10 Reviews: Best Guitar Amplifier Under 500 (Apr 2024)

Boss’ (or should I say Roland’s) Tube Logic technology delivers vintage tube tones in the Nextone series. As a consequence, a solid-state amplifier with tube-like characteristics has been created. For players who seek a wide range of tones but still appreciate the feel and sound of tube amps, the Nextone Stage has four power levels and its own unique voice.

This is a great little amp. It has many features (such as switching between the various emulators of both British and American tube amps) and also an overdrive and reverb. It has a good solid build quality and doesn't weigh a ton (maybe around 32lbs total so it is easy to move around)...................

by Customer A

In the event that you’re confident that you want the raw growl of a British tube amp, but you’d prefer it in a more compact form factor, go no further than the Vox AC10C1. With this Vox amp, which is a part of their Custom Series, they’ve created a bridge between their 4W and 15W amps, providing a versatile alternative that can be used both in the studio and on small stages.

Great amp. Making it better was easy new hot tubes and a better speaker and voila a real workhorse with great tube sound. Gig with it and mic it via the PA All the volume you can ask for. Have had mine for 2 years and love it..

by Rick & Sue Diamond

Small tweed combo amps from Fender, in my opinion, have more romance built into them than any other form of amp. The Fender Pro Junior IV is a superb example of this, with its lovely small boxes and timeless tones. Despite the fact that it isn’t a typical “Tweed circuit,” it is still a Fender amp, and it has the iconic Fender sound.

This amp sounds way better than expected! I wanted an amp that I didn’t have to upgrade again. I would buy this amp for the clean tones alone!! I can’t stop playing it (which my wife has noticed ?) it sounds so good. I like rock, blues, with that Les Paul sound, and I get it with this amp.

by Chris

Fender Mustang GT100 is the amp to have if the Fender Pro IV isn’t quite enough for you, but you still want to take advantage of Fender’s extensive selection of original amp circuits. Great tones and an easy-to-use amp modeling interface have drawn a lot of praise for the new Mustang amp series, which has received a lot of attention.

This amp is for those looking for different sounds without the hassle of setting up different pedals to achieve the different sounds you might need. Everything from "clean" to "metal" is a simple turn of a knob away. You can tweak the pre-set sounds pre and post amp and save the changes too........

by Michael R.

Also of the amplifiers on this list are wonderful and have certain applications for which they are well suited, but they all have their limits as well. What if you’re neither a minimalist or a tube lover, but you want as many tones as you can get your hands on digitally? The Line 6 Spider V 240HC is the amplifier that you’ve been looking for.

This piece of equipment is awesome. I got it to power a Fender 212 Hot Rod cabinet and did it ever do more than that. I love the sound of it alone without any other speakers connected to it and all of the effects that it has built in. And it is BEAUTIFUL............

by De_Stiller1948

For the most part, Marshall is known for his appearances on the stages of heavy metal and hard rock bands. They have the ability to provide a quality product for a wide range of customers. Warm and welcoming sound are the hallmarks of the Acoustic Soloist’s sound design, which was created with a more laid-back musical approach in mind. This amp’s vintage style makes it seem right at home in an episode of That 70’s Show.

Great for playing Electrified Acoustic Guitar and singing with a mic. Versatile effects can be used for both channels independently. The two 8" speakers make it heavier, but deliver the sound......

by Bailey of Maine

An amp that’s simple to transport and doesn’t take up much room is ideal for some situations. With the Monoprice 611815 15-watt tube amplifier, you’ll get all that and more. Professional musicians’ stages often have tube amps in considerably larger configurations (although, there are small tube amps available). Having this power in such a little container is convenient. This amp has a straightforward EQ and a minimalistic appearance.

It's a good, cheap, 15 watt single-channel tube amp. There are reviews and videos of it all over the Internet to help you decide if it's for you. I bought it for practice, home recording, and etc. You can get good tube clean, dirty, crunch, and lead tones. The reverb is good enough............

by Sean S

Known for its wide range of speakers, Peavey is a household name. Peavey’s brand may be found on anything from guitar amplifiers to bass amplifiers and stage speakers. When it comes to speakers, they have a reputation for offering excellent value for money. It was determined that having a bass-capable guitar amp in the Vypyr VIP 2 was the best course of action.

....The sound is great and I actually like the set-up after getting used to it. Cleans are clean, dirty is dirty, effects have a good range and are easily adjustable. Only gripe I had was that it was labeled as Prime, 2 day shipping. All of the sudden, it wasn't and took 3 weeks to get here. I don't want to rate it down because of a mix up, but was disappointed with that a little.

by blondeangel

The Yamaha THR10 Desktop amp is perfect for when you need an amp directly in front of your face while training. Because of its tiny size and low weight, it’s ideal for use at home. Yamaha guitars have typically been among the most dependable on the market. They’ve put their skills to good use by creating a practice amp that is both small and stable.

This is a very good portable guitar amp. I bought it for practice, but now I use it all around the house, all the time. It sounds so good for the size, blows my mind every time I use it. The low volume amp/sound quality is very satisfying through the amp speakers and through reference headphones...............

by Earthling

The battery-operated iRig Micro Amp is a little amp that gives you greater flexibility. There are three custom-voiced analog channels in this amp: clean, driving, and lead, all rated as 15W RMS. You can learn new songs, practice your favorite licks, perform with backing tracks, and even record your own compositions with ease.