If you’re searching for some of the best modeling amps under $500, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s article, I’m going to highlight some of the coolest and most affordable modeling amps available on the market right now. Surely, this article will help you to find your next guitar amp!
The truth is that finding a good and reliable modeling amp is not that easy. Especially if your budget is really tight! Nevertheless, there’s still quite a few great modeling combos that feature a great quality at a relatively low price.
That’s why I decided to create a list of 8 best modeling amps under $500. Feel free to check out the list below and scroll down to the next section if you want to read more about each of these models. Of course, the sound demos and video reviews are included too, so you’ll be able to hear how it sounds.
Best Modeling Amps Under $500 – List
| Peavey Vypyr VIP 1 | See on Amazon | – |
| Fender Mustang LT-50 | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| VOX Cambridge 50 | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| BOSS Katana-50 MK II | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Marshall MG30GFX | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| VOX Mini GO | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Fender Champion 20 (My Favorite!) | See on Amazon | See on Thomann |
| Line 6 Spider Jam | See on Amazon | – |
1. Peavey Vypyr VIP 1
Peavey Vypyr VIP 1 is a very popular and inexpensive modeling combo suitable for the most demanding guitarists. Considering how cheap and versatile it is, it’s definitely worth the money!
What makes it so good? Well, it offers 20 Watts of power, a 8″ speaker, 36 amp presets and 20 built-in effects. In addition, it has a USB interface that allows you to record, edit presets and update firmware.
When it comes to tone, the versatility of that thing is absolutely amazing. I think that this amp will be ideal especially for amateur guitarists who don’t know much about guitar effects yet. This combo will help you to find and shape your favorite tone. The amount of tonal possibilities is just endless!
It is also worth mentioning that Peavey Vypyr VIP 1 is also really affordable. It’s actually one of the cheapest amps on today’s list. So if you’re on a tight budget, you should definitely give this amp a chance. In my opinion, the Vypyr VIP 1 is one of the best modeling amps under $500.
Here’s the sound demo.
2. Fender Mustang LT-50
Fender Mustang LT-50 is an another very popular and affordable modeling amp suitable for all-level players. This particular model is a bit more expensive than Peavey Vypyr mentioned earlier, but it’s totally worth it.
The amp offers 50 Watts of power, a 12″ speaker, 20 amp voicings and 30 built-in presets. In addition, there’s also 30 empty slots for presets created by you! As you can imagine, the Mustang LT-50 gives you access to a really wide range of different tones.
If you’re searching for a reliable and versatile modeling combo, the Mustang LT-50 is the way to go. It offers a lot of great clean and distorted tones. What’s more, it can get very loud, so it’s perfect for home practice, rehearsals and gigs.
The LT-50 model looks fantastic from the outside as well. There’s something really cool about that all-black, minimalistic and modern design. I’m sure that you’ll agree with me that it’s one of the best looking amps on today’s list!
Overall, the amp offers an extraordinary tone, a very cool design and it’s available at a relatively low price. Isn’t that all that really matters?
Here’s the sound demo.
3. VOX Cambridge 50
VOX Cambridge 50 is an another really cool and popular modeling amp that deserves a lot of recognition. If you like the sound of the classic VOX tone, you should definitely take a moment to check out this model.
The Cambridge 50 features 50 Watts of power, a 12″ speaker, 11 different amp models (including the legendary VOX AC30) and 8 various built-in effects (including chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, two types of delay and two types of reverb). These features mean that this combo is extremely versatile and it can be used in a lot of different styles of music!
What’s interesting, this particular combo is equipped with a Nutube preamp section, which is a pretty innovative solution. Although it’s not a classic tube amp, it imitates the tube tone pretty efficiently.
Undoubtedly, a lot of musicians will appreciate the high quality and versatility of VOX Cambridge 50. Although it’s not the cheapest combo on today’s list, it’s definitely one of the best modeling amps available under $500. That’s why I highly encourage you to check it out!
Here’s the demo.
4. BOSS Katana-50 MK II
BOSS Katana-50 MK II is one of the most popular modeling amps available on the market right now. In comparison with some of the other amps on today’s list, it’s much more affordable and it sounds absolutely amazing.
The amp features 50 Watts of power, a 12″ speaker, a 3-band EQ, 5 different amp voicings and 60 effects that you can use to experiment with new tones. As you can imagine, having that many options means that this combo is suitable for playing all of the styles music.
I have to admit that I’m not surprised that the Katana-50 MK II is so popular. Thanks to the high versatility, great tone and low price, this is definitely one of the best modeling amps available under $500.
Undoubtedly, a lot of guitarists are going to love it. I have no hesitation in recommending this combo to all guitarists who are searching for reliable and affordable modeling amp.
Here’s the sound demo.
5. Marshall MG30GFX
Marshall MG30GFX is a really powerful and affordable modeling amp suitable for the most demanding guitarists. It can be efficiently used for both practicing and gigging and it’s particularly loved by all fans of rock and metal.
What makes it so cool? Well, the amp features 30 Watts of power, a 10″ speaker, a 3-band EQ and 4 different channels (Clean, Crunch, OD1 and OD2) that offer a lot of versatility when it comes to tone. In addition, it has a few built-in effects (such as reverb, delay and more) that are perfect for experimenting with new sounds.
Amps manufactured by Marshall are very often used for rock, grunge, alternative and metal music, so if you’re into this kind of vibe, you should definitely give this combo a chance. Surely, it will motivate you to become a better guitar player.
I have to admit that it’s one of my favorite modeling amps of all time. It’s not that expensive, it sounds very powerful and it has the classic Marshall look. Who needs anything else? That’s why I highly recommend checking it out!
Here’s the sound demo.
6. VOX Mini GO
VOX Mini GO is a really interesting and great sounding amp suitable for all-level players. This is a portable amp, so it’s perfect for home practice and live performances. It is also very often used by street musicians.
The Mini GO features 50 Watts of power, a 8″ speaker, a built-in looper, 9 amp voicings and 8 different effects. You can also power it with a few batteries, so it’s extremely useful when you want to play in a place that has no power supply (such as a crowded street). The sound of VOX Mini GO can be described as punchy, powerful and versatile.
Undoubtedly, this is one of the best modeling combos under $500. If you’re searching for a high quality portable amp, you should definitely give it a chance. This is a perfect companion of any songwriter!
Here’s the sound demo.
7. Fender Champion 20
Fender Champion 20 is one of the most popular and most affordable amps on today’s list. It’s suitable for both amateur and advanced guitarists. I’m actually using that model on a daily basis for home practice and I have to admit that it’s one of my favorites!
Why is it so special? Well, the amp features 20 Watts of power, a 8″ Fender speaker and a wide selection of different amp voicings and built-in effects. The amount of various tones that you can get with the Champion 20 is absolutely amazing. Whether you’re searching for a bit of reverb, delay, chorus or tremolo – this amp won’t disappoint you.
It is also worth mentioning that Fender Champion 20 looks fantastic from the outside too. It is much more complex than the popular Fender Frontman 10G and it’s made with a thorough precision. I’m sure that a lot of guitarists will appreciate its look and high quality.
Overall, I have no hesitation in recommending this combo to all musicians who are searching for a reliable and great sounding amp. This is definitely one of the best and most versatile modeling amps that you can find under $500.
Here’s my video review of that combo. Feel free to check it out and consider subscribing to my YouTube channel – there’s a lot of demos in there!
8. Line 6 Spider Jam
Line 6 Spider Jam is an another great modeling amp suitable for the most demanding guitarists. This is a really powerful combo that can be efficiently used for rehearsals and gigs with a loud band.
The amp features 75 Watts of power, a 12″ speaker, 12 amp models, 400 presets and a built-in looper. As you can imagine, this combo gives you access to an extremely wide range of different tones. This means that if you decide to get it, it will definitely inspire you to practice more to become a better guitarist!
The main disadvantage of the Spider Jam amp is that it’s quite large and heavy. Transporting that massive combo is not that easy, so bear in mind that it is not a small and portable amp.
But overall, Line 6 Spider Jam is one of the best modeling amps available under $500. It may not be the cheapest amp on today’s list, but it definitely deserves a lot of attention. Especially if you’re searching for something very powerful!
Here’s the sound demo.
FAQ
Are modeling amps worth it?
Yes, modeling amps are definitely worth it! They are usually very versatile, so they are perfect for guitarists who want to experiment with sounds without buying various different guitar effects. In addition, they’re usually very affordable.
Are modeling amps good with pedals?
Most of the time, modeling amps work very well with guitar pedals. Nevertheless, since the modeling amps are already equipped with a lot of built-in effects, there’s a high chance that you won’t even need to use additional pedals.
Do pickups matter with modeling amps?
Yes, the pickups affect your final tone, even if you’re using a modeling amp.
Summary
As you can see, there’s quite a lot of great modeling amps out there. I’m convinced that if you stick to the options mentioned above, you won’t be disappointed! Personally, I’d choose one of the amps by Fender or Marshall – I’m a huge fan of their gear!
Which modeling amp would you choose and why? Leave a comment in the comments section below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts.
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