Published on this page in the GuitarFella archive — what our editors chose at the time, not a lab test.
Last Updated: Apr-25-2019
We decided to revamp this article on the best metal guitars by adding a few new models. First, we removed the older Peavey ValveKing II, then inserted the intense Randall EOD88 Head, as well as the powerful Blackstar HT Stage 60 Mark II combo.
From neoclassical to industrial, death to thrash, djent to speed, the world of metal is loud, brash and utterly awesome. It’s a style that truly pushes guitarists, guitars and gear to the extreme.
But having an awesome high-end axe with powerful active humbuckers won’t cut it if your amp isn’t capable of delivering the insane overdrive and articulation that metal requires. Which is why a dedicated metalhead needs a dedicated metal amp.
Of course, you’ve come to the right place, as we have put together a short rundown of some
excellent guitar amps that are ideal for hard rock and heavy metal. We’ve highlighted some true legends, as well as some awesome affordable amps worth considering.
Stick around after the chart where we take a closer look at what makes a good metal amp and what to look out for when shopping for one.
7 Best Amplifiers For Metal
What Makes a Great Amp for Metal?
Perhaps one of the most common questions people getting into metal tend to ask is whether there is such a thing as a guitar amp designed specifically for metal. And it’s a good question!
Technically any decent amp should be able to deliver the goods, but – as you will have seen on our chart above – there are some amps that excel at metal.
These amps share some traits. For example, the amount of gain on offer. Highly-saturated overdriven tones, chunky rhythms and searing hot leads define the metal genre, so a good metal amp will be able to offer the most aggressive, face-melting distortion you can imagine, while still remaining clear, punchy and articulate.
While you can play metal on some good all-rounders (that may also perform well for blues and jazz styles), these amps rarely offer the extreme metal sounds a dedicated metalhead would need.
Should You Go for a Tube or Solid-State Amp?
Of course, the age-old debate over
tube amps and
solid-state amps extends into the world of metal. While the difference between the two is far less noticeable in this genre, that doesn’t mean it’s non-existent.
The majority of amps in our chart are tube amplifiers, which suggest tubes deliver a pretty great metal tone. This is true as they deliver a rich and full overdrive that sounds warm and natural and is very responsive to your playing style, while still being able to go insanely heavy. If you have the money and experience, a tube amp is well worth exploring.
However, solid-state amps can also deliver a tight, aggressive and consistent metal tone and are preferred by many guitarists. In addition to the severe metal tones on offer, solid-state amps provide guitarists with other benefits including the fact that they tend to be cheaper, lighter and easier to maintain.
But there is no right answer – the choice will come down to you as the guitarist, based on your style, your budget and your preference.
Why Not Just Use Effects Pedals?
Guitarists will know that you can also use both multi-effects pedals and dedicated metal pedals to achieve some insane metal tones. In most instances you can combine a good amp and a decent pedal to achieve an awesome tone.
However, as good as some distortion pedals are, they still fall a little short of the tone delivered from a devoted metal tube amp that’s saturated with gain. For the best tone, use effects pedals to complement a good amp, not use instead of.
Playing Blues on a Metal Amp
Don’t judge a book by its cover – just because an amp boasts an epic overdrive channel doesn’t mean it can’t be used for anything other than metal. In fact, most of the models we have listed in our chart are perfectly suitable for a wide range of music, from blues to jazz (providing you turn the gain down first!).
One thing worth noting is that some of these metal-oriented tube amps may not offer crystal clear clean channels. After fiddling around with the volume and tone settings on both the amp and guitar, you can certainly find very acceptable cleans, but usually there will be some grit to the sound.
If you are keen to play country and jazz alongside metal – or just want pristine clean channels for certain parts of a song – a solid-state modelling amp may suit you better than some tube amps.
The Final Word
There we have it! Whether it’s Metallica, Meshuggah, Avenged Sevenfold, or Rammstein that floats your boat, the models we have highlighted above should at least give you some inspiration when shopping for a suitable metal amp.
Every guitarist’s taste is different, so get out there and find the tone that suits your playing style. Don’t just settle for the first amp that comes along. Your journey to finding the perfect metal tone might end up being a long one, but nothing beats the feeling when you do eventually find it.