Buying Guide: British-Voiced Amps

Ever since the early 1960s, rock music has been powered by British-made amps bearing names like Marshall, Vox, and Orange. There are now a huge number of amplifier makers who carry the torch, adding their own flavor to these legendary designs.

British amps are known for their unique midrange-focused sound that has been the voice of rock 'n' roll since its inception. These amps typically use tubes like EL3 and EL84s, which give these amplifiers their signature overdriven tone with the overtone series on display.

Some are straight-forward single-channel amps, while some amps have a tool bag full of tricks. Some of these makers are famous for modifying amps -- like Friedman, known for working on amplifiers for players like Eddie Van Halen and Jerry Cantrell. Others have been taking inspiration from old designs and making them more versatile than ever, like Victory Amps and even PRS.

Check out our handpicked selection, inspired by some of music's most famous amplifiers.