Half Stack Guitar Amp For Sale (2024 Update)

The amp is built from a good quality plastic. It's pretty cheap, it's Marshall and it looks like a reduced copy of a real Marshall stack. The clean sound is not bad but I couldn't manage it to make a good distorted sound like I've heard on YouTube videos. Compared to other similar compact amps, the sound is not really great.yurersho_4

OK I will write something none did about use of this "amp", at least I didnt notice so sorry if someone wrote that : I checked on some gear forum question from a guitarist–he tried to connect this MS-4 to his amp as preamp boost, he said he got no sound, sohe got advice to mod thing(you have to open back of amp and solder certain jumper to get direct out–but headphone is not usable after that !)And one guy told that he got sound through headphone to another amp but it was nogood sounding ! So…both was wrong, first of all I quite intensely play and practice guitar every day, now some about sound…So :1. You have to put jackin just a half cause headphone out is stereo, 2.I have plugged thing to my Bugera 5V–5watts tube amp-which have excellent sound just lacking little push…so this MS-4 have provided that push, it serves excellent as a preamp boost and gives to your amp (specially good if you have dark sounding tube amp) Marshall caracter, so amp turns into Marshall and rally sound as you are playing tube Marshall amp–no kidding here, crystal clear strong punchy cleans and also with this you can overdriven tubes really nicely, great also to give you lead channel! So you dont need boost predal if you use this for an amp ! And you dont have to mod this amp, just use this headphone thing ! You can use micro cube roland in same way–rec/hedph out to another amp ! Then you dont need effect pedals and sound greeeeat ! The same with this MS-4–your amp becomes Marshall !! Is that good enough ?Kailash soundz

There’s a ton of reviews on this so I’m just gonna hit the highlights.
1. Gain: some say it’s not enough gain. This is simply not the case. Have you ever looked at a Randall and thought, “I bet that doesn’t have much gain.” No, of course you haven’t. There’s plenty of gain and this amp LOVES hot pickups. The gain is tight, clear, and forceful. It booms like a Diavlo, I know from playing both side by side in my studio. Easy to dial in and easy to tailor to any guitar or cab, especially with the Contour knob. But, it’s always best to use a better quality cab. Even though it has some years on it, the tone totally fits in with modern metal sounds but is capable of taking you back in time as well.
2. Clean: the clean is quite beautiful. The response of the controls is very apparent on this channel. Maybe doesn’t work quite as well for country but a superior jazz tone is certainly achievable. If you like working with dynamic range, a-la old Opeth, you’ll definitely appreciate having this comforting of a clean channel to compliment the gain side. One caveat: the volumes can be deceiving, if not a little unbalanced. The clean side can get much louder than the OD side. But there’s a master volume so you can set the two evenly and control it all from there.
Other than that, it’s very solidly built, looks great and is easy to use with its simplistic aesthetic, and will stand up against many tube amps. For the price, it’s kind of a no-brainer. I’ve owned one for years so, reliability is not in question. Been playing for 30 years, lots of shows, and lots of experience with gear. This amp sounds amazing and is just fun to use. There’s still a few out there so, look for a good price and go for it!Luke Offield

I bought this half stack because of it's low price and the fact that Randall is what Dimebag played and he always told a story about how he won his first half stack, so I figured maybe it was cheap like this one. Anyway, I order it. it being my first half stack and all, I wait and wait until it finally comes. I pull the amp head out of the box, then I pull the cabinet out of the box. Immediately something is grabbing me as wrong. There's no cable to connect from the amp head to the cabinet. Maybe this is common sense, but I didn't know. So I messaged Musicians Friend, explained the situation and they picked one out for me and ordered it. I finally received it yesterday. After finally hooking everything up and setting everything up, I flip the switch on. The power comes on. That's it. No sound. Nothing. I try the speaker cable in the other port. Nothing. I flip the switch on the back. Nothing. I try 4 different guitar cables. Nothing. I try turning knobs, pressing buttons, all for nothing. Never got a PEEP out of it.I still don't know what's wrong.Machete

I love this amp. Takes a few to warm up the tubes but after they warm up there is power for days it just has a great clean channel and the crunch is just so nice. You have independent resonance on each channel. And channel 3 just has a great lead sound. Then that effect loop is amazing no need to worry about turning on effects and hearing the effects kick in you just change the effect then hit the loops and it is there it also has the ability to change tubes but I love the el34s.Mark,C

Sound: My first one (made in 2016) sounded (and looked) amazing.. (also built like a tank). The new one.. not so much. Personally, I think the "green" channel could do without the Gain knob. Just let it be a Clean channel. The "Blue" channel has "almost enough" gain, while the "Red" channel's gain seems unusable once the knob passes 6 (tops). The gain structures should be compensated (preferably the same amount) on those two channels. The "Prescence" knobs should just be on/off "Bright" switches (I couldn't hear any difference between 0-8, then from 8-10 it gets slightly brighter). Adding anything to the effects loop adds a loud and low-pitched hum, on top of the unbearable hiss that's always present (even with a noise gate, which should be built into the amp anyway, and even with the volume at 1!). Features: Since I never got a replacement, I can only judge by the one I just returned.. The closest thing I can compare the "5150III-100S" to is the Egnater "Armageddon". It looks like the perfect "hard rock/metal" amp (on paper), but once it's turned on (esp. the Red channel), you WILL be disappointed.. (but, at least the Armageddon had a built-in, footswitchable, "Decimator G-String" noise gate). Ease of Use: If you did a side by side comparison between one made in 2016, and one made in 2021, I'm sure most people would notice the older ones sound better, and have much less "hiss", esp. with anything in the loop. Quality: Compared to my first one, the new one looked, felt, and even sounded, well, cheaper. I don't think this would've been an issue if Eddie was still alive. Value: The one I got in 2017, definitely.Now? Not at all.. At least not the 100 watt heads. Manufacturer Support: Every time I talked to someone at Fender, I got a different story, esp. when they were on backorder. At one point I was told they were discontinued ("They're called 'Limited Edition' for a reason.") before finding out they were shipping new amps out a couple months later. The Wow Factor: They still look cool, especially with red LEDs installed (DIY), but it doesn't make up for the shortcuts taken to rush them out to the public (plus the hiss, the hum, the seemingly microphonic tubes, etc.). Who knows? Maybe I'm just one of the few (well, quite a few..) people that got a sub par head that just slipped out the door unbeknownst to Fender's QC, and if zZounds sent a replacement (50 or 100 watts) that sounded more like the original batch, or perhaps better, this review would be completely different, and I'd go right back to buying damn near everything from zZounds. Overall: I bought my first one in early 2017. As much as I loved it, I didn't realize it's full potential until a couple years later, when I put my MXR EQ in the loop (alongside my Decimator II). Unfortunately, I had to sell it…fast. After saving back up to replace it, followed by a long wait (they were on backorder), I finally got another one.. from the new batch. Just a few problems….The price went up, but the quality went down.. a lot. Different tubes and components, the tolex coming unglued on the inside, loose (and uneven) pots, and a loud hum/"buzz" on all channels, but esp. the red channel, even with an ISP Decimator II in the effects loop, and the gain below 4 (I expect some "hiss" out of any high gain amp, so I've always used a gate in the front of the amp, and in the loop). It was NOT the same amp I once had. They completely rushed making the new ones, and skipped QC. (It probably didn't help that FedEx handled it, considering all the holes, etc. all over the box). I returned it, but not without being punished by zZounds, which sucks because they were my "go-to" site for amps and pedals for years. If you HAVE to get an EVH amp, just get a 50 watt head (or buy a used 100 watt made between 2016-2017) from Reverb.Joey

I've had this amp for about a week and I can already say it's the greatest amp I've ever heard. The green channel gives you some beautiful clean tones if you keep the gain low. The blue channel is great for classic rock and 80s metal. The red channel is insane, it gives you more distortion than you'll ever need! No need for an overdrive or boost. The controls are very simple, there's nothing complicated about this amp. Just plug in and rock!Rick

i shopped these around and this was best price range. perfect for what it does. not big rock concert sound but very good at what its made fore. also gives me a break from son's giant amp sound. hasnt failed yet.keithd2442

This little guy is awesome! You must try it. I've even dropped it about 5 times, camping, friends houses, small jams, everyone gets a kick out of it. It works, overdrive hard rockin, and it has volume control. Cool little/big stack!modmoto

Not only FUN to play through but also, very convenient in many ways. Two examples: 1) When my wife is sleeping, I simply plug in my headphones and she doesn't hear anything. 2) I play it a lot when I'm just lying in bed… etc. etc.ja***777

I had to make myself stop playing this Amp long enuf to write my review. This 30 watt 1 X 12 Celestion V30 Tube Stack simply Rocks my World! Bucket List item for me! Always wanted a Tube Stack with a creamy rich mid – range and a narly distortion channel. Foot switch turns reverb and overdrive on and off. 3 band EQ, 1/4" speaker cable. I love me some pedals and they blend well with this Amp. Quality build. Simply the best Amp my Guitars have played. Jazzmaster , Kramer and Mike Rowan all sound amazing. Arrived quickly in sturdy and well packaged shipping cartons. Guitar World review was spot on. peace, MarnyeMARNYE

Very nice tones from this amp, clean or dirty! I have been using it mic’d with a 609 clone, haven’t had the chance to crank it yet. I use a roadhouse Strat and fine on the dirty channel with the gain at 5 I can get a great, clear cleanish tone, and then hit the Strats preamp and have some nice grit! Not fizzy fuzzy grit, but nice organic breakup that is very pleasing to the ear. I run a TC Plethora in the FX loop and get great results, no jump or drop in volume, just sounds natural. For some extra gain I use a Boss OD200 into the front of the amp, glorious!! Quite surprising that an amp of this build and sound quality is available at this price point but it is and I’m glad I pulled the trigger on it. Looks to be plywood for amp cab and speaker cab, nice touch. All this and a V30 speaker! I don’t know when or if the speaker will “break in” but I’ll be using the amp mic’d most of the time so it may take awhile, and honestly couldn’t imagine it sounding any better! Only had it a few days, and haven’t moved it since I set it up so I can’t speak for how long it will last in the long run, but fingers are crossed.Ronald

Just received my stack on 3/16/20. Packaged great!. Overall build quality is very very good no particle board here all real solid wood cabinet for the head , speaker with a nice ply baffle I think it's 3/4 ". Light weight. Asthetics ,cosmetics tolex and Grill cloth with piping perfect. Reverb is digital no tank or Springs here it is not tube driven. Bright switch works great pedal for Reverb and gain Channel works great extra-long cable to connect the head to the cabinet with power cord great. Clean tones on this amp whether a low or hi channel are amazing . kind of somewhere between vox/ marshall cleans. Definitely Fender sounding w bright switch. Gig Worthy!. Loud amp!. Digital Reverb is okay. You must turn it up to around 4 or 5 to hear it. It's clean channels are where this amp shines . On the gain channel, Ican get some good tones but not super high gain here more in the classic rock 1960- 1970's tone. Great but no super High gain. Kinda on the thinner side, Not very Fat. 3 chinese 12ax7, ( maybe a swap out in this area may give better tone), all 4 el84 Are Eurotube JJ'S!!!! So happy to see this. Celestion V30 spkr cab sounds great, full with depth. Classic rock tone!. Highly recommended..strange looking chinese power tnsfrmr, but Ot looks good. Voiced similiar to monoprice. 15 watt duel el84 model, but not as aggressive. Blows away the Bulgara V22.. Etc. Nice product monoprice!New User

Lightweight well constructed and great tone. Has Vox chime you want it and classic rock crunch. Nice looking head made in Vietnam. I have this thing about Chinese amplifiers but Vietnam we owe them the economic investment after what we did to their country. So much for my soapbox. You can't go wrong with this amp it's a keeper if I lost it I will get another Half power switch is it add a plus for playing and practicing at homegrw453

Great little amp with a wide variety of tones. Has fairly high gain, while retaining a focused tone with out the fizz of some amp's distortion. Also has that wonderful high end Vox chime. Kerrang!Uncle Bill

I play noisy hard rock/punk/hardcore through a '81 LP Custom, '59 Reissue LP STD and '76 Fender Tele Deluxe. I have a cherry '85 JCM800 100w that I've cared for since the early 90's and was looking for a 2 channel in a smaller form factor that was still plenty loud. I originally bought the Soldano Hot Rod 25, and while it sounded great at lower volumes, I found it too compressed with not enough grunt when pushed to very loud volumes. It didn't fill the room the way my JCM800 could. I sent the HR back and picked up this Friedman. It's similar in nature to my JCM800, weighs about 20 pounds less which saves my back dragging it through the city to practice, and it sounds incredible cranked or quiet. Very responsive. Both channels sounds great. CH2 doesn't need it, but I was surprised at how great Ch2 sounds with some of the distortion pedals I have. I've gigged about 6 times with this amp and it really cuts the room. The lifetime warranty is an added bonus. At this price, it should have came with a slip cover.PTH

I can truly say after playing semi-professionally for almost 25 years that this is the best amp I've ever owned. I've had close to 60 amps: everything from the typical big names to the top boutique amps in every price range. Many were killer amps. But there has never been one, until now, that has let me honestly believe my search is over. Here's why: there's a huge difference between how an amp sounds at home or in the music store, and how it sounds, feels and performs on stage. I can get satisfactory, even excellent tones with cheap gear. But those same tones usually get lost in the mix or sound dull and thin in a live situation. In addition, while many high gain tones can sound big and intense and "wow" you at first, they lose a lot of dynamics because they're overly compressed. The Friedman Small Box sits in the mix like no other amp I've used. The mids are PERFECT. Both channels are voiced to cut through. Just put all the knobs at noon and go. There's not a bad sound in this amp. Channel one can get you into serious crunch, or it can have that mid-forward super clean EL34 tone that just punches through. It can get very clean, but the ability to add some gain makes your cleans come alive more. I actually prefer the Small Box clean to the cleans on the other Friedman amps (BE and Jerry Cantrell) that are much more expensive (in fact, price aside, this is hands down my favorite of the Friedmans). Channel two is absolutely amazing. At first I was surprised. It didn't have as much gain as I expected. Don't get me wrong, it's high gain. I just thought it would be more over-the-top. I'm glad it's not, because now I realize that any more gain would kill the dynamics. As stated, the mids are where it's at for this channel. It's ridiculously responsive. For a 1×12 combo, it's got a huge sound. The low end is just plain big, and puts my other combos to shame. Through a 2×12 or 4×12, the tone is just MASSIVE. It really is that in-your-face, hot-rodded Marsh*lly sound that so many of us crave. The Friedman Jerry Cantrell is equally impressive on the dirty channel but in a different way. It has more gain, and sounds meaner, more modern. But I prefer the Small Box dirty channel. It's simple, raw, uncompressed and just BIG. I've also come to the conclusion that a 2-channel amp is perfect for me. I'm using a Fulldrive 3 on the front end, which gives me essentially two additional tones per channel. And I actually LIKE having a shared EQ for both channels. While having separate EQs sounds more flexible in theory, in practice I found on those amps that I'd set the EQs so similarly, that there was really no point in having two sets of tone controls (not too mention I hate having too many knobs). And, if you set the EQs differently, I find that it's hard to get a good balance in volume. I like the idea of clean and dirty having the same base tone, just with a lot more balls and gain on the dirty side. It's a more seamless experience when switching tones, and in a live situation your levels can be more easily matched. The build quality of this amp is outstanding. Just turn a knob or flip a toggle switch, and you can feel the difference between this and cheaper amps. Of course, Friedmans aren't cheap. But if I factor in all the money I've lost buying and reselling lesser amps and pedals, I could've saved a ton of money if I had this amp years ago.Skinvoyager

Amp sounds great a lower volume's, tried with several cabs but landed on a v30 greenback mix in a 2×12. This amp doesn't need to be set with everything on 10, it can be bright or warm meaning tone controls do a lot. The loop works great and is very transparent. Plexi channel is really good for clean stuff(at least for me) and can be goosed with boost or OD. Dirty channel is classic all the way to hard rock. We have a couple of nice amps kicking around and this Smallbox is a keeper, plus got a killer deal from MF. All around I'm super happy with the purchase.Joe

Really happy with this amp. Good clean sound with lots of headroom and great with pedals. Higher gain/crunch channel also very nice with a vintage vibe.Tom B.

Outstanding clean amp, very close to it's bassman origins and certainly not the amp you want if you expect tons of gain from the amp itself. It's plenty loud for anything with the right cab and it takes drive pedals (Vintage LM306 Rat, TS, Fuzz Face, and more) better than many amps I've used. If you're not too taken by the EHX logo, there are ways to make your own SOVTEK logo and have the amp of your dreams for an absolute bargain.Warthog Alien Recording & Sound

Loud, well built and versatile. I run both channels with an ABY pedal and blend different sounds that way. It is a very articulate amp and blows away the clean on my rockerverb.Bri

This thing is fantastic. I was in the market for a practice amp, since I didn't want to lug around my bigger rig to and from practice. This beauty, pushing 100 watts, surpassed the sound quality I was hoping for significantly. The only major downside I can find if that it doesn't have it's own Direct Input, which makes it a little difficult to simulate my main tone. It doesn't respond as warmly to my Low-B as much as I'd like. But realistically for the price paid, I can't complain. The tone is as fantastic as anything you'd hear from ampeg. You get an overkill of volume for full band practice and plenty for smaller gigs. A nice plus is the head makes for a great backup in the event that your main rig fails. If you need a loud portable rig for practice or small venues that pushes a good tone, I'd highly recommend weighing in on this.VinnyVee

Overall: When I got this amp I was surprised at how loud it is. I thought 100w wasn’t going to be enough until I read it is 100w RMS… thus meaning it’s actually a 200w peak amp. I run the amp flat, and get the tones I want from my Fender Jazz Active Deluxe with the 3 band eq built in. It’s excellent for getting 70s clean Ampeg bass tone I was looking for through without it costing me my back or too much money. If you’re looking for a versatile amp with modern tech and old school tones, this is it. I run the amp and a DI for church without the cab, but at home I barely have it under “2” for volume. The aux plug is great but a little muddy for songs that have a wide range. It’s very well built and it has some weight to it. Definitely good for gospel, funk, r&b and rock. I recommend this amp for sureWes

Dont waste your money! Sounds like complete garbage. No effects eddie van halen must have needed some extra cash if he endorsed thisC note

What a cool little amp! I have a lot of fun just jamming in front of the toob during commercials. It sounds great clean or dirty. Make sure you use the tilt legs or you'll pull it off a table or wherever you have it sitting.StClair

I checked this amp out about a week ago. And I loved it. It has a warm and smooth overdrive, I wasn't really impressed by the clean though, I guess it's because I'm used to playing with a bit of chorus. Overall I wish I had the money right then and there.Krankem 666

First off, let me state that i do not use this amp for metal music. Most of the complaints in the reviews are coming from the metalheads who just can't get the sound they want out of this amp. I have played with this amp in bands for about 2 years now and it has never let me down. I use p-90 pickups with a gibson les paul junior running through this amp. The band I use it in is an alternative rock type of band. The tones were always perfect to me. recently though, i replaced this amp with an orange dual terror which was an amazing choice, but for any player on a budget, this amp is a must get. Its a very reliable amp. i'm using it in my current band now, letting my other guitarist play through it. it was honestly one of the best gear purchases in my life. i could not be happier with it. built super solid beautiful The price is a little high, but it sounds as good as it looks.Grant

For a Metla Player. There are some people who claim this amp isn't worth it. WRONG! this amp is worth every penny, and yes it could be cheaper, but if you want a cheap amp, you'll get what you pay for. this is one of the best solid state stacks i have played on. it's very easy to get a good metal sound out of, you just have to tweak it. the same goes for the cleans.Lucky13-mzMhk

I bought this rig back in January and have only used it a hanfull of times. The rest of the time its been in the repair shop or sitting on the shelf.
Has some short in it where it loses volume when it heats up the after giving it a smack on the corner the volume comes back. They were unable to fix it… now the manufacturer is telling me it cant be fixed and it has to be returned for a credit. Ive already paid off the rig and just want a refund. Hopefully the store will be able to help me out. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT. IT SHOULD BE PULLED FROM THE SHELVESThe Supernova Experience

overall I really like this amp. the dirty channel has a good crunch. Not a very tainted sound, which I like a lot. Clean channel is not real chimy like some, but nice and clean. the face plate is also black, unlike the 30 watt which is easier to see. The issue is the channel switching. While some amps are known for a load pop, this is quite the opposite, and I am guessing the pop is what they were trying to avoid. this one actually drops in volume and then comes back up between channels. Deal breaker. I can't use this live if it cuts out. Really wanted to have this kicking around for a second amp. But I will be returning this.brian

First one arrived and the overdrive channel sounded awful. Made arrangements to return it and the process went quick, I had a new one a week after sending the bad one back. The second one turned out as advertised. You can dial in a wide range of tones and has that beautiful tube sound. The reverb is just a tad weak but still ok. Also, effects pedals sound great. It?s an awesome buy.Leo

I had a 50 watt 6L6 guitar head and sold it only to regret it later. I saw this one on sale and I took a chance. Glad I did. Disclaimer: I only use it for a pedal platform, although I have tried the gain channel. It's "ok" (not great) but to use the amp that way you'll really have to work with the both channels to achieve unity volume. As a clean channel pedal platform it's great. Like others have said the reverb is lacking but I usually just leave it on 10:00 for ambience. This amp is LOUD and can easily hang with a large band if needed. As far as reliability, time will tell, but it seems well made IMO.john

You can't go wrong here. If you need more than this, money is probably no object. The Ampeg sound is there, the range of adjustments really lets you get the most out of that Jazz bass. When you crank up the tube dial it really sings. That other guys must have been defective.Blu

I recently completed the British 18W head kit from Tube Depot, and can't say enough good things about it! From start to finish, the kit exceeded my expectations. Ordering, shipping, and customer service were top-notch. No issues with components. The instructions and documentation were amazing, worth their weight in gold. The end result was an amplifier that sounds incredible! I incorporated a few of the suggested options- PPIMV, Tremolo HI/LO sw., Tube/SS Rectifier sw., and choke. The sound is amazing, I'm finding it very difficult turning the amp off- once I start playing through the amp I don't want to stop. I would absolutely recommend Tube Depot for anyone interested in building a guitar amplifier. The clear, well-written instructions really made this an enjoyable project. This was my first amplifier build, and I had no issues thanks to the great documentation.Dave R

I ordered this kit with a mod to use KT 66 power tubes. The changes were easy to make and it sounds fantastic. The classic JTM 45 tone at a manageable volume level with the master volume control. Just to test it out I've used a power soak and the tone is exactly the same using the master volume. A couple of real nice features of the design are the negative feedback switch and the ability to switch between solid state and tube ratification (the tube sounds better to my ears). Great product!Clint

Really impressed with this small amp/cab combo. Truly great, vintage tube-like warmth, punching lows and crisp highs are all accessible. The headphone output is super useful for practice. The 2×10 cabinet this amp is paired with sounds really awesome for home recording, small gigs (50ish people) and if mic'd, can adapt well for larger gigs. Without an extra 12" or 15" paired with it, it just can't handle the lows at a high volume. I do like running it through an SVT 4×10 for larger gigs to save the trouble of carrying around an 80lb SVT head!Bandy Xan

It was Love at first note with this MicroVR SVT! If you are a bass player and need a great practice/small gig amp this is your best bet! You can play any style of Bass with this amp. It's simply the best digital bass amp under 1K and you can take that to the bank just like AMS paying off my payment plan because of this kick ass review!!! Take you bass playing to the next level with this kick ass Micro SVT!Dan H.

I play in a Classic Rock and blues cover band. I was looking for a much smaller am that would be easy to carry, easy to set up and would have the Ampeg sound. This amp fills all of those requirements. It is perfect for those smaller gigs here a full size rig is just too much yet it retains that Ampeg sound. Worth every penny!Ben