Though digital modeling amps have been on the market for quite a while now, it's only over the last few years that they've become popular choices for a large swath of guitar players attracted to their many selling points.
Originally praised for their ability to pitch-perfectly deliver the tones of countless vintage and modern tube amps, with and without effects, and seamlessly switch between them, modeling amps have also become popular for their tonal consistency at any volume in any room. Touring players tired of lugging heavy cabs from stage to stage are also fans of modeling amps, which are almost universally smaller and lighter than tube amp alternatives.
On this page, you'll see an up-to-date ranking of the most popular modeling amps currently on Reverb, based on real-time transaction data from our marketplace. Take a look at the most popular choices available today in the space below, and click on the images to learn more about each option and find the best modeling amp for you right here on Reverb.
- 1
Positive Grid Spark 40 40-Watt 2x4" Modeling Guitar Combo
Starting at $215 - 2
Boss Katana-50 MkII 50-Watt 1x12" Digital Modeling Guitar Combo
Starting at $209For an all-in-one playing experience that encompasses sounds from a crunchy '80s metal amp to weird and wild modulation effects, the Boss Katana-50 MkII Digital Modeling Combo is a solid pick. Five amp voices from Clean to Crunchy to Brown (think EVH's arena-sized sound) are on tap alongside five authentic onboard Boss effects from reverb and delay to distortion and modulation in a package that has enough punch to handle its own on a stage. - 3
Positive Grid Spark GO Wireless Digital Modeling Guitar Practice Amp
Starting at $95 - 4
Kemper Amps Profiler Stage Guitar Amp Modeling Processor
Starting at $1,300Lay out a world of high-fidelity emulations of about any piece of guitar gear you can imagine at your feet with the Kemper Amps Profiler Stage Modeling Processor. All of those coveted amps, cabs, and effects found in the company's flagship Profiler are on deck in this floorboard version with up to five custom rig presets that can be summoned with a stomp of a switch. - 5
Yamaha THR30II-WL 30-Watt 2x3.5" Wireless Stereo Digital Modeling Guitar Combo
Starting at $350 - 6
Boss Katana-100 MkII 100-Watt 1x12" Digital Modeling Guitar Combo
Starting at $325 - 7
Boss WAZA-AIR Wireless Guitar Headphone Amp
Starting at $285 - 8
Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb 2-Channel 22-Watt 1x12" Digital Guitar Combo
Starting at $813.77The classics never go out of style, but it never hurts to give them a touch of modern convenience, and the Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb combo aims to deliver true tube tone in a lightweight, all-digital package. Clocking in at just 23 pounds, this amp made for today's players sports the same headroom and tonal dynamics that attracted generations of players to the original, all with the addition of an onboard attenuator, balanced line out with IR cab sims, and USB for firmware upgrades. - 9
Yamaha THR10II 20-Watt 2x3" Stereo Digital Modeling Guitar Combo
Starting at $265 - 10
Fender Mustang LT25 25-Watt 1x8" Digital Modeling Guitar Combo
Starting at $85 - 11
Boss Katana-Head MkII 100-Watt Digital Modeling Guitar Amp Head
Starting at $290 - 12
Positive Grid Spark MINI Portable Digital Modeling Guitar Practice Amp
Starting at $229 - 13
Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb 2-Channel 85-Watt 2x12" Digital Guitar Combo
Starting at $845With the Tone Master Twin Reverb Combo, Fender aims to translate the legendary sound of a tube powerhouse into a digital amp made for modern players. A 200-watt digital power amp pumped through two Jensen N-12K neodymium speakers painstakingly recreates the same headroom and tonal versatility that made the amp famous in the first place with added touches like an onboard attenuator and balanced line out with IR cab simulations. - 14
Boss KTN-MINI Katana Mini 7-Watt 1x4" Modeling Guitar Combo
Starting at $80The Katana Mini 7-watt modeling combo from Boss packs the signature Katana tone and functionality into an exceedingly compact 1x4 size. The mini features three amp types to choose from—brown, crunch, or clean—as well an authentic multi-stage gain circuit and three-band analog tone stack. Players can also take advantage of solid onboard features like a built-in tape-style delay. With the ability to forego the AC adapter for AA-sized battery power, the Katana Mini is also super portable, great for musicians on the go without a lot of room or weight to spare. - 15
Kemper Profiler Rack
Starting at $950Featuring the same powerful amp modeling technology that made the head version famous in a more svelte package which fits just as well on top of a cab as it does on an amp, the Kemper Profiler Rack is an absolute rig chameleon. Coming in with the same 200 presets of heads, cabinets, and legendary effects including delays, overdrives, and choruses along with the option to model your favorite physical rig, the rack version also includes an onboard DI for pinning down your dry signal and the amp model in tandem and an effects loop for seamless integration of your existing hardware. - 16
Boss Katana-Air 30-Watt 2x3" Wireless Guitar Combo
Starting at $235Offering the same five amp models (Clean, Crunch, Brown, Acoustic, Lead) and full complement of over 50 accessible effects in a compact design, the Boss KTN-AIR Katana Air Wireless Combo is made for sitting on a desktop and delivering great tone for practice. Professional grade tone-shaping tools like a three-band EQ and boosts, overdrives, modulation and dedicated reverb get you a wide sonic spread with editable parameters available in the paired app so you can get that signature sound. - 17
Boss Katana Artist MkII 100-Watt 1x12" Guitar Combo
Starting at $479.99 - 18
Fender Mustang GTX100 100-Watt 1x12" Digital Modeling Guitar Combo
Starting at $329.99 - 19
Boss Katana-50 MkII EX 50-Watt 1x12" Digital Modeling Guitar Combo
Starting at $299.99 - 20
Kemper Profiler Head
Starting at $850The Kemper Profiler Head represents a new vanguard not only in the realm of digital amp modeling, but of the way guitarists approach a setup. Bringing hundreds of classic rigs to the table that serve up sounds from a jangly tweed to a searing plexi to a mean brown sound, the vast library of mix-and-matchable heads and cabs offer further customization with tweakable controls that can be archived for quick access on stage. Not content to stop at an array of amps, the Profiler also includes a battalion of effects models including legendary overdrives, delays, choruses, and more for what may be the last head you'll ever need.
What to Consider When Buying a Modeling Amp
Wattage
As with any tube amp, how much wattage your digital modeling amp has will determine how loud and powerful that it's able to get. When deciding how much power you need, consider your application. Are you looking for the best modeling amp for a small practice space or apartment? Check out cheaper, lower-wattage options like the Vox Mini5. Or maybe you're looking for the best modeling amp to take on tour, in which case you might want more of a powerhouse like the 100-watt Boss Katana head. Whatever you choose, these modeling amps sound excellent no matter what volume they're set to.
Effects and Features
With so much tech packaged into one unit, you can be sure that whatever modeling amp you choose, you're getting a great deal of diverse functionality. That said, different modeling amps will be packed with different effects and features. The Line 6 Helix, for example, features 72 amp models, 37 speakers, 16 mic placements, and a whopping 194 effects. Other modeling amps put their emphasis elsewhere, like the Fractal Audio AX8 featuring over 200 amp models, over 700 speaker simulations, and 130 total effects.
Portability and Form Factor
One of the most major selling points of a modeling amp is how much versatility can be packed into such portable units. No matter what style you end up with, you're all but guaranteed more power and a lighter load than you'd get with an analog tube amp. Still, while universally portable, modeling amps still come a variety of form factors. Depending on your application and needs, you might like a head model like the Yamaha THR10, a rack model like the Kemper Profiler, or a floor pedal model like the aforementioned Line 6 Helix.