A solid state guitar amp uses transistors rather than valves, so it stays light and low maintenance, while modelling amps add digital preamps that recreate classic amp voices.
A solid state guitar amp uses transistors rather than valves, so it stays light and low maintenance, while modelling amps add digital preamps that recreate classic amp voices.
About Solid State Guitar Amplifiers
Solid state guitar amps use transistors rather than glass valves to amplify your signal. That makes them lighter, more affordable and far lower maintenance than tube amps: there are no valves to warm up, re-bias or replace, and the tone stays consistent night after night. Modern digital and modelling amps belong to the same family, pairing solid state power with digital preamps that recreate classic amp voices.
The range covers everything from the NUX Mighty series of modelling amps with built-in effects and Bluetooth, to JOYO DC series digital amps with onboard drum machines, Peavey's TransTube-equipped Rage and Bandit combos, and compact Foxgear amplifier pedals that put a full solid state amp on your pedalboard. Many are combo amps with the speaker built in, and several run on batteries, along with the rest of our battery powered amps. Prefer valve warmth? Compare our tube amps, or build a stack with an amplifier head and cab.
Solid state amps win on weight, price and upkeep: they are lighter to carry, more affordable, and have no valves to wear out or replace. They also offer plenty of clean headroom, which keeps your tone tidy at volume and makes them an excellent clean platform for guitar pedals.
Absolutely. Amps like the Peavey Bandit have been gig workhorses for decades because they sound consistent at any volume, handle transport well and never need re-biasing. For most players, a quality solid state combo is the most reliable amp they will own.
Yes. A modelling amp uses a digital preamp to recreate the sound of classic amplifiers, then a solid state power section to amplify it. The NUX Mighty and JOYO DC series both work this way, adding effects, drum machines and Bluetooth into compact practice amps.