2023 was a special year for guitar amplifiers, with plenty of new and innovative releases whetting the appetites of guitarists worldwide.
Just in time for the holiday season, we've compiled a top 10 list of some of our favourite amplifiers! - and thrown in a few best-sellers for good measure!
As Christmas draws closer, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to buying presents - whether you're shopping for someone close or looking to treat yourself!
To help guide you, we have compiled our top 10 guitar amps list so that you can easily find the perfect new amp to plug into on Christmas day. We’ve ensured that there’s a lot of diversity, regarding not only price but also the types of tones that these contenders can offer.
Push your guitar playing to the next level with Positive Grid`s amplifiers, software and apps. With Positive Grid, you are able to choose the exact tone you want with its innovative software, where you choose your settings, browse other user`s tones, and save your own pre-sets.
The GP-200 is Valeton's flagship amplifier and effects processor — "born for the stage", in their own words. Designed to serve as a sonic centrepiece for the serious musician, the GP-200 offers incredible versatility at a very competitive price-point — packed with more than 140 amp/cab sounds and 240+ effects that allow you to craft practically guitar sound imaginable!
With 256 slots for patches, support for 20 user cab IRs, an intuitive colour display, a built-in looper and an exceptionally-smooth expression pedal too — the Valeton GP-200 is a grab-and-go powerhouse that puts zero limits on your creativity.
BOSS has many different amplifiers, which are suited to many different needs. Take the BOSS Waza-Air Wireless Headphones for example, these are designed to plug straight into your guitar or bass. With an included wireless adapter, plug in and connect to your phone via the Tone Studio app and access an endless selection of pro-grade guitar tones and effects. This means they are neighbour friendly, and it means that you can play endlessly without interruption!
The BOSS Katana Air EX Wireless Guitar Amplifier is a wireless desktop amplifier armed with a collection of Boss Katana tones. The amplifier comes with twin five-inch speakers, designed to fill the room with quality sound, and with 35 watts max power, this everyday practice companion dishes rich, resonant tones that rival amps much larger in size.
Headphone Amplifiers are a clever amplifier solution if you are looking for something that is small, compact, and portable! If you’re the sort of player who wants to get some practice in without disturbing anyone, headphone amplifiers such as the Nux MP-3, BOSS Waza-Air or the Fender Mustang Micro are great solutions. Just plug it into your guitar and connect to your headphones by Bluetooth or the headphone socket and enjoy a range of great tones.
Victory are known for their stunning valve amplifiers made right here in Britain.
The IRONHEART FOUNDRY series has taken the sheer power and dynamism of Laney`s IRONHEART tube amps and smelted and forged their characteristics to deliver monstrous power and incredible versatility in an ultra-compact form. The Laney Foundry amplifiers are affordable, compact, and reliable.
The Line 6 POD Go is your all-in-one amp and effects solution. It’s compact, lightweight, and easy to use. With pro-grade effects, amps and cab models derived from the renowned Helix, this can be your stand-alone rig or a cog in a larger setup. With the POD Go you can run straight into your DAW or connect to your amp with the 4-cable method.
Line 6’s best-selling HX Stomp got the super-sized treatment in 2021! Packing in the same 300+ amp, cab and effect sounds found in the standard HX Stomp — all derived from the groundbreaking Helix series processor — the XL is essentially an expanded version of the original HX Stomp, boasting 8 capacitative-touch footswitches rather than just 3.
The HeadRush Guitar FX Amp Modelers has everything you need in one place for the ultimate guitar playing experience, while being simple to use and navigate. The Headrush Core is also an amplier modeller, and can capture the sounds of your favourite amplifiers and pedals using its "Smart Cloning" technology.
The MG Series has been part of Marshall’s lineup for years. In fact, they’ve become some of the best-selling solid-state amplifiers ever made! A popular choice with beginners for their affordability, Marshall’s MG amplifiers provide iconic “black & gold” sounds but without traditional valve power. Adhering to a transistor-driven design, Marshall MG amps are suitable for bedroom levels but still have enough punch and volume for live scenarios - particularly the bigger ones.
Speaking of which, there’s a huge amount of choice in the MG lineup when it comes to size and features. Ranging from highly-portable 10-watt and 15-watt combos all the way up to 100-watt tone machines, the MG range caters for all price-points and playing needs. Some of those higher up in the range can be worth the extra money though, with more channels, built-in effects, and additional tone-shaping controls. But all models feature thoughtful headphones outputs for silent practice, as well as auxiliary inputs that enable you to jam along to your favourite tracks from a connected phone or MP3 player!
