In the ideal musician world, there is no such thing as having too many amps. It’s a dream to have own every single amp of our dreams but the cold hard truth is, not all of us have the luxury or the space to accommodate an extensive collection.
However, as we improve our music skills, it’s hard to resist experimenting with new toys. The faster we learn new things, the more compelled we are to invest in new gear.
At some point, you might find yourself asking, “what are the best solid state amps for pedals?” Or more importantly, “Which amp is better? One that can break up at gig levels, or a clean one?”
Both of which has its pros and cons and it’s hard to choose just one. But we’ll let you in on a secret on how to get the best of both worlds. In this article, we tackle how to choose the best solid state amps for pedals and which amps can ultimately end your indecisiveness. So what are you waiting for? Your amp is out there just waiting to be discovered.
Contents
Top 10 Best Solid State Amp for Pedals 2024
- CRUSH12 Guitar Amp Combo
- Fender Mustang I V2 20-Watt 1×8-Inch Combo Electric Guitar Amplifier
- Blackstar Guitar Combo Amplifier Black FLY3
- ZT Amplifiers Lunchbox Junior 35-watt Class D Guitar Amplifier
- NUX Mighty Lite BT Mini Portable Modeling Guitar Amplifier
- Fender Mustang GT 40 Bluetooth Enabled Solid State
- Marshall CODE 100W 2×12 Guitar
- Peavey Vypyr VIP 1 – 20 Watt Modeling Instrument Amplifier
- Quilter 101 Reverb 50W Guitar Amplifier Head
- Fender Champion 20 Electric Guitar Amplifier
Runner Up | Editor's Choice | Also Great |
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CRUSH12 Guitar Amp Combo
Are you an electric guitar newbie looking for an affordable, no-nonsense amp? Look no further, Orange has got you covered with its Crush 12. Sporting its classic striking orange design, this solid state amp is a head-turner.
The Orange Crush 12 is a bona fide option for the beginner guitarist. With humble 12-watt power, this amp has the loudest 6-inch Voice of the World speakers you’ve ever heard – a great steal for an amp within this price range.
But what impressed me the most about this Orange amp is its controls. For this inexpensive amp, you get a super easy 3-band EQ plus Overdrive and Gain control. Just dial away and you’re sure to get a tone that best fits your style.
And if you’re also new to gigging, no worries – the Crush 12 weighs just a little over 12 pounds, making it one of the most portable amps on this list.
- Simple and easy to use
- Perfect for beginners
- Has the best quality components and control for an amp within this price range
- Lightweight and super portable
- Great for traveling
- Outputs need more improvement
- A bit of distortion above mid-volume range can be heard
Fender Mustang I V2 20-Watt 1×8-Inch Combo Electric Guitar Amplifier
I have a lot of Fender amp favorites. They come and go after a while but recently, I’ve noticed that the Fender Mustang is a long-standing choice of mine. There’s just a lot to love about it, like the numerous built-in effects, the iconic Fender tone, and many more.
The Fender Mustang I comes with 17 amp voices that range from classic Fender tube amps to more modern models. It also has 24 onboard presets, a chromatic tuner, and USB connectivity that supports the Fender FUSE software.
For me, this amp from Fender is a winner because of the software that it comes with. The features on this amp work very well with the app, giving users plenty of room for musical creativity and imagination. I highly recommend this amp for beginners or even experienced players who love experimenting with sound.
- Features the iconic Fender tone along with 17 other amp voices
- Comes with the super handy Fender FUSE software
- Supports Bluetooth connectivity for remote control
- Dialing-in to the desired tone takes a bit of time to get used to
Blackstar Guitar Combo Amplifier Black FLY3
Coming at 3-watts, the Blackstar FLY 3 may not sound like much but without giving it a try, you’ll never know what you’re missing. If you’re looking for a simple amp for practice, the Blackstar FLY 3 is a great choice, not only because of its modest wattage but also because of the fact that it offers big tones with a punch even at the lowest volumes.
This amp comes with two channels, tape delay, and the Blackstar patented Infinite Shape Feature (ISF) This feature allows users to shape the sound of the FLY 3 into their desired sound. And like most other amps, this one also has an MP3/Line In that connects an MP3 player as well as an emulated headphone jack.
- Capable of being battery powered so you can charge up
- Anywhere
- Provides punchy big tones despite its humble size
- Comes with 2 channels
- Tape delay
- And the ISF feature for sound shaping
- The cable between boxes are too short
- Sound quality consistency needs a bit of work
ZT Amplifiers Lunchbox Junior 35-watt Class D Guitar Amplifier
The ZT Lunchbox Junior won me over with its novelty design. True to its name, this amplifier looks like a tin lunchbox – but don’t be fooled, this is definitely not one for child’s play. Despite its miniature size, the Lunchbox Junior produces pro-quality sound.
It also has a 9V power output to drive your pedals when you need them. And the fact that this amp can be powered by a wall outlet means that you can bring this amp anywhere you want like a literal lunchbox.
For me, the Lunchbox Junior is a perfect balance of portability and power. If you need a quick solution while on the road, this is the best option for you.
- Sports a head-turning look with its novelty style
- Lightweight and portable but packs a lot of punch and power
- Can be charged with a regular wall outlet
- A little overpriced considering the size and the number of features it has
NUX Mighty Lite BT Mini Portable Modeling Guitar Amplifier
For those unfamiliar with the NUX brand, let it be known that this company makes some of the world’s best mini class amplifiers. If you’re in the market for something small, compact, lightweight, and portable, then the NUX Mighty Lite BT is the amp for you.
This low-watt amp makes traveling with music and easy. In fact, you can just put it on any desk and start jamming right then and there with no problem. The NUX Mighty Lite BT is battery-operated and it also supported power bank connection. It has 3 channels, built-in digital reverb, and delay.
Plus, the NUX has some of the most user-friendly interfaces on amps, making it a viable option for beginners as well. And because this amp also comes with built-in drums and metronome, I also think that it makes as a great practice amp as well.
- Portable and lightweight making it easy for users to play anywhere at any time
- Battery operated and can be charged via a power bank connection
- Comes with a user-friendly interface
- Simple and easy to use even for beginners
- Lacks features that other amps of the same price offers
Fender Mustang GT 40 Bluetooth Enabled Solid State
Who can resist a Fender? As one of the most respectable brands of music instruments, Fender never ceases to impress its loyal fans. With their new and improved amp modeling technology, Fender has taken the bad rep of solid state amps and transformed it into a sophisticated and advanced instrument: the Mustang GT.
If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you’d know that I love all things wireless: remote controls, Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth – whatever it is, I’ll like it. Blame it on the laziness of today’s generation but you still can’t deny how convenient it is. Take the Mustang GT, for example.
Being Wi-Fi equipped, it can get easy updates, preset replacements, and access to the Fender tone app. You can also stream and control the amp via Bluetooth using your mobile device – how convenient is that?
- Supports wireless connectivity via wi-fi and Bluetooth
- Works with the Fender tone app
- Comes with 21 classic amp voices and more than 45 different effects offering
- countless tone combinations
- Has a beautifully vibrant display screen and a light but durable wooden chassis
- Bluetooth connection via Android is faulty
- Sound clarity and overall quality lacks consistency
Marshall CODE 100W 2×12 Guitar
No list of guitar amps is ever complete without mentioning a Marshall. There are really no other explanations why you need to get an amp from Marshall except that it has reliable superior quality. And if you’re looking for a simple yet powerful amp, the Marshall CODE should do the trick for you.
This 100-watt modeling guitar amp has two powerful 12-inch speakers. It also has an impressive set of 14 digital preamp models, 4 digital power amp models, and 24 onboard FX, along with speaker emulation.
But the list doesn’t end there – the Marshall CODE also supports Bluetooth connectivity, making it a very convenient tool to work with. And it also comes with a 2-channel foot switch. In my opinion, you can’t get another amp as good as this with such a high value.
- Has a lot of power at 100 watts with a strong and durable build Comes with high-quality components
- Created by one of the world’s top instrument makers
- Impressive sound quality
- Sound of the presets are not as good as other options The quality of sound on the bottom end at higher volumes need improvement
Peavey Vypyr VIP 1 – 20 Watt Modeling Instrument Amplifier
The Peavey Vypyr amp was made for versatility. For the first time ever, an electric guitar player can also have access to instrument models with just one amp. So if you’re a musician who likes to morph style from bass to acoustic or electric amps, this is the best option for you.
The Peavey Vypyr is also one of the few which contains a powerful combo of 32-bit floating point SHARC processors and Transtube analog circuitry. Simply put, it means that this amp is one of the best-sounding modeling amps today.
The best thing about this amp, in my opinion, is the fact that everything can be controlled on the amp itself. No need for extra tools or fancy apps. Although I do love my apps and gadgets, this one is for those who want something simple and straightforward.
- An electric guitar amp that can access instrument modes
- Provides high quality consistent clean sounds
- Simple and straightforward with its intuitive WYSIWYG layout
- Has a steep learning curve when adjusting the amp
Quilter 101 Reverb 50W Guitar Amplifier Head
The Quilter 101 Reverb comes with a powerful 50-watt volume and although that may not sound like much, this guitar amp head comes with popular features such as the limiter and FX loop. It also comes with the three-knob EQ section for bass and treble control.
The active mid control on this amp provides a stronger voice and a boost function for increased versatility and frequencies that give an aggressive bite.
While this amp isn’t exactly the option to pick as a support for all your pedals, this amp is in this list because exactly because it is a full-featured guitar. It has all the tones from pedals you might need, giving you more room to experiment with more.
Personally, I believe that this amp is perfect for those who like playing around with tones without having to pack more pedals.
- Robust
- Well-made and has great craftsmanship
- Comes with EQ section
- Limiter and FX loop for sound control
- Features a wide range of tonal possibilities
- Pricey compared to other options offering almost the same features
Fender Champion 20 Electric Guitar Amplifier
The Fender Champion 20 is a long-standing favorite of ours. There’s just a lot to love about this amp with qualities that are hard to beat. No matter how many times we’ve mentioned the Fender Champion before, we never get tired talking about it.
In my opinion, the best thing about the Fender Champion is its portability. This amp sports a compact and lightweight design that makes traveling with music a breeze. It is also very easy to use and friendly enough for beginners to start jamming with. And thanks to its straightforward controls, this amp isn’t just easy, it’s convenient even for the more experienced guitar players.
My favorite part about the Fender Champion is in its cool effects and versatile amp voicing. This amp makes it so easy to dial in just the right sounds for blues, rock, metal, jazz, and many more. Like I said, this one is hard to beat.
- Compact and lightweight
- Perfect for both private practice and gigging
- Offers a variety of cool effects and plenty of amp voicing possibilities
- Super affordable
- Fits the budget of any beginner on a budget
- Not enough power for larger gigs and live performances
How To Choose The Best Solid State Amps For Pedals
Musical expression can be achieved in many ways, thanks to the many effects and features that allow sound shaping on amps. But one of the best ways a guitar player can do to give his sound more flavor and personality is to use pedals.
But then again, not all amps work best with pedals. To find the best solid state amp for pedals, you need to get one that is clean and effects-free since this will give the pedals more room to shine.
Editor’s Choice
The CRUSH12 Guitar Amp Combo takes the crown as the best solid state amp for pedals. While it has a plenty of effects to offer, the CRUSH12 is also capable of producing a really clean tone.
We chose this amp as the winner simply because it is affordable and accessible to both beginners and more experienced players. It is consistent in terms of quality and it also provides the user with a lot of room for musical creativity.
I have the fender mustang and theres no overdrive or distortion pedal that can work on it, i tried it and they all sound like crap. Same for the Blackstar.