If you’re a guitar player, you know that having a great amp is essential to getting the best sound possible. But with so many different types and brands, it can be tough to know which to choose.
But one of the best types is a solid-state amp because it’s reliable, sounds great, and is more affordable compared to tube amps. It’s great for practice, recording, and even for gigging.
That’s why I’ve put together a list of the best solid-state amps, so you can make an informed decision about which one is right for you.
What’s The Best Solid-State Amp?
In this post, you will find my favorite solid-state guitar and bass amps. All of them have enough power to be used for gigging and recording, produce good sound, and have cool features.
1. Orange Crush CR60C
The Orange Crush CR60C is a 60-watt solid-state amp that is perfect for those who gig a lot and also need a reliable and great-sounding amp for recording. One of my favorite thing about this amp is that it has an analog circuit and differs from the standard solid-state guitar amp. This is a two-channel guitar combo with built-in reverb which is always a great option.
The clean channel of CR60C has dedicated volume, bass, and treble knobs while the dirty channel has volume, gain, and full EQ section. And both channels sound great and if you like the Orange sound then this is the perfect amp for you.
As I have said this amp features reverb and you have the option to choose between plate, hall, and spring reverbs and all of them have high-quality and natural sound.
2. Marshall MG50GFX
Marshall MG50GFX is one of the best solid-state amps with 50 watts of power. It has a famous Marshall tone and can be used in a variety of music genres such as blues, rock, and metal. Also, has a great clean sound and is packed with features. MG50GFX is a closed-back style combo with four channels, a built-in tuner, and a footswitch option.
You get four channels such as clean, crunch, and two types of overdrive channels which makes it a versatile amp. For each channel, you can control gain, volume, and 3-band EQ. Additional features include a built-in tuner, headphone out, and the ability to save settings as a preset.
MG50GFX combo is packed with effects. Has dedicated controls for reverb and delay and other effects are controlled with a single knob. The sound of the effects is good and you can create any sound without additional guitar effects. It’s a great all-in-one solid-state amp for recording, live shows, and rehearsing.
3. Fender Champion 40
Fender Champion 40 is a great all-around solid-state amp that is perfect for both beginners and experienced players alike. Especially it’s great for clean and crunchy tones. With 40 watts of power, it’s loud enough to play gigs but not so loud that it will overwhelm your neighbors.
The amp has two channels, onboard effects, and footswitch input, and features a single 12″ speaker. You can switch between channels with a button or use a footswitch and each channel has a dedicated volume knob. One thing I don’t like is that it doesn’t have a mid-control.
But where Fender Champion 40 shines is effects and amp voicing. You can choose a variety of effects with a knob and also control the FX level. And amp voicing allows you to choose between four different amps which makes it a diverse solid-state combo amp. Great for recording and playing in small clubs.
4. Quilter Labs Aviator Cub 50
Quilter Labs Aviator Cub 50 is a classic-looking guitar combo with 50 watts of power. It’s a much simpler amplifier but the sound and build quality is superb and is one of my favorite clean solid-state amplifiers. Great for recording clean tones, especially with single-coil guitars. Also, 12″ speakers help to produce the full sound.
Although it’s a simple and single-channel amplifier, it has some interesting features. First of all, has three inputs – tweed, blonde, and black which allow different amp voicings such as classic, rock, and crunchy tones. Next, in addition to 3-band EQ, has a limiter option that helps with sustain.
Also, Aviator Cub 50 features an FX loop, built-in reverb, and line and headphones out. Overall, this is a high-quality amplifier great for creating clean and classic rock and blues tones.
5. Behringer HA-40R-UL
If you want a more affordable amplifier then Behringer HA-40R-UL is a great choice. It’s one of the best solid-state amps under $200 with 40 watts of power and great for beginners. It comes with two channels so you can switch between clean and overdrive sounds easily. For a speaker, it uses a single 10″ speaker from Bugera which sounds good.
Channel switching is possible with a button or a footswitch where the clean channel has only a volume knob but the overdrive channel has an additional gain knob. The full preamp section works for both channels and even though it’s a budget amplifier, you can dial in different types of sounds. That’s because it uses VTC technology that produces tube-like tones.
A great feature of this amp is a built-in spring reverb and headphone, auxiliary, and line outputs. It’s a great affordable combo for beginners and budget home recording studios.
6. Ampeg Rocket Bass RB110
Now, for bass players, Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110 is a great option if you are looking for an affordable solid-state bass amp. This amp has one 10″ speaker and produces 50 watts of power. It’s perfect for small gigs and practice sessions. Plus, has some interesting features that allow you to create awesome bass tones.
The first feature I liked is two inputs – one standard and the second -15dB input which is great for many situations. Then, Rocket Bass RB-110 uses Super Grit Technology that adds saturation and sound sustain to your bass tones. Like on many amps you will find AUX input and headphones out.
Other than that there is not much to say about this bass solid-state combo. hAs a standard 3-band preamp section, volume knob, and balanced output which is always good to have.
7. Orange Crush Bass 50
Orange Crush Bass 50 is the best bass solid-state amp in my opinion. A great choice for bassists who want a versatile amp that can be used for practice, live performances, and recording. This amp has a single channel but you can create almost any sound from crystal clean to modern metal.
This bass guitar combo gives you volume, gain, and a full preamp section with additional frequency and blends knobs. With the frequency control, you can shape the tone differently and with the blend knob, you can blend clean and dirty sounds. And this is a great option especially when you want to record the bass.
Crush Bass 50 also has an effects loop option so you can add your favorite pedals to your signal chain, comes with a built-in tuner, AUX in, and output for headphones. You can use footswitch too which is sold separately.
8. Hartke HD75
Hartke HD75 is a great choice for bassists who are looking for a little more power. This 75-watt amp has a single 12″ speaker with an additional 1″ tweeter that provides extra pop. A great gigging bass amp that is also a great gear to record bass tracks. Also, it includes an FX loop which is always a good feature to have.
Although Hartke HD75 is a single-channel amp it easily can produce great dirty tones but the best feature is the EQ. Not only it has a standard 3-band preamp section, but it also has 7-band graphic EQ which allows shaping your tone any way you like it.
I love this amp and sounds great when recording with a microphone. And with EQ you can create very interesting bass tones and it makes HD75 a very versatile combo.
9. Ashdown Studio 10
Ashdown Studio 10 is perfect for bassists who need an amp that’s small and portable but still packs a punch. This 60-watt compact combo has a single 10″ speaker and produces amazing sound thanks to its tube-simulated overdrive.
One thing that makes Ashdown Studio 10 a different bass combo is the passive/active input. So, you can use active or passive bass guitars without issues. Also, apart from the drive knob, it has a pre-gain knob and a standard preamp section with additional controls for low and high mids.
This is a very flexible amp that is great for anyone who gigs a lot or record bass with a microphone. Like most other bass combos it has a headphone output and line input.
Summary
There are many different factors to consider when choosing an amplifier for your guitar or bass. But if you’re looking for the best possible sound quality for affordable prices, you can’t go wrong with a solid-state amp. These amplifiers may not have the same “vintage” sound as tube amps, moreover, they are very versatile and reliable.