Need a metal amp under $500?
In this post, I’ll provide a list of affordable metal amps for every budget, and I’ll highlight the features that make each amp stand out, so you can choose the best one for your metal guitar playing needs.
So if you need to find a cheap metal amp, check out the list and pick the one that works best for your current situation.
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Table of Contents
Blackstar Fly 3 Mini Amp
Don’t let the small size of the Blackstar Fly 3 make you think that it can’t sound metal. For a small amp, the Fly has a fantastic metal tone.
It’s ISF tone control/ EQ lets you dial in nearly any metal tone you can think of, without the complications of a traditional EQ setup.
It also has a delay setting, which is nice for lead guitar/ shred.
Also, it can run on batteries, making it a great portable practice amp, even useful for a small open mic night.
Long story short, get the Blackstar Fly if you want a simple metal amp that can fit in your backpack.
Key Features
- 3W output, single 3″ speaker
- ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) tone control
- Built-in delay effect
- Battery powered (6x AA) or AC adapter
- Headphone/MP3 input
- Expandable with the Fly Extension Cabinet
Fender Mustang LT25
Fender isn’t the first brand most people think of when it comes to metal, but their Mustang LT25 amp is very versatile and possesses many great tones suitable for metal.
For starters, it has a wide variety of effects, such as delay, reverb, and chorus.
Second, it has 30 different preset amp models that are good to go, and several of them are great for metal.
It also has a slick LCD display, which makes it easy to find the presets you want. It also has a built-in tuner, which is convenient.
Bottom line: This is one of the cheapest metal combo amps, and it’s fantastic for band practice and small gigs.
Key Features
- 25W output, single 8″ speaker
- 30 amp models, 25 built-in effects
- LCD display for easy preset navigation
- 20 preset save slots
- Built-in tuner
- USB connectivity, headphone out, aux in
Boss Katana-50
The Katana-50 keeps evolving, and as of writing this post, they’re on the 3rd generation. It’s one of the most popular modern combo amps.
It has 5 built-in effects that you can customize, making it easy to emulate your favorite metal player’s amp tone.
It also has multiple amp types, giving you a range of tones from clean to rock to heavy metal.
Last, the Katana’s built-in power control lets you adjust the amp’s wattage, making it easy to adjust the amp’s overall volume and output.
Key Features
- 50W output (scalable to 25W, 0.5W), single 12″ speaker
- 5 amp characters: Clean, Crunch, Lead, Brown, Acoustic
- 60+ built-in Boss effects
- Power Attenuation control
- Built-in tuner, effects loop
- USB audio for recording, headphone out
Orange Crush 35RT
Orange makes really cool amps for metal and rock, and the Crush 35RT is no exception.
It’s great for metal players who want a simple amp with only 2 channels: clean and dirty.
Don’t let the simple 2-channel setup make you think this amp isn’t capable of a wide variety of tones, because it is very capable! In my experience, it’s easy to dial in a great metal or hard rock tone on this amp or any other Orange amplifier, and the simplicity makes it less of a headache to work with.
It also has built-in reverb, which gives extra character to your metal tone.
Last, it has a built-in chromatic tuner, which is always nice on a practice amp.
If you want a simple metal practice amp that looks awesome, sounds great, and makes it easy to dial in a good metal tone, check out the Orange Crush 35RT.
Key Features
- 35W output, single 10″ speaker
- 2 channels: clean and dirty
- Built-in reverb and chromatic tuner
- CabSim headphone output for silent practice
- Aux input
- Solid-state, all-analog signal path
Marshall MG15GFX
Marshall’s MG15GFX is a great amp for the price, and it comes from an iconic guitar amp company.
It gives you a clean/ crunch channel and an OD-1/ OD-2 channel.
And for an afforadable metal combo amp, this has some of the best options for FX. The 4 different FX know options are chorus, phaser, flanger, and delay.
And unlike some other amps, it has a Reverb knob that’s independent from the other FX.
Overall, if you want an affordable combo amp with versatile tone and FX options, check out the MG15GFX.
Key Features
- 30W output, single 10″ speaker
- 2 channels: clean and overdrive
- 4 programmable presets
- Built-in effects: reverb, chorus, phaser, delay, flanger
- MP3/line input, headphone out
- Emulated line out for recording
Positive Grid Spark GO 5W Ultra-Portable Smart Guitar Amp
The Spark GO is a modern, portable, “smart” amplifier.
It only has 5 watts, and it’s small enough to fit into your pocket. It connects with the Positive Grid Spark app via Bluetooth, giving you access to lots of custom tones developed by its ToneCloud community.
It also has cool features like Auto Chords and Smart Jam, showing you chords from your favorite metal songs, and giving you an AI jamming partner.
If you love modern technology and you want a portable amp that connects with your phone, then the Spark GO is definitely an ideal, freaking cool amplifier.
Key Features
- 5W output, dual 2″ speakers (stereo)
- Bluetooth audio streaming
- Spark app integration with thousands of community tones
- Auto Chords and Jam features for practice
- 33 built-in effects, 7 amp models
- Rechargeable battery, USB-C charging
Blackstar ID:Core V4
Blackstar’s stereo technology is amazing for metal, and the ID:Core V4 showcases it so well. The technology gives the amp a huge sound.
It’s a combo amp with 6 different “voices”, which are your tones. They are:
- Clean warm
- Clean bright
- Crunch
- Super crunch
- OD 1
- OD 2
As you can tell, this amp gives you lots of different options for tones.
It also has a unique set of built-in effects, which are reverb, delay, and modulation.
Last, it has a USB-C port, which allows you to plug into your DAW and record with ease.
If you want a huge metal sound, a versatile set of tones, and an amp that makes it easy for you to record music, this one stands out from the rest of the amps on this list.
Key Features
- 10W stereo output (two 3″ speakers)
- 6 voice channels: Clean Warm, Clean Bright, Crunch, Super Crunch, OD 1, OD 2 (Super Wide)
- Built-in effects: reverb, delay, modulation
- USB audio interface for direct recording
- Blackstar Architect software compatibility
- Headphone out, aux in, effects loop
Metal Amps Under $500 Conclusion
Any of these metal amps under $500 will get you a great metal tone without needing to get a second mortgage.
If you’re looking for a portable amplifier, go for the Blackstar Fly or the Spark Go.
If you want exceptional control over your tone, get the Boss Katana-50 or the Blackstar ID:Core V4.
If you want something simple but very effective, go for the Orange Crush 35RT.
If you play lots of genres as well as metal, go for the Fender Mustang LT25.
Last, if you want to rock an iconic guitar amp brand that also happens to have a good metal tone, go for the Marshall MG15GFX.
Pick your amp and start shredding.
Thanks for reading!
