Best Cheap Modeller 2026

[JCW308]

I have both and found the oversampling only really mattered for recording.

Same here and while the POD Go is passable for live gigs, I could never go back after hearing the difference in the Helix and Stomp.

 

[bucephalus]

I would suggest you avoid the Sonicake and Valeton products because their NAM implementation is still pretty poor.

Agree, and their own stuff onboard is pretty much garbage.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Agree, and their own stuff onboard is pretty much garbage.

The onboard amps are a mixed branch (some aren't too bad, though) but converted NAM files can sound pretty decent.

 

[dean701]

I would get a used helix stomp or a Tonex.

 

[Dom Mcsweeney]

That or Behringturd

Ok, you seem to have skirted around my pun and have added other words in.

But yeah, ok.

 

[Jarick]

I don't know if the OP is coming back but depending on the definition of "cheap" and considering it's for a 17 year old, I'd start with the Boss GX-1. It's $230 brand new, sold in just about any store, and is much simpler and more straightforward for a new player.

I think the idea of going around and downloading NAM captures and programming and HX Stomp and all that is honestly really over the top / overkill for someone who may only have played for a couple years. If you're 17 years old you probably don't know all about all these vintage amp models and how to go after good captures with the right gear and possibly paying for commercial stuff.

The nice thing with the Boss gear is you don't have to mess around with cabs and mics and 100 different amp models. You just get a dozen or so amp models that are generic but can take EQ really well, and then you have some effects that are again generic but sound pretty good, and the whole thing is pretty simple and affordable.

I think the Boss would kind of teach you how to build a simple guitar chain in a way a lot of us might have learned with old Pods or Digitech units (or before then, pedals and amps).

 

[PorcinePicker]

If I had less than five bills for an all-in-one modeler and were just starting out, I’d hope that someone would point me to a used Stomp XL. Second choice (more bells and whistles but doesn’t sound as good) might be a used full sized Headrush at the same price point.

 

[Rodocaster]

Same here and while the POD Go is passable for live gigs, I could never go back after hearing the difference in the Helix and Stomp.

I thought the POD Go had more or less similar audio quality to the HX Stomp/Helix. So these last sound more realistic?

 

[timbuck3]

Nux mg50li or gx1 .the nux is 2x the price but offers a lot more

 

[Piing]

I don't know if the OP is coming back but depending on the definition of "cheap" and considering it's for a 17 year old, I'd start with the Boss GX-1. It's $230 brand new, sold in just about any store, and is much simpler and more straightforward for a new player.

I think the idea of going around and downloading NAM captures and programming and HX Stomp and all that is honestly really over the top / overkill for someone who may only have played for a couple years. If you're 17 years old you probably don't know all about all these vintage amp models and how to go after good captures with the right gear and possibly paying for commercial stuff.

The nice thing with the Boss gear is you don't have to mess around with cabs and mics and 100 different amp models. You just get a dozen or so amp models that are generic but can take EQ really well, and then you have some effects that are again generic but sound pretty good, and the whole thing is pretty simple and affordable.

I think the Boss would kind of teach you how to build a simple guitar chain in a way a lot of us might have learned with old Pods or Digitech units (or before then, pedals and amps).

+1

If I could not Fractal, I would probably Boss

 

[JCW308]

I thought the POD Go had more or less similar audio quality to the HX Stomp/Helix. So these last sound more realistic?

The POD Go could not / can not handle the oversampling update which added more clarity and some other features to the HX Stomp and Helix. To me, it makes a huge difference and gives the HX / Helix the edge for sure.

 

[littlebadboy]

I read a lot of these posts and it’s amazing how in these days with these young musicians their parents buy them stuff and they have no skin in the game not saying it’s bad I mean, do what you want but shit when I was that young I had a struggle to buy my own gear. Teach my self guitar trade one guitar for a better one take whatever gigs I could get it was a struggle. I guess kids are so lucky nowadays to have parents that buy them stuff expensive stuff and yeah to you 160 bucks is not expensive but to a kid that age that’s a lot of money.
Just like in my neighborhood, I see all these kids on these electric motorcycles, which are technically bikes, but they look just like a motorcycle and they’re like three grand and these kids are just so irresponsible on them. They fly down the street doing wheelies like for two blocks straight, they don’t wear helmets and I just wonder why do these parents do that?
The other day I saw two kids riding those motorcycles I call a motorcycles, but their bicycles that look like motorcycles right and they’re all electric and there was another kid with them and he had a regular bike and he was like getting exercise trying to keep up with them, and I thought it was kind of funny because that kid was in way better shape than the other two

I was in the same spot as you. Adding into that, I came from a 3rd world country where finances were tight. As a young teenager, I saved my lunch money until I was able to buy a crappy guitar and a Zoom Mfx. I couldn't afford an amp, so I plugged into the mic jack of a cassette player.

When my daughter started playing the guitar, I gave her the basics. She uses my FRFR cab, with the Mooer that I got her. I had some Amazon cards for Christmas, and sold some old pedals, so there was no out of pocket.

 

[RisingKorbi]

I don't know if the OP is coming back but depending on the definition of "cheap" and considering it's for a 17 year old, I'd start with the Boss GX-1. It's $230 brand new, sold in just about any store, and is much simpler and more straightforward for a new player.

I think the idea of going around and downloading NAM captures and programming and HX Stomp and all that is honestly really over the top / overkill for someone who may only have played for a couple years. If you're 17 years old you probably don't know all about all these vintage amp models and how to go after good captures with the right gear and possibly paying for commercial stuff.

The nice thing with the Boss gear is you don't have to mess around with cabs and mics and 100 different amp models. You just get a dozen or so amp models that are generic but can take EQ really well, and then you have some effects that are again generic but sound pretty good, and the whole thing is pretty simple and affordable.

I think the Boss would kind of teach you how to build a simple guitar chain in a way a lot of us might have learned with old Pods or Digitech units (or before then, pedals and amps).

Thank you! I even got myself the Boss gx-10 because it was in sale and I liked the idea of it having a decent touchscreen.
I'm testing it right now and I am really happy with it. This will be my Gig all-in one for the next couple of years for sure.

 

[jamma]

Thank you! I even got myself the Boss gx-10 because it was in sale and I liked the idea of it having a decent touchscreen.
I'm testing it right now and I am really happy with it. This will be my Gig all-in one for the next couple of years for sure.

You made a good choice. Loved my GX-10, really great product. Only reason I sold mine is because I'm just a bedroom musician and am hoping to move to a mostly iPad centered setup, otherwise I'd still be rocking the GX-10 for years to come.

 

[timbuck3]

Gx10 vs gx100?

 

[Dez]

Gx10 vs gx100?

Are you asking now about the differences between these two models in a thread where a young beginner is asking for advice on a cheap modeler? Lmao

 

[deadpool_25]

I kinda like that Valeton GP-200 rec. It should be easy enough to load up a few good captures, slap a delay beehind it, and send the sounds to FOH via XLR.

 

[timbuck3]

Are you asking now about the differences between these two models in a thread where a young beginner is asking for advice on a cheap modeler? Lmao

I guess major differences between the 2

 

[Dez]

I guess major differences between the 2

Yeah I’m sure that adds valuable content to the conversation
wtf Tim do better

 

[Mongillo19]

wtf Tim do better