May 2023

Guitar Amplifiers: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of Guitar Amp rankings posted by key online experts, as of May 2023.

Summary

Between 10 May 2023 and 11 May 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 106 Guitar Amp endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

80 Guitar Amplifiers were endorsed in total, only 17 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).

As of 11 May 2023, Positive Grid Spark takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed guitar amp with 3 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 3 recommended it as the '#1 guitar amp' this month. It is followed by Orange Crush 20 and Orange Micro Terror , with 4 and 3 expert endorsements respectively.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking guitar amplifiers start at $44.99 (Blackstar FLY 3) and go up to $2695 (Tone King Imperial MK II). Median guitar amp costs $734.02 (PRS MT15).
$44.99
$2695

At a glance - May 2023 Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Guitar Amp
Ledger Note
BestReviews
Loud Beats
Music Critic
BestCovery
Music Radar
GuitarPlayer
Gearank
Consordini
Guitar World
1
- $295
Positive Grid Spark
-
-
-
-
-
1
1
-
-
2
2
- $149
Orange Crush 20
2
3
3
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
3
- $159
Orange Micro Terror
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
1
4
+1 Check price
Marshall MG50CFX
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
-1 $160
Fender Mustang LT25
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
1
-
6
- $598
Vox AC15
-
4
7
-
-
10
-
-
-
5
7
- Check price
Mesa Boogie Mark V
-
-
9
-
2
17
-
-
-
13
8
- $452
Marshall AS50D
-
-
-
3
6
-
-
-
6
-
9
- $1750
Marshall SC20H
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
10
10
- $380
Boss Katana 100 MKII
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
13
- Check price
Peavey Vypyr VIP 2
3
-
-
7
-
-
-
-
-
-
14
- $750
Fender Blues Junior IV
-
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
4
15
- $858
Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 20 Deluxe
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
7
16
- $900
Blackstar HT Club 40 MKII
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
17
- Check price
Marshall DSL100H
5
-
-
-
12
-
-
-
-
-
18
- $2600
EVH 5150III 50W EL34
-
-
5
-
-
13
-
-
-
-
19
- $1449
Victory V40 The Duchess
-
-
-
-
-
-
12
-
-
11

Sorted by price:

Position in ranking Price Guitar Amp
#2 $149 Orange Crush 20 [buy] [more info]
#3 $159 Orange Micro Terror [buy] [more info]
#5 $159.99 Fender Mustang LT25 [buy] [more info]
#1 $295 Positive Grid Spark [buy] [more info]
#10 $379.99 Boss Katana 100 MKII [buy] [more info]
#8 $452.49 Marshall AS50D [buy] [more info]
#6 $598.49 Vox AC15 [buy] [more info]
#14 $749.99 Fender Blues Junior IV [buy] [more info]
#15 $858 Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 20 Deluxe [buy] [more info]
#16 $899.99 Blackstar HT Club 40 MKII [buy] [more info]
#19 $1449 Victory V40 The Duchess [buy] [more info]
#9 $1749.99 Marshall SC20H [buy] [more info]
#18 $2599.99 EVH 5150III 50W EL34 [buy] [more info]

We ranked Positive Grid Spark #1 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked Positive Grid Spark as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Music Radar

The ultimate smart guitar amplifier

Pros
Packed with features
Comprehensive range of tones
Smart Jam and Auto Chord features are invaluable for practice and learning

Cons
Waiting times on orders can vary

Go to ranking

GuitarPlayer

Is this the smartest amp on the planet?

Pros
Every sound you could ever want
Auto Chord/ Smart Jam features
Affordable

Cons
Not for those who dislike apps

Go to ranking

Guitar World

The smartest amp on the market

Pros
Impressive practice features
Bluetooth compatible for streaming music
Awesome array of guitar tones

Cons
Not designed for gigging

Go to ranking

We ranked Orange Crush 20 #2 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Ledger Note

Best Budget Pick

Pros
Great value for money
Easy to use and offers great tones
Good for beginners

Cons
Too simple for most players

Go to ranking

BestReviews

Distortion option

Pros
Geat distortion with this 20-watt amp and four stage preamp.
Has clean and dirty modes, a channel foot switch, and aux ports for backing tracks and practice headphones.
8-inch speaker produces rich, harmonic overtones.

Cons
No onboard effects.
More gear may be needed to flesh out your tone.

Go to ranking

Loud Beats

Pros
Simple and neat design.
Convenient to use.
Affordable.

Cons
Low output power restricts it for home use only.
No option to connect to an external cabinet.

Go to ranking

Gearank

Best Guitar Combo Amp Under $200

Pros
Simple operation
Great sounding overdriven tone
Good build quality
Distinct Orange aesthetics

Cons
Limited functionality
Clean tone is not as good as overdriven
No Reverb

Go to ranking

Methodology: combine opinions of key experts

Identify Experts

We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Guitar Amplifiers.

Capture Rankings

For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Guitar Amplifiers, it must be updated in the last 9 months.

Aggregate Rankings

We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking

Experts chosen for May 2023 ranking

We ranked Orange Micro Terror #3 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Orange Micro Terror as #1.
Critic endorsements:
BestReviews

Best bang for the buck

Pros
Compact and very affordable.
Offers 20 watts of power.
Great for young players getting introduced to music or those who share walls with others and can't be loud while shredding.

Cons
Entry-level amp with relatively modest volume, so most will outgrow it.

Go to ranking

Gearank

Best Guitar Amp Head Under $200

Pros
Great sounding tube overdrive tone
Lively and responsive
Can go loud and still sound good

Cons
Limited functionality
No reverb
Not for those who want great sounding

Go to ranking

Guitar World

The tiniest of tiny terrors

Pros
Compact size great for gigging
Awesome value for money
Great tone on a budget

Cons
Not a full tube amp
Could be too quiet for some

Go to ranking

We ranked Marshall MG50CFX #4 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked Marshall MG50CFX as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Ledger Note

Best of the best

Pros
Broad and various range of effects
Allows to store your own sounds

Cons
Does not have a direct out

Go to ranking

Loud Beats

Pros
Neat layout.
Affordable.
Sound quality is great.

Cons
The sound produced by clean channel is somewhat bland and weak.

Go to ranking

We ranked Fender Mustang LT25 #5 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked Fender Mustang LT25 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Gearank

Best Guitar Combo Amps Under $200

Pros
Versatile amp modeling and effects
Good sounding Fender clean tone
USB recording and software control
Sleek modern aesthetic

Cons
Requires more tweaking to get good tone

Go to ranking

Consordini

Best Versatile Amp

Pros
Exceptional versatility – there are dozens of preset sounds you can use to shape your tone anyway you see fit.
Great sound quality – even though it’s not particularly loud, the tone coming from this amp is pretty strong and robust.
Built like a brick wall – Fender’s Mustangs pack incredibly sturdy cabinets, and LT 25 is not an exception.

Cons
Only 25 watts – the only problem with this amp is that it’s not suitable for medium sized and bigger venue gigs.

Go to ranking

We ranked Vox AC15 #6 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
BestReviews

Vintage Design

Pros
Tremolo and reverb effects are popular features.
Clean and crisp tone.
Reputable brand known for its classy cabinet designs.
Great for rock, pop, and blues genres.

Cons
15 watts isn’t all that powerful.

Go to ranking

Loud Beats

Pros
Balanced harmonics and natural sound.
Volume is usable.
Responsive.
Value for money.

Cons
Heavy to carry around.
Channels are not foot-switchable.

Go to ranking

Music Radar

A classic British combo in 2x12 format

Pros
Usable volume
Classic tones
Responds well to pedals

Cons
May not be enough headroom for totally clean players

Go to ranking

Guitar World

The best guitar amp for a vintage vibe with class to spare

Pros
Nails that iconic Vox tone
You’ll love the tremolo!
Excellent portability

Cons
Not one for the high gain fans

Go to ranking

We ranked Mesa Boogie Mark V #7 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Loud Beats

Pros
Excellent sound quality.
Wide range of tone and sound effects.
In-built speaker emulation.

Cons
It is expensive.

Go to ranking

BestCovery

Runner Up

Go to ranking

Music Radar

A feature-loaded low-wattage head with built-in speaker emulation

Pros
One of the best small amps on the market
12 possible sounds
Built-in CabClone speaker emulation

Cons
It can be difficult to navigate

Go to ranking

Guitar World

The best guitar amp for versatile cleans, and devastating gains

Pros
Amazing and versatile tones
Feature-packed control set
Graphic EQ for extra tone sculpting

Cons
Could be overkill for some players

Go to ranking

We ranked Marshall AS50D #8 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Music Critic

Great Value

Pros
Standard Marshall quality
RCA inputs
Balanced sound
Good for small venues

Go to ranking

BestCovery

Best Acount Guitar Combo Amplifier

Go to ranking

Consordini

Best Amp for Acoustic Gigs

Pros
Exceptional sound quality – as soon as you plug into the AS50D you will recognize that it’s a Marshall.
Two channels – this amp can power up your guitar and your microphone at the same time.
Decently strong – the AS50D packs 50 watts of power.

Cons
Not so well suited for heavier types of music – the whole idea of the Acoustic Singer is for it to be used at acoustic shows primarily.

Go to ranking

We ranked Marshall SC20H #9 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Marshall SC20H as #1.
Critic endorsements:
BestReviews

Best of the best

Pros
Crisp and clear classic tone.
Durable construction.
Ability to create effect loops as well as direct-to-record functions.
Can be combined with other Marshall amps.

Cons
Lacks some of the bells and whistles of premium Marshall amp models.

Go to ranking

Guitar World

This downsized JCM800 is ground zero for the modern Marshall sound

Pros
Classic Marshall overdrive sound
Handy power attenuation options
Excellent portability for gigging

Cons
Some players may want more power

Go to ranking

We ranked Boss Katana 100 MKII #10 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Loud Beats

Pros
Compact & sturdy design.
Excellent in-built sound effects.
Affordable.
Power splitting.

Cons
Does not include a footswitch.
Some may not appreciate the simpler looks.

Go to ranking

Guitar World

Could be all you ever need from a guitar amp

Pros
Huge range of sounds
Great value
Lots of high-quality effects

Cons
Needs the software for deep editing

Go to ranking

We ranked Peavey Vypyr VIP 2 #11 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Ledger Note

Best Bang for the Buck

Pros
Affordable price
Lightweight design
Easy to use

Cons
Feedback can be a problem at high gain or volume

Go to ranking

Music Critic

Pros
Variable sizes
Exceptional modeling tones
Bass capabilities
Modern design
Lightweight

Go to ranking

We ranked Fender Blues Junior IV #12 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Music Radar

The best low-price combo for all-valve blues tones

Pros
Ace clean tones and hot sizzling drive
Fat switch thickens up single-coils nicely

Cons
Lacks clean headroom when playing with a drummer

Go to ranking

Guitar World

This amp may be small, but it’s mean too

Pros
Classic tone
Compact

Cons
Not very versatile
Not enough headroom for some players

Go to ranking

We ranked Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 20 Deluxe #13 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
GuitarPlayer

When tone meets technology

Pros
Built-in Red Box AE DI
Lead boost switch
Solid build quality

Cons
20 Watts may not be enough for some players

Go to ranking

Guitar World

Technical wizardry meets German engineering

Pros
Phenomenal lead channel
Compact size great for gigging
Built-in boost

Cons
No built-in effects

Go to ranking

We ranked Blackstar HT Club 40 MKII #14 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Loud Beats

Pros
Build quality is great.
Versatile and responsive.
Value for money.

Cons
Quite heavy.

Go to ranking

Guitar World

Likeable everyman amp rebooted

Pros
Versatile tonally
Great-sounding reverb
Superb build quality

Cons
Some may prefer a simpler amp

Go to ranking

We ranked Marshall DSL100H #15 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Ledger Note

Best Neutral Amp With the Classic Marshall Tube Sound

Pros
Provides versatile tones
Has adjustable power that allows one to use it anywhere

Cons
Reverb is a bit different

Go to ranking

BestCovery

Best Medium Range Guitar Amp Head

Go to ranking

We ranked EVH 5150III 50W EL34 #16 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Loud Beats

Pros
Sound quality is outstanding.
Tube amplifiers provide natural tones.
Flexible gain controls are effective.

Cons
This guitar amplifier is a little expensive.

Go to ranking

Music Radar

The best valve head for hard rock and metal

Pros
A compact powerhouse with gain to burn
Exceptional harmonic and dynamic detail
MIDI switchable channels and effects loop

Cons
Can be way too loud for domestic use

Go to ranking

We ranked Victory V40 The Duchess #17 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Guitar Amplifiers” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
GuitarPlayer

A small victory for your guitar tone

Pros
Surprisingly versatile for a one channel amp
Fantastic value for money

Cons
Not for high-gain players

Go to ranking

Guitar World

Sometimes, one channel is all you need

Pros
Clean tones to die for
Takes pedals exceptionally well
Super portable lunchbox head

Cons
Voicings are not footswitchable

Go to ranking