Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About Us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist
  • Guitar Techniques
  • Total Guitar
  • Bass Player
More
  • Cyber Monday plugin deals still live
  • How to make an AI cover song
  • 30 beautiful acoustic guitar chords
  • 86000+ free music samples

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. News

9 of the best modern high-performance amp heads

By Nick Guppy
( Guitarist )
published 28 September 2015

Get some air moving with these muscular amps

Hughes & Kettner Puretone 25-watt head

Hughes & Kettner Puretone 25-watt head

The Puretone is a special amp. Known for complex, multi-function designs, H&K blew us away with this no-frills hand-wired monster powered by two EL34s.

If you don’t care for the illuminated Plexiglas front, our advice is to close your eyes and just listen. Sensational.

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
Marshall JVM410H

Marshall JVM410H

Marshall’s current flagship head is a four-channel, fire-breathing monster.

In typical Marshall fashion, it’s capable of wreaking sonic havoc; however, it’s also capable of great subtlety, with the muscle to compete with any of the world’s super amps at an attainable price.

Read our full Marshall JVM410H review

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Fargen Olde 800 MkII 50-watt

Fargen Olde 800 MkII 50-watt

Hard-as-nails old-school build quality and extreme attention to detail are the Fargen’s trademarks, combined with a clever ‘decade switch’ feature that lets this amp emulate 60s, 70s and 80s Marshall style voicings.

It translates into superb JTM45-, JMP- and JCM-esque tones.

Read our full Fargen Olde 800 MkII 50-watt review

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
ENGL Artist Edition E651 Limited Edition

ENGL Artist Edition E651 Limited Edition

A specially voiced version of Engl’s regular 100-watter, developed from its Ritchie Blackmore signature model combining two channels of tone for a revelatory modern-rock experience.

This was the last amp to be used by the late Gary Moore; definitely one for the collectors.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier 100-watt

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier 100-watt

Nearly 20 years on from its introduction, the Dual Rec remains one of the ultimate modern rock heads.

It spawned a new genre of rock, which went on to become modern metal. It’s also capable of surprising tonal range that makes it a capable choice for blues and country, too.

Read our full Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier 100-watt review

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Rivera Knucklehead Reverb 100-watt

Rivera Knucklehead Reverb 100-watt

The current Rivera flagship has three channels and a host of functions all aimed at squeezing out every last ounce of tone and sustain.

Aimed at the top of the pro market, users include Steve Lukather, Mick Thomson and David Rhodes. The Knucklehead is staggering value.

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
Orange Rockerverb Mk III 100-watt

Orange Rockerverb Mk III 100-watt

The recently unveiled Mk III version of the Rockerverb has a built-in attenuator circuit as well as a choice of output settings from 100, 70, 50 to 30 watts, which makes it easy to get the classic Orange Brit rock tone at any volume.

The clean channel has also been re-voiced for more ‘chime’.

Read our full Orange Rockerverb Mk III 100-watt review

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
Blackstar Artisan 100 Hand Wired

Blackstar Artisan 100 Hand Wired

The Artisan 100 is a hand-wired 100-watt monster inspired by the classic Marshall Super Lead design, with burgundy vinyl covering and some clever twists.

Plexi tone that can sound vintage or modern, the Artisan’s superior build quality makes it exceptional value for money.

Read our full Blackstar Artisan 100 Hand Wired review

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Magnatone Super 59

Magnatone Super 59

The revived Magnatone brand impressed us greatly with this superbly built and finished Plexi tribute head, which features the classic Magnatone frequency modulation vibrato effect.

Designed with input from Billy Gibbons, the Super 59 offers superlative tone - but at a price.

Read our full Magnatone Super 59 review

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
Nick Guppy
Social Links Navigation
More about guitars
SynthAxe

From Holy Grail to dodo: how the legendary SynthAxe went from being "the future of the electric guitar" to "way beyond what most guitarists could comprehend"

Prince Purple Rain album cover

Is Prince's Purple Rain really the second-greatest guitar riff of all time? A new survey says 'yes'

Latest
Klanghelm Tens

Klanghelm reboots AKG’s BX spring reverb with its new Tens plugin, and there’s a free version, too

See more latest ►
Most Popular
Old Blood Noise Endeavors launches the BL-52 Phase Repeater, a pedal that “lives between phaser and reverb” – and lets you pick specs with BL Series Custom Color

By Jonathan Horsley28 November 2023

Surprise, surprise: Taylor Swift is Apple Music’s Artist of the Year, but which artists, songs and albums did you listen to most in 2023?

By Ben Rogerson28 November 2023

The developer of SketchCassette has just released a free plugin called Lofi Oddity, an audio “degradation toy box”

By Ben Rogerson28 November 2023

Harley Benton’s mind is on the summer holidays already with the launch of the GS-Travel-E Bass – and you can choose all-mahogany or spruce-topped

By Jonathan Horsley28 November 2023

“I won’t rest until this piece gets the recognition it deserves”: classical guitar phenom Alexandra Whittingham demonstrates the late Romantic origins of the default Nokia ringtone

By Jonathan Horsley28 November 2023

“It's so offensive that it can't actually mean that”: Have The Prodigy finally changed the lyrics to ‘the most controversial song of all time’?

By Andy Jones28 November 2023

Sundragon and Jimmy Page unveil the Super Dragon, a “faithful recreation” of the modded Super Bass that was his “number one amp” from Led Zeppelin II onwards

By Jonathan Horsley28 November 2023

Missed out on a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal? These 37 music bargains are still going strong

By Chris Barnes28 November 2023

“I am not your guru, OK? I’m not Rick Rubin with a beard”: Vulfpeck’s Jack Stratton promises to be your “cool professor” as he launches a new mixing masterclass that takes you inside the ‘Vulf Sound’

By Ben Rogerson28 November 2023

We tested all of these viral TikTok music production hacks so you don't have to

By Chris Cartledge28 November 2023

"I try out ideas that might be too weird otherwise": version 3 of Valhalla DSP's Supermassive is the most "super massive-est" yet, and it's still completely free!

By Andy Jones28 November 2023

  1. Yamah dtx cyber monday
    1
    At last! Yamaha's DTX electronic drum kits have finally been reduced for Cyber Monday - these are the 3 we'd grab right now
  2. 2
    The Line 6 HX Stomp is already the best-value multi-effects and amp modeller but with $100 off and a free $79 bag it's on a whole new level for Cyber Monday
  3. 3
    24 must-have Cyber Monday deals the MusicRadar team is buying this year
  4. 4
    I've used the Yamaha HS5 monitors in my home studio for five years - and now they’re discounted for Cyber Monday
  5. 5
    Apple’s brand-new MacBook Pro M3s have got the Cyber Monday price cuts we wanted, but they won't be around much longer
  1. Cyber Monday team recommendations
    1
    24 must-have Cyber Monday deals the MusicRadar team is buying this year
  2. 2
    “It's so offensive that it can't actually mean that”: Have The Prodigy finally changed the lyrics to ‘the most controversial song of all time’?
  3. 3
    “I won’t rest until this piece gets the recognition it deserves”: classical guitar phenom Alexandra Whittingham demonstrates the late Romantic origins of the default Nokia ringtone
  4. 4
    Not all audio interfaces are born equal: here’s why Focusrite’s Clarett+ can take the quality of your music to the next level
  5. 5
    Geddy Lee says that Paul McCartney has tried to convince him and Alex Lifeson to tour again: “He was lecturing Al about how great it is... ‘You have to do it, man. You have to get back out there’”

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.