Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Tiny Dancer
  • Browser DAWs
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Restring your guitar
  1. Guitars
  2. Guitar Amps

Six Of The Best: Full-sized guitar amp heads

News
By Guitarist
Published 24 May 2012

Bucking the lunchbox trend

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

Jackson Ampworks Atlantic 3.0

Jackson Ampworks Atlantic 3.0

The trend of late may be towards mini amps, but sometimes full-on wind-in-the-hair power is the only way to go. Here Guitarist magazine presents its pick of the latest and greatest…

www.jacksonampworks.com

Type: Single-channel 50-watt head with solid-state rectification.

Guitarist said: “One of the best boutique hand-wired guitar amps money can buy.”

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Mesa/Boogie Royal Atlantic RA-100

Mesa/Boogie Royal Atlantic RA-100

www.mesaboogie.com

Type: Two-channel head with solid-state rectification.

Guitarist said: “A seriously well-sorted classic rock amp with excellent clean sounds to boot.”

Read the full Mesa/Boogie Royal Atlantic RA-100 review

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Bogner Goldfinger 45

Bogner Goldfinger 45

www.bogneramplification.com

Type: Twin-channel head with valve rectifier.

Guitarist said: “This can easily be the cornerstone of a complex pro-standard rig, or it can work just as well with a simpler set-up.”

Read the full Bogner Goldfinger 45 review

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
EVH 5150-III 50W

EVH 5150-III 50W

www.evhgear.com

Type: Three-channel, all-valve 50-watt head.

Guitarist said: “Rock guitarists who hanker after Eddie’s tone, but need a versatile all-round amp into the bargain, should seek this out right away.”

Read the full EVH 5150-III 50W review

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Orange TH100

Orange TH100

www.orangeamps.com

Type: All-valve two-channel head with switchable output power.

Guitarist said: “A pro-spec amp that’s both simple and tweakable, is loud enough for any stage on earth, but sounds good at sensible levels.”

Read the full Orange TH100 review

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Laney LH50

Laney LH50

www.laney.co.uk

Type: 50 watt two-channel head with solid-state rectification.

Guitarist said: “One of the best-sounding amps we’ve ever plugged into, this Laney could change your world if you try one.”

Read the full Laney LH50 review

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Guitarist
Guitarist
Social Links Navigation

Guitarist is the longest established UK guitar magazine, offering gear reviews, artist interviews, techniques lessons and loads more, in print, on tablet and on smartphones
Digital: http://bit.ly/GuitaristiOS
If you love guitars, you'll love Guitarist. Find us in print, on Newsstand for iPad, iPhone and other digital readers

Read more
Blackstar Beam Mini
Guitar Amps Best desktop amps 2026: Lightweight and portable practice solutions for guitarists of all abilities
 
 
Positive Grid Reactor 50 review
Guitar Amps "The app is where things get both wild and a little weird:" Positive Grid Reactor 50 Intelligent Guitar Combo Amp review
 
 
Jared James Nichols plays his Gibson Futura on a stage lit up in red-pink.
Artists “I felt like I was levitating off the ground. I felt like I was in Cream in 1968”: Jared James Nichols on why he switched to Marshall amps
 
 
Jake Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet rips a solo on his '61 SG.
Artists Jake Kiszka on the time he went shopping for the world’s most expensive guitar amp in Japan
 
 
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV 30th Anniversary
Guitar Amps “The very essence of the Fender aesthetic”: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV 30th Anniversary review
 
 
Blackstar Beam Mini
Guitar Amps “What sets it apart is access to a humongous range of amp captures”: Blackstar Beam Mini review
 
 
Latest in Guitar Amps
Blackstar Beam Mini
Guitar Amps “What sets it apart is access to a humongous range of amp captures”: Blackstar Beam Mini review
 
 
Blackstar DA5 Ruby Doug Aldrich Combo
Artists Blackstar shrinks Doug Aldrich’s fire-breathing tube head into a compact 5-watt combo
 
 
Marshall Billie Joe Armstrong 1959BJA Artist Signature
Artists A baby blue amp for a Green Day frontman: Marshall launches Billie Joe Armstrong’s “Dookie Mod” head
 
 
Orange Ed Sheeran Outlowd ES3
Guitar Amps Orange Outlowd ES3 Ed Sheeran signature amp review
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
Ed Sheeran has launched a new grassroots music campaign and a signature line of busking-friendly acoustic amps.
Artists “Playing music should always be fun”: Ed Sheeran and Orange launch the “ultimate busking amp”
 
 
Latest in News
George Michael
Artists Director Mike Christie tells us how his revelatory new Wham! film exposes a lot more than just a moment of cultural change…
 
 
Morrissey
Artists Previously unseen archive of pre-Smiths Morrissey correspondence heads to auction
 
 
dragonflies
Bands Dhani Harrison and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich form new band and unveil debut album plans
 
 
daydream plus
Bands Emo band release chiptune remix album on a NES cartridge
 
 
cs-80
Analogue Synths £400k Yamaha CS-80 claimed to have belonged to Vangelis goes up for sale on Reverb
 
 
roget
Artists Rogét Chahayed on how a quirky '90s Casio toy keyboard made the intro to Travis Scott's Sicko Mode
 
 

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

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

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

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...