Best High Gain Amp (our top pick)
Mesa/Boogie Badlander 25
I could truly put any Mesa amp here, but the Badlander 25 is one that I've tested, so I'm comfortable recommending it from my own first-hand experience. It's a high-gain monster, similar to the Mark V:25. No distortion pedal needed.
If you have the option, it's far better to get your distortion from your amp, rather than a pedal (more on that below), especially if you're running a tube amp. But the problem for those wanting high amounts of gain is that a lot of tube amps don't necessarily produce that type of distortion.
For example, Fender and VOX amps aren't designed for high gain. They're great amps, but they're not rock or metal. The amps I'll cover in this section are definitely rock and metal. Primarily, we'll focus on Diezel, Mesa/Boogie, and Marshall. All the amps listed here have excellent onboard distortion with high gain, modern chug (Will it chug?) and lots of sustain.
5 Best Amps with High Gain (my picks)
Amp | Audio | Rate | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Mesa/Boogie Badlander 25 | 92.7 | |
 | Diezel VH2 | 95.5 | |
 | Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier | 98.7 | |
 | Peavey Invective | 92.8 | |
 | Marshall JCM800 | 96.6 |
Everything on this website is written by me or the people I work with. We're all musicians who actually use the gear and brands we write about. AI and third-party, non-musician writers, are never used.
1. Mesa/Boogie Badlander 25
BEST FOR: Modern rock recording, headphones, metal, moderate budgets.
TONE
92
CONTROL
92
VERSATILITY
94
PRICE/VALUE
93
- CabClone built in (handles speaker load)
- Some nice chime and high end for treble-leaning EQs
- Wattage and cab selection
- Runs the table on gain levels (no distortion pedal needed)
- Comes with a footswitch
- 25 watt version is affordable by Mesa standards
- Direct out and headphone out
- Cab models are just ok
- No reverb
For this amp, I'd recommend active pickups if you want to get the most out of the gain levels. Although I suppose that could be said of any high gain amp. The Badlander responded really well to my PRS with Matt Heafy Fluence pickups, putting out a ton of sustain and percussive chunk at high gain levels.
It didn't sound too noisy or muddy and the tone was just incredibly smooth and modern. A major bonus is that is has a built in attenuator and cab simulator that allows it to run without a speaker cab, with a headphone output. This is one of my favorite amps, period. And it's definitely my top pick if you want some high quality distortion. Most distortion pedals can't beat an amp like this.
Read the full review: Mesa Badlander 25
2. Diezel VH2
BEST FOR: Metal, higher budgets, hard rock, percussive/rhythmic playing styles
TONE
99
CONTROL
96
BUILD
98
PRICE/VALUE
90
- Possible the best high gain amp brand on the market
- Deep knob is a unique EQ feature
- Six total EQ options (two global)
- Footswitch included
- Dual master volumes
- Hand-made boutique brand
- Really, really, really expensive
I don't think there is a better brand out there when it comes to high gain. Diezel amps are absolute monsters, but they're expensive. This keeps them outside most budgets and price ranges, but if you can swing the cost, holy smokes they're worth it. Tool's Adam Jones uses the VH4, which is what got them on my radar. The VH2 is basically a stripped down two-channel version of that amp. This saves you some money, but you're still gonna pay more than you would for most Mesa amps, and Mesas are already expensive. But all cost issues aside, Diezel has one of the best high-gain sounds I've ever heard. Highly recommend, especially for semi-pro/pro rigs.
Read the full review: Diezel VH2
A nice look at the Diezel VH2. Image via Zach Wish
3. Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
BEST FOR: All things metal and modern rock, semi-pro to pro performing and recording.
- Just a fantastic distorted tone with all the modern characteristics we're looking for
- Cleans are excellent as well
- Tons of speaker and external switching options
- Full four-band EQ for each channel
- Selectable wattage (50 or 100)
- Diamond faceplate is an iconic look
- Slave out
- Expensive
- No reverb
I typically recommend the Dual Rectifier because it's cheaper than the Triple Rectifier, but still gives you the same tone and most of the same perks. This is one of the most popular high-gain amps in the world, and has been for decades. Tool, Korn, Disturbed, and a ton of modern guitar players have used the Mesa Rectifiers to get that smooth, saturated high-gain tone with percussive low-end.
4. Peavey Invective
BEST FOR: Lower budgets, Diezel alternative, tone flexibility, recording, and live performances.
- Lots of lower wattage options
- Prices are fantastic
- Flexible EQ
- MSDI direct output for recording and PA systems
- Distortion is the real deal
- None for the price, especially if you don't care about reverb
I love the Peavy Invective as a Diezel alternative. The 120 gives you a significant discount over Diezel amps, with three channels are a similar high-gain distortion profile. Plus, it has a built-in noise gate, and MSDI output for recording/PA systems, and a little more flexibility than the VH2.
A smaller version of the Peavey Invective at a lower wattage. Image via Iranfender
5. Marshall JCM800
IDEAL FOR: Balance between modern metal and classic rock. Versatility and British rock era fans. Mic'd up speaker cabs.
- Quality cleans and distortion on both sides of classic and modern rock styles
- Time-tested
- Used by countless pros over the years
- Marshall cleans
- Four-band EQ
- Only one channel
- Expensive
The JCM800 definitely has a vintage vibe, but it's surprisingly heavy and percussive, similar to the Mesa Boogie amps. You can really hear it in the "In the Room" demo by Ola Englund.
This amp has been around for a long time and has been a favorite of countless professional guitarists. If you want something with more of a classic rock feel, that's also capable of some incredible high gain tones, the JCM800 is a great landing spot. It's expensive, usually somewhere between the Diezel and Peavey amp price range, but well worth it in the right context.
What about just using a distortion pedal?
These amplifiers are going to make most distortion pedals obsolete. You might add an overdrive pedal to push your gain, but otherwise, it's better to just let these high gain amps do the heavy lifting. If at all possible, we recommend using amp-based distortion, especially if you're running a high quality tube amp like the ones we've featured here.
One exception: Amp modelers like the Neural DSP Quad Cortex or Kemper Profiler can authentically replicate high-gain amp tones at a fraction of the cost and at silent recording volumes. Worth considering.
Read more: Distortion pedal or amp dirty channel?
Are there cheaper options
If you're looking for a cheaper high gain amp, here are a couple brands you should check out:
Blackstar, in particular, is a good alternative to the Mesa/Boogie amps with a similar distortion profile.
Where to buy a high gain amp
We typically recommend Sweetwater for buying these types of amps. There aren't a ton of retailers that carry Diezel and Mesa products, so we'd start there. Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, Reverb (for used options), and even Amazon are all worth checking out.
Summary and Questions
We're confident in the brands we've recommended and in all five amps on this page. But, as always, what works for you is the most important factor, and only you can take all of the variables into consideration. If you have questions about our recommendations, or about a different amp you're considering, feel free to reach out via the comments section below. We'll help out as much as possible. See you there.
More Guitar Amp Roundups
Written by GC Editorial on Amps & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Amps & Roundups
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