
Updated by Bobby
Updated May 22nd, 2023
Added some new, original photos, and the Boss Katana 50 to our top recommendations.
BEST GUITAR AMP (OUR TOP Value PICK)
Marshall DSL Series
Versatile, affordable, and all the flavor of what we love about Marshall, the DSL series is simply one of the best value guitar amp purchases on the market. Both the head and combo versions are excellent on nearly every measurable quality marker.

Above and below, I’ve listed all the best guitar amps I’m most comfortable recommending.
You can read more about each one beneath the product table. If you go through this material before buying, you’ll know exactly what to pay attention to when shopping for an electric guitar amp, regardless of age, skill level, musical style, or tone preference.
These are the best amps we know to recommend, based on actual use and personal experience.
All prices listed on this page were updated Fri, December 08th, 2023.
Best Guitar Amps (top 8 picks)
Amp | Name | RATe | Buy |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Orange Crush 12 Small Combo Amp | n/a | |
![]() | Boss Katana 50 (new add) | 89.8 | |
![]() | Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Tube Amp | n/a | |
![]() | Orange Micro Terror Amp Head | n/a | |
![]() | Fender Mustang LT 25 (new version) | n/a | |
![]() | Fender Blues Junior III & IV Guitar Amp | n/a | |
![]() | VOX AC15C1 Amp | n/a | |
![]() | Marshall DSL Series Guitar Amps | 94.2 |
We partner with Sweetwater to support Guitar Chalk and because it's just a fantastic retailer. Note that we might earn a commission if you click through our above orange buttons and make a purchase, though at no extra cost to you. Thanks to all for your generous support over the years! ~ Bobby and Danielle
Our disclosure↬

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1. Orange Crush 12 or 20 Watt Guitar Amps (best small combo amp)


The Orange Crush 12 gives you some modern edge, which is true for both the Orange Crush 12 (CR12L) and 20 from Orange Amps. These are some of the smallest amps from the Crush line, though also some of most popular practice or "travel" amps on the market, because of their price, size and lower wattage. We would recommend it for travel or indoor jamming that doesn't require a ton of fuss.
Price Guide (updated Live)
Prices updated Fri, December 08th, 2023.
Quick Review Card
IDEAL FOR: Practice, multiple musical styles, indoor jamming, and beginners
TONE
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CONTROL
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VERSATILITY
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COST/VALUE
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- Clean tone is nicely balanced and sounds bigger than the amp
- Three-band EQ
- Sounds like a tube amp
- Gain, volume and overdrive control
- Orange Amps look awesome
- Sub $200 amps have their tone and use limitations
2. Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb Tube Amp (best tube amp)


Since this particular article is not bound by a price range, we've included amps that are both on the cheap and mid to upper end of the pricing spectrum. The Fender '68 Deluxe Reverb is on the expensive end, yet, it's still one of our favorite combo amp recommendations. The '68 Custom has two channels both equipped with onboard reverb and tremolo effects. Fender does a lot of things well, and onboard reverb is one of their signature success stories and is at its best in the '68 Custom. It should also be noted that this is a tube amp, whereas the first two amps we looked at were built with solid state circuits.
Read more: Best Fender amps
PRICE GUIDE (UPDATED LIVE)
Quick Review Card
IDEAL FOR: Pros, church, gigging, clean tones, and vintage styles
TONE
n/a
CONTROL
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VERSATILITY
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COST/VALUE
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- One of the best clean tones in the game
- Tube-powered warmth is exceptionally good in a Fender combo
- Celestion speakers
- Onboard tremolo and reverb both sound amazing
- Expensive
3. Orange Amps Micro Terror (MT 20) Amp Head (best small amp head)


The Orange Amps Micro Terror is really small, a little bigger than a rectangular tissue box, so we only recommend it for basic practice and bedroom jamming.
Yet, considering the price point, it sounds big and aggressive, providing value in that limited context.
You get a headphone jack which means a speaker cab is optional and not necessary to use the amp. I'm assuming that since the tube is only in the preamp and not the power amp that a speaker cab isn't necessary (usually you must have a speaker cab hooked up in a tube amp).
In a situation where you just want something that sounds good for simple electric guitar practice, you can start to see where the Micro Terror gets its appeal. It's one of the most popular Orange Amps products, and has picked up over 461 ratings on Amazon while consistently finding itself in the top seller ranks within its price range.
It's a high-value option for anyone looking for a beginner or practice amp to get started with the electric guitar. We would award bonus points if you already have a decent set of headphones ready to go.
PRICE GUIDE (UPDATED LIVE)
Quick Review Card
IDEAL FOR: Beginners, practice, and bedroom jamming
TONE
n/a
CONTROL
n/a
VERSATILITY
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
- Nothing if not portable (barely weighs two pounds)
- 12AX7 tube used in the preamp
- Warm, rhythm-friendly tone
- You don't need a speaker cab
- Gain sounds strong and decently heavy, workable for punk or fast rhythm playing
- No mids knob
- Tone quality isn't as good on lower gain settings
4. Fender Mustang LT 25 Modeling Amp (best modeling practice amp)


The Fender Mustang series is a lineup of digital modeling and practice amps that come in a variety of sizes and wattage levels.
The LT 25 is one of the most popular in the series with a bottom-level price tag and a slew of digital amp models and customization options. For beginners and indoor practice, it's a reliable, feature-rich amp that affords many different sounds and tones.
While it's certainly not "authentic" Fender tone, the Mustang LT 25 does a superb job of giving you the variety and experience of multiple Fender amp models.
We like it for beginners and indoor practice sessions where the higher wattage amps aren't necessary.
PRICE GUIDE (UPDATED LIVE)
Price History for Fender Mustang LT 25 1x8" 25-watt Combo Amp
Statistics
Current Price | $149.99 | December 7, 2023 |
Highest Price | $159.99 | January 3, 2023 |
Lowest Price | $119.99 | December 6, 2022 |
Last price changes
$159.99 | May 25, 2023 |
$149.99 | May 22, 2023 |
$159.99 | January 17, 2023 |
$149.99 | January 5, 2023 |
$159.99 | January 3, 2023 |
Quick Review Card
IDEAL FOR: Beginners, practice, and bedroom jamming
TONE
n/a
CONTROL
n/a
VERSATILITY
n/a
REVIEW SCORE
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- Lots of presets, effects and amp models
- Models classic Fender amps fairly well
- Functions as a USB recording interface
- Great for indoor practice or bedroom jamming
- Clean tones can sound a little thin without effects or higher gain
5. Fender Blues Junior Tube Amp (best small tube amp)


The Fender Blues Junior series takes us into the mid-level tube amp tiers where it competes with the VOX AC series and some of the Marshall DSL combos (we'll cover both of those later). Fender has since released the Blues Junior IV, which is part of the Hot Rod series, all of which have been moved up to their own fourth gen iterations. Note that an endorsement of the third gen version would also - by default - be transferred to the fourth gen version as well, since Fender has only improved on what we believe was already a superb design and value-packed amplifier.
Read more: Best cheap tube amps
PRICE GUIDE (UPDATED LIVE)
Quick Review Card
IDEAL FOR: Clean tones, performing, pedal-reliant rigs, and mid to high-level rigs
TONE
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CONTROL
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VERSATILITY
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REVIEW SCORE
n/a
- Preamp and power amp tubes create a fantastic tone
- Excels in the warm, bluesy end of the tone spectrum
- Clean tones sound great without any effects layers
- Three-band EQ
- Onboard spring reverb is the real deal
- You'll probably need an external distortion source
- Only one channel
6. VOX AC15C1 Tube Guitar Amp (honorable mention)


The AC15 and AC10 amplifiers are VOX's answer to Fender's Hot Rod series, boasting a similar set of features and tube power throughout. There are several different variations of each amp, though we're focusing primarily on the AC15C1. With slight differences, the core of this series is consistent, while the AC15C1 (in our opinion) gives you the most value at its price point. You can check prices below.
Read more: Best amps for Stratocasters
PRICE GUIDE (UPDATED LIVE)
Quick Review Card
IDEAL FOR: Clean tones, gigging, jazz, blues, and bright lead tones
TONE
n/a
CONTROL
n/a
VERSATILITY
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REVIEW SCORE
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- Tubes at both the preamp and power amp levels
- Vintage and classic guitar tones are a VOX specialty
- Blues and jazz fans will love the clean sound
- Three-band EQ
- Tone cut at the power amp level
- Onboard reverb and tremolo both sound great
- No midrange knob
- Higher frequencies and EQs can be a bit harsh
7. The Marshall DSL Series Amps (best cheap tube amp)


The DSL series houses some of Marshall's most affordable tube amps, coming in both combo and head versions. The DSL40C ("C" stands for combo) is the 40 watt variation. Next to the Blues Junior, this is one of our favorite overall guitar amp recommendations. For starters, it's a little louder at 40 watts with a 20 watt power reduction option. It runs off of four ECC83 preamp tubes and two EL84 power tubes going out of a Celestion speaker with 16 ohms of impedance. The newer version of the DSL (the DSL40CR) comes with an emulated direct out for recording or going directly to a mixing board and allowing you to bypass the power amp.
Read more: Best Marshall amp
Price Guide (updated live)
Price History for Marshall DSL20HR 20-Watt Tube Guitar Head
Statistics
Current Price | $699.99 | December 8, 2023 |
Highest Price | $799.99 | November 7, 2022 |
Lowest Price | $699.99 | September 5, 2023 |
Last price changes
$699.99 | September 5, 2023 |
$799.99 | November 7, 2022 |
Quick Review Card
IDEAL FOR: Clean, heavy, modern, and vintage. The DSL series does it all.
TONE
97
CONTROL
95
VERSATILITY
92
REVIEW SCORE
94.2
- Powered by valves at the preamp and power amp levels (six total)
- Capable of a wide variety of tones and styles
- High gain (modern distortion) settings are heavy thick, and can handle metal if needed
- Long sustain with plenty of percussive "chunk"
- Captures the feel and prestige of the Marshall brand
- Line level output for recording (DSL40CR)
- None that we can tell
What is a guitar amp and how to do they work?
Guitar amps are made up of the following three components:
- Preamp
- Power amp
- Speaker cab
Most guitar amps, especially those beginners might be familiar with, include all three of these pieces in one box. These are called "combo" amps.
Note that in some cases, the parts of a combo amp can be separated out into different units. For example, you could buy just the preamp or just the power amp. You could also buy a separate speaker cab.
This is the route that a lot of professional players choose to go because it gives them more control over their tone.
For our purposes, the combo amp is a good example to stick with.

The Boss Katana 50 is a combo amp with a preamp, power amp, and speaker cab all in one box.
How do I use a guitar amp?
Before we get into knobs and dials, let's talk about how to set everything up, one step at a time. Before turning your amp on you should have your guitar connected. You'll need the following:
- An electric guitar
- One instrument cable
- Your amp
Plug In
Use an instrument cable to connect the output on your guitar to the input on your amplifier. The input should be on the front panel and labeled something like "input" or "guitar".

The guitar input on an Orange Amps combo.
After the Instrument Cable is Plugged In
Once the instrument cable is plugged in, go through the following checklist:
- Check any volume, gain, level, or master knobs and make sure they aren't super high (you don't want to get blasted by a knob that has been inadvertently turned up)
- Turn the amp on and flip the standby switch (if there is one)
- If you have a tube amp, note that it'll take about 10-15 seconds for the tubes to warm up before you can hear them
Setting Volume Levels
The next thing you need to do is an important step. You need to set your volume knobs to a "baseline" depending on the room you're in. To do this correctly, you need to understand how volume in a guitar amp works.
In most amps, you will have two knobs that control volume:
- Preamp volume
- Power amp volume (master output)
Labels for these knobs will differ, but generally the preamp volume control will be labeled "volume" or "gain" while the power amp volume will be labeled "master" or "output".

Amps will usually have a volume control for the preamp and power amp.
You can set your preamp volume first, then use the master (power amp) volume to sort of "cap off" your final output to make sure it's not too loud or loud enough depending on your preference.
- Set the preamp volume
- Set the master volume
What if you have multiple channels?
Many amps have multiple channels, which means you can use different volume levels or settings and switch between them instantly. In the above example, this amp actually has two channels, with a volume selector for each one.
- Clean Channel
- Gain Channel
If your amp has a similar setup (some amps have up to three or four channels) you should also set these levels.

Some amps will have additional volume controls for individual channels.
EQ and Other Settings
Once you have your volume set, you can play your guitar and you should be able to hear it. Though to fine-tune your sound you need to go through the other dials on your amp.
Usually you'll have a three-band EQ, while some amps will add other controls like presence and reverb.
- Bass
- Midrange
- Treble
- Presence
- Reverb
Certainly there is no right or wrong way to set these knobs. However, there are plenty of conventional amp settings you can test out for yourself. It all depends on what sound you like and what type of music you want to play.
Summary
These are the basics of how to use a guitar amp properly. It gets you started at a place where you can set volume and then experiment with the other features and settings your amp provides.
Difference Between Solid State & Tube Amps
In this section, we'll look at the difference between tube and solid state amp models.
They often look the same, and most of us know that tube amps have tubes, of course. But, what's so different between them? I'll answer that question by explaining what the lingo means and what the ultimate differences are between the two types of guitar amps.
We'll also cover the stigmas and pricing differences between the two types of amplifiers, as well as the type of music they're typically used for.
Before we get into the details, let's start with a simple answer to our question.
What is the difference between a tube and solid state amp?
The difference between tube and solid state amp models is found in how their preamp and power amp stages are powered. In a tube amp it's powered by vacuum tubes or valves, while solid state amps are powered by transistors or semiconductor circuits.

This Mesa Rectifier Badlander is a tube amp that we've tested and reviewed in-house. Tubes are used at both the preamp and power amp levels.
You can also have what's called a "hybrid" where either the preamp or power amp use tubes while the other uses a solid state circuit.
However, these are not particularly common.
Speaking broadly, this is the defining difference between the two amp types. While it seems like a simple distinction, the resulting tone, pricing, and feature implications between the two types of guitar amps are significant.
To sort these out, I'll talk about the characteristics of each one, starting with tube amps.
Characteristics of a Tube Amp
Tube amps have physical vacuum tubes installed at the preamp and power amp stages. Often you'll have 12AX7 tubes in the preamp and EL34 tubes in the power amp. Here's a quick shot of what they look like close up:

Fender Groove tubes hooked up in tube amp.
Tube-driven circuits are often installed in older amplifiers with a more vintage style. For example, the Fender Blues amp series, the Marshall JCM heads, and the VOX AC combos are all entirely tube powered.
The tone they produce is also more likely to have a smooth, vintage warmth to it. You'll have more of a warm overdrive, as opposed to a hard-edged distortion, along with a sweeter and more mellow clean tone. However, that's not to say that tube amps can't handle modern metal.
Amps like the Mesa Boogie Rectifier and Diezel VH4 produce some of the heaviest amp-based distortion in the world and they are both entirely tube powered.

Diezel amps are tube-powered but are also some of the best modern-voiced guitar amps money can buy. Image via Diezel Amplification
Broadly, tube amp tone is thought to be better and of a higher quality than solid state amp tone.
It's viewed as a more pure and organic form of amplification.
PRICING AND FEATURE IMPLICATIONS FOR TUBE AMPS
As a consequence, tube amps are almost always more expensive and lower wattage than their solid state counterparts. It's also harder to add features and flexibility into a tube amp because of the physical tube circuit. This means that tube amps can almost always be characterized by the following bullet points:
- Better tone quality (vintage and/or modern)
- Less flexibility (less knobs and tweaking options)
- More expensive
Solid state amps are basically the inverse of this description. Let's take a closer look at their characteristics so we can get a clearer picture of how they differ.
Characteristics of a Solid State Amp
Solid state amps are far cheaper to produce and easier to manipulate with different controls and settings. This is why all modeling amps (amps with built-in effects) are solid state, with the exception of reverb and vibrato offered on a number of popular tube amps.

The Line 6 Catalyst is a combo amp with an entirely solid state circuit.
Yet, without the presence of tubes, many guitar players dislike solid state amps because the natural tone quality isn't there.
While solid state circuits can easily emulate tube amps and employ a lot of digital modeling technology, it's still not viewed as "the real thing." However, manufacturers have gotten better (in recent years) at developing solid state circuits and digital amp models that sound really good and make viable - more affordable alternatives - to the more expensive tube amps.
Particularly for modern metal and heavier styles, some guitar players have embraced solid state technology, in part, because it's so good at adapting to their playing tendencies and more sterile tone profiles.
Read more: Guitar amps with line outs
Section Summary
To summarize the difference between tube and solid state amp models, I'd be comfortable saying that tube amps are generally a better-quality amplifier, regardless of music style. Even those wanting a more modern tone will be better served by a tube-driven circuit, perhaps with something from Mesa, Diezel, or Marshall.
Solid state amps have their place, but the difference in tone is going to be hard for a lot of seasoned players to get past.
Unless you really want the modeling features or the extra flexibility solid state offers, a tube amp is probably your better option.
Amp Distortion VS Pedal-Based Distortion: Which one?
On the topic of distortion:
Is it better to get your electric guitar distortion from a pedal or from your amp?
Most beginners start out with some kind of distortion pedal or maybe the gain on a cheap modeling amp. While there are some really nice pedals and modeling amps out there, it's almost always better to get your distortion from your amplifier and not from a pedal.
There's a reason you don't typically see distortion pedals on professional rigs, even (especially) for the heavy metal guys.
It's almost always better to get your distortion from your amplifier and not from a pedal.

Which is better for distortion? Amp or pedal?
Expensive Amps and the Pros
Adam Jones of Tool, Dan Donegan of Disturbed, and Tom Morello have all used a ton of distortion throughout their careers, yet none of them run distortion pedals as their primary source of gain (if at all). This is because they use high-end amplifiers with tube-driven dirty channels that far surpass the quality of the distortion you get from a stompbox.
For example, Jones often uses Diezel amps to record Tool's studio tracks:
This is how you get smooth, high-quality distortion like you hear on "Fear Inoculum:"
Most of the modern rock and metal distortion tones you hear come from an amplifier similar to the Mesa and Diezel models. Specifically, the Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier, Marshall JVM, JCM 800, and Randall 667 heads are also going to show up in the hard rock realm quite a bit. In almost every case, they'll be the preferred method of handling distortion.
But, these amps are super expensive!
It's true that most of the amps that are sought after for their powerful distorted tones are also at least $2000, if not encroaching on the $4000 mark (looking at you four-person company Diezel).
But, if you can't afford an amp like this, you do have options that can still get you a really high-quality distortion without spending a ton of money.
Primarily, you have three choices:
- Buy the high-dollar amp if you can afford it
- Find a cheap amp with a high-quality distorted tone
- Use a high-quality distortion pedal that's modeled after a tube-based amp distortion
The Cheap/Used Method
In my situation, I went with option number two. Years ago, for my birthday, my wife found a used Mesa Rectoverb combo on Craigslist for about $500, so we drove over to Lexington to meet the guy and picked it up. It's an older amp, but the distortion is absolutely fantastic.
Here's a look at the amp with a bad sound-proofing job:

My used Mesa Recotoverb (Single Rectifier) combo amp with an awesome onboard distortion channel.
And here's what it sounded like:
This setup gave me an amp with an onboard distortion that is better than just about any pedal. Though as you'll see below the next section, there are some pedals that can compete with it.
Cheap Amps that Have Good Onboard Distortion
If you don't want to buy used or if you just can't find something that suits you, there are some cheaper amps that still have a decent distortion source.
Here are a few we'd recommend checking out:
These amps all hover around the $500 and $600 price point, brand new. While this isn't as cheap as you might like to see, it's certainly more affordable than the $2000 and $4000 price tags we were seeing with the pro-level options.
Distortion Pedals that are Actually Good
There are a few distortion pedals that can compete with the high-quality amp-based distorted tones you get from Mesa and Diezel. These recommendations are based on distortion pedals that we've actually tested in-house, so note that we've also took our own pictures during the process and put up some simple demo videos.
Primarily, we recommend two:
Both of these pedals are not only great distortion sources, but are built more like amplifiers, able to function as their own preamp.
The Heavy is more expensive, but probably the better-sounding of the two pedals and certainly more flexible:

The Empress Heavy is one of the few distortion pedals we've tested that competes with the nicer amp-based distortions.
Here's a quick audio demo:
The Amptweaker TightMetal JR, though it has far less control and functionality than the Heavy, has a high-gain tone that's similar in quality.

For a much cheaper price tag, the TightMetal JR can also achieve an amp-quality distorted tone.
Here's my simple demo of the Amptweaker's tone:
These pedals are exceptions to the rule of amp-based distortions always being better than pedals. Both the TightMetal and Empress Heavy can compete with amps like the Mesa Rectifier with comparable sounds. The moral of the story is that you shouldn't cheap out on your distortion pedal, if you decide to go that route.
Spending $150 to $300 for a distortion pedal is not overkill, especially if you plan to use it as your primary distortion source.
It's still much cheaper than a $2000 amp.
Section Summary
A lot of guitar players who are just getting into effects don't realize that it's better to get distortion from an amp.
Distortion pedals are just a familiar image, which makes a lot of people assume that's the best way to get distortion into your rig. But I would advise bypassing the pedal and instead, if you're able to, invest more heavily into your amplifier.
Even beyond your guitar, it's the most important aspect of your electric guitar rig when it comes to the tone you'll be able to produce.
If you invest more money in your amp, you won't need a distortion pedal at all.
Summary and Conclusion
When all the research and shopping dust settles, you should not only know a lot more about guitar amps, but you should be able to fall into a niche with the amp you buy. If you know what kind of music styles you prefer and which amps are most likely to benefit those styles, you can narrow your choice down and have a better shot at getting something you really like.
That's what an article like this is really all about.
It's meant to help you understand the product so you can narrow down your search and get something that is tailored to you like a well-fitted suit.
Hopefully our advice has helped get you closer to that point.
Questions and Comments
Maybe you have a question about a different amp or think there's one we should add to our best guitar amps list?
Mention it in the comments section below and we'll check it out.
We're big on making recommendations based off real-life experience, so if you can bring some of that to the table, we want to hear it.
Thanks for reading.
Related Articles
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Amps & Roundups
Written by GC Editorial on Amps & Comparisons
Bobby, in ’05 I got my Marshall JCM 2000 Dual Super Lead 50W, because I was tired of my Peavys or Fenders. In the ’90s I got rid of my 2 Strats and Tele. simply because they were not my kind of sound then got my Les Pauls and left one with the Gibson Humbuckers and replaced the other with Seymour Duncan Alnico IIs. PERFECT the DSLs didn’t fit my style but my Dual Super Lead is PERFECT, I would just like to see what settings you would suggest.
You have NO articles about Peavey amps! I have an old 80’s amp (Peavey Rage 12) it still works fine..i just want to know what amp settings is best. Im using a strat and a couple of pedals (cry baby wah,pitch shifter,vintage distortion,noise gate,chorus & flanger) i play blues and rock!
You’re quite right. I do need to get some more Peavey material on here. I’m a huge fan of the Invective and I’ve recommended that in several other articles.
For settings, have you tried any of these? https://www.guitarchalk.com/guitar-amp-settings-guide/
Hi Bobbi,
I admit that I’m new to the intermediate priced amplifier ($1500 area), I recently purchased a Mesa Boogie M35 amplifier and I am very pleased with the features and sounds. It is good for studio work and even onstage in a smaller venue. I primarily use it for studio and practice in the garage. My neighbors hate it only when I turn it up and add the crunch. Check this one out and let me know how it compares. I know it blew away any of the Orange boxes of the same price range (my opinion).
Thanks for sharing, Shane. To be honest, anything with Mesa’s name on it I’d consider above and beyond intermediate level. My wife bought me a Mesa Rectoverb combo last year and it has been heads and tails above anything I’ve ever used. So I’d say you’re in good hands with the M35. Enjoy it!
Hi Bobby, I admit I probably stuck my foot in my mouth with this one, it was a 50 watt head, but I liked the gain on it, and it did have a lot. I just had such a time getting the clean channel just how I like it, but that’s not really saying much either cause I’m really picky. I’ve wondered if my amp guy made some changes with it and didn’t tell me. He was always asking questions when I would come to pick up an amp. He asked a lot if I could tell a difference, with the clean especially. He’s the mad scientist kind and I didn’t think much about it…but the more I played my 800 which was considerably cleaner sounding. I liked my 900 but I was always trying and never really got the sweet spot I was looking for. The reason I sold it is because the transformer blew. I regret selling it now. I would buy another one if I found a great price. I know this doesn’t make much sense….like I sais, I’m just crazy picky.
Oh ok – that makes sense though, if you found something you liked in the 800. Hard to replicate.
Yes it is…Both the 800 and the 900 are great amps and you can have a lot of fun with them. have you ever tried a Peavey 5150. My friend had one back in the 90’s but man EVH has done a lot of improvements with his amps.
I’ve had a number of amps….some great and some suck. I bought a Marshall JCM 900 50 watt in the early 90’s an it was a disappointment for me. Marshall is my favorite amp but this one just didn’t have Marshall quality’s. The best part of it was that you could get all the gain you wanted and at times it was just too much. I took it in to my amp tech more than any other I have owned. It was plenty loud and had good clean tone and was right up in your face, It just didn’t have the great sound as my other amps did. I have a JCM 800 50 watt and it was so much a better amp then my 900. Maybe I just bought a bad one. Does anybody have this problem with 900’s?
Hey Gregory – to be honest, I’ve never heard anyone say this about the 900s. Was your primary frustration with it the high gain settings? Was it a combo or just the head?