Are you looking for the best beginner guitar amp? Are you a beginner guitarist wondering which amp to buy?
We can help by narrowing down the choice by selecting a few amps that are not only suitable for beginners but sound great and are not too heavy on the pocket!
Without further ado, let’s get to it.
What To Consider When Buying A Guitar Amp
Before discussing the best beginner guitar amps, we must mention the things you should consider before spending money on an amplifier. First, when it comes to guitars and equipment, the more you are willing to pay, the better gear you can buy.
If you are on a small budget, you must have realistic goals and know what to expect from the amplifier.
£/$200 is a sweet spot and a decent budget for a beginner’s amp. If you are transitioning to a louder sound, we are confident that you can find an amp that will suit your style of playing and your favourite genre.
But, to do that, you must keep a close eye on a couple of things. For example, the size and power ratings, features, sound quality, and the amp’s usage.
Following our guide, you can buy an amp that can produce a warm and bluesy John Mayer-ish sound and raise the gain knob when you need Metallica to crank up your day. Also, you can choose an amp that fits into your budget guidelines.
Size and Power Rating
An amplifier is an essential piece of equipment if you enjoy playing guitar. Therefore, the size and the power are very important, especially for a beginner. You don’t need that much power, just a clean sound.
Also, a larger amp would be hard to carry around; you need an amp that you can easily bring to a guitar lesson or a friend’s house for a fun jamming session.
The speaker size and the amp’s power determine the amp’s volume level. Something that you should always consider when buying an amp for a beginner is that those kinds of amps are limited to 20 watts. There are some exceptions to the rule that come with 40 watts. For instance, Fender manufactures small amps with a lot of power.
Features of the Amp
The features that the amp offers are very important for a beginner. The amplifier must be in that sweet spot, allowing the players to change their sound and play around with the tone without overwhelming them with too many options.
When shopping for an amp, you should be looking for the following features:
- Equalization controls
- Distortion or gain
- Reverb
- Digital effects
- Multiple channels
Sound Quality
The quality of the amp’s sound is one of the most important things to consider before buying an amplifier. Regardless of the guitar playing skills and the budget, nobody should settle down and buy the first amp they see. Don’t be tricked by the size; the smaller amplifiers designed with beginners in mind can completely change the mood in the house with their colorful sound.
If the amp is thin, playing on a higher volume level means that it will uncontrollably vibrate and affect the tone with distortion. Another thing that relates to the sound quality and the design is the back side of the amp. If the amplifier is open at the back and has no wall, it will produce far better bass.
Uses of the Amp
You need a versatile amp. Some players like to buy a beginner amp that will be a stepping stone until they can enhance their skills. Others need a guitar amp that will be a great addition to their room and always have a special place in their heart.
Versatility is always key when buying an amp, and you must find the best value for money regardless of how often you use the amp.
There are three types of amplifiers; tube amps, modeling amplifiers, and practice amps. The debate about which is better and more suitable for beginners will never be settled in the world of guitar equipment. There are no rules about which amp you should buy as long as it fits your personal needs.
For beginners, a solid-state amp might be a perfect choice.
Not that tube or a modeling amp are not great; they need to be cranked up to reach their optimal sound. Plus, they are much heavier. Cranking up the volume on an amp is not the best way to do it when you are still learning the ropes.
Imagine learning the intro to Wasted Years by Iron Maiden on a high volume; yikes!
Types Of Guitar Amp
Even as a beginner, your choice of what type of amp to buy is not limited. The music world will always be a step ahead no matter what you buy, which is why a musician’s job is never finished. Today’s market has many solid-state amps that are based on tube tones.
Tube Amp
The tube amps are a principle of amp technology to many musicians and producers because they offer the best tone. They are a bit heavier and are named after the vacuum tubes inside them that drive the amp.
Before and after the invention of transistors, some guitarists always preferred a tube amp because of the warm tones that it could produce.
These amps are the oldest types, and because of their old-school technology, the sound produced tends to be warm tones and great-sounding distortion.
Digital Modelling Amp
The popularity of digital audio processing has skyrocketed over the last few years, and professional musicians have started to take modelling amps very seriously. The amps don’t fall behind any other amp types and can be used professionally.
They are also a great choice for beginners on a budget trying to get their hands on many different sounds.
These amps mimic and combine the tones of the tube and solid-state amplifiers. The digital modelling amps offer multiple sounds and allow players to switch between various amp models.
Practice Amp
Practice amps or solid-state amps use transistors to produce their sound. They are durable and sturdy, create a clean tone, and come affordable.
Despite providing very clean tones for a low price, the solid-state amps are practical and much lighter than tube amps.
Even though these amps don’t have the most inspiring tone, that can be a good thing because, as a beginner, you can discover your sound, let the inspiration come from within you, and if you need an extra accessory, later on, you can plug in a pedal.
Best Guitar Amps Under 200
Because guitar amps come with different features and sizes, the market choices can be quite overwhelming. But don’t worry; we picked eleven amps at the most affordable prices on the market. The amplifiers we will review have great sound quality and all cost under 200.
Orange Crush 20RT
Amp With the Best Sound for a Great Price
TedScore: 9.5/10
Designed For: Beginners and intermediate players who like rock and metal
Comes With: Twin channel, built-in reverb, auxiliary output, and a headphone output
Features: 20 Watts of power, lightweight, and a built-in reverb effect
Pros
- Durable
- Easy to carry around
- Clean, warm tones
Cons
- Not loud enough for a live performance
Blackstar ID: Core 10 V3
Awesome Controls and Blackstar Speakers
TedScore: 9/10
Designed For: Guitar students and professionals
Comes With: Voice selector, emulated output, MP3 line input, a headphone jack, and a USB connection
Features: Versatile and great-sounding amp with a voice selector, volume, gain, equalizer, and effect level
Pros
- Multiple controllers
- Great price
- Voice selector with 6 voices
Cons
- Low-quality sound on gain
Fender Mustang LT-25
Lightweight and Great Sounding Amplifier
TedScore: 7.5/10
Designed For: Beginners
Comes With: 25 effects, a one-inch custom-made Fender speaker, and a USB input
Features: All-black compact design and offers 25 built-in effects like delay and reverb
Pros
- Reputable company
- Loud
- 25 Watts
- Great for band rehearsal
Cons
- No middle knob on the control panel
Vox Valvetronix VT20X
Amplifier That Offers the Best Value for Money
TedScore: 10/10
Designed For: All guitar players with different skill levels
Comes With: Custom Vox 8 speaker, headphone output, and a footswitch input
Features: Multiple controls; 20 Watts; Tone Room editor
Pros
- Best value for money
- Great for any type of music genre
- Many controls
- Suitable for every guitarist
Cons
- A bit heavy
Fender Frontman 10G
Great Option for Guitar Players on a Budget
TedScore: 8/10
Designed For: Beginners and guitar players looking for the cheapest option
Comes With: Basic controls, three inputs, and a 40-ohm speaker
Features: Power of 10 Watts and offers the basic controls like gain, treble, volume control, and bass
Pros
- A low price point and one of the best beginner guitar amps
- Loud
- The distortion sound is pretty clean
Cons
- No effects
Marshall MG15GR
The Best Amplifier for a Clean Tone Without Flashy Effects
TedScore: 8.5/10
Designed For: Guitarists who are not interested in sound effects
Comes With: Guitar, auxiliary, and headphone input
Features: 15 Watts; 3-Band EQ; 2-Channel Setup
Pros
- Stylish design
- Clean sound
- Lightweight
Cons
- No high-tech features
Peavey Transtube Rage 258
Astonishing Tones for a Great Price
TedScore: 7/10
Designed For: Intermediate players, band rehearsal, and home practice
Comes With: Blue Marvel Speaker and control for clean volume, pre-gain, post-gain, and voice switching
Features: AUX IO input jack; Transtube emulation circuitry
Pros
- Extra lightweight
- High-quality sound
- Natural and vintage voice
- Headphone input
Cons
- Some players have experienced a buzz on a higher volume
Orange Micro Dark Amp Head
A Great Amplifiers for Aspiring Producers
TedScore: 9/10
Designed For: Beginners and professionals for studio recordings or live performances
Comes With: Headphone and speaker output
Features: Three controls; hybrid circuitry; robust metal construction
Pros
- Impressive sound quality
- Great for rock and roll
- 20 Watts
- Great for a studio setting
Cons
- No auxiliary input
Line 6 Spider V 20 MKII
Affordable Amplifier With Over 100 Effect Models
TedScore: 7.5/10
Designed For: Acoustic, electric, and bass players
Comes With: All the necessary inputs, and more than 100 effects
Features: Classic design; a lot of power; various sound effects; modern technology
Pros
- More than 200 preload presets
- Wireless remote controls
- USB port
- 20 Watts of power
Cons
- The sound quality is not the same in all presets
Fender Acoustasonic 40
Versatile, Compact and Affordable Amplifier
TedScore: 9/10
Designed For: Acoustic guitar players looking to boost their sound
Comes With: Two XLR and auxiliary inputs, headphone output, volume and tone control
Features: “Whizzer cones”; 3-band EQ; chrome hardware
Pros
- A reasonable price
- Powerful
- 40 Watts of power – enough power for anyone
- Clean tone options
- Separate headphone jack, volume and tone controls
Cons
- Heavy for carrying around
Bugera V5 Infinium
Practical and Portable Amplifier From a Reputable Company
TedScore: 9.5/10
Designed For: Practicing at home and studio performances
Comes With: Basic features including gain control; headphones and speaker output
Features: High definition reverb effects; Custom-Engineered 8″ Turbosound Speaker; Power Attenuator
Pros
- Extremely Portable
- Trustworthy company
- Amazingly dark tones
- Outstanding sound clarity
Cons
- Heavier tones are limited
Best Guitar Amp Under 200 For A Beginner
We recommend the Orange Crush 20RT amplifier for a beginner on a budget. It’s amazing how this amp finds the sweet spot for basically everything.
On the Orange Crush 20RT, you have options for the sound but not too many to overwhelm you. The amp is light and easy to carry around.
The natural sound of the Orange amps is more leaned toward overdrive, which is what each beginner wants. On the Orange Crush 20RT, you can play rock, blues, or metal.
Best Value For Money Amp Under 200
The Vox Valvetronix VT20X is an amplifier that excited the expectations of every musician. The amplifier has many effects like chorus, flanger, phaser, delay, reverb, and tremolo.
The VT20x is a hybrid amp that mixes a tube’s sound and solid-state amplifiers. It’s a dream come true for every guitarist. The amp weighs about 16 lbs and comes at a fantastic place.
The Vox Valvetronix mixes all the best elements of a tube amp and a solid-state amp and offers great value for money.
Best Desktop Guitar Amp Under 200
Our pick for the best desktop guitar amp when you are on a budget is the Peavy Transtube Rage 258. The amp has a guitar input and an additional aux for other electronic devices.
Just like the name says, this amp has a Transtube emulator. This invention is a product of the latest technology and allows players to access the tones in the amp through the computer, smartphone, or other devices.
There are three choices, vintage, stack, and modern. The amp is 25 watts and allows you to choose a digital sound that fits your playing style.
Best Tube Guitar Amp Under 200
The best tube amp when you are on a budget is Fender Mustang LT-25. The amp has a black design and is small, lightweight, and affordable. With the Mustang LT-25, you can play your favorite songs at home. Even though the amp does not offer a lot of features, it still offers a one-of-a-kind experience.
Most Versatile Guitar Amp Under 200
The best beginner guitar amps have to offer versatility. However, some reliable companies like to stick to their ideology and create a beginner amp that needs additional gear for sound effects. Regarding versatility, we recommend the Line 6 Spider V 20 MKII amplifier.
The amp has a power of 20 watts and offers more than 100 effects to complement your playing. Line 6 Spider additionally has more than 200 preloaded presets. With a button click, you can make your tone like your favorite guitarist.
Also, for 20 watts, the amp is really quite loud, and if you crank the volume knob to the max, your neighbors will give you a rough time.
Amp Accessories
If you are a beginner going through our reviews to find a perfect amp for your budget, you probably don’t need any other accessories. However, every guitar enthusiast, after a while, develops a pedal addiction. If you’re looking for information on guitar pedals, then take a look at our Cheap Guitar Pedals article. But before doing that, you can enhance the quality of a cheap amp with many features.
Some amps produce a natural bass, while others use a spring reverb. To upgrade your amp, you must purchase one that can switch channels. That way, you can complement your playing style.
You can also plug in a foot switch that will allow you to change the channels remotely.
Summary – best beginner guitar amp
We hope your quest for the best beginner guitar amps has been fulfilled! Guitar amplifiers under 200 designed for beginners can also be great for both home practice and live performance. As a beginner, you need to find an amplifier that you enjoy playing on, looks nice, is easy to carry to a friend’s house, and gives you a nice and crispy tone.
Good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions
What amp should a beginner get?
It is simple; a beginner should purchase a versatile amp with three basic knobs for volume, gain, and tone. It’s lightweight and comes at an affordable price. You can check our reviews on the best guitar amplifiers and find the most suitable amp for you.
What guitar amp should I start on?
There is no right or wrong answer to choosing from the best beginner guitar amps. You should start on an amp that is the most comfortable for you and complements your playing. If you like rock n roll and blues, you can purchase the Orange Crush 20RT, giving you the right amount of gain to enjoy every lick. Other beginner amps on our list include a choice of fantastic combo amps, a great practice amp, and our favourite guitar amp for beginners.
What is a good amp for a beginner electric guitar?
If you are new to the world of electric guitars and need an amp that can boost your sound, you need to find an amplifier without too many effects and choices.
The Vox Valvetronix or the Marshall MG 15R would be an excellent choice because these amps will allow you to find your sound without sugarcoating the tone with delay or other effects.
How much should a beginner amp cost?
The best beginner guitar amps cost between 50 and 200. The amplifiers that are manufactured by less-known brands and have a low wattage are the ones that usually go under 100. Amps from Fender, Marshall, Orange, and Bugera, which have between 15 and 30 watts of power, cost between £/$150 and £/$200.
