By Robin Owens 22 days ago, Photography Gear
Affordable and high-quality guitar amps under $100
It is a bad idea to purchase any first guitar amp that you stumble upon. Most likely, you will be disappointed by the sound quality, which may lead to extra difficulties appearing while you learn to play the guitar. Even if you are on a tight budget, it is still possible to find the best guitar amp under 100 dollars and We will explain how.
Below we have reviewed 13 best guitar amps under 100 dollars. At the end of the article, you will also see the criteria to look out for when choosing the best product.
Power: 10-watt | Digital inputs: 2 | Headphone output: Yes | USB: No
If you are planning to buy a guitar amplifier uinder 100$ and want to check out the specifications first, the VOX V9106 is one of the best options that you can go for. The V9 106 is equipped with many great features and is known as a professional guitar amplifier by many consumers. Since it is quite expensive compared to its peers, it is a must have for guitar players who want a professional looking guitar amplifier with numerous features and onboard functions.
In the process of reviewing the V9106, we tried using it with our basic guitar and it performed very well. It has the ability to run at high volumes without sacrificing the quality of the sound. In fact, it has the same features as the others in the market such as the onboard tuner, preamp simulation, etc... The cons of the Vio are that it has no modeling functions and built-in effects but you don’t need them and probably have pedals anyway.
Power: 20-watt | Digital inputs: 3 | Headphone output: Yes | USB: No
Fender has recently launched the Fender Champion series, a series of amps that use their new Fender amplified technology. These amps have all been given the same exact Fender styling and are available at the same great prices that everyone is used to. Like many guitar amplifiers in the Fender line, the Fender Champion 20 comes with a single preamp tube. One of the pros about this, is that it can handle both acoustic and electric guitars without any problems. The other two is that it has a true Class A amp which is quite loud for its size, even though it is a little bit on the pricey side.
In addition, the Fender Champ 20 comes with a nice preamp humbucker as well as two different types of pickup configurations. You will really like the sound of these pickups, they produce a nice, warm tone that seems almost like your acoustic guitar was attached to your headstock.
Power: 12-watt | Digital inputs: 2 | Headphone output: Yes | USB: No
Orange Amps Crush12 guitar AMP under 100$ is a known amplifier from Orange amplified products line. The guitar effects section features twelve gauge silicone nitro pre-istors and twelve voltages of high grade electrolytic capacitors. There are also six control knobs, a large bore style control knob, four more knobs for changeable phase and one large center knob to get the best sound possible out of your amp.
The Crush series by Orange AMPS has been around for a while and is known for its solid construction and great sound, and that is the main reason why this guitar amp has been a favorite among guitarists all over the world. Even though the guitar tone of the Orange Amps Crush12 is clean and refined, it does not sacrifice any of the inherent qualities of guitar amplification to achieve this.
Power: 3-watt | Digital inputs: 3 | Headphone output: Yes | USB: No
Blackstar FLY3 guitar amplifier is a very popular amp that was introduced to the market not so long time back. The first thing that we observed is that the Blackstar FLY3 guitar AMP under 100$ is actually an all in one product. It has all the features of an electric guitar amp with the tone control option.
It has a true-tube amp and gives you the opportunity to play with both the acoustic and the tone knobs. The pros of using this product are the durability, it is user friendly, and it does give you the high quality sound that you want to achieve. The cons however are the fact that it is expensive, which could be an issue if you are just starting out. It is also heavy, which could be an issue if you are using it while traveling and not practical for live use.
Power: 10-watt | Digital inputs: 3 | Headphone output: Yes | USB: No
With its custom-voiced built-in overdrive and Fender Blackface look, the Frontman 10G amp rocks guitar tones from tube emulations to full-strength ultra-saturated distortion. You'll love the Fender clean tone of this tube amp, and the price is right too. This amplifier is a great buy and delivers great quality tone for a low price.
The Fender Frontman 10G is a solid-state guitar amplifier that has a ten-watt power rating. The 10W power rating is more than enough for solo practice or a band gig, but the speaker's output is lacking in range and distorted tones are too harsh to be heard. It is a good choice for beginners, but the lack of tones and the low price make it less than desirable for intermediate to advanced players.
Power: 100-watt | Digital inputs: 1 | Headphone output: Yes | USB: No
VOX AP2AC guitar amplifier is a great addition to your collection of amps and one that could possibly even improve your guitar playing abilities. The best thing about this particular guitar amplifier is the fact that it does not cost as much as others, but features are way better than you are probably going to find on other models of amplifiers like the ones made by Yamaha, Roland, or some other famous manufacturer.
If you are not going to go for some of the features that it comes with, but would rather have features that would help you play better, then you can get a simple guitar amp that has all the same features and sounds just like the ones made by Yamaha and Roland.
Power: 3-watt | Digital inputs: 3 | Headphone output: Yes | USB: No
NUX Mighty Lite BT guitar amp is known for being incredibly reliable as well as being able to run off of just about any type of battery. This makes it very convenient if you are looking for a amp that you can take with you on the go. Most people who use NUX amps also have a guitar, pick up some gigs, or use the amplifier in conjunction with a mixing board. When you consider all of these options, then it becomes clear that the NUX amplifiers are worth having.
One of the best things about the guitar amplifier is that it is compatible with a vast array of guitars. In addition to that, it comes with a MIDI-enabled interface that would allow you to connect it to your computer, laptop, and even to a MP3 player or other audio device.
IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | |
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Vox V9106
Our choice
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CHECK PRICE → | ||
Fender Champion 20
AMP modeling
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CHECK PRICE → | ||
Orange Amps Crush12
Classic
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CHECK PRICE → |
The amp’s power rating (wattage) determines the available amount of volume. Let’s see in what way wattage and volume are connected to each other.
Expect a 10-watt amplifier to be considerably louder than a 1-watt amplifier and slightly louder than a 100-watt amplifier. Wattage also tells you about the potential “headroom”, which indicates the maximum loudness of the amplifier before its distortion. The majority of guitar amps under 100 dollars feature 10 watts or lower, so they are wonderful for personal use at home.
The speakers are shaped and sized differently. The most widespread speaker with a nice tonal balance is a 12” one. If you are after a warm and bass-concentrated tone, get a larger speaker. Smaller models are more suitable for those who appreciate a thin and bright tone. Since we can’t go beyond the limit of $100, you will find mainly small speakers in this price category. The absence of a bottom end doesn’t matter that much if you plan to use the guitar amp to practice.
Each amp, including the best guitar amp under 100 dollars, incorporates tone-shaping adjustments. These are also called an EQ section and feature bass, middle and treble in product details. These controls are responsible for modifying the tone of the guitar. Generally, the tone unites harmonics, sustain and frequency response (which is managed by EQ sections) generated by the guitar and amplifier.
The integrated effects are also present in the majority of guitar amps. The most popular effects are distortion and reverb ones. Thanks to the distortion, you will hear that recognizable tone in rock, blues and metal. The purpose of the reverb is to imitate the sound as if you are playing the guitar in a spacious room.
Among the additional outputs found in guitar amps, you will see a headphone jack and a line-out jack. With a headphone jack, you can plug in the headphones to play in silence. A line-out jack lets you connect directly to a PA system or recording console. The top-grade amps offer USB connectivity as well so that you can record straight to the computer. If you wish to adjust the amp’s parameters, look for the model that includes dedicated software.