Hii guys, Iāve an Esp Ltd EC-256 guitar. Iām looking for a good AMP for my guitar. Iāve been doing research on it for the past week, but Iām very confused. My budget is $200.
Have a look at the boss Katana MK2 nice amp from the price 
Hello @string_soul Welcome to the Community Jennifer.
Is that US $ ?
A good amp is a movable feast and means different things to different people.
Are you a learner, playing at home, looking for something simple to use yet decent sounding, looking to be able to plug in headphones, connect to a computer, play loud at gig volumes etc?
Your budget should get you something reasonable though to advise best people will need more information.
What Richard says and Jennifer @string_soul ā¦donāt forget that if you find something the 2nd hand market is full of guitar amplifiers with quitting guitar players, with some patience and sometimes very quickly you can get great deals. 
Welcome here and I wish you a lot of fun 
Greetings,Rogier
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Hi Jennifer,
Iām thinking this may be subjective. Some folks say this amp is good, others will say it is not. And on and on.
What is confusing you?
Other than the amount of choices in amps these days is, the sky is the limit. Starting with the basics. Guitar processors, modeler type amps, solid state amps, tube amps.
I havenāt amp shopped in a bit, but $200 may be on the lower side of what a amp may cost you.
Then thereās what ya want your amp to do.
Do you want every sound available under the sunset? Thatād be modelers and guitar processors. These allow you to twiddle knobs and menus to your hearts content to come up with just the tones your looking for, if you can find them tones amongst all the different flavors of tones that these types of amps can offer. These types of amps also allow for much connectivity to computers and the likes.
Then thereās solid state amps. These are usually just plain amps. They just do what they do. You control the tone for bass, middle, treble, volume. Sometimes ya can get reverb on these types amps. But they usually donāt have a gob of choices. Some may be able to connect to computers, but much less likely. imho, some solid state amps can be desirable, some may not be. I judge this on how well I like the tones the amp produces.
If yer into headphones, modelers will likely have this capability. āSomeā solid state will too.
then thereās tube amps. These are how amps were made originally. Prior to computers. Many folks like the warm tones of tube amps. Tube amps may require repair more so than other amps. Tubes can fail. Tube amps usually have the least control over them. Right down to amps that only have a volume control. Others may have tone control. Still others will have reverb or tremolo onboard them. But thatās about it. Usually they are not designed to be connected to anything, like not a computer. They are stand alone guitar amps that only do one thing.
fwiw, 200 will get ya into the game. But not by a lot. Youāll have fewer choices.
Many folks here like the guitar processors and modelers.
fwiw, I did get a amp right in your price range a couple years ago. Iām more than happy with it too. It was $200, used.
That amp is a peavey transtube red stripe bandit. These are usually cheaper amps on the used market. They have good tone in them. They are also a shade large and quite heavy to pick up. They can do bedroom level playing. As in quite playing. Proof would be I had mine on the other day and the wife didnāt wake up in the other room while she was sleeping. Then again. This same amp can peel paint off your walls loud. I mean, really loud. Bum your neighbors out loud. These are simple amps, vol,tone control, reverb. Again, a amp that is what it is.
I personally love this amp. It is for sure my best bang for the buck amp. A amp that many folks like.
Be aware, there are also some solid state amps that can suck. I had a peavey audition 20 amp. A small, within your price range amp. It also had small tone too. It sounded like a 1960s hand held AM transistor radio. The tones were worthless and I didnāt enjoy playing it. I found no inspiration to play guitar in it at all. So, imho, beware of this type of amp.
So, let us know more about where and how your wanting to use your amp.
Your choices are near infinite these days. There is much to consider.
Have fun with your research. Listen to youtubes of different amps. See which ones may have the control your wanting, or the tones your wanting. The size your wanting. etc.
This is what I did when deciding which kind of amp I thought I would enjoy. It took me a couple years to find what I liked and where to land at. But I did get there. It also took 3 or so amps to try at home for me to make that kind of decision. My adventure took me through much price range too. I started with $200 (used), then $400 (used), then $1200 (new). This is where I stopped at. I can get the tones out of any of these amps that inspire me. Iāve pretty much stopped looking at amps as Iāve found what āIā like. imho, the adventure is fun, albeit kinda expensive.
Do consider used amps. Ya can save some bread by going this route and get a better amp for the money spent.
btw, nice guitar ya got thereā¦ 
Have fun on your amp seeking adventure.
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Indeed thereās a vast choice of different types of amps and then all sorts of modellers that can go straight into a computer. As Richard said, itās very difficult to advise unless you define what you want the amp to be able to do and what you want to use it for.
Like most of us, I was completely naive when I started and ended up buying an amp that has a really great sound and wasnāt expensive for my budget. I still love the amp but because I only play in the bedroom, that amp is just too loud. I have kept it, for the time when I have a bigger room for it, but it then meant me buying another more suitable amp (more expense!) where I can get a great sound in a very small bedroom.
Another issue is space and weight. If you are playing at home, you might not want it to be too big, but that can also affect the sound. Then thereās other considerations like whether you have neighbours and how noise sensitive they are, etc. So knowing a bit more what you want the amp to be able to do would help people on the forum to give some advice.
Also, I have to say that looks affected my purchases because my wife would have been very unhappy with a large black amp and speaker cab - so I checked with her before buying any of them to get the seal of approval for their looks
Also what @roger_holland says is very true. Sometimes you can get a great buy 2nd hand. The average beginner guitarist apparently gives up in the 1st 6 months. So there can be quite a lot of amps available 2nd hand. Someone mentions the Katana and Iāve seen some of those in my area going for very low prices and within your budget.
Oh yes, and welcome to the forum!!
Ian
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With your budget, youāre going to be in the realm of buying āsomethingā that will do at least some of the things you want. Which means you need to decide whatās important to you.
Used will definitely get you more. But you need to lay out what youāre after. Do you want headphone connectivity? Computer connectivity? Do you want simple controls? Do you want a lot of options to play with different settings? Do you want to play in front of others? Do you just need enough volume for your bedroom? Do you live in an apartment and need to keep volume WAY down?
Tube amps are probably out of the question at your budget. I spent about $500 on a used Fender Blues Jr. tube amp. It may not necessarily be āthe cheapestā out there, but there are a LOT of them out there and so theyāre plentiful on the used market. One of the most widely available tube amps, at least, which does help with the prices on the used market. I think the cheapest I saw while I was searching was close to $400 for older ones with a good bit of wear.
Lots of solid-state amps can be had in your price range, especially on the smaller side and if looking at used ones.
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I think the standard choice for that budget would be a used Katana 50, 50 EX, or 100 from Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Reverb, or eBay. The difference between 50 and 100 is how loud they are: 100 can play larger venues than 50. 50 ex is basically a 50, but with slightly more features, itās significantly less common. All of them have a 0.5 amp mode for practicing quietly. Besides those models, thereās also three generations: original, mkii (what Yammyactive is recommending), and gen 3. Each generation is a little better than the last, but theyāre all good. Justin has some presets you can download and load onto a katana amp that are tuned for some songs, and you can download presets from others as well, so thatās a nice bonus as well for getting a Katana. Itās certainly not the only choice, but from my research, if you just want to get a normal amp thatās the one most recommended, get one of these.
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Very wise and the first thing you need to figure out. This will have a major outcome on cost and how you will be using it. So you want to be real carful.
Myself I Like pedals, I am a pedal nerd. So I dont want anything thay has a zillion knobs and sounds and downloads, thats just me. Right now I am looking for old peavey Bandit with an internal spring reverb amp from the early 90s the can be had for less thay $200 USD used if your patient. Sound like heavy, sound great in a signal chain with pedals Basic controls, Heavy like a tank, single 12 inch. I am still looking. There are others on the list.
My way is certainly not the way to go for everyone. Read up on the different types and what they offer.
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2 years ago, I started with a Fender LT25, Iāve also owned the LT50, and an Orange 12. Currently, running a Katana 100 Gen 3 and Blackstar Debut 50r with a pedalboard.
Anyway, Iād say if you want something that will allow you to sample different amp models and pedals, get the LT25. If you want something simple, pick up an Orange in your price range. Either one are decent amps. I parted with the LTās to get the Katana, I parted with the Orange to get the Blackstar, as my knowledge evolved. Anyway, the LT25 is one of the best starter amps out there if you donāt mind SW and menus. I donāt regret starting with that one.
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yes
Yes Iām a learner, playing at home as of now.
Yes this would be better.
Where I can get a good second hand one?
You might consider buying second-hand from e.g. eBay. Since you play a Les Paul-like guitar, you may not want a sharp rocky sound, but more rounded jazz or blues? I found a 20 year old Fender combo for 100 euros that has great tone control and a beautiful built-in reverb. Hope this helps.
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Iād say, go for this one: Harley Benton TUBE15 Celestion ā Thomann Nederland
Itās slightly more then 200, but! You get a straight amp. This one has a few knobs and a reverb tank built in. Also, it has the possibility to switch to 1W.
Very nice for playing in the bedroom, for instance.
Why am i promoting this to someone new to amps?
Because of itās simplictiy.
Straight out of the box, you can get some decent sounds, from clean to distorted, with or without reverb.
This amp also serves as a very good pedal platform. Leaving your future choices for sound, wide open.
I wish i had learned this much earlier on, instead of buying amps like a Roland cube, a Fender champion, etcā¦ All great amps, but, for me, too much knobs and options that produced sounds i donāt like.
But thatās a personal thing and certainly doesnāt apply to everybody.
Still, iād recommend this amp as a starting point. Clean, no nonsense and you can build upon it.
Only downside, it doesnāt have a headphone or pc connection.
But there are ways to solve that too.
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Hey, thank you for that much detailed reply. Iām really amazed after reading. So, Iām a learner and have started learning guitar for the last 2 month. I donāt know much about these things, Iām just exploring. I mostly play at my home and practice. Please suggest where should I have to start from? Yeah Iāll consider used AMP, where I can get from?
If you are in the USA, and looking for used. You can look at craigs list. Lots of good equipment on there. FB market place as well. These at least let you read about the amps while you scroll
Pawn shops you can find sweet used items droped off by some unfortunate soul.
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FB Marketplace seems to be the ānew hotnessā for online marketplaces right now. I have my eye on a used pedalboard/power supply setup on there right now. Craigslist has long been a bastion of flakes and scammers but if you were careful, you could do well there. Nowadays thereās less good stuff available as people move to FB Marketplace.
Iāve bought my used music gear so far from Guitar Centerās used gear section. I have browsed Sweetwaterās used gear but havenāt found anything I like at a price Iām willing to pay. For the items Iāve bought, GC has had better prices and has the advantage of being able to ship to the local store and try it out before taking it home.
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Jason and Nate gave solid advise I think.
I donāt do facebook so never tried that. Maybe itās good, I donāt know.
I have done criagslist. Several pieces of my gear are from craigslist. So far, Iāve not encountered the wierdos, yet. Just regular folks that are moving some gear.
Also consider just stopping in at your local music store. If thereās more than one music store nearby, stop in at all of them.
Usually the staff are more than happy to discuss gear. They can help you understand some of the different types of gear, perhaps lead you to something that you may like. Maybe even taking your esp with you. Then youāll know what your guitar sounds like though various different amps.
Keep exploring.
When I was thinking of buying this amp or that amp, Iād go on the youtubes and watch videos of this amp or that one.
imho, lots of info, both good and bad about this gear or that gear. Most are worth the view.
Be open with what you may want too.
I was pretty sure I wanted a tone king imperial mkII I think it was. I watched many videos about that amp. I was sure that was what I wanted.
Then I stopped by my local music store. Low and behold, they had one. Of course I just had to try it out, and did.
I came away less inspired than I thought I would. This got to me to second guess myself.
In the end. I regrouped, found something else that I thought I could maybe like. Saved myself a gob of money too. That tone king was real real pricey. Near unobtainable for me. But I woulda spent the bread, if Iād have been inspired by it. Itās just that I wasnāt inspired by it.
Point is. Try and play before you buy. Even watching a bunch of youtubes didnāt prepare me for my discovery that the amp I thought I wanted, really wasnāt the one for me.
This gear thing is really a fun part of playing guitar.
Just keep a open mind. Think of what your wanting to do with your playing. There is near too much gear available today. Overwhelming amount.
imho, try and narrow it down. Do you want to learn to play guitar. Get a good sounding, no nonsense amp with few frills. Or perhaps ya like to see how many tones you can find, get a processor or modeler. That may lead you towards finding just the right amp for you w/o buying 6 amps like I did.
What do you like for music. Regular rock and roll from the 60ās? or maybe grunge from the 90ās. This may help lead you towards a amp that will produce the tones your looking for.
Also, imho, youāve made a good choice in asking questions on this forum. There is much experience here from many different folks. Many folks that may or may not see amplification the same way. imho, youāll find what your looking for with as much info that you can take in about the subject. You may make a mistake in what you buy. But Iād guess near everyone here has been there done that. I have. Itās not the end of the world if ya donāt like what ya end up with. The next amp ya get, youāll have more info to go on and will know one thing. What you donāt like about what you started with. You will not repeat your mistake. Youāll find something that is closer and closer to what your wanting to play.
I think I came out about right. My first two amps were not what I wanted. My third was closer. A bandit (silver stripe)fwiw. My 4th was a different version of bandit (red stripe). Still not there my 5th was a tube amp that I still like and play. I enjoy itās tones. The last one is a different version of tube amp. It seems to be what I have always wanted. It just took me a few tries to find what I liked.
This may be where the modelers come into play. As they do every different kind of amp under the sun. To me. For me. I think Iād fall down the rabbit hole of always searching for that amp via the menu. Never getting around to playing. And playing is where itās really at. Not the gear your playing through.
Consider this. Itās a video of Zakk Wylde playing a hello kitty guitar. I suppose it may be a $30 guitar? But what it is proof of, itās that itās not the gear that makes the music. Itās the musician.
Have fun with your adventure.
I doubt you can go horrible wrong with anything you pick to play through in this day and age. And if what ya get donāt work out. Move on to the next possibility. Besides, shopping for gear is funā¦ And me personally. I hate shopping. Amazing what the quest for new gear will do to a personā¦
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Peavey nice 
The old ones were made in Meridian, Mississippi.
I just saw this one today. Even though its considered a bass amp, its gtg as a guitar amp with a distortion pedal.
The deals are out there for sure. It just takes some patients. Unfortunately this is not the one I was looking for, so I may pass it up. I am very temped to go and get it. But I have my money saved for my amp and thats what I have set aside for it. I really want the built in spring reverb. So I will stick to my guns and wait.
hey lan, it is very wholesome reply! 
I get mesmerized. So, basically Iām practicing at my home (and yes my neighbours wonāt get any issues). I like the loud sound and I just want to play with my AMP
Yes I want this.
simple controls would be enough
NO!
I want itās to be loud
Iāve also looked at Marshall MG15FX, howās it?