're there, choose between 3 amp types to give your performance the perfect sound. jam for hours on the 6 included aa batteries. get surprisingly powerful sound and quality in a small package with the boss katana-mini lightweight personal guitar amplifier.
Specifications:
Length | 11 in |
Height | 0.1 in |
Width | 7 in |
Reviews:
Unbelievable. This is NOT my Vox AC30, and nor is it my 100W Katana. However, for a package that is powered by batteries and can, quite literally, fit into the palm of your hand, the Katana Mini is simply fantastic. The amp models are brilliant and the delay (reverb) function is an excellent feature. On "clean" settings the volume of the amp is perfectly adequate and will fill a room with no issues, and on the "crunch" and "brown" settings, the amp was more than loud enough to fill a large room at 2/3 volume. Whilst I personally think that this is not quite enough for an advanced/intermediate players sole amplifier, I would completely agree that for a beginner, they would need no more than this. Having tried options from Yamaha and other brands, this is firmly my favourite battery powered micro amplifier for any level of guitarist and equipment, the tone is simply that good! The best way I can describe it is this – when I first plugged my PRS McCarty 594 into it, I was vaguely aware that I wasn't playing through my Vox. However, after five minutes or so, I had completely forgotten this wasn't a "real" amp, and had to keep looking down at the tiny box on the floor to believe it! Well done, Boss!Mr I. F.
Overall: I've been a bass player since 83 and just picked up the guitar a year or two ago. I purchased a guitar a few months ago and didn't have funds for an amp. So, after watching countless vids and reading many reviews, I favored this one the most. No local stores had a katana under 50w so, the payment plan zZounds had was perfect and received this little beast on Wednesday. With that said, no vid or review could compare to the hands on experience. For a 7w amp, this truly is a must have and the sound is 100% phenomenal. I'm personally not into effect pedals and what features this amp has, is just enough for me. The delay is just right as well as clean/crunch and brown features. The only problem that I have is, though it comes with 6 AA batteries, the adapter would've been more preffered.Other than that, I highly reccomend this amp to everyone, and would highly recommend zZounds payment plans (if your credit card qualifies) and customer service is great tooOne more thing, it's a lot smaller than I thought and that's one of the many reasons why I reccomend this to everyone.
I use it primarily as a practice amp at lower levels, but I'd feel confident doing coffee house gigs with it, and maybe smaller clubs too. It sounds warm and rich at low volumes, and the EQ is effective. All three voices are useful and I'm not left wanting. I have to make special mention of the delay. I adore reverb (including and especially spring reverb and gritty, trashy reverb of all kinds) but a simple delay circuit is way more useful in this amp. Doubling, slapback, echoes. The treble roll-off and fixed feedback are well-tuned. If you're using this for busking or other guerilla performance, you will suddenly realize that a single delay is worth more than a thousand reflections, because those reflections sound godawful* against naturally-occurring surfaces. *maybe awesome in a sound design way thoughChesterfleet
17. Boss Ve-8 Acoustic Singer

Product Details:
For singer/songwriters who play acoustic guitar, its a competitive, crowded world out there. the ve-8 acoustic singer delivers that extra edge you need to stand out and shine, supporting you with professional boss sound every time you perform. simple to use, the ve-8 provides studio-quality voice and guitar processing plus impressive real-time harmonies and looping in one compact, go-everywhere package. with such great sound and powerful creative features at your command, you're destined to bring down the house everywhere you play.
Specifications:
Interface | USB |
Jack Size | 0.25" |
Input Port | XLR |
Input Impedance | 4 k ohm |
Indicator Type | LED |
Reviews:
Sound: Initially this product was awesome. The price at 299 should make this pedal last. I know electronics go bad but when that happens the manufacturer should be accessible for repairs. So much for a year's warranty. Features: When working this is an awesome pedal. Acoustic resonance is fantastic . The vocal enhancer lets your voice sound fatter and broad. the harmonizer is fantastic. None of this matters when the pedal fails. Ease of Use: Sounds great when working. Quality: no Value: this product is not worth the price Manufacturer Support: I have dealt with this company with no response to getting the pedal repaired. They are not reliable. The Wow Factor: pedal looks great for a paper weight. Overall: I have had this pedal for less than a year. I have purchased many pedals and acoustic amps from Boss. The guitar channel has completely failed and the vocal is not performing as it did when I first got it probably because the guitar channel is causing a malfunction. Try getting the BOSS/ROLAND support. Impossible! I would not buy this again . I will look for other options. Customer service is the reason I will go elsewhere.Timothy
I've had the VE-8 for a few years and I recently realized how much of my time I've wasted. It take forever to get the harmonies dialed in where they don't get too glitchy, I wouldn't ever trust using this thing live. The presets are awkward to switch unless you want to used an external switch but then you're taking the use of the 2 external switch options so then when you switch keys you have to bend over, definitely not great for my bad back and it's too big to keep off the floor to make using the buttons easier, otherwise adjusting the on board guitar effects are a real pain. Most of all, this thing has a horrible hiss through any PA system or acoustic amp I have tried it with, fun to screw around with at home but would NEVER use live. On the plus side like all Boss pedals it's built like a tank.DRS
The VE-8 has been a game changer for me. It gives me the ability to add texture changes from a verse to a chorus, using the layers of the effects, the harmonies, and EQ changes. That makes my live solo performances much more interesting to perform and hear. The "under the hood" options on this thing are incredible, like the ability to globally EQ the guitar, the voice, and adjust things like input gain on the guitar, tremolo speed, delay times, etc. This thing is really well-thought out in what it offers the artist, and it's also easy and intuitive to operate at the surface level. The harmony section offers some very useful features, such as you can simply cue harmonies off the guitar chords, or designate the key, or a hybrid of the two. I have found that for some of my songs I like one method, but on others I prefer an alternate because of how the VE-8 creates harmonies for that specific song. The VE-8 provides lots of features, lots of flexibility, and seems extremely well thought through. I have also found the programming to be really efficient and easy to engage. Sometimes that's not true of stuff like this, and although I have years of audio engineering and studio experience, I hate being in the position of pushing buttons to get through menus, setting parameters, repeat, repeat, and all that. The VE-8 is so nicely knob-based that you really just need to check the manual to find the "entry key" commands, get into the parameters, change them easily, and voila, you're right back to playing. The VE-8 was a superb investment in my capacity to share my songs, music, and creativity with audiences. I highly recommend it.Christopher
18. Roland Micro Cube Gx Battery Powered Guitar Combo Amplifier, Black

Product Details:
It gives you the same tone and versatility that you've come to know and love in the cube series, and puts it in a battery-powered package that you can take anywhere. it features recording/headphones output and stereo aux input for mp3/cd players, etc. the micro cube gx can be powered on batteries or a supplied ac adapter. it also includes a carrying strap. rock for hours on batteries. increased power output delivers even better performance than before, and a chromatic tuner is built in, eliminating the need to carry an external tuner when you play. power: 3w. ultra-compact portable dsp guitar amp with 5-inch speaker.
Specifications:
Product Type | Combo amplifier |
Designed For | Guitar |
Amplifier Type | Solid-state |
Cabinet Type | Closed-back |
Total Output Power | 3 Watt |
Controls | Volume, tone, master, FX, gain, amp, delay/reverb |
Features | Chromatic tuner, built-in tuner, memory function, 8 COSM amp tones |
Driver Details | Speaker – 5" |
Connections | AUX input – mini-phone 3.5 mm 4-pole AUX input – phone 6.35 mm AUX output – mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm |
Required Qty | 6 x AA type |
Included Accessories | Power adapter, stereo audio cable, hanging strap |
Width | 9.7 in |
Depth | 6.8 in |
Height | 8.9 in |
Weight | 5.95 lbs |
Reviews:
Wasn't sure about this little guy – – but the one I received was in pristine shape, with power brick and carry handle. I power it with 6 rechargeable AA Lithium batteries – and it'll run x 6 hours easy without recharging. I play an acoustic guitar (i installed a Fishman rare earth pickup) in a small orchestra with a piano, trumpets, trombones, saxophones, etc, and only need to run at about 35% max volume to blend in well with the group. The effects are great and well modeled. I'm very happy with this Roland – Highly Recommended.oxydoc
I've taken up giving lessons in my home and, in other locations and, dragging around even a moderate size amp was not in my plans. I did some shopping and, came up with the Micro Cube as my answer, WOW what a feature filled little powerhouse! I debated going to just a plain small practice amp but, after I tried one it reminded me of trying to play through an old transistor radio. Very bland boring sound and, only a push button to get an overdrive sound that sounded pretty bad. This Roland unit sounds Fantastic at 3w and, with only a 5" speaker, I don't know how they do it but, it's Great!! The convenience of battery power is something that I really enjoy also. Take it anywhere! The FX sound Super, amp models are a nice touch and, even a tuner. The 1/8" input is a nice touch to jam with backing tracks or any type of sounds. Taking this to lessons is sooo much more handier than a 30lb. amp. There is only a tone control but, it is really all you need to get the sound you want. The memory function is a handy feature so save preset sounds for each amp model. The only thing I haven't tried is to plug a Mic in and, check it out but, I definately will and, I'm betting that the results will be positive there also. I'm soooo glad I spent the extra dinero and, went with this amp. I'm very satisfied and, definately recommend this anyone looking for small portable amp for practice or any other reason to have a light weight amp that sounds really good. I don't think that I would run a bass through it but, at low volume I wouldn't be surprised that it could handle it. I play a lot of different instruments, fiddle,mandolin,ulelele and, harmonica and, going to try them all in this amp.terrygh
In general this is a great little amp. It is loud, but its frequency range is narrow. I would expect something so small to be weak on bass, but I am surprised at how poor the high frequency is. I have to turn the tone all the way up to make it sound like a regular amp. I will try different speakers and the line out into a different amp to see if the poor high end is either the speaker or amp. The headphone output sounds much better, so I believe the issue is not in the internal electronics. In general I would recommend this amp. So much that I am buying another to give to my son in college as a dorm amp. He is interested in the headphone feature, which sounds very good. As a practice amp this little thing does a great job. The effects are better on some settings than others. but I think there are more effects on this amp than other brands. The portability is great. The battery life it pretty good for how loud it is. With the line input you can not only play along to songs, unaffected by the guitar effects, but it turns your phone into a loud jam box. There is a lot of loud "bang for the buck" in the little amp.Dowacky
19. Blackstar Ht Club 50 Mkii 50 Watt Guitar Amplifier Head

Product Details:
Since the launch in 2010, ht venue has become one of the worlds best-selling valve amp lines. its name is already synonymous with class-leading tone and flexibility, but now, after more than 3 years of intensive r&d and market research, blackstar is about to release the stunning next generation of ht venue valve amplifiers. ht venue mkii takes this award-winning line and elevates it to a new level of professional performance, and adds every major enhancement that the market has requested; resulting in a massively flexible and powerful feature set, yet remains intuitive and musician-friendly. when enhancing the tonal quality, blackstars engineering team started by benchmarking the finest vintage and new valve amps on the planet, some of which cost five times the price of ht venue. the mission was then simple: improve on these sonic references in the way blackstar is renowned for, and combine the sounds into a cohesive, creative product. with that in mind, players can expect a number of enhancements from blackstars new ht venue mkii amplifiers. for starters, the clean channel now features market leading clean tones, through huge improvements in both the pure quality and the flexibility, made possible by the addition of controls for bass, treble and a footswitchable voice switch. these improvements are sure to rank ht venue mkii among the best of the clean valve amps. in addition to the clean channel enhancements, players can expect richer, more complex overdrive tones from the drive channel(s) in ht venue mkii. the drive channels are fuller and even more responsive than the original venue series, and each overdrive channel features its own voice switch. the high gain voices are tight and focused, drawing on the original award-winning ht venue series, while the mid-gain tones are perfect for those players who prefer edge of breakup tones, and then either push the amp with pedals or clean up the tones with the guitars volume knob.
Specifications:
Weight | 32 lb |
Reviews:
Great sounding clean tones for playing at home, which is why i bought it – my beloved Mustang 1.1 started having issues and I MUST have a great clean tone to relax. Wanted a tube amp and did my research. Decided on the Blackstar. I must say I'm extremely happy with it. The reverb is KILLER to my ear and does a great job at adding shimmer without destroying the tone. No external effects are needed to get a gorgeous clean tone – I use my Zoom G3Xn into the front end to get univibe and compression. The effects loop is very functional. The amp can be very bass heavy, depending on your instrument, but if you run a 10 band EQ (go with MXR) in the loop you amp can achieve any tonal result you want. My best sound comes with everything at 12, with some of the bass rolled off with the MXR EQ – but its just a matter of taste i guess. This amp moves a lot of air when you use the drive channel, and if your not pleased with the amps distortion it does respond really well to distortion pedals. I'm mostly in the clean blues zone but must brag on the amps darker side: it can get very loud and stay rich. I haven't tried any of the direct recording features. The 2 selectable characters of clean that the amp offers thrill me and ,again, the reverb is classy and a bit different from other amps ( I read that is a room reverb). Highly recommended.Tim H.
This amp out of the box sounds fantastic. Crystal clear clean tones and a snarly gain channel that lets you choose between a more American gain tone and a British gain tone. I would say ‘cater for everyone’. But, I received my first amp and within an hour of playing I’d noticed a loud ‘POP’ when changing channels. This pop occurred if a note was being played at the same time as the channel change. (Footswitch and Amp buttons) So, of course I returned the Amp to PMT. they arranged DPD next working day collection for me, completely hassle free. I awaited my next amp, as a direct replacement. A few days later the next Blackstar HT-5R mkii arrived, box fresh like the last. I plugged the amp in, let the tubes warm and away I went. Within minutes of found a great tone again, but the loud ‘POP’ I heard from the first unit was there again on this amp. I tried 4 sockets in the house in case there was any kind of interference/static, but to no avail. Absolutely gutted, I called PMT again. The amp was returned for the second time. Apparently this hasn’t happened to anyone else, I may just be unlucky or the amp may not get along with the electrics in my home. Just check this out as soon as you buy one. I’ve tried two other valve amps on my house since, including a Blackstar Artist 10 AE and an Orange terror with cab, and there’s absolutely zero noise with these. Very important to note here, this is not a slam of PMT, they’ve been absolutely brilliant throughout this whole thing. Customer service is second to none and they are very easy to contact. Used these for a very long time and I will be returning once stores open to try out a new amp.Jack H.
Overall: So, I have been playing guitar for 40 years, always used Marshall's, So I did a bit of research, And found that 2 guys from the research and development team at Marshall for almost 20 years were trying to make some changes on some Marshall amps, Well Marshall said, "No", and these 2 guys decided to leave and start their own Co. Well just let me say, This 50 Watt head, Loaded with British sound and quality, could not be better! So many different features, and options of tone is incredible! Anyone looking to buy a Marshall head for over 2k, buy one of these!! you will not be disappointed! My god it sounds incredible! For under a grand at that!!, I do use a Marshall 1960 A slant cab with it, But this Blackstar is no slouch! zZounds was amazing as always! out of the Box, perfect condition! Thank you zZounds once again!!
20. Prs Mark Tremonti Mt 15 Head

Product Details:
Prs mt15 tremonti headthe mt 15 is a commanding two channel amp with balanced aggression and articulation. powered by 6l6tubes, the mt 15 has a large, bold sound, so you can dig in heavy with rhythms but also get singinglead tones out of one amp. whether recording, practicing, writing, or playing a small room, this amp has everything you need. the mt15s design started with heavier players in mind, but in the end, it has a lot to offer players of all genres. like the prs archon amplifier, the mt 15 features five gain stages before the master for full, lush distortion. the gain channel gets big, chunky tone with massive, tight low end, but it never loses its articulate note definition or great lead tone. theclean channel is bright and chimey, good with chords and fingerstyle playing whether with a pic or not. the clean channel also features a push/pull boost control that adds a little overdrive for old school crunch. no matter what tone you dial in, the mt 15 stays balanced across the spectrum with a sweet, smooth tone that won't bite your head off. additional features include an effects loop andbias adjusters that are accessible from the back panel for ease of servicing. despite its 15 watts,the mt 15 sounds more like 50, so a half power switch that takes the mt to 7 watts is a welcome addition. bottom line, the amount of features, the hugeness of the sound, and the raw horsepower of thecircuit make the mt 15 an impressive lunchbox hero.
Specifications:
Amplifier Type | Tube Guitar Amplifier |
Tubes | 6 x JJ EC83S preamp tubes, 2 x 6L6 power tubes |
Power | 15 Watts |
Impedance | 8 or 16 ohms |
Stereo | No |
HF Driver | No |
Channels | 2 |
Compressor | No |
EQ Bands | 3-band |
Effects | No |
Effects Loop | Yes |
Direct Output | No |
USB | No |
Bluetooth | No |
Aux Input | No |
Headphone Output | No |
Footswitch Input | Yes |
Footswitch Included | Yes |
Cover Included | No |
Display | No |
Power Supply | Internal |
Length | 14" |
Reviews:
I picked this up to use predominantly as a low wattage gigging head. I've since found myself using it for almost everything. PRS doesn't load a bunch of features into this amp. It is simply a guitar amp which is why it's as good as it is. This is a two channel footswitchable (included) amp. It has no effects or reverb. The clean channel is one of the best and most usable clean channels I have played on. It has its on eq and a treble boost. It would probably make a great pedal platform but I prefer to use it simply as a clean. The dirty channel can deliver anything you ask it to from classic 70's to modern metal. It has more gain available than anyone probably needs. If you know how to use the volume knob on your guitar you will find this amp to be very responsive. I keep the gain at about 10 o'clock and dual in what I need with the volume knob on my guitar. Both channels play extremely well with pedals. I've had the best results using the effects loop for time based and modulation type effects. Frequency and drive work great through the front end. I waited to review this until I got some rehearsals and gigs under its wings. This thing is built like a tank and travels quite well. For rehearsals I run it through a 4/12 with equipped with Celestion 70/80s. It's more than loud enough to get over a live drummer. It sounds louder than a 50 watt head I was using for rehearsals. Live I run it through a 2/12 and mic the cabinet with a 57. It sounds great and is very consistent. It's convenient size, durability, and overall sound have resulted in it becoming the first head I reach for in almost every situation now. This is a really great practical amp for any performing guitarist.Michael
Not a bedroom playing amp. Crazy loud! Huge gain! Sounds like a beast. More like 50 watts. At low levels it's sounds poor. But turned up it can't be played in a bedroom. Had the cops called twice on me and I live in a house with decent amount of space between the homes. Best metal amp out.Todd
Sound: This is the best amp I’ve played for most styles. Features: I’d like reverb but does it have to have it? Nope. Ease of Use: It started off with a great sound! Quality: Amazing quality! Value: Worth every penny Manufacturer Support: Never needed them The Wow Factor: The blue and red Led lights were an awesome touch! Overall: This is an amazing amp. To put it through its paces I used a tiny micro terror and a Mesa Boogie 2×12 cabinet. Using a Richie Kotzen tele and an EMG-loaded Les Paul Custom, I tried many different styles.I started off with the eq at noon and at half-power. The first thing was that this amp throws a lot of low-end. But it is not unusable in any way. It is just full. The only way to really experience this is by playing is I guess.The boost also worked amazingly. I do wish that is is footswitch-controlled because it throws a lot more gain.Then there is the lead channel. After experiencing the clean volume, I started with volume off and gradually brought it in. The highest I could get it without causing pain was 9:00. This amp is loud as hell! The lead sounded every bit as good as my Mesa Tremoverb and Road King , so I wasn’t missing anything in the gain department. Reverb would have been great, but I have pedals I guess.At the end of the day, this is the happiest I’ve ever been with an amplifier. I look forward to years of incredible sounds in a small package. Remember, this was not full power!Jon