Contents
Editor’s Picks
| Product | Description | Users Score | Overall Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Editor choice
|
Bogner Uberschall Series 120WWow. “Uberschall” is German for “Supersonic”, and Uberschall have designed this amp specially for extreme, heavy, and ... |
User Rating: ( votes)
|
Check Amazon
|
|
|
Engl Ironball 20WThis is simply a great practice amp, and represents amazing value. Whilst, at only 20W, this amp will not deal ... |
User Rating: ( votes)
|
Check Amazon
|
|
|
Blackstar S11046L6 Series OneBlackstar have only been around since 2004, but in that short time they have revolutionized amps for Metal, and have ... |
User Rating: ( votes)
|
Check Amazon
|
|
|
Diezel VH4Last but certainly not least, the Diezel VH4. This is an incredibly versatile amp, used by players in every genre, but ... |
User Rating: ( votes)
|
Check Amazon
|
Best Guitar Amps for Metal Specs
| Model | Size | Weight | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bogner Uberschall Series 120W | 31.9 x 15x 16.2 inches | 44.1 pounds | 120W |
| Engl Ironball 20/5/1W | 35 x 18.7 x 16.7 inches | 18.5 pounds | 20W |
| Blackstar S11046L6 Series One | 33.2 x 15.8 x 15.7 inches | 62.2 pounds | 100W |
| Diezel VH4 100W | 34.3 x 19.2 x 12.8 inches | 53 pounds | 100W |
Guitar Amps for Metal
There are a lot, and we mean a lot, of guitar pedals aimed at metal players. You probably already have quite a selection, and have spent hours trying to get that perfect sound. Without the correct amp, though, this search can be a long and fruitless one.
If you are serious about playing metal, it is really worth investing in an amp specifically designed for it. The amps we are reviewing today, whilst being able to cope with most styles of music, have been specially optimized to give you that crunchy, deep sound you’ve been dreaming of!
When paired with a few pedals, these amps will sound great, whether you are in the practice room or playing to stadiums!
Our Reviews
What kind of amp for Metal you need, and the features you want it to have, depend on how you’re going to use it. An amp for practicing in your room is quite a different beast to one you can tour huge venues with.
Some of the things to look for in amp stay the same, though:
- Power. A lot of people talk a lot about power, as though it was a measure of how good an amp is. Certainly, if you are playing huge venues, or outside, you will need a powerful amp. However, for most places and people, a 100W amplifier will easily deal with the task. It will still go incredibly loud, so don’t worry about not being heard!
- Speakers. A common set-up for guitar amps is a 12” woofer coupled with a smaller tweeter, typically 1”. Some amps come with an additional mid-range horn as well, which can potentially improve frequency response and definition.
- Inputs and outputs. It might sound obvious, but make sure the amp you are looking at has the correct type of inputs, and enough of them, to accommodate all the gear you want to plug in.
Ultimately, there is no substitute for hearing these amps yourself. Everybody has different preferences when it comes to how they want their amp to sound. But you could do worse than checking out these ones:
1. Editor’s Pick: Bogner Uberschall Series 120W
Wow. “Uberschall” is German for “Supersonic”, and Uberschall have designed this amp specially for extreme, heavy, and aggressive styles of music. Metal played through this amp sounds like nothing else you’ve ever heard.
A lot of Metal tones focus on mid-range attack, and this amp will certainly deliver that. In addition, though, it offers a serious low-end sound. This is perfect for that deep, scary, drop-d riff you’ve been working on.
Seriously, the sound of this amp is something else, and is the primary reason why we’ve chosen it as our winner today. It comes, of course, with all the effects and connectivity of the best amps around today, but what makes it stand out from the crowd is the meaty noise it produces. Get down to your local guitar store, give it a listen, and we’re sure that you’ll agree.
This is perfect for that deep, scary, drop-d riff you’ve been working on.
Of course, in addition to the incredible sound, this amp comes with a range of great extra features:
- The amp has more than enough power to deliver great sound, even when pushed to the limit. With 120W, you will be able to play even the largest venues and not worry about being heard. Even when pushed, the amp distorts in a gloriously meaty way.
- The amplification here is all-tube, giving you a glorious vintage sound. Nothing beats the noise produced by valves, and the two-channel design of this amp provides excellent frequency response across a really impressive range.
- The amp has become a favorite of gigging musicians because of its rugged design. Built in Germany, you can be assured that it will put up with many years of gigs, and even if it is rattling around in the back of your van it will keep going.
- The tube-buffered effect loop also really makes this amp stand out. If you have some crazy effects pedals, just plug them in, and the amp will deal with even the strangest, most aggressive noise. This is especially important if you are the type of metal guitarist who has a huge bank of pedals – setting them up with this amp is super easy, and so you will be rocking out within minutes of getting it!
- Again, and we know we are repeating ourselves, that sound. Even at maximum volume, and even when having to deal with the most complicated solos, the frequency response of this amp stays true and clean.
- In truth, none. With all the low-end power provided by this amp, the only problem that we can see is that you will end up in arguments with your bass player, because you are drowning them out!
2. Engl Ironball 20W
This is simply a great practice amp, and represents amazing value.
Whilst, at only 20W, this amp will not deal with stadiums, it delivers more than enough power for the practice room, or even small venues. If you are playing to large halls, of course, then it’s likely that there will be a dedicated PA system, and having a 400W rig will be unnecessary!
The focus with this amp is on versatility, which is one of the reasons it has become such a favorite amongst gigging musicians. The vast range of effects and features is really impressive in an amp of this size, and no matter how strange the sound you want, you will be easily able to achieve it here.
The sound is also really impressive. The amp makes use of a two-channel amplifier, and each channel has a separate gain boost and gain control. Even when feeding both rhythm and lead through the same amp, this means that the sounds stay well separated and clear.
So if you are looking for a great value amp which delivers the sound quality of more expensive items, you can do worse than the Engl Ironball.
The vast range of effects and features is really impressive in an amp of this size, and no matter how strange the sound you want, you will be easily able to achieve it here.
In addition, is has these great features:
- The small size of this amp makes it perfect for practice sessions. You can easily chuck it into your truck, and carry it around all day, without your back complaining. Whilst you may want a bit more power to play stadium shows, adding this amp to your collection will really pay dividends!
- The amp is made in Germany, so of course it is extremely well built and solid. The people we talked to for this review said that this was one of the best amps to get for gigging metal players, as it is easy to transport and will last for years.
- The gain on this amp is something else. Engl amps are famous for offering clean yet aggressive distortion, and this amp is no exception. Even if you like to play really heavy riffs, this amp will deal with it!
- If you play Black Metal, this is the amp to get. The added levels of distortion possible with it mean that it sounds great with chugging riffs.
- None, for the price. The value represented by this amp is really outstanding.
3. Blackstar S11046L6 Series One
Blackstar have only been around since 2004, but in that short time they have
revolutionized amps for Metal, and have quickly become a favorite of players the world over.
It’s not hard to see why. The innovative design of this amp features two-channel amplification, and each channel is divided into two modes – “warm” and “bright”. This means that it is really easy to get a great sound that replicates all the classic tracks!
Swapping between modes is really easy, also, so if you are a lone guitarist, you can quickly swap from a crunchy rhythm sound to a clean solo with no hassle. When switched to the “bright” channel, the amp is incredibly responsive, so even if your solo is fiendishly complicated, you can rest assured that this amp will amplify it perfectly!
Swapping between modes is really easy, also, so if you are a lone guitarist, you can quickly swap from a crunchy rhythm sound to a clean solo with no hassle.
In addition, this amp comes with some great features:
- In terms of distortion, this amp is hard to beat. It offers two modes, “crunch” and “super crunch”, which should tell you all you need to know about its capabilities. In truth, most guitarists will get all the distortion they require from the former mode, but if you want to go even heavier, it is nice to have the option to do so!
- The build quality of this amp is something else. Blackstar have quickly built up a great reputation amongst gigging musicians, and the people we spoke to for this review praised the ruggedness of their designs.
- In the unlikely event that you want an even heavier sound than this amp can provide, simply stick a pedal into the mix, and the amp will keep sounding amazing. On the pedals we tested it with, it sounded great, no matter how weird we made the sound!
- Very few. If you are looking for an amp with more than enough power to go gigging with, this is the one.
4. Diezel VH4
Last but certainly not least, the Diezel VH4. This is an incredibly versatile amp, used by players in every genre, but has also become a favorite of Metal guitarists.
This range of amps has been around since 1994, and over that period has built a great reputation, offering incredible sounds and rugged design. The amp is built entirely in Germany, so you can be sure that it will put up with years of gigging without complaining!
The amp sounds great on almost any setting, but the “Mega” channel is what makes this amp stand out. When switched to this channel, the amp delivers that trademark Diezel sound, producing an incredibly crunchy, huge sound.
Last but certainly not least, the Diezel VH4. This is an incredibly versatile amp, used by players in every genre, but has also become a favorite of Metal guitarists.
In addition, this amp comes with a load of extra features:
- It delivers more than enough power for most Metal players. With 100W of noise, you will be able to play even large halls with no problems, and your band mates will complain that you are drowning them out.
- The amp offers four distinct pre-amp channels, each with its own gain, EQ, and master volume controls. This ensures that no matter how complicated that song you are working on, the amp’s sound will stay bright and clean all the time!
- The amplification on this amp is all-tube. Nothing beats the gorgeous vintage sounds of valve amplification, and when combined with the effects offered by this amp, it delivers a truly outstanding sound at any volume. This is also a great beginners choice.
- Very few. If you are looking for an amp for Metal that offers great sounds, is really rugged, and delivers more than enough power, then this is the one for you!
- Your drummer will be annoyed, because at full power this amp will make you the loudest musician on the stage!
Our Final Thoughts on Amps for Metal
So which to choose?
Well, your choice of amp for Metal is yours alone, of course. Nothing can beat hearing these amps in the flesh, and finding one that perfectly matches the sound you want to achieve. All of the amps we reviewed today offer incredible sound that we are confident will please even the most discerning metal fan.
Our choice, though, is the Bogner Uberschall 120W. The sheer power offered by this amp is hard to beat, as is its meaty, driving sound. It sounds incredible, even when pushed to the maximum, and provides plenty of bass for those driving, drop-d riffs you’ve been working on. Combined with a great range of effects and rugged construction, this is truly the best amp for Metal around at the moment.
For more great reviews check out:
