Modern modelling amps have closed the gap with valve amplifiers to a degree that would have seemed impossible a decade ago. The best modelling amps offer dozens of amp sounds, built-in effects, wireless connectivity and silent recording output — all in a single package. These are the modelling amps worth buying in 2026.
Last updated: June 2026
The Katana-50 MkII wins on the combination of tone quality, features and value — its BOSS effects integration, five-stage wattage control and excellent clean channel make it the best modelling amp under £250 by a wide margin.
The Spark 40 is the only amp that generates a real-time backing band from what you play — the Smart Jam and Auto-Chords features make solo practice genuinely more musical and engaging than any other amp.
The HX Stomp is not a traditional amp — it is a floor amp modeller that replaces both your amp and all your pedals. For players who want access to Helix-quality amp models in a compact package for studio or live use, nothing under £600 comes close.
The Katana-100 MkII scales the acclaimed Katana platform to stage-ready 100 watts with selectable 0.5W/25W/50W/100W modes. Bands that want modelling quality at volume need the 100-watt power stage.
For recording and monitoring at lower volumes, modern modelling amps are extraordinarily good — the Line 6 HX Stomp, Kemper Profiler and Neural DSP Quad Cortex produce amp simulations that routinely fool professional engineers in blind A/B tests. For live performance at high stage volume, the experience of playing through a real valve amp speaker at volume is still preferred by most experienced players — the way a valve amp responds to the room acoustics and your physical position in front of it cannot yet be replicated.
Very good. A modelling amp gives beginners access to dozens of different amp sounds in a single practice tool, which is genuinely educational — you can explore why a Fender clean sounds different from a Marshall crunch at the touch of a button. The Positive Grid Spark 40 also includes features specifically designed to accelerate learning: chord detection, backing track generation and an enormous library of artist presets.