Best Guitar Amps Under $200

Whether you’ve just picked out your first guitar on the Sweetwater site or you’re a longtime 6-string veteran looking for a new practice companion, there’s one thing that every electric guitar needs: an amp to go along with it. Luckily, the dark days when guitarists needed to invest hundreds of dollars in an amp to achieve inspiring tone are long gone; modern manufacturing technology has made it so musicians on even the tightest of budgets can easily access world-class tones at an affordable price point.

Even the most modest of amps now commonly comes loaded with stunning modeling emulations, exceptional effects, audio interface functionality, and a whole host of other features that guitarists could only have dreamed of just years ago. Don’t believe us? Here’s the proof: our list of Sweetwater’s best guitar amps under $200!

Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!

Fender Mustang LT 25 1×8-inch 25-watt Combo Amp

Line 6 Spider V 20 Mikio 1×8-inch 20-watt Modeling Combo Amp

Peavey Vypyr X 1 1×8-inch 20-watt Modeling Guitar/Bass/Acoustic Combo Amp

BOSS Katana Mini

Positive Grid Spark GO Ultra-portable Smart Guitar Amp and Bluetooth Speaker

Roland CUBE-10GX 1×8-inch 10-watt COSM Combo Amp with FX

Fender Frontman 20G 20-watt 1×8-inch Combo Amp

Blackstar Fly 3 1×3-inch 3-watt Combo Amp

Vox Mini Go 3

Fender Mustang LT 25 1×8-inch 25-watt Combo Amp

Fender’s time-tested modeling powerhouse

Now well over a decade old, the Fender Mustang series of modeling amplifiers is full of true modern classics, providing guitarists with a comprehensive toolbox of tones. The Fender Mustang LT 25 1×8-inch 25-watt combo amp clocks in as one of the series’ most affordable models, but don’t be fooled by the humble price tag — this amp boasts a whopping 50 presets plus 20 amps and 25 effects that span the entire breadth of the 6-string’s sonic history, providing you with top-class emulations of everything from iconic Black-panel Fender cleans to crunchy overdriven tones and beyond. What’s more, the built-in headphone out, auxiliary input, and USB connectivity for easy recording into your DAW make the Fender Mustang LT 25 a champion of the practice room and the home studio. And while it may be a compact and easily portable little amp, the powerful 8-inch speaker and 25 watts of power give you enough volume for impromptu jams and small-scale gigs.

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Line 6 Spider V 20 MkII 1×8-inch 20-watt Modeling Combo Amp

Genre-defying modeling versatility

When it comes to modeling amplifiers, few brands are as well respected as Line 6 — especially when it comes to the category of best guitar amps under $200. The Line 6 Spider V 20 MkII 1×8-inch 20-watt modeling combo amp lives up to those lofty expectations and is, dollar for dollar, one of the most impressive amps the company offers. You get more than 200 pro-crafted presets — from classic rock and metal to blues and jazz — and the Line 6 Spider V 20 MkII handles it all with ease, sporting drastically revoiced models from its predecessors for greater tonal authenticity. Plus, two speaker modes give you the power to switch between classic mode for more traditional guitar tones and full-range mode for recording (using the USB audio interface functionality) or playing with the headphone output.

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Peavey Vypyr X 1 1×8-inch 20-watt Modeling Guitar/Bass/Acoustic Combo Amp

Guitar? Bass? Acoustic? No problem.

Ideal for the multi-instrumentalist, the Peavey Vypyr X 1 1×8-inch 20-watt modeling guitar/bass/acoustic combo amp effortlessly covers your electric guitar, acoustic-electric guitar, and bass amp needs with 36 distinct onboard amplifier models powered by Peavey’s cutting-edge TransTube technology. No matter what instrument you choose, the Vypyr X 1’s Variable Instrument Input automatically dials in the gain structure and input sensitivity to the optimum levels to all but eliminate the need for endless tweaking to dial in all your instruments properly. And while the Peavey Vypyr X 1 certainly removes the need to carry around multiple amps, 12 onboard effects with the ability to run five effects simultaneously make leaving the pedalboard at home a rather tempting proposition. It’s all finished off with an aux in, headphone in, and even a USB 3.0 output that allows the Peavey Vypyr X 1 to double as a flexible audio interface for easy recording.

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BOSS Katana Mini

Sharpen up your sound with the Katana Mini

From BOSS’s full-size 100-watt heads to the company’s compact portable amp offerings, amps from the BOSS Katana series are found on the rigs of countless Sweetwater guitarists. The 7-watt BOSS Katana Mini shrinks the Katana line’s tonal firepower down into a desktop-friendly, battery-powered form factor that’s a truly go-anywhere practice companion you’ll be loath to leave home without. Whether you’re a shredder or you play strictly clean, the Katana Mini’s trio of amp voicings — clean, crunch, and brown — perfectly pairs with a 3-band EQ and onboard delay to meet your tonal needs. And with a robust 4-inch speaker and seven watts of power, this bite-sized amplifier produces a surprising volume that will inspire you during practice sessions. Need a whisper-quiet practice partner? Simply plug your headphones in to gain access to the speaker-emulated headphone/recording output’s track-ready tones.

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Positive Grid Spark GO Ultra-portable Smart Guitar Amp and Bluetooth Speaker

More than 50,000 tones in a pocket-sized powerhouse

The Positive Grid Spark GO ultra-portable smart guitar amp and Bluetooth speaker represents a revolution in the world of grab-and-go amplification. This 4-inch-tall mini amplifier’s five watts of power and custom-designed 2-inch speaker deliver far more volume, punch, and projection than it has any right to. Picky about your tone? Each of the four onboard preset slots is fully customizable, with 33 amps and 43 effects available right out of the gate. However, the Positive Grid Spark GO’s real power lies in its seamless integration into Positive Grid’s immensely powerful Spark app, unlocking more than 50,000 user-created tonal creations to dial in your dream tone. Add in the 10-hour battery life, Bluetooth, headphone jack, skill-sharpening practice features, and full-fledged audio interface functionality, and the Positive Grid Spark GO is truly one of our best guitar amps under $200.

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Roland CUBE-10GX 1×8-inch 10-watt COSM Combo Amp with FX

A modern classic of Roland amplification

Boasting a legacy that stretches all the way back to 1978, the Roland CUBE series of amplifiers arguably set the standard for what a world-class practice amplifier should be. The Roland CUBE-10GX 1×8-inch 10-watt COSM combo amp with FX fully lives up to that lofty reputation, supplying you with three COSM-powered amplifier models. Clean, crunch, or lead — this amplifier allows you to go from screaming high-gain solos to spaced-out ambient tone with the flick of a switch, which is further aided by a flexible 3-band EQ as well as built-in chorus, reverb, and delay effects. Moreover, the Roland CUBE KIT app gives you the power to swap out the CUBE-10GX’s standard amp models with a sweeping array of COSM amps — including acoustic and bass amps — to better fit your style.

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Fender Frontman 20G 20-watt 1×8-inch Combo Amp

Simple, straightforward, and classic Fender

The Fender Frontman 20G 20-watt 1×8-inch combo amp defies our list’s feature-packed modeling amplifiers by instead offering a plug-and-play setup reminiscent of the most revered Fender tube amps of yesteryear. Simply plug your 6-string in, choose between the clean or drive channels, and then sculpt your sound using the 3-band EQ to be rewarded with a myriad of time-tested Fender tones. No presets, no effects, no screens — just pure Fender shimmer and bark. In fact, the only bells and whistles are found in the amp’s aux in for easy jam-alongs and in its convenient headphone jack for silent practice at any time. If you’re after an affordable and portable amp that delivers legendary Fender tones, then go straight to the source with the Fender Frontman 20G.

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Blackstar Fly 3 1×3-inch 3-watt Combo Amp

Soar with the Blackstar Fly 3

Don’t be fooled by the diminutive size of the Blackstar Fly 3 1×3-inch 3-watt combo amp — this 2-pound, 2-channel, battery-powered combo more than delivers on signature Blackstar tonal firepower! Whether you’re after the first channel’s cleans or the second channel’s raw overdrive tones, you’re sure to find tonal inspiration in the Blackstar Fly 3’s British-meets-American voice. And speaking of transatlantic tones, the Fly 3 comes equipped with a secret sound-sculpting weapon under the hood: the Infinite Shape Feature knob. This EQ control sports a distinctly American amp response on one end with British bite on the other, allowing you to blend between the both of them for wholly unique sonic creations. Did we mention the built-in tape delay, MP3/line-in, and speaker-emulated line-out? Simply put, the Blackstar Fly 3 is the ultimate portable practice amp for the discerning tone chaser.

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Vox Mini Go 3

A comprehensive tonal and rhythmic practice partner

Packed with a plethora of amp models, effects, and rhythms, the battery-powered 3-watt Vox Mini Go 3 has portability that is only matched by its extensive functionality. Suppose you’re after a portable amp with the utmost tonal authenticity. In that case, you’re all but guaranteed to be blown away by the Vox Mini Go 3’s nine immaculately modeled amp emulations featuring a myriad of iconic amp voices from throughout Vox’s history and beyond. Once you’ve picked out your favorite model, tweak your tone to taste using the eight different onboard effects and the gain and tone knobs. Need a practice partner capable of kicking out a few backing tracks? The Vox Mini Go 3 also boasts a full-featured rhythm section to jam along with. Lastly, while it may be primarily a guitar amp, a convenient mic-in section with dedicated controls makes it a breeze to amplify vocals for busking or karaoke applications.

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Shop Sweetwater’s Entire Range of Wallet-friendly Amplifiers

From your very first amp to battery-powered practice amps to comprehensive modeling powerhouses, Sweetwater carries countless amps to choose from. With so many options, how do you choose? Simply reach out to one of our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700 to get expert-level advice on what amp will work best for your musical needs, whether it’s one of our best guitar amps under $200 or another amp entirely!

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