List of Top Guitar Amps Under $2000 (with price guides)

Looking for guitar amps under $2000?

This is a list of the best and most popular amps, all with that same price range in common. Note that we've set a floor price of $1500, giving you amps within the range of $1500 to $2000.

Also note that this is not a ranking. Instead, this is a list with comparison tools and updated pricing tools to help you figure out which amp is right for you. At the same time, we haven't put any amps in this list that we wouldn't recommend, based on personal experience, manufacturer reputation and a deep familiarity with the musical instrument market.

Use the compare buttons for more details, and checkout the pricing tools below.

Table of Guitar Amps Under $2000

Note that any of the recommendations in this list would apply to both the head and combo versions of each individual amp. In most cases, the same would go for variations in wattage.

Also keep in mind that while pricing is updated via the tools below the table, it's subject to change and may go over $2000 (or below $1500) at some point.

Pricing Tools

In this section we've put together some pricing tools for the amps in this list. As we mentioned, amps in a particular price range are always subject to change, given a variety of variables and the overall market climate. While we wouldn't expect them to deviate quickly, you can use the prices in this section - which are updated in real time - to check the current retail.

Marshall SV20H Price Tools

We have to separate Sweetwater pricing from other vendors because of how our tools are setup, so here's the non-Sweetwater vendors first:

Additional Vendors

Sweetwater

And the current Sweetwater pricing:

Price Alert based on Sweetwater Retail

Price History based on Sweetwater Retail

Current Reverb Pricing for Marshall SV20H

Browse more: Marshall SV20 on Reverb

Kemper Profiler Rack Amp Head

There are several versions of the Kemper Profiler, but we've gone with the rack version, just because it's the most widely used. Our recommendation would apply to other variations of the Profiler as well.

Additional Vendors

Sweetwater

Price Alert based on Sweetwater Retail

Price History based on Sweetwater Retail

Current Reverb Pricing for Kemper Profiler

Browse more: Kemper Profiler on Reverb

Mesa Boogie Mark V 25

There are combo and head versions of this amp, and multiple wattage variations, but we're a big fan of them all. The head 25-watt version is the one that falls into our price range.

Full review: Mesa Boogie Mark V 25

Note that wattage is what will most dramatically change the price in this particular series. We'd consider 25 watts to be comfortable happy medium. It's definitely our favorite from this list.

Additional Vendors

Sweetwater

Price Alert

Price History

Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier

This is the smallest version of the Rectifier series, but brings the same tone and quality as the higher-end options. Again, we see significant differences in price based primarily on size and wattage. While this doesn't really make sense to me, it's definitely true, and you can save a lot of money by simply going with a smaller amp.

Additional Vendors

Sweetwater

Price Alert

Price History

Current Reverb Pricing for the Mesa Mini Rectifier

Browse more: Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier on Reverb

Fender '68 Custom Twin Reverb

The Fender tube amp series (multiple series) have never been particularly cheap. But they're popular nonetheless and sound great if you're looking for a more subtle and bluesy tone.

Additional Vendors

Sweetwater

Price Alert

Price History

Current Reverb Pricing

Browse more: Fender '68 Custom Twin Reverb

Mesa Boogie Recto-Verb 25

Similar to the Mark V, this Recto-Verb is a scaled down version of a larger amp, at only 25 watts which - for the time being - keeps it below $2000 in most markets. Note that the head version is significantly cheaper than the combo version.

Additional Vendors

Sweetwater

Price Alert

Price History

Current Reverb Pricing

Browse more: Mesa Boogie Recto-Verb 25

Fender Super Sonic 22

Though similar in style to the '68 Custom, the Super Sonic 22 is a bit cheaper with a heavier and deeper tone profile.

Additional Vendors

Sweetwater

Price Alert

Price History

Current Reverb Pricing

Browse more: Fender Super Sonic 22

Orange AD30

Orange tube amps are typically a nice balance of modern and bluesy tones. The AD30 is one of our favorites in this lineup, and sits right in the middle of our price range.

Additional Vendors

Sweetwater

Price Alert

Price History

Current Reverb Pricing for the Orange AD30H

Browse more: Orange AD30H

Peavey Invective

The Peavey Invective is one of the few amp heads that gets you tube power and high wattage in this price range, though it is right at the top of our price range at the time of publishing this page. If you need volume, perhaps for an outdoor venue, we'd say this is your best bet.

Additional Vendors

Sweetwater

Price Alert

Price History

Are these considered "high-end" amplifiers?

In most cases, yes.

Once you get above the $1500 threshold, you're more firmly into what we'd consider high-value or top-tier amplifiers. Especially with brands like Mesa Boogie and Marshall.

And you'll usually find higher wattage versions of each amp that are in the $2000-$3000 range, which are often what the professionals go with.

As we mentioned before, price will come down with wattage, allowing you to get a smaller amp yet with the same features and tone quality as what the pros use.

Which brand is best in this price range?

If you can afford to spend between $1500 and $2000, I'd almost always recommend going with something from Mesa Boogie. 

Those amps are just absolute monsters and one of the few tube amp brands that I think really nail a modern guitar tone. It's that smoothness with some added aggression in the gain channel, like a well-oiled chainsaw.

But it should also be clear - in this price range, there aren't really any bad options.

Buy confidently.

Which features in this price range matter most?

Try to make sure the following list is checked:

• Multiple channels (at least two)
• Tube-powered at the preamp and power amp levels
• Solid brand reputation
• Full three or four band EQ (reverb and presence are a bonus)
• Strong gain channel

Tube powered and multiple channels are the main deal breakers.

How often do these prices change?

The pricing for each amp will definitely change, both in the new and used markets. Though it's worth noting that it has historically been a slow change, where not all brands tend to follow the same trajectory.

For example, we've noticed Fender is much quicker to raise their prices than other brands, while more boutique manufacturers - like Diezel and Mesa Boogie - tend to hold their ground for longer.

But as I've already pointed out, every price listing on this page is updated in real time. You can refer back to see if anything has changed, and the price history tool (the one with the graph) will reflect this change - given enough time - so you can see whether it's trending up or down.

Conclusion

The $1500 to $2000 price range really is a sweet spot when it comes to guitar amps. You get those lower wattages and smaller sizes that save you money, yet with the quality of high-end tube amps that the pros use.

If you have questions about the amps we've listed or the pricing tools, feel free to drop a line in the comments section below.

I'll answer there as quickly as possible and hopefully say something useful (not a guarantee).

We'll see you there.

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