Choosing the greatest punk rock amp might be difficult. In reality, selecting the ideal amplifier for any type of music may be difficult.
There are several types and brands to choose from, including Orange, Fender, Marshall, and Mesa Boogie, to name a few. But which is the finest punk rock amp? A high-gain amplifier will be required. Because punk rock isn’t metal, you don’t need a lot of gains. However, you must have that rich, saturated distortion.
A clean amp with pedals is a possibility, however, if you want to emulate the tone of popular punk rock bands, they all utilized high-gain amps. For that reason, we included the 4 best punk rock amps for you. If you are interested in these models, keep reading our 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock review for more information below.
Our Top Pick: Fender Champion 100
Description: The Fender Champion 100 was introduced in late 2013, and it is jam-packed with useful and fascinating features for any guitarist. Let’s go through the features that make it an excellent buy.
Features: The Fender Champion 100 features two separate channels and a footswitch to switch between them. It may also toggle the effects you use on each channel, giving you more options when playing.
We recall having to buy the footswitch separately when we got the amp, so having it included with the amp is a nice touch for consumers. If you are looking for the 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock, you should give this one a chance. This is probably one of the best 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock you can find.
The first channel features merely a volume knob, a two-band EQ (Treble and Bass), a knob to choose which effect to use, an FX Level knob to specify the quantity of that effect in your tone, and a tap tempo to help you dial in the proper rate on time-based effects like delay.
We are not sure why Fender included a two-band EQ on the first channel when the second has a three-band EQ, but there are workarounds, such as utilizing an EQ pedal like the Boss GE-7.
There are a few extra features on the second channel. The EQ has been expanded to include Treble, Middle, and Bass knobs, as well as a Gain knob and a Voice knob for switching between different amp voicings.
Jazz, Tweed, Blackface, British, and Metal are among them. Each of these voicings has a unique EQ curve that increases in gain from Jazz to Metal. The effects controls are identical to those found in the first channel.
The Fender Champion 100 is a very versatile amp capable of producing superb tones across a wide range of musical genres. There are a few extra features on the second channel. The EQ has been expanded to include Treble, Middle, and Bass knobs, as well as a Gain knob and a Voice knob for switching between different amp voicings.
Jazz, Tweed, Blackface, British, and Metal are among them. Each of these voicings has a unique EQ curve that increases in gain from Jazz to Metal. The effects controls are identical to those found in the first channel. The Fender Champion 100 is a very versatile amp capable of producing superb tones across a wide range of musical genres.
Pros
- If you need a lot of volumes, this is the tool for you
- Days of Clean Tone
- Transistor Amplifier Reliability
Cons
- A little heavy for those looking for a lighter option
Runner Up: HT-5R MKII Combo
Description: Blackstar has capitalized on two universal human truths with the HT-5R: everyone likes a good deal and everyone loves buttons. The HT-5R, priced at £349, comes with a super-spec, and the greatest news is that the manual’s hot air translates into concrete results.
Features: Pushing the overdrive side into red opens a full-bodied, brown-sounding snarl that sucks up classic rock riffage. When you plug in, you’re presented with a choice of two channels, each with separate gain and volume controls and both chasing the Marshall Class 5’s tone to the point of ‘eargasm.’
If you are looking for the 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock, you should give this one a chance. This is probably one of the best 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock you can find.
When you pluck hard at higher gain on the clean channel, you get a magnificent shimmer-with-attitude that frays wonderfully around the edges, while pushing into the red on the overdrive side unlocks a full-bodied, brown-sounding bark that sucks up classic rock riffage.
To be sure, there’s only one set of Treble, Mid, and Bass knobs to serve both channels, but after you’ve dialed in some digital reverb to coat your licks in an ambient sheen, you’ll forgive the HT-5R.
The Infinite Shape Feature from Blackstar may appear to be a gimmick, but it actually expands the sonic palette, spinning your tone from a tight-bottomed US grind to a woodier British boom.
Whereas most valves offer only one tone, the HT-5R’s qualities add together to give it a true feeling of variety. When Blackstar designed the HT-5R MkII, they aimed to not only equal or beat the tones of their own amps, but also match or beat the tones of electric guitar amplifiers costing up to five times as much.
The clean channel possesses clarity and note definition that are uncommon on amps in this price range, especially at five watts. When you switch to the gain channel, you’ll notice how wonderful the sound is over the whole spectrum of overdrive.
The original HT-5R was a hugely popular amplifier. Blackstar outperforms it with the MkII. Because of Blackstar’s Infinite Shape Feature, the Blackstar HT-5R MkII has a wide range of tube tones (ISF). This function alters the EQ curves of the amplifier’s Bass, Middle, and Treble settings.
When completely completed, you’ll give your voice an American flavor, with a tight bottom end and a forceful middle.
Pros
- Price
- Appears to be more adaptable than most of its competitors
Cons
- None
Best for Budget: Orange Crush 20RT
Description: This is an all-analog dual channel amp that delivers tube-like tones at bedroom-friendly volumes.
Features: The Orange Crush 20 is a solid-state 20W guitar practice amp with an all-analog signal path, foot-switchable clean and dirty channels, three-band EQ, aux in for playing along to music, and cab speaker imitation.
It’s ideal for guitarists who desire the iconic Orange sound in a tiny, uncomplicated, bedroom-friendly package. The Crush 20 was the version we tried, but it’s also available as the Crush 20RT, which features onboard reverb and a guitar tuner.
If you are looking for the 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock, you should give this one a chance. This is probably one of the best 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock you can find.
Starting with an SG via the clean channel, we were delighted with a warm and clear sound – especially in the middle and neck regions. There’s also a good presence to it, evocative of guitar amps with larger speakers than the 8″ used here.
We put a Strat, Telecaster, and Reverend equipped with P90s through it and was all impressed. The three-band EQ is really beneficial here – we found ourselves making modifications to fit the different pickup types, so you should be able to find the sweet spot that works for you regardless of the instrument or pickups you’re using.
Because it’s solid state, you’d think the clean channel would stay clean as you crank it up, but Orange tried to make the Crush 20 sound as much like a tube amp as possible, so as you crank it up, you’ll notice some natural breakdown.
It’s nice and clean till around 4, so it’s definitely over bedroom noise, but tolerable if you’re jamming with friends. It’s a fantastic recreation of tube breakup that’s ideal for blues and vintage rock.
The Crush 20’s nasty channel is great. There are four preamp stages, and you can tell the difference as you increase the gain. It can produce smooth overdrive, classic crunch, chunky distortion, and some fairly wicked high-gain tones.
This amp is ideal for virtually every musical genre, from country to heavy metal. It’s also a pretty good-sounding distortion – for the money, it’s probably as near to tube-like as you’ll get. It’s dynamic, but it doesn’t have the same feel or reaction as a tube amp.
Pros
- There are two foot-switchable channels
- Excellent tones
- The gain structure that is adaptable
- Easy to use and good value for money
Cons
- No effects
Marshall SC20H
Description: There’s no channel switching or reverb here; they are lighter, scaled-down remakes of classic Marshall amps. The Studio Vintage SC20H is built on a four-input, two-channel 1959SLP Super Lead Plexi.
Features: The Studio Vintage is a recreation of the 1959 Super Lead, the Silver Jubilee is a recreation of the Studio Jubilee, and the Studio Classic is inspired by the magnificent JCM800.
Each design is offered as a head with matching 2×12 or 1×12 cabs, or as a combination of the two. The Studio Classic head is around three-quarters the size of the original 2203 in appearance, with a full-width gold control panel, black fabric grill, white piping, and a re-sized Marshall logo.
A steel tray chassis supports two relatively tiny transformers and a big high-quality PCB that houses most of the electronics, including the valve sockets, inside the sturdy ply cabinet.
The knobs, input jacks, and rear panel connectors are supported by smaller boards, with wire bundles terminated by Molex connectors. It’s classic Marshall: clean, businesslike, and engineered to withstand the rigors of rock ‘n’ roll.
If you are looking for the 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock, you should give this one a chance. This is probably one of the best 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock you can find.
A pair of high and low sensitivity inputs feed a basic but effective preamp design with knobs for preamplifier and masters volume, bass, mid, treble, and presence. The standby switch has two output choices: full power (about 20 watts) and low power (approximately 5 watts).
Five speaker outlets on the back panel handle any cabinet connection through a simple series effects loop that can be toggled in and out of the circuit. A live or studio desk can be fed via an uneven DI output.
The Studio Classic sounds exactly like a JCM800, only with (slightly) lower volume settings. The treble response is strong, as in the original, and the preamp’s medium amplitude is best suited to meaty humbuckers in a mahogany-bodied guitar, such as a Les Paul.
When using single coils, you’ll find yourself turning off most of the treble and presence to get a balanced tone, sacrificing valuable gain in the process.
The 20-watt full power rating is more than adequate for most small to medium gigs when plugged into the matching 2×12 vertical cabinet, while the 5-watt alternative is suitable for studio and home use – provided you have understanding neighbors.
Pros
- Tones reminiscent of JCM
- Changing the power source
- Noise has been reduced
- Excellent construction quality
Cons
- Given the feature set, it is rather pricey
Buyer’s Guide for 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock
Dozens of players grew up as pop-punk enthusiasts and players. Whether you’re a beginner or want to update your gear, our knowledgeable team offers tips, tactics, and ideas to help you improve your tone.
What to Look for When Buying a Punk Rock Amplifier
In the punk music scene, not just any amplifier will do. according to this 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock review, some litmus tests you may apply to determine whether an amp will stand up in the punk rock scene are:
Volume\Grunge\Durability
All of these are incredibly significant. While none of these characteristics are optional in our opinion, loudness and durability are. Grunge/effects can be compensated for using pedals like those described above, but having an amplifier capable of creating grunge, distortion, or overdrive effects is the ideal solution.
Obviously, loudness is really important in the punk culture. Everything about punk rock music will be loud, including the venues, drums, and singers. You’ll have a horrible show if your lead or rhythm guitar is drowned out.
Our second litmus test is grunge. Is the amp you’re contemplating equipped with gain, distortion, or other effects that you’ll be able to utilize to muck up your sound? Unfortunately, if it doesn’t, it won’t be a Punk Rock guitarist’s amplifier according to this 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock review.
Finally, your punk rock amp must be long-lasting. At a punk rock event, fans will almost certainly bump your equipment and spill your beverages. Your amplifier must be able to resist a decent level of wear and tear or it will become a money hole.
Fortunately, a large range of guitar amplifiers suits these requirements. Guitar amplifiers are designed to be loud and long-lasting. Because more and more musicians seek diversity in their amplifiers, you should have no trouble locating one with grungy or distorted effect choices.
Assume you’re searching for something that can take your sound to the next level while still providing a terrific overall experience. In such a scenario, any of the amplifiers listed above is strongly recommended.
Purchasing a Guitar Amplifier for Beginners
Playing while connected to an amp allows you to better grasp chord finger placement and hear the sustain and resonance of your guitar while playing according to this 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock review.
While shopping for your first guitar, you may have had a list of things in mind, you’ll also want to be mindful of numerous criteria while selecting an amp. The genres of music you like, the size of the room where you’ll be performing, loudness, mobility, and even effects.
Think about the amp size and portability.
Keep size in consideration while deciding how to buy the best guitar amp. How big – or little – is your practice area? Will you be bringing your amp to practice or jam sessions? If you’ve already begun performing, how big is the venue and how much amplification will you need to fill it?
Consider where you’ll be practicing while selecting a beginner’s practice amp. If you share a house or live in a tiny apartment, search for an amp with a headphone jack so you can hear the full volume of your sound without bothering your neighbors.
Take into account the amp volume and wattage
The size of your amplifier and its wattage frequently go hand in hand. The legendary Spinal Tap line, “this amp goes to 11,” may not necessarily be applicable to novices practicing in a tiny environment according to this 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock review.
Rather, when selecting an amp for your guitar, bear in mind how “big” of a sound you’ll need from your amp to fill a space. Smaller practice amps provide between 10 and 40 watts of power and are ideal for practicing alone at home or in a small location.
Medium-sized amps are more suitable for rehearsing with friends or even small-sized venues if you’re doing concerts. Medium-sized amps generally provide 50 to 100 watts of power.
When you’re performing with other musicians, a practice amp won’t cut it since your guitar will have to compete with the bass and drums. When playing with others, having greater power and loudness to manipulate is essential according to this 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock review.
If you’re going to be performing medium-to-large venues, search for an amp with a greater wattage – between 100 and 200 watts, but some amps may go up to 300 watts. These larger, more powerful amps are intended for use in larger settings, allowing you to fill the area with music using acoustic principles.
Think about the Material
The exterior shell of your amplifier also contributes to the sound it produces. The size of your amp’s speaker and electrical components, as well as its cabinetry, contribute define what comes out of your guitar. The “cabinet” of your amplifier is the outside case that holds everything together.
When opposed to plastic, wooden cabinets, such as amps with pine cabinets, give less sound distortion. While amps with plastic casings are lighter and simpler to transport, amps with wooden casings provide a crisper sound according to this 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock review.
While higher-end amplifiers may be manufactured from more costly woods such as pine, many amps employ less expensive wood composites (such as particle board) to provide outstanding sound quality. In addition to the substance of your cabinet, you should inspect the rear of your amplifier. Is it completely enclosed, or is the rear open?
If you like a more natural sound, an open back cabinet enables sound to pour out of the rear rather than compressing it firmly. This is ideal for playing higher frequencies and guitar solos deeper down the fretboard. Cabinets with a closed back focus your sound and propel it forward.
Conclusion: 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock [2022 Reviiew]
If you want to join the ranks of the best punk rock musicians but don’t know where to begin, you’ve come to the perfect spot! Buying new gear (particularly amplifiers) might be intimidating if you’re a genre-specific player.
Let’s face it: purchasing an amplifier isn’t cheap. So, how can you ensure that your money is being spent wisely? We’ve discovered a couple of excellent amplifiers for playing like a true punk! Here are three excellent choices for any budding punk rocker, including a low-cost alternative.
Any of these amps will take your punk rocking to the next level! We hope you liked our 4 Best Amps for Punk Rock review and it was helpful.