Choosing the right solid state amp that works well with effects pedals can be frustrating for a beginning guitarist, and still pretty confusing for an experienced one.
The solid state amp that works the best for you will depend on a variety of things such as cost, ease of use, and how loud you actually want the amp to be. There isn’t really a one size fits all approach to solid state amplifiers that work well with pedals. Some have tons of features, while others are pretty basic.
In this buyer’s guide, however, I’ve narrowed down the choices to the best amps that work great with pedals. Some of these amps range from little practice amps that are really only for home use, and some of the choices work well in both small venues and a home setting.
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Solid State Amps for Pedals Overview
Last update on 2025-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Orange Amps Crush 35RT
When it comes to beginner guitar amps that sound amazing but are also affordable, the Orange Crush 35RT really takes the cake.
It’s also a very good-looking guitar amplifier with its signature orange enclosure and all the knobs on the top of the unit.
Orange amps are known for their killer overdrive tones and this amp is no exception.
Some of the features of this cool little amp are a built-in tuner and a reverb function. Equally important is its two-channel interface with a toggle switch that allows easy switching between clean and dirty.
If you’re looking for an amp that’s well built, sounds great, and is easy on your wallet, then look no further than the Orange Crush 35RT with 35 watts of crushing power. It’s definitely a workhorse with an enormous sound.
Roland JC-22 Jazz Chorus
If you’re looking for a solid state amp that is perfect for smaller venues or for recording into your DAW software, then the Roland Jazz Chorus guitar amp is calling your name.
This amp sounds amazing without pedals and is known for it’s infamous clean tones. Hook it up with pedals, however, and you can make it sound even more superb than it already does.
Some of the features of the Roland Jazz Chorus include it’s signature space chorus built-in effect as well as reverb and your standard EQ amp interface.
With 30 watts of power pumped through two 6 and a half inch speakers, the amp sounds great no matter what volume you set it at.
So if you’re looking for a versatile amp that works great with pedals that you can use at home or on the road, you can’t get any better than this.
Marshall MG10 Practice Amp
This two channel 10 watt combo amp from Marshall features an input for your mp3 player so you can jam along to your favorite tracks for hours of endless fun.
It’s a simple practice amp with few features, but that’s what makes it so suitable for pedals. For the price, you really can’t go wrong – coming in under $100. And coming in at about 11 pounds, it’s easy enough to bring with you to your buddy’s house for a practice session.
It’s a highly durable, bullet-proof practice amp. I actually dropped mine when I first got it, and you really wouldn’t know it, because there were no dents or scuffles to be had, and the sound quality didn’t dip because of the mishap.
This solid state Marshall amp is perfect for beginners because of it’s simple interface, affordable pricing, and great sound. Oh, and it also works really good with pedals.
Fender Champion 100
The Fender Champion 100 is the grandaddy of the Fender Champion lineage of guitar amps. It blasts an amazing 100 watts of power through 2 twelve inch special design speakers, making this an excellent amp for small venues likes clubs, bars, and street performances.
With two selectable channels, you will get the choice of a nice clean sounding amp that emulates the sound of a Fender Tube amp or some nice gain that sounds cool and crunchy.
This amp sounds amazing alone or with some extra effects pedals added on. You really don’t even need to buy any pedals for this amp if you don’t want to because of it’s built-in reverb, delay, chorus, and tremolo. However, it still sounds great with pedals regardless of the extra features on this amplifier.
Blackstar FLY3 Mini Guitar Amp
Be prepared to be blown away by the sound of this little guy. If you’ve tried other mini guitar amps on the market only to be disappointed and frusrated, then the FLY3 mini amp from Blackstar will have you changing your mind.
It’s definitely loud enough to be heard throughout the house if you want it to. But it also has an input for those that prefer to use headphones.
There is a jack for plugging in your phone or mp3 player, allowing you to jam along with your favorite tracks. It also works excellent with pedals, and is very beginner friendly. Overall a great choice for those looking for a little mini amp or for those who are just starting out in the world of guitar playing.
