What’s the best combo amp + pedals for metal around $600 for a home guitarist?

General
1

I’m looking to upgrade from my old 15-watt Washburn practice amp to something better for playing mostly metal, but I don’t need a 100-watt amp since I mostly play at home. I also play Polyphia and Chon, so any recommendations for clean pedals would be awesome. I was thinking about the Boss Katana Air EX that costs around $600, but my friend suggested I could get a combo amp and pedals for that price. What do you think?

2

This might stretch your budget a bit, but here’s a suggestion:

  • Used Marshall DSL40C - $400
  • Celestion Greenback - $180
  • Tube Screamer - $70ish?

If you keep the amp on triode mode (half power) and don’t go over 50% on the volume, you should be able to get a killer sound without damaging the Greenback speaker.

3

@Lorin
That’s a great suggestion… Marshall DSL amps are used by a lot of metal bands.

4

For metal, you really don’t need a lot of pedals. A solid metal amp with a good cab and a Tube Screamer or clean boost will get you far. I’d recommend the Joyo Zombie and a 1x12 cab with a V30 speaker. For a clean boost, any basic one will work. If you want to play quieter, try a Marshall DSL1 head with the same cab.

5

@Rory
I use the Zombie 2 and a $200 Amazon Stage Right 1x12 V30. It works for pretty much any kind of music. I play sludge and 90s groove metal, and for the price, this setup is amazing.

6

A few things to consider:

  • Are you in the US?
  • Are you fine with shipping?
  • Do you mind buying used gear?

If yes to all, check for a nice used Marshall DSL20 or DSL40, Laney Ironheart combo, or an EVH 5150 iii combo. They all have decent cleans and great distortion. Another option could be the Laney Ironheart Foundry pedal with a used cab. If you want to nail Polyphia’s tone, you’ll probably also need a compressor. Use the leftover budget to get a good compressor pedal.

7

The Peavey JSX, XXX, and Ultra series are great for both clean and heavy distortion tones. The 6505/5150 amps have better distortion, but the others offer better cleans. I own a Peavey Ultra 120, and its clean channel is one of the best I’ve heard from a metal amp. It’s tight and gritty, perfect for thrash. There’s a 60-watt combo version that’s surprisingly affordable. Here’s one on Reverb. You can swap the speaker if needed.

8

Peavey Bandit - $225
Fav OD pedal - $150-200
Noise Gate - $150-200

9

Boost a Zombie with a 10-band EQ in the loop and a 1x12 cab. This setup can give you any metal tone you want.