Top Combo Amps for Guitar – Compact and Versatile Performers

Last Updated: Apr-25-2019 In our most recent revisit to this combo-focused article, we gave our chart a bit of a reshuffle. We removed the Vox Custom AC15C2, and inserted two new additions. These were the impressive tube VOX AC4HW1 and the affordable Boss Katana KTN-100.

When combo amplifiers were introduced in the 1930s, they had a slow start. However, as the units became more advanced, they eventually proved a hit with guitarists. Now, we couldn’t imagine the guitar world without them! Whether it’s a tiny practice amp or a mega 100-watt combo fit for the stage, these amps prove a convenient, versatile and user-friendly way to get some serious sound out of your guitar. Today we are taking a look at some of the best amplifiers on the market that are combos. After a brief overview of our picks, we will dive into a guide to combo amps, answering a few often-asked questions along the way. The time for talking is over – let’s get to it!

9 Best Combo Amps

What is a Combo Amplifier?

A combo amp – short for a combination amplifier – is one of the two commonly used types of guitar amp (the other being an amp head). How do combos get their name? Because they combine both the amplifier and the speaker into a single cabinet. You will tend to find that combo amps dominate the more affordable segments of the market, although they are certainly present in the higher end too. The sheer popularity of combo amps has led to a huge number of models hitting the market in the past several decades, all with different features. For example, combination amplifiers can use either vacuum tube or solid-state technology; they can be big and heavy or small and portable; and powerful enough for a huge stage or quiet enough for home practice.

The Benefits of Combo Amps

As we touched upon, these days there are two standardized types of guitar amplifiers: combos and amp heads – the latter of which are usually hooked up to standalone cabinets/speakers and referred to as ‘stacks’. When it comes to the stack setup, the main drawback is that you have to buy the head and then spend a similar amount of money on the speaker cabinet. However, with a combo, everything you need comes in a single package that’s ready to go as soon as you open the box. As well as being a simpler purchase, combos are more convenient when transporting the amp (even if they are generally heavier than their amp head equivalents). For example, you could be practicing on your combo at home one night, taking it to a pal’s house to jam the next day, moving it to the studio the day after that, then gigging with it on the weekend. Just grab and go – no need to carry a separate speaker and connection leads.

Always Built for The Best Sound

Some players will look towards amp head and cabinet stacks for the ultimate versatility in tone – and they are right. Different amp heads offer subtle differences in tone and the same can be said about speaker cabs. So, it’s very appealing to choose the exact amp head you want, then pair it with your favorite cab – whether from the same brand or mixing and matching (a Peavy head with a Marshall cab for example). However, this freedom can be a double-edged sword. Just as a specific speaker cab can improve the performance and sound of an amp, pairing the wrong equipment can ruin it. With combos, this problem doesn’t exist, as the amp has been expertly designed so that the speakers specifically match that amplifier to deliver the best tone and performance.

Can You Use Combos on Stage?

The short answer to this question is a strong yes. Combination amps are used on stages of all sizes around the world every day, and are particularly popular with country, pop and blues players. They are ideal for smaller gigs, such as halls, clubs and bars instead of outdoor festivals and stadiums where a stack is the more popular choice. The main limitation of using a combo on stage is that they are often limited in power compared to amp heads. From a purely practical point of view, a powerful amp head and a big cabinet will give you so much more power than any combo, proving the better solution for biggest stages. Combos can indeed be hooked up to external speakers, so you can use it on the biggest stages too, but you have to ensure the amp provides a line out for standalone speaker cabinets – many combo amps don’t offer this.

How to Choose the Best Combo Amp for You

One of the best things about combos is how different they all are – they come in a variety of sizes, shapes, flavors and price ranges. You can find some amazing combo amps with great power, tone and versatility for under a hundred bucks, but good luck finding a similar amp head for the same amount of money. Choosing the right combo for your needs depends on a number of things, including your budget and your aspirations. If you are just starting out in the world of guitar and are looking for a basic budget amp, you probably don’t need to put too much thought into it, as a beginner’s amp will offer everything you need in terms of basic power, tone and control. But as you move up the experience ladder and are shopping for your second or third amp, you need to consider what you are going to be doing with the amp. Are you looking for something that’s going to be used exclusively for home practice? Or are you in the market for a gigging workhorse that may also be used in a recording studio when you’re not touring? If you are planning to gig in a year but need to buy a new amp today, it’s worth investing in an amp capable of gigging now, otherwise you’ll be back on this page again in a year looking to buy another amp! The rule of thumb is to buy in as high a price category as your budget allows. If you can stretch to a $300 amp instead of a $200 amp, the power, sound and features can be triple what you’d expect to find in the lower price range. If not, the best advice we can offer is to try to find an amp that sounds good to you. Take advice from reviews, friends and experts, but ultimately make the decision based on the amp that sounds the best to you and offer the features you require.

Same Brand, Different Styles

As you look around the amp market, you’ll soon notice that some brands offer the same amp model in both combo and head form. Why make both? The only reason for this is that brands know that guitarists want the choice – some love the convenience of having the amp and speaker together in one box, others want the flexibility to mix and match with an external speaker. Is one better than the other? Again, no – it’s down to personal choice. Although the different design can affect the overall sound of the model. For example, at the highest volumes, if you are testing Model A (stack) and Model B (combo), you’ll probably notice that Model A offers more low-end thump as the cabinet is bigger. This is why metalheads tend to go with stacks!

The Final Word

Despite amp heads being the amp aficionado’s choice, combo amplifiers are as popular as ever with both pros and beginners alike. Whatever your budget, style and ultimate goal, we hope our chart has offered a little inspiration when looking for a good amp, although there are many more out there. Read some reviews, watch some videos and test some out if you have the chance. Good luck!