The best small guitar amps of 2023

Whether you’re performing round city, studio-hopping, or simply quick on free house at residence, you don’t should sacrifice sound high quality or fashion when choosing a small guitar amp. Apart from being inherently compact and moveable, small guitar amps have many inventive benefits over their bigger counterparts because of their skill to supply full-spectrum sound and ear-pleasing overdrive at decrease volumes, making them a improbable first selection for practising at residence or miking up in a studio. In this text, we’ll offer you a fast rundown of our favourite mini amps for each process, massive and small, that can assist you resolve which of the best small guitar amps is true to your subsequent inventive venture.

How we selected the best small guitar amps

We constructed this record of the best small guitar amps based mostly totally on model repute, favoring producers with an extended observe file of creating high-quality musical devices like Fender, Supro, Yamaha, and Boss. We positioned a secondary emphasis on versatility and sound high quality, choosing a mix of tube-based and solid-state amp designs to characterize a spread of play kinds and artistic wants. Amps that embody additional options like USB connectivity, headphone jacks, and built-in results are additionally represented to account for the big quantity of musicians searching for a small amp primarily for taking part in, recording, and composing at residence.

The best small guitar amps: Reviews & Recommendations

As guitarists, we all know the significance of massive tones and the worth of small, simply transported gear. Here are our picks for electrical guitar amps that overdeliver however don’t drive you to overexert your self to maneuver them round.

Best total: Supro 1612RT Amulet

Why it made the minimize: The Supro 1612RT Amulet options wealthy tube tone and switchable wattage in a small and trendy package deal.

Specs

• Type: Tube
• Power: 15 watts (switchable to five watts and 1 watt)
• Speakers: 1 x 10-inch
• Effects: Reverb, vibrato
• Dimensions: 17.5 x 17 x 8 inches (H x W x D)
• Weight: 28.9 kilos

Pros

• Switchable wattage for tube overdrive at any quantity
• Built-in tube reverb and tremolo
• Celestion G10 speaker delivers assertive, full-bodied tone

Cons

• Heavier and bulkier than different small tube amps

Suppose you’re searching for a guitar amp that may ship a lot of quantity and genuine tube tone with out dominating your house. In that case, the Supro 1612RT Amulet affords an ideal stability of dimension and tonal versatility in a trendy design that appears nice in any room. Featuring a 10-inch Celestion G10 speaker and 2-band EQ, the 1612RT Amulet has a definite midrange-forward sound that pairs effectively with results and stands out in a mixture, making it an ideal selection for studio and stage purposes alike. Unlike conventional tube guitar amp designs, the Amulet additionally features a distinctive three-way wattage swap, permitting gamers to entry the amp’s pure tube overdrive at a variety of volumes with out the necessity to flip all the best way up.

While the Supro 1612RT Amulet’s bigger speaker produces ample low-end to ship its versatile and full-bodied sound, it provides fairly a bit of weight and bulk in comparison with 8-inch speaker designs just like the Fender ‘57 Custom Champ. We think this trade-off is more than worth it due to the wider tonal palette of a larger speaker, but this is something to consider if you’re trying to journey continuously together with your small guitar amp.

Best Fender: Fender ‘57 Custom Champ

Why it made the minimize: The ‘57 Custom Champ is one of Fender’s smallest tube amps and delivers tons of traditional tweed overdrive in a transportable configuration.

Specs

• Type: Tube
• Power: 5 watts
• Speakers: 1 x 8-inch
• Effects: N/A
• Dimensions: 12.5 x 13.5 x 7.6 inches (H x W x D)
• Weight: 15 kilos

Pros

• Very light-weight and compact
• Full-throated, versatile, harmonically wealthy tone
• High-quality handwired building

Cons

• Pricey
• Quieter than bigger amps
• No reverb

If you’re searching for genuine Fender tone within the smallest package deal potential, the Fender ‘57 Custom Champ packs enough punch and sparkle to satisfy even the most discerning guitarists. With a 5-watt, 15-pound design built around a custom Weber speaker and three tubes, each ‘57 Custom Champ is wired by hand in true vintage fashion, departing from more modern PCB designs. The result is a very responsive and sensitive amplifier that delivers tons of high-end sparkle and full-bodied overdrive across its entire volume range despite its below-average size volume. Though it’s not loud sufficient to maintain up with a full stay band, the ‘57 Custom Champ has a bonus over greater and louder amps in recording and residential follow settings because of its skill to supply advanced and musical tube overdrive with out bothering the neighbors.

While the ‘57 Custom Champ is far and away our favorite small Fender amplifier, its price tag may be out of reach for more casual players who don’t require vintage-spec tone and watertight high quality management out of the field. Suppose you’re trying to spend a bit much less. In that case, the marginally bigger and heavier Fender Pro Junior IV encompasses a very related sound, design philosophy, and degree of responsiveness with a tone profile that leans a bit brighter.

Best for bass: Boss Dual Cube LX

Why it made the minimize: The Dual Cube LX is the proper touring companion for bassists trying to compose or follow due to its built-in results and battery-powered design.

Specs

• Type: Solid state
• Power: 10 watts
• Speakers: 2 x 5-inch
• Effects: Reverb, refrain, flanger, looper, echo, wah
• Dimensions: 10.3 x 13.4 x 8.1 inches (H x W x D)
• Weight: 9.75 kilos

Pros

• Lightweight design with battery-powered possibility
• Multiple results and preamp voicings with onboard looper
• Built-in USB performance for livestreaming and recording

Cons

• Footswitch offered individually
• Too quiet for taking part in with bands
• Small audio system sacrifice some low-end quantity

“Portable” isn’t the very first thing we’d often affiliate with a bass amp, however the distinctive and light-weight Boss Dual Cube LX manages to be simply that and a complete lot extra. With an enormous suite of built-in stompbox-style results and switchable preamp voicings, the Dual Cube LX is a dream for recording, composing, and practising on the go. In addition to packing 10 watts of energy and twin 5-inch audio system, this tiny bass amp options twin stereo XLR line outputs, a 3.5mm jack, and a devoted USB output, permitting for direct connection to all kinds of stay sound and recording gear. While that is all definitely spectacular, we have been most blown away by the flexibility to run the Boss Dual Cube LX at full quantity utilizing eight AA batteries, which allowed us to check it in distant recording purposes with a laptop computer.

Like all small bass guitar amps, the Boss Dual Cube LX struggles a bit to push the sub-bass frequencies and quantity required to carry its personal in a stay band situation. Regarding rehearsing, this amp is decidedly best at stripped-down configurations that includes an equally quiet guitar or vocal and no drum package. While the Boss Dual Cube LX does include its personal AC adapter for wall energy, we wished it got here with a footswitch to harness the amp’s superior looper skill proper out of the field. 

Best wi-fi: Yamaha THR30 II Wireless

Why it made the minimize: The Yamaha THR30 II Wireless encompasses a built-in rechargeable battery, USB connectivity, and several other modeling choices that make it a robust and versatile device for creativity on the go.

Specs

• Type: Solid state
• Power: 30 watts (15 watts battery-powered)
• Speakers: 2 x 3.5-inch
• Effects: Reverb, refrain, tremolo, phaser, echo
• Dimensions: 7.9 x 16.4 x 6.1 inches (H x W x D)
• Weight: 9.5 kilos

Pros

• Models 15 guitar amps, 3 bass amps, and three acoustic mics
• Control backing tracks and alter settings through Bluetooth
• Integrated wi-fi receiver and built-in rechargeable battery

Cons

• Wireless transmitter offered individually

If you’re searching for an all-in-one amp for taking part in or recording acoustic, electrical, and bass guitar, the Yamaha THR30 II Wireless is a improbable possibility with a transportable and versatile design that may simply combine with small areas and busy existence. Weighing in at just below 10 kilos, the THR30 II Wireless options 21 totally different amp and mic modeling choices to supply a variety of tones from clear to crunchy alongside an array of traditional results like reverb, refrain, and tremolo. When plugged in, the amp’s 30 watts of energy and two 3.5-inch audio system produce ample quantity for practising or performing stay in stripped-down musical settings. If you’re hitting the highway or taking part in outdoor, the THR30 II Wireless’s built-in rechargeable battery retains issues buzzing alongside at a diminished energy of 15 watts.

In addition to its modeling capabilities, the Yamaha THR30 II Wireless options different high-tech features, together with Bluetooth connectivity for streaming backing tracks to the amp, making tone changes, and recalling presets immediately out of your smartphone. A plug-and-play USB connection additionally permits the amp to perform as a recording interface for sending two channels of audio on to your laptop. If you need much more freedom of motion, the amp encompasses a distinctive built-in wi-fi receiver for cable-free efficiency, however you’ll want to select up the required Line 6 Relay G10TII transmitter unit individually.

Looking to avoid wasting money however nonetheless need related options, together with results modeling, an audio interface, plus Bluetooth speaker performance? Check out the Positive Grid Spark Mini 10W Smart Amp, a really moveable guitar amp below $500.

Best finances: Monoprice 5-Watt Tube Amplifier

Why it made the minimize: This small, no-frills amp delivers genuine tube tone at a surprisingly inexpensive worth level.

Specs

• Type: Tube
• Power: 5 watts (switchable to 1 watt)
• Speakers: 1 x 8-inch
• Effects: N/A
• Dimensions: 12 x 12.2 x 8.3 inches (H x W x D)
• Weight: 13.2 kilos

Pros

• Real tube overdrive at an inexpensive worth level
• Switchable wattage affords tonal variation at a variety of volumes
• Sturdy, substantial building

Cons

• Very primary tone controls, no reverb
• Build high quality displays finances price ticket
• Not as moveable as lighter amps

Things to think about earlier than shopping for a small guitar amp

Do you require an amp with built-in results?

If you don’t have guitar pedals or different outboard gear, it’s possible you’ll need to contemplate a guitar amp with built-in results. Our best total decide, the Supro 1612RT Amulet, encompasses a mixture of built-in tube-powered reverb and tremolo to ship a variety of traditional tones. If you’re searching for much more choices, contemplate an amplifier with built-in echo, refrain, and different traditional results just like the Yamaha THR30 II Wireless.

Will you be touring together with your small guitar amp?

If you’re touring or commuting together with your small guitar amp, dimension, and weight are necessary components to think about. Generally talking, solid-state amps are higher journey companions because of having lighter circuitry and fewer delicate elements than tube amps, and when contemplating amp dimensions, any design with an 8-inch speaker ought to present a great stability of quantity and portability.

Do you might have a choice between actual tube overdrive and emulation?

Small tube amps have a singular sound all their very own due to their skill to create wealthy, heat analog overdrive with out the necessity for additional pedals or results circuitry. While these designs are extremely sought-after by tone purists and sometimes work effectively with guitar pedals, the best small tube amps typically don’t embody every other built-in results. If you need a bit of extra tonal flexibility, contemplate a solid-state amplifier just like the Yamaha THR30 II Wireless that’s constructed to mannequin a number of differing types of cupboards and preamps.

FAQs

Final ideas on the best small guitar amps

Our favourite small guitar amp for stage and studio use is the Supro 1612RT Amulet, due to its extremely wealthy tone, versatile tube overdrive, and built-in tremolo with reverb. If you’re searching for one thing a bit smaller, the Fender ‘57 Custom Champ is an equally versatile option sans effects that’s even snappier and extra responsive however a bit quieter. For buskers, residence recordists, and frequent vacationers, we suggest the Yamaha THR30 II Wireless for its minimal weight, wi-fi capabilities, and built-in battery, whereas we suggest the solid-state Boss Dual Cube LX for bassists searching for a strong follow amp with a built-in USB interface and results.

Why belief us

Popular Science began writing about expertise greater than 150 years in the past. There was no such factor as “gadget writing” once we printed our first challenge in 1872, but when there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for on a regular basis readers means we’d have been throughout it. Here within the current, PopSci is absolutely dedicated to serving to readers navigate the more and more intimidating array of gadgets in the marketplace proper now.

Our writers and editors have mixed a long time of expertise protecting and reviewing client electronics. We every have our personal obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video video games to cameras and past—however once we’re reviewing gadgets outdoors of our rapid wheelhouses, we do our best to hunt out reliable voices and opinions to assist information individuals to the very best suggestions. We know we don’t know every thing, however we’re excited to stay by means of the evaluation paralysis that web purchasing can spur so readers don’t should.