If you’re looking for some of the best amp heads for rock and metal, 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 amps of this type that are available on the market right now.
Finding a good and reliable amp head is not that easy. Especially if your budget is really limited! But once you know what to search for, it all becomes much clearer. There’s still quite a few inexpensive amp heads that are designed for rock and metal music.
That’s why I decided to create a list of 10 best and most affordable amp heads! All of the models mentioned in today’s article are not too expensive and they feature an absolutely amazing quality. Check out the list below and scroll down to the next section if you want to read more about each of these amps.
10 Best Amp Heads For Rock & Metal – List
| Marshall SC20H Studio Classic | See on Amazon | Thomann |
| Orange Micro Terrror | See on Amazon | Thomann |
| EVH 5150III LBXII | See on Amazon | – |
| Peavey Classic 20 MH | See on Amazon | – |
| Orange Super Crush 100 | See on Amazon | Thomann |
| Peavey 6505 MH | See on Amazon | – |
| Marshall M-DSL1HR-U | See on Amazon | Thomann |
| Boss Katana Head MkII | See on Amazon | Thomann |
| Randall RG1503H | See on Amazon | – |
| Marshall Origin 50H | See on Amazon | Thomann |
1. Marshall SC20H Studio Classic
Marshall SC20H offers the legendary JCM 800 tone in a powerful 20-Watt head. This particular model is ideal for all lovers of heavy metal!
This is a tube amp, so it is equipped with three preamp tubes (12AX7) and two power tubes (EL34). What’s important, the amp head also features a 3-band EQ with the presence control as well as separate preamp and master knobs that allow to use the high-gain at low volumes.
What’s important, the SC20H also features some really nice cleans, so it’s not only made for high-gain riffs.
Overall, this is a fantastic and versatile piece of gear. If you’re searching for a great sounding and affordable amp head for rock and metal, you should definitely give the Marshall SC20H a chance. There’s a high chance that you’re going to love it.
Here’s the sound demo.
2. Orange Micro Terrror
Orange Micro Terrror is a small amp head which offers a great tone at a pretty cheap price. Honestly, it’s really surprising that an amp of this size can actually sound that good.
What makes it so special? Well, the amp features 20 Watts of power, a tube preamp (12AX7) and a really solid construction that should last you for years to come. In addition, there’s a headphone out, so you can easily practice without annoying your neighbors.
Overall, this is a really good and inexpensive amp head suitable for home use. It works perfectly fine as a practice amp for both amateur and more advanced guitar players. If that’s what you’re searching for, you should definitely check it out.
Here’s the sound demo.
3. EVH 5150III LBXII
EVH 5150III LBXII is an another amazing tube amp head which is perfect for all lovers of rock and metal. If you love Eddie Van Halen, you should definitely consider getting this particular model!
The amp offers 15 Watts of power, two footswitchable channels (clean and crunch) and high quality preamp and power tubes (JJ EL84 and JJ ECC83S). On top of that, there’s also a 1/4 power switch, which allows you to achieve a high quality tone at low volumes.
Who is it for? Well, I think that this amp head is perfect for both beginners and more intermediate players. It can be efficiently used for home practice and small gigs.
The only disadvantage of it is that it’s quite expensive. Nevertheless, this is one of the best tube amp heads out there! That’s why I highly encourage you to check it out.
Here’s the sound demo.
4. Peavey Classic 20 MH
Peavey Classic 20 is an another excellent tube amp head suitable for the most demanding rock and metal guitarists.
This particular model features 20 Watts of power, high quality preamp tubes (3 x 12AX7/ECC83) and power (2 x EL84) tubes, a 3-band EQ, two footswitchable channels and a built-in reverb. It is also worth mentioning that it looks fantastic from the outside as well – there’s something really cool about that lacquered tweed design.
The Classic 20 MH works perfectly with guitar pedals as well. Surely, a lot of guitarists will appreciate its high quality. The versatility of this amp is really amazing.
What’s important, you can easily switch the settings of that amp head to use either 20 Watts, 5 Watts or 1 Watt of power. This is a really big advantage, because it allows you to use that amp head at low volume as well!
Here’s the sound demo.
5. Orange Super Crush 100
Orange Super Crush 100 is an affordable and powerful solid-state amp head designed for all enthusiasts of rock and metal music.
The amp features 100 Watts of tube-emulated power, footswitchable channels, a 3-band EQ with 4 stages of gain, a built-in reverb and a FX loop. As you can imagine, this means that this is an extremely versatile amplifier! It’s suitable for the vast majority of music genres from blues and rock up to grunge and metal.
Undoubtedly, this is one of the best amp heads for rock and metal that are available on the market right now. Considering the fact that it’s far more affordable than other amp heads on today’s list, it definitely deserves a lot of attention.
Here’s the sound demo.
6. Peavey 6505 MH
Peavey 6505 MH is an another excellent mini tube amp head which offers a great tone and a long-term performance.
This particular model features 20/5/1 Watts of power, high quality preamp and power tubes, a 3-band EQ, footswitchable channels and a really solid construction. It also looks great from the outside – there’s something really cool about the classic design of that black tolex!
Overall, the 6505 MH is ready to rock. Whether you’re searching for an efficient amp head for gigs or a great sounding piece of gear to practice with at home, this model won’t disappoint you.
Although it’s not the cheapest amp head on today’s list, it definitely deserves a lot of attention. That’s why I highly encourage you to check it out!
Here’s the sound demo.
7. Marshall M-DSL1HR-U
Marshall M-DSL1HR-U is an another fantastic tube amp head suitable for the most demanding guitarists out there. This model is perfect for anyone who loves the classic Marshall tone!
The amp features 1 Watt of power, two individual channels (Classic Gain and Ultra Gain), high and low power modes, a 3-band EQ and a really good sounding built-in digital reverb. It’s really easy to use, so even beginners shouldn’t experience any problems with setting it up.
Who is it for? Well, the DSL1HR model is an excellent choice for any music studio or any bedroom. It works perfectly for recording, but many guitarists also use it as a practice amp as well.
Here’s the sound demo.
8. Boss Katana Head MkII
Boss Katana Head MkII is one of the most affordable and most popular solid-state amp heads that are available on the market. Although it’s not the best amp in the world, it’s totally worth it.
What makes it so special? Well, this particular model offers 100 Watts of power, an internal 5″ speaker (no cab required), five different amp voicings, lots of built-in effects and dedicated gain and EQ controls.
Overall, the versatility of this amp is absolutely amazing and it will be appreciated by the vast majority of guitar players. It sounds particularly well at low volume, so it’s perfect for home practice.
Considering how inexpensive this amp head is, it’s definitely worth every cent. If you’re looking for a good and reliable amp head for rock and metal, you should definitely consider getting this model. There’s a really high chance that you’re going to love it.
Here’s the sound demo.
9. Randall RG1503H
Randall RG1503H is an another excellent and powerful amp head suitable for all rock and metal guitarists out there. In fact, it’s a really popular amp among all the metalheads out there.
What makes it so special? Well, this solid state amp head offers 150 Watts of power, so as you can imagine – it can get really loud. There’s also a 4-band EQ, mid scoop, bass boost and a spring reverb effect.
Who is it for? Well, the RG1503 head will be perfect for anyone who’s into metal music. This model is designed for heavy genres of music, so if you like to play that kind of stuff, you should definitely check it out. It’s not the best amp head in the world, but it definitely deserves a lot of attention.
Here’s the sound demo.
10. Marshall Origin 50H
Marshall Origin 50H is a high quality tube amp head that delivers a remarkable guitar tone. If you like the sound of the classic Marshalls, this amp is made for you.
This particular model offers 50 Watts of power and it’s equipped with three ECC83 preamp tubes and two EL34 power tubes. It also has individual Master and Gain controls that allow you to control the crunch level. There’s also a 3-band EQ and a presence knob, so as you can imagine – that gives you a lot of control over the guitar tone.
What’s important, the amp also offers the switchable 5W/10W/50W power, which means that you can easily enjoy a great tone at low volume as well.
Who is it for? Well, Marshall Origin 50H is extremely versatile, so it can be efficiently used for home practice, studio sessions and live gigs. Anyone who’s into rock and metal will appreciate the high quality of that tube amp head.
It is also worth mentioning that the Origin 50H looks fantastic from the outside as well. It’s really well made and it features a really cool, vintage aesthetic.
Here’s the sound demo.
FAQ
What is the point of an amp head?
The point of amp head is to process and amplify the guitar signal before it goes to the cabinet.
Can you play with just an amp head?
No, you can’t play with just an amp head. In short, the amp head is just a preamp and power amp section – there are no speakers.
Why are amp heads so expensive?
Amp heads tend to be more expensive than guitar combos, because they’re a bit more complex. It’s a niche technology, so it’s totally understandable that amp heads cost more than regular guitar amps.
Summary
As you can see, it’s totally possible to find a really good amp head that doesn’t cost thousands of dollars. I’m sure that if you stick to one of the models mentioned in today’s article, you will be really satisfied with your choice.
Which amp head to you think is best for rock and metal? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s guide, hopefully it was helpful. If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
