Best high-end guitar combo amps: Great tone for those willing to pay

Guitar combo amps offer a great marriage of sound, power, and mobility. It is a wide-ranging topic that spans tube to solid-state, and now even digital features are making their way into new designs.

You often see posts about meeting a certain budget – best guitars under $1,000, or best combo amps under $1,000, for example. But for this piece we’re only looking at the high end of the market — $1,000 or above.

Let’s dive into the best high-end guitar combo amps.

Best high-end guitar combo amp overall: Vox AC30 Custom

For decades the AC series has been one of the most popular guitar combo amps in the world. Used across a number of genres, even today’s models still offer the same British charm, chime, and volume everyone has come to adore.

There are normal and Top Boost channels as well as two EQ bands. It’s equipped with a classic Celestion Greenback speaker, tremolo, and spring reverb. And if it’s not loud enough for you, try sending the signal out to an external cabinet!

Generations of players have used this line, and it’s obvious why.

Best solid state high-end guitar combo amp: Roland JC-120

The Jazz Chorus line of amps are often regarded as simply the best solid-state amps around. They are easy to move, really loud, and just happen to be the perfect platform for pedals.

The 120 is really two independent 60W amps running in stereo (in the same cabinet). There are dedicated channels for regular and effects inputs with a 3-band EQ for each.

It’s renowned for having one of the most beautiful stereo chorus effects, but it also comes with vibrato, reverb, and distortion. If you’re looking for one of the best clean amps ever – this is it.

Best high-end combo amp for pedals: Orange Rocker 32

The Rocker 32 is built for pedals. It is an all tube, compact, stereo amp with mono and stereo effects loops. Custom circuitry means there is an additional stereo spread to give the widest sound possible without losing clarity.

Wet/dry mode lets you patch in your signal so one speaker receives the effects signal and the other is dry. This gives extra dimension and accomplishes a task usually reserved for dual amp setups.

It has a tone profile that’s heavy in the midrange, which won’t suit everyone. But there are few amps that offer stereo and mono features like this.

Best new classic high-end guitar combo amp: Marshall Mini Silver Jubilee 2525C

The Jubilee is one of Marshall’s more favored models, especially for hard rock and metal players. But it was only on the market for one year and was retired in 1987. This compact version was produced due to the popularity of the full stack when it was re-released.

It’s a 1×12 combo but also comes in a mini amp head. It uses almost identical circuitry to the original and comes in the classic silver look. Other features include selectable high or low output, effects loop, and direct output. It’s small, but it can power 4/8/16 Ohm cabinets!

You get all the tone and class of the original in a much more portable format.

Best boutique high-end guitar combo amp: Friedman Runt-50

Friedman amps were born out of enhancing the beautiful British sounds of Marshall amps. This 50W, dual channel 1×12 offers an American-voiced clean channel with EQ and bright switch and an overdrive channel meant to sear.

Beloved British tone is delivered courtesy of the Celestion Creamback speaker. It offers an XLR output with cab simulation – a first for a Friedman amp. A level control works as a master volume, and there are center or edge of speaker cone micing simulations.

There is nothing small about the tone of this Runt.

Best digital high-end combo amp: Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb

This one looks like a Twin and can sound like a Twin. Tone Master is a newer series from Fender. It has all the Silverface aesthetics one could ask for, but what’s under the hood is entirely new.

This means a 200W, 2×12 “solid-state digital tone modeler” powered by Celestion Neo Creamback speakers. Through this modeling it digitally recreates the sound of a Twin. The tube simulation is good, but it obviously doesn’t have the dynamics of a true tube amp.

XLR output with IRs simulate micing the cab with a Shure SM57 or Sennheiser 421, though the cabinet simulation is fixed. Onboard reverb and tremolo add some depth and movement to the sound.

If you want the look of a Twin without the cost, weight, and fragility this Fender is worth a listen.

Best vintage reissue high-end combo amp: Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb

Probably the loudest 22W you’ll ever hear, this reissue delivers beloved Blackface vibes. The originals were hand-wired and the reissues use PCB, but all component values are identical.

Onboard reverb and vibrato adds dimension and movement, just like the original. A classic amp like this usually does one thing really well, and in this case it’s clean to moderate overdrive.

Modern players might find that limiting, but the DRRI is not trying to be something it isn’t. And what it does do, it does very well.

Best high-end combo amp for acoustic guitar: Taylor Circa 74

Gigging musicians frequently face an issue with booking a performance where there is no sound reinforcement. Instead of lugging around your own PA gear, why not just push vocals through the guitar amp?

With a mahogany enclosure and tweed grille cloth, the aesthetic is a simple and elegant throwback to vintage amps from the mid 1900s. Even though it only has a 10″ speaker, at 150 watts this thing gets loud!

TRS/XLR combo inputs take any combination of pickup and microphone. Guitar and vocal channels have individual 3-band EQ and reverb.

It’s built for performing live. It comes with a matching stand which helps it sit with a band and reduces low end floor coupling. There is even Bluetooth and an auxiliary input to stream backing tracks.

Taylor is renowned for their guitars, but with the Circa 74 they step into the amp world in a unique way.

FAQ

What makes a combo amp “high-end”?

High-end combo amps are made with premium materials, are designed with advanced circuitry, and have advanced features. The main thing that sets them apart is exceptional tone.

Do high-end combo amps have built-in effects?

Some of them do, but most focus on the craftsmanship of the circuitry and tone and sound quality.

How much should I expect to spend on a high-end combo amp?

They usually range from around $1,500 to over $3,000 depending on the brand, features, and quality.