The best Marshall amps of 2023: our selection of amps for rock and more from the entire Marshall line (2023)

Few brands better embody the essence of rock and roll than Marshall. For decades they've been the choice of musicians around the world, but what are the best Marshall amps? If you're just starting out and learning to play the guitar in your bedroom, it's likely to be different than what a gigging guitarist would choose.

Jim Marshall founded the company in the '60s and used a Fender Bassman as his guide amp. Due to the different materials available at the time, the amp he ended up making, the JTM45, was very different. The components he used made the amp's voice sound different, and possibly most importantly, it broke before the Fender. It's this breakup sound that ultimately helped Marshall earn the reputation he's so well known for today.

Marshall makes a wide range of amplifiers today. Many players still seek the classic Marshall crunch, although clean players and those using heavier, overdriven sounds will also be catered for. Whatever your playing style, the best Marshall amps will help you sculpt your sound to your liking.

From bedroom practice amps to old school reissues to heads with enough power to fill the biggest venues, these are what we consider to be the best Marshall amps available to musicians today, covering all budgets! so join us! the best Marshall amps for beginners and professionals alike.

Best Marshall Amplifiers: Guitar World's Choice

The best Marshall amp will depend on what you want out of it, however, with its wide range of tones, affordable price, and all-tube construction, we can't ignore theDSL40CR(opens in a new tab). It has two separate channels with two voices within each, covering clean, crunch, and more distorted sounds, making it ideal for virtually any player. The built-in reverb sounds great, and at 40W, it's perfect for gigging, recording, or even playing around the house.

For those who need something more refined, check out theJVM205C(opens in a new tab). It's part of Marshall's flagship lineup that caters to players who want a professional-grade amp that can cover all grounds. Whether you want ultra-clear clean tones or mega saturation, it's got you covered.

The best Marshall amplifiers: product guide and reviews

Whatever you need, the Marshall DSL40C must be considered one of the best Marshall amps available. that's all-tube amplifier, so you get the response, dynamics, and tone that comes with it. It has two independent channels, but within each one you have two different sounds. The first channel covers crisp clean and vintage tones, and the second channel has two different overdrive sounds that cover heavier sounds.

The amp is rated at 40W which means it will cover most concert venues, however you can step the output down to 20W which makes it better suited for recording and playback at lower volumes without losing any of its power. his tone. Unlike old-school Marshall amps, this one has a master volume control, so you can always use it. There are actually two main volume controls, which means you can use them as a boost.

Alongside the regular EQ section, there's a tone shifter knob that essentially acts like a half spoon when engaged, there are reverb controls for each channel, and an effects loop. It's packed with features and looks great.

read our fullMarshall DSL40CR review

You will see the JVM stringguitar ampsPlayed by some professional gamers, and it's no wonder why - they're awesome. You get clean headroom, and you can forget about all the preconceptions about Marshall amps not sounding very clean, because the JVM205 has a nice clean channel. You get Plexi-style overdrive, as well as JCM-800-style crunch and high-gain overdrive sounds, ideal for modern and vintage metal alike.

It's a two-channel amp, but each channel has three different sounds, giving you six different tones at your disposal. They are also footswitchable, making this the perfect amp for live performance. Along with those awesome amp tones, it's got studio-quality reverb and two master volume controls.

This is a 2x12 combo, so it's not a small amp, but it's still more compact than a half stack, and that means you can push a lot of air when you need it. There's also an emulated line output on the back, making it easy to send a signal to the front of the house.

The original Plexis are great - they helped shape rock'n'roll as we know it, and many legendary musicians still use them as their amp of choice. They're not always practical, though: To get that famous Marshall crunch, you have to turn up the volume, which isn't always possible with a 50 or 100 tube amp.

The Marshall Studio Vintage is basically the same amp as a 1959 Super Lead, but it's 20W instead of 100 and can be cut down to 5W. Like the original, you still have to crank up the volume to get that glorious separation, but at 5W it's much more manageable, allowing you to turn it down in small clubs and pub-sized venues. It's a great little combo, equipped with a 10” Celestion VT-Junior speaker, making it more portable than a massive head and a 4x12.

This is the best Marshall amp for beginners, although more experienced players may like it as a house.practice ampwhile the other amp is in the rehearsal room. it is 30wsolid state amplifierwith two channels, each with two different voices. There's the clean/crunch channel that does exactly what it says on the tin, and the OD1/OD2 that gives you two different flavors of distortion.

It's a versatile Marshall amp and will suit any playing style, from pop to metal. There are five built-in effects that can be used in conjunction with three different reverbs, making it great for immersing yourself in all sorts of different sounds and sonic textures. At 30W, you'll have enough volume to jam with friends and even small gigs. There's an aux input for playing along with the music, and a headphone output for practicing in silence.

Finished with the iconic gold on black aesthetic, the MG30GFX offers classic Marshall tones at a great value.

While it's not a faithful replica of the old Plexis (check out the Marshall SV20 if you want), there's no denying that the Marshall Origin drew inspiration from established mid-'60s models.

It's super easy to use, and unlike amps from the '60s, it has a master volume control so you can adjust your gain separately without having to turn the volume down. That said, this sounds best loud, but at 20W you can do it without the sound engineer taking you offstage; Additionally, you have the option to reduce the output to around 3W and as low as 0.5W.

You can get some really nice clean sounds, though the Origin excels at mid-gain classic rock sound. Pull back on the gain knob and you'll get a little extra boost that's useful for soloing. At the rear of the amp you'll find an FX loop and a DI output.

Ever wanted a Marshall amp for playing on the go? Of course! This Mini Marshall battery can be powered by a 9v battery or by apedal power supply, which means you can clip it to your belt or clip it to yourguitar tapeand you have portable amplification.

While a cool party trick, the Marshall MS-2 isn't just an innovative amp, it's actually a decent little practice amp, as it doesn't take up a lot of space, can't get too loud, and offers both. Clean and overdrive sounds. If you have a large amp for gigs and rehearsals, then the MS-2 can be the ultimate quiet practice amp for use at home - it doesn't even take up much space on a desk.

The JCM800 is as iconic as the old Plexis. The sound of '80s rock wouldn't be the same without it. The Marshall Studio Classic is essentially just a scaled-down JCM800, with a power output of 20W instead of 100. It's still pretty loud, so you shouldn't have a problem in terms of volume, but it's much more manageable in places where a the lowest volume stage (ie most of them) is preferable. You can even drop the output down to 5W so you can really push the tubes without the deafening volume.

Just like the original, it's very easy to use with a simple control panel. You get some of the best rock tones just by turning the knob on the preamp, but if you want more, put a boost orpedal overdrivein front of him and he will scream. To keep things a bit more modern, Marshall has added an effects loop and DI output.

read our fullMarshall Studio Classic SC20H review

The CODE series is Marshall's product linemodeling amps. Inside CODE50, you have digital emulation of almost every type of Marshall amp ever built, from the old Plexis to the JCM800s and modern JVMs. No matter what kind of sound you're looking for, you're sure to find it here.

It comes loaded with 100 presets, 14 MST preamps, 4 MST power amps, and 8 MST speaker cabinets so you can mix and match to experiment with different sounds. There are also 24 effects built into the CODE50, five of which you can use simultaneously, allowing you to use modulation, reverb, delay, and distortion all at once. The amp can also be used in conjunction with a mobile app, making tweaking your tone that little bit easier.

With 50W of power and a 12” speaker, the amp can crank up the volume a bit: you'll be safe playing with friends and probably small gigs too, as long as your drummer doesn't get too loud.

read our fullMarshall CODE50 review

Best Marshall Amplifiers: Buying Tips

When looking for the best Marshall amp, it's worth making a few considerations to help you get the most for your money. With different players looking for different things, asking a few questions about how and where you'll be using the amp can help you pick the right one for you.

Solid state and modeling vs tube amps

Within our list of the best Marshall amplifiers there are solid state, modeling andtube amps, all with certain features that gamers love. Tube amps are more traditional: they were made this way when Marshall was just getting started, and many players claim they're the best, too.

Tube amps tend to be more dynamic, produce a nicer overdrive sound, and are more responsive to the player's touch. They are also usually more expensive and can often be heavy. Solid-state amps, on the other hand, are cheaper and lighter, but they don't respond in the same way. The distortion may not sound as organic either, but unlike most tube amps, the clean channel will stay clean when you turn up the volume, not fade. If you want free space, this could be useful.

Modeling amps seek to digitally replicate the sound of specific amps. As a result, you can get a wide range of tones, making them really versatile. The sound and response are rarely identical to the real thing, but you can get pretty close. You'll also find effects built into modeling amps.

size and output

Think about how much power you need from your amplifier. Do you want to take it to the shows? If so, how big are the venues you're playing? Will your amp be miked? A 50W tube amp might be great when you're playing big clubs, but it might not be as practical if you just want something for home use.

If you're looking for the best Marshall amp to use at home, consider the size as well. A single combination of smaller speakers may work better than an amplifier with two speakers or a head and cabinet.

It's also worth keeping in mind that tubeless power is not the same as tubeless. This means that a 30W tube amp, for example, will be noticeably louder than a 30W solid state or modeling amp.

Canales

Some of the best Marshall amps have several different channels, while others only have one. Multiple channels let you bookmark specific sounds and switch between them with the push of a button. If you want to quickly go from bright, clean sounds to higher gain tones, an amp with multiple channels is ideal.

However, there is a lot to be said for the simplicity of a single channel amp. You can dial the volume and tone knobs on your guitar for different sounds, or you can get creative with the pedals.

Gain

You can get great clean tones with most Marshall amps, but they're really notorious for their overdriven sounds. If you're looking for a classic rock look then something inspired by '60s models will do the trick, although most Marshalls should have you covered. If you want something with more gain and more suited to contemporary metal, then something like DSL or JVM would be better, or, for those on a tighter budget, CODE.

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