The modeling amps on our list offer a range of features and options, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs. Whether you’re looking for an amp for beginners or professionals, we’ve got you covered.
A modeling amp is a type of amplifier that uses software to emulate the sound and operational parameters (e.g., distortion, preamp gain) of other amplifiers such as vintage amps through digital signal processing technology.
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Buying Guide
Your budget:
The first and most important step in choosing a modeling amp is to set a budget for buying one. Even if you have saved up enough money to buy the best amp on the market, choose something within your price range so you don’t have to spend as much as possible on the amp only to find out that it doesn’t perform well enough for your needs. This can be very frustrating at times.
Your needs:
As I have mentioned above, every guitarist will have different needs. Some players might want something simple with few controls, while others may prefer something with more features. But you have to keep in mind that the more features an amp has, the more it will cost.
Your style of music:
The type of music you’re playing is very important factor to consider when choosing a modeling amp. For example if you are into jazz music, an amp that offers high gain channel may be useless for your needs.
5 Best Modeling Amps Reviewed
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1. Fender Mustang GTX 100 Digital Modeling Combo Amplifier
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The first amp we’ve chosen is the Fender Mustang GTX. This is a relatively low-cost amp that offers a wide range of sounds and effects. It provides you with 100 presets to choose from, includes an onboard tuner, and comes with 2 channels, which you can switch between with a footswitch or tap button.
Pros:
- Can be used as a guitar amp or for recording by connecting it with a digital interface.
- Very easy to use, since you only have to dial in the sound you want and the amp will do the rest.
- Sounds great for both clean and distorted sounds, has a nice clean boost that can be used for solos. Has both channels which you can toggle between with a footswitch.
Cons:
- Even if it provides a variety of sounds, some users have complained that the presets are not as good as those offered by the Fender Mustang Studio.
2. VOX Valvetronix VT20X Modeling Amplifier,Black
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After the Fender Mustang, we chose the VT20X. The VT has a similar amp model system, but it also allows you to run a speaker simulator and a customizable tone stack. It comes with 100 presets, including 10 for distortion and 10 for clean sounds.
Pros:
- It provides a variety of sounds. You can choose between clean, distorted or speaker-simulated, depending on your needs.
- Has high and low gain channels so you can adjust the amount of gain to use for sustaining solos. The amp even has a toggle switch from clean to distortion for those who want it loud and clear.
- Comes with a speaker simulator that can be used for recording or for tuning your instrument.
Cons:
- It’s not very loud! Even if you’re using it at half power, the sound may still be too loud for some studios.
3. VOX MINI3 G2 Battery Powered Modeling Amp, 3W, Classic (MINI3G2CL)
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The third amp we’ve chosen is the VOX MINI3. This amp is relatively cheap, only costs about $100. It provides a variety of sounds and has a clean boost channel to make your sound crisper. Of course, it also comes with 2 channels which you can toggle between with a footswitch or tap button.
Pros:
- It’s very quiet, even in half power mode. You can even use it in a silent studio without having to reduce the volume.
- It can produce a wide variety of sounds. You can dial in one of the 100 presets or you can create your own custom sound just for you.
- Although it is quiet, it still packs a punch, so you don’t have to worry about feedback. It also doesn’t have an excessive amount of distortion or noise.
Cons:
- The effects are not as good as those included in the Fender Mustang or the VOX MINI3 GT1.
4. Peavey Vypyr VIP 1 Guitar Modeling Amp
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The Peavey Vypyr is a very interesting amp which provides great value for money. It has several different types of channels and even includes an auto-switch feature which mimics your playing style to create automatic changes in your sound.
Pros:
- It comes with 131 presets, letting you to mimic the sound of legendary artists like Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix, or you can choose from the 6 tone presets.
- It has a very intuitive interface that makes it easy to adjust your sounds.
- The amp is quite loud and doesn’t have a large amount of noise. It also packs a punch, so you don’t have to worry about feedback on stage.
Cons:
- Some users have complained that Peavey Vypyr isn’t as good as the Fender Mustang or the VOX MINI3 GT1.
5. Line 6 Spider V 60 MKII
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The Line 6 Spider V is another amp that provides a great value for money. It comes with over 100 presets, including tones based on famous artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan or Eric Clapton.
Pros:
- Has a speaker simulator, which can be used for tuning your instrument.
- It’s relatively quiet and doesn’t acquire much noise. You can even use it without connecting it to an amplifier at all and still get great sound quality.
- It’s very easy to use and it even offers tuner, reverb and delay effects that can be used for recording or live performance.
Cons:
- Since it offers so many sounds, sometimes users are not able to find the sound they are looking for.
Conclusion:
These 5 modeling amps work great, although they aren’t as good as those from Fender or VOX. These 5 picks are mostly aimed at beginners and intermediate players who want to start experimenting with different sounds without spending too much money on a new amp.
If you’re a beginner, I would suggest that you still think about investing in a new amp for your practice room or bedroom since it can be a good investment for the long run.
FAQ:
Q: What are the benefits of modeling amps?
A: – Bluetooth sharing presets. – MP3 line. – Full color display screen. – Volume ranges for home practice and gigging at a variety of venue sizes.
Q: Are modeling amps any good?
A: Where Do You Want to Play? The good thing about modeling amps is that they can serve as a practice amp, studio amp and live amp, as the onboard digital effects and amp models make them useful for any setting.
Q: What is the best modeling guitar amp?
A: The best modelling amp for metal will be any modelling amp that has a great high-gain setting on it emulated American style amps. The Boss Katana amps have got fantastic high-gain sounds on them but you also wouldn’t go wrong with the Fender Mustang GT range or anything by Blackstar.
Q: What is the best modeling amplifier?
A: Fender Mustang GT 40 Bluetooth Enabled Solid State Modeling Guitar Amplifier. The Fender Mustang GT 40 measures 18 x 12.2 x 11.1 inches and weighs 17.3 lbs. … VOX Valvetronix VT20X Modeling Amplifier. The VOX Valvetronix VT20X Modeling Amplifier measures 19.7 x 9.8 x 16.9 inches and weighs in at 14lbs. VOX MINI3 G2 Battery Powered Modeling Amp. …