What are the best Guitar Amps Under $1500?
Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb
The Tone Master Deluxe gets you a lot of modern features with a vintage Fender tone. It's a solid state circuit, so you lose the organic tube aspect, but you get selectable power, a balanced out, and selectable cab IRs, all packaged in the familiar Fender tube amp tone and aesthetic. If you're holding out for a Fender tube amp under $1500, we'll cover the Hot Rod Deville later.
For this price point we're starting at $1000 and, for the most part, staying closer to that number than the $1500 top. This is because amps can go up in price and eclipse these ranges, pushing them out of our established salary cap. So check the price guide below for updated numbers, but all four of these amps should be under $1500. We're looking at both tube and solid state options that give you the most value in this particular price range.
Read more: Best guitar amps overall
4 Best Guitar Amps Under $1500 (our top picks)
Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb
As mentioned in the opening paragraph, this is our top choice unless you want to hold out for a tube amp. But these days, solid state amps are so good that it's often hard to tell the difference. The TMDR sounds fantastic with cleans and bluesy tones, just like its tube counterparts. I also really like having the balanced output.
- Type: Solid State
- Number of Channels: 2
- Total Power: 100W (0.2W, 0.3W, 1W, 5W, 12W, 22W settings)
- Speaker Size: 1 x 12" Jensen N-12K Neo
- Reverb: Digital Reverb
- Effects: Tremolo
- Amp Modeling: Deluxe Tube Amp Emulation
- EQ: 2-band EQ
- Inputs: 2 x 1/4" (normal), 2 x 1/4" (vibrato channel)
- Outputs: 1 x XLR (DI out)
- USB: 1 x USB Micro-B (firmware)
- Footswitch I/O: 1 x 1/4" (channel, reverb)
- Footswitch Included: Yes, 2-button footswitch
- Computer Connectivity: USB (firmware upgrades)
- Construction Material: Lightweight Solid Pine, Black Textured Vinyl
- Power Source: Standard IEC AC cable
- Height: 17"
- Width: 24.1"
- Depth: 9.28"
- Weight: 23 lbs.
Roland JC 120 (series)
This is another one of my favorite solid state amps, particularly since it's able to handle a wide range of both vintage and modern styles. Wes Borland actually used these for a long time (I think he still does) to get his heavy and aggressive distorted tones, along with ambient ethereal highs. If you want something cheaper, you can go with the lower wattage versions, perhaps the JC-40 (the number indicates the total watts).
- Type: Solid State
- Number of Channels: 2
- Total Power: 2 x 60W
- Speaker Size: 2 x 12"
- Reverb: Yes
- EQ: 3-band
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4"
- Outputs: 2 x 1/4"
- Effects Loop: Yes
- Footswitch I/O: 3 x 1/4" (chorus/vibrato, reverb, distortion)
- Footswitch Included: No
- Power Source: Fixed AC cable
- Height: 24.49"
- Width: 29.92"
- Depth: 11"
- Weight: 61.73 lbs.
ENGL Amplifiers Fireball Series
The ENGL Fireball series is the most aggressive and metal-friendly of this group, getting a lot of its anger from 6L6GC tubes in the power amp section. In this price range, there are several ENGL amp heads that will get you that heavy, modern rock sound, and the lower wattage Fireballs are likely your best fit. Once again, higher wattage amps in the series, like the 100 watt version, will be more expensive. We like to save money by going with the 25 watt amp heads, especially when they have power soak and a direct out like the Fireball 25.
- Type: Tube
- Number of Channels: 2
- Total Power: 25W
- Preamp Tubes: 4 x 12AX7
- Power Tubes: 2 x 6L6GC
- EQ: 3-band EQ, Presence
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4"
- Outputs: 1 x 1/4" (direct out), 1 x 1/4" (8-16 ohm), 2 x 1/4" (16 ohm)
- Effects Loop: Yes
- Footswitch I/O: 2 x 1/4" (boost, channel)
- Footswitch Included: No
- Bias Type: Adjustable Fixed
- Features: Powersoak (Full, Mid, Low, Speaker off)
- Construction Material: 18mm Plywood with Black Tolex
- Power Source: Standard IEC AC cable
- Height: 9"
- Width: 16.5"
- Depth: 7.8"
- Weight: 24.2 lbs.
Fender Hot Rod Deville 212
As promised, this is our token tube Fender amp pick in the sub-$1500 price range. At 55 pounds it's big - making room for two 12" Celestion speakers - so you might want to avoid having to tote it around too much. But these amps are some of the best you can get for blues and clean tones, which is worth sacrificing some of the modern features if those are the sounds you're after.
- Type: Tube
- Number of Channels: 3
- Total Power: 60W
- Speaker Size: 2 x 12" Celestion A-Type speakers
- Preamp Tubes: 3 x 12AX7
- Power Tubes: 2 x 6L6
- Reverb: Spring Reverb
- EQ: 3-band EQ
- Inputs: 2 x 1/4" (standard, -6dB)
- Outputs: 2 x 1/4" (parallel, one internal speakers)
- Effects Loop: Yes
- Footswitch I/O: 1 x 1/4" (channel, drive)
- Footswitch Included: Yes, 2-button footswitch
- Bias Type: Adjustable Fixed
- Construction Material: Solid Pine with Black Tolex
- Power Source: Fixed AC cable
- Height: 21"
- Width: 24.25"
- Depth: 10.75"
- Weight: 55.25 lbs.
The Fender Hot Rod Deville is one of our favorites in this price range. Definitely one of the best combo options. Image via Pasquale Robustini
Which one is best for metal?
For those that skimmed the list, your best modern and metal tones are going to come from the ENGL Fireball. Those amps are made for heavy, percussive gain, and can produce that distortion on their own without a pedal. A more balanced option would be the Roland JC series, while the Fender amps would not be my first pick if you're after those heavier sounds.
A Note About Wattage
In almost every amp series, you have multiple wattage variations, and you can always save money by going with a lower wattage option. Take the Mesa/Boogie Badlander 25 for example. That amp has the same features and same tone of the higher-wattage versions, but is dramatically more affordable. If you're looking at an amp that seems out of your price range, check for lower-wattage options in the same series. Odds are you'll be able to shave a lot of money off your purchase.
Can Fender amps handle modern styles?
As I mentioned earlier, Fender amps are all about clean tones and blues, which makes sense, given the legacy of the Stratocaster and Telecaster electrics. In that regard they're definitely more conducive to bluesy, vintage genres. That said, the clean sound is so good that it could apply to pretty much any musical style. In a perfect world, I'd have a Fender tube amp for cleans, and something like an ENGL or Mesa for distorted tones.
Conclusion and Questions
Do you have questions about the amps in this list, or other amplifiers under $1500? Just a reminder to check the price guide below in case numbers have changed. Though most of the amps were comfortably under our salary cap when we published this page.
If you have questions or thoughts about these amps, feel free to reach out via the comments section below.
We'll see you there.
Price Guide for Each Amp
Prices updated Fri, August 21st, 2026.
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