Whether you’re in the market for a new high-gain head or you just spend your free time searching for heavy riffage on YouTube, you’ll want to bookmark this article for reference. This month, we gathered 13 of the hottest high-gain amps on the market, brought in ace guitarists Misha Mansoor (Periphery) and Ty Dietzler (Thousand Foot Krutch), and let the cameras roll. Listen to both guitarists tearing up each channel of each amp listed below in CD-quality sound, and get a rundown of each amp’s main features. If you’re looking for a stripped-down metal machine or an amp stuffed with high-tech tools, there’s surely a monster for you.


Blackstar Series One 200
Diamond Nitrox

Diezel VH4

ENGL Powerball II

Framus Cobra

Fryette Pittbull Hundred/CLX Master Built

Hughes & Kettner Coreblade

Krank Nineteen80

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII

Peavey 6534+

Randall RT 100


Soldano Avenger