A lot of guitarists want to play with huge amps to project their sound to a massive crowd but no one wants to carry that bulk with them. The modelling guitar amp technology has advanced a lot and it is possible now to play with a small portable amplifier without losing any sound or quality.

Look here for more info – what is a modeling amp?

We have brought you the best modeling amp for guitars which can produce some of the most vibrant sounds and do not sacrifice quality for small size. So without further ado, let’s get into it.

Our Modeling Amp Recommendations:

1.  Fender Mustang LT-25 Modeling Amp

The name is just enough to let this pass by. Fender is a very seasoned player in the amp game and their Mustang series has never ceased to impress us. They come with a variety of features and have some of the highest quality sound production. The amp boasts a combo design with 20 amp models, an 8-inch speaker, and as many as twenty-five effect patterns with an aux input as well.

Despite being small in size, this amp is well packed with 30 onboard musicals presets that you can use to show off your skills filtered through a variety of effects. It is also very easy to select them with the help of the encoder on the screen.

It is also as easy as scrolling through the encoder as it is to customize the presets. This makes sure that your session isn’t interrupted and you can change your presets fast and without any hassle.

Pros:

• Very easy to use
• Can produce a versatile range of tones
• Very compact amp
• Portable

Cons:

• Other amp products in this price range offer more features
• Low sound quality

Verdict:

With a simplistic design and a wide range of effects, Mustang LT25 offers great value for its price. The sound quality is amazing and it makes you want to hold on to it for a little bit longer.

Check out our review of the Fender Mustang LT25 as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Peuxg2To42A

Check The Latest Price On The Fender Mustang LT-25

2.  Line 6 Spider V 30 MKII Digital Guitar Modelling Amp

Boy, are we excited about this. If we compare this to any other amp on this list, this is probably the most feature-packed amp at this price range. We particularly liked the overall construction quality which looks extremely reliable. With just over sixteen pounds, it will be very portable.

The speaker is eight-inch but here is the good thing about it. Apart from being just a speaker, it is also a high-quality tweeter. Although it is small, yet it is a high powered amp projecting a 30 watts supply which makes it very usable in big gigs.

The good thing is that it has over two hundred effects and cabinet models with the mixer that allows you to mix eight of them at the same time and within those effects are 128 mixer presets as well. Overall it is a must-have amp for intermediate players.

Pros:

• Powerful bass
• Very Portable
• Easy to use
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Sound quality is not that great
• Dynamic range could have been better

Verdict:

A great amp and guitar rig for any type of electric guitar player that complements every skill level with its amazing power, and modeling features that never cease to get outdated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh_u8Oe99MU

Check The Latest Price On The Line 6 Spider V 30 MKII

3.  Marshall Code-50 Modelling Combo Guitar Amp

The 25 and 50 amp models are almost identical. The only differences are the high wattage, different control configurations, and different speakers size as well.  The 50 model comes with a 12-inch speaker and is a 50-watt combo with separate control knobs and presets. You can have access to these functions with the preset knob if you compare it with the 25 models.

It comes with as many as 14 preamps and four preamp models. With over 24 effects and 5 mixer effects, this amp can store over 100 presets. The front panel has a volume control, a gain controller, and a range equalizer.

The button layout is designed for convenience and you can very easily select presets and modify your sounds. It is an app that provides you with just the right contrast and a variety of effects that matches your skills.

Pros:

• Great tone quality
• Competitive piece
• Extremely easy to use
• Versatile tone choices

Cons:

• Tonal adjustments could have been better
• You are going to need PEDL 91009 for live performance

Verdict:

This amp comes with all the requisite effects and a high-quality speaker with a high degree of control. We think it is a good bargain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfG7gD_zYPU

Check The Latest Price On The Marshall Code-50

4.  Peavey Vypyr VIP 2

Peavey is famous for designing high-quality hardware and that is reflected in this amp that has a 12-inch driver that is constructed to cope up with the dynamics of different frequencies and complex tone mix-ups. On first use, it was clear that it has an impressive performance and multi-purpose functionality.

The acoustic and bass combo amp pounds low-end bass and mid to high range frequencies in a very pronounced fashion. We didn’t feel at any point that it struggled to produce an accurate response throughout the playing session.

It comprises as many as 36 separate amp models and 6 preamps for high-quality bass guitar and acoustics that need a higher range. With 12 presets for stomp box and 10 rack effects, we can assume that this requires a lot of power to operate which is backed up by a dual-core SHARC processor that controls all the power channels in this thing.

Pros:

• Warm sound
• Portable
• Easy to use
• Nice output

Cons:

• Limited functions
• Speakers are low quality

Verdict:

This amp is highly affordable and it feature-packed. It will be an amazing choice for intermediate and beginners. If you want something very flexible, then this is your way to go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbY38Yw141w

Check The Latest Price On The Peavey Vypyr VIP 2

5.  Fender Tone MasterTwin Reverb

Yet another high-quality product by Fender. Using the power of the dual-core processor, this amp can create accurate amplification that is unprecedented. The vibrato and reverb on this thing are spot on. With a dual pair for setting the gain for the highs and the lows, the feeders give you a high control over bass and treble equalization.

The good thing is that the vibrato channel itself features a reverb control as well which also lets you set the intensity and speed of the tremolo. The front panel is wide and it has a switch to control midrange for both channels separately.

Although it is lightweight, the circuitry is made from high-quality parts and has the most premium looking finish. With this company, you cannot go wrong with the hardware as it is authentic, high quality, and high performing.

Pros:

• Twin gives you a lot of space for playing
• Nice vintage amp style
• Very lightweight
• Extremely reliable

Cons:

• Manual controls often spoil the overall tone
• Single model ethos doesn’t work well with tonal adjustments

Verdict:

If you are a fan of twin reverb amp, then consider looking at this amp as it comes with all the style and hardware of a premium amp and delivers high-quality reverb controls with a variety of range.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXIWJVUK2W8

Check The Latest Price On The Fender Tone MasterTwin Reverb

6.  VOX Valvetronix VT20X

The Vox VT20X is a modelling amplifier with hybrid traits as it has both tubes and solid-state technology. The multi-stage preamp comes with a single tube and uses an original 12AX7 for distortion and effects. The VET technology uses virtual elements and is a digital modeling engine.

It can simulate as many as 11 different amps with over 33 presets some of which are copied configurations from some famous guitarists. You can also easily switch between these presets and can switch the tones of the amp with all its characteristics intact.

The best thing about this amp is that you can set as many as 8 presets of your own and save them for quick and easy use. With over 13 built-in effects which also includes noise reduction as well which makes your jamming sessions buzz-free.

Pros:

• 12AX7 tube
• Nice amplification
• Versatile tones
• The sound quality that exceeds expectations

Cons:

• Hissing noise
• Tube preamp

Verdict:

If you want something that has an original sound production but doesn’t want to be limited by the outdated tube technology, then this hybrid amp is the best one you can get.

Check out our full VOX Valvetronix VT20X review here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NNDsJddCJU

Check The Latest Price On The VOX Valvetronix VT20X

7.  Blackstar IDCORE100

We used this new player in town, and we found out that it is the best fit for small clubs. We did however feel that the sounds of the amp have been artificially enhanced to make it well suited for live performances. This has its disadvantages and advantages. But for us, it proved to battle the onslaught of brittle and clipped sound in a live performance.

We particularly liked the octave amp effects on this thing which are smooth and high quality and we had fun using them. From the foot, you can also undo the effects so you can rectify things not right with your playback.

We think that this has a perfect interface. It doesn’t weigh that much and 12 kg is just enough for you to carry it around which makes it very portable. But do not let the weight deceive you as it is a high powered amp that will make your gig successful.

Pros:

• Best choice for its price
• Intuitive panel design
• Versatile tonal choices
• Good quality tonal adjustments

Cons:

• Signal processing has issues
• Sound quality could have been better

Verdict:

This is a highly powerful amp which is a product of continuous development in science and technology.  With high-quality sound processing and great tone adjustments, this is worth it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXrka3AOvMA

Check The Latest Price On The Blackstar IDCORE100

8.  BOSS KTN-50-2 Katana-50

The Boss KTN is not that much different from the previous gen. They have not intended this to be somewhat different than the previous ones in line. However, this one does offer enhanced tonal control and you get what they call as the ‘variation’ in their amp types. You can choose ten effects while you can mix 5 of them at the same time, unlike the previous-gen that allowed only 2 mix-ups.

You can select the amps via the rotary switch and the button located above allows you to connect to the variations. For the knob controls, you still get only three controls for very basic control management. However, it does give you separate controls for delay, modulation, and reverb.

Pros:

• 5-way amp
• Variation gain button
• Boost effects included
• High output power

Cons:

• Not that durable
• Sound tends to clip at higher gain levels

Verdict:

We would recommend this amp if you want to have an amp to do some gigs. It is loud and projects a vibrant sound to your audience. For a concentrated sound and a live experience, this 100-watt super-powered amp is the best in its class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixOc9e140bk

Check The Latest Price On The BOSS KTN-50-2 Katana-50

9.  VOX MINI3 G2 Small Modelling Guitar Amplifier

The portable amps in the days back then were pretty basic.  They were plug and play devices with some basic functionality and an equalizer.  This amp is however different as the higher end modelling combos have just those features as incorporated in this amp.

Listening to the tones, we can say that they range from a sublime clean tone melting into the metal to heavy metal shredding. It also comes with many different effects that you can use to spice up your gig.

The speakers are small and are built for portability rather than high performance. It is very easy to carry around as it only weighs 6 pounds. One thing you would like is that it operates on batteries. It lacks connectivity though as there isn’t any USB support which is a standard these days.

Pros:

• Very portable amp
• A wide range of effects
• Very easy to use
• Direct mic channel

Cons:

• Can be noisy
• A specific range in sound appears flat

Verdict:

This amp can be fun to use and will sound good in your jamming sessions. Although this is not for live gigs, it will certainly be a good time pass and a practice companion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYzaMqNBpps

Check The Latest Price On The VOX MINI3 G2

10.  NUX Mighty Lite BT

The highlighted feature for this amp is its portability and this is as portable as it gets. It is tiny. Taking just three watts of power, it is designed to be used in homes and for traveling. You can power on this thing in a car with the USB power, through a power bank and even AA batteries.

If you want to play outdoors and do not want something that is very bulky and is easy to carry, then this is your solution. The built quality is what you would expect from an amp in this price range. The whole thing is enclosed in an all-plastic case and feels nothing more than a little box.

It has an excellent tonal balance and you can save your presets on each channel separately.

Pros:

• High-quality sound
• Durable amp build
• Portable
• Bluetooth support for speakers

Cons:

• Lacks dynamic range
• Gain is low

Verdict:

This is a low powered guitar amp that is specially made for portability and convenience. You can use it with batteries, power banks, and just about any low power supply to get you going.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTxCIbzqrN4

Check The Latest Price On The NUX Mighty Lite BT Mini Portable

Top Modelling Amplifiers Conclusion

There are a lot of best modelling amp and best guitar amp simulator options that you can get for cheap and they will work out just fine. The Vox Mini combo amp is our recommendation for this list as it is the bang for the buck. If you want a combo amp that is high quality and doesn’t sacrifice on sound while still being portable, then we recommend that you consider Vox Mini 3 G2. The sheer convenience of pulling out the presets with just a push of a button and high-quality sound coming out of this little box is amazing which is why we think it is worth it for both electric or acoustic guitar.