As guitarists that do not have an unlimited budget, we need to look for options that are inexpensive. There are many small amps available on the market today, but only a few make the cut if you are looking for a quality sound output.
Guitar amps are a necessity for every player regardless of their skill level and what they want to achieve. If you have an electric guitar, getting an amplifier is the first step in your guitar journey.
I am compiling this list based on my own personal experience and relevance. If you stick with me to the end, you are sure to learn something new.
In this short article, we take a look at the best small amps for guitars that are worth every penny. Let’s get started, shall we?
Table of Contents
Best Small Amps for Guitar
Specifications
- 10-W 6.5” speaker
- Included overdrive effect
- Headphone output for silent practice
- Gain, bass, and treble controls
- Weighs just ten pounds
Our Verdict
If you are looking for a budget amp that won’t put a hole in your pocket, getting the Vox Pathfinder 10 is a great idea for a decent amp.
I find Vox amps to have a clean tone and unlike most budget amps, the Vox amplifier won’t produce a screechy tone. You get a beginner-friendly sound that will fit any rehearsal session nicely.
This amp is also good for getting a clean tone with a crappy overdrive configuration. Though this amp is super cheap, the Pathfinder 10 amplifier does have a quality overdrive channel.
The amplifier compartment features a 6.5” speaker powered by 10 Watts. I love that this amplifier also offers a headphone output which can be super helpful if you don’t want to disturb your neighbors. If you would like to annoy your neighbors (not that you should), you can play through this amplifier as you would through a normal speaker as well.
Overall, this amp offers excellent value for the price.
Specifications
- 5-Watts speaker
- Portable practice amp
- 8 different COSM amp models
- Mid-control included
- Headphone output
- Can be used with batteries
Our Verdict
If you are looking for a budget and portable amplifier that doesn’t feel super cheap, you can go with the Roland Cube Street. It’s not only good as a headphone output but also great for experiencing 8 different amp models.
I find that 5-Watts can be plenty when it comes to your practice needs. It’s pretty loud and you might even noise complaints from your neighbors.
What I like most about this amp is that you are getting a dual-channel device that also features 8 fantastic amp models and 6 effects. You don’t need separate pedals for delay/reverb which is great if you would like to save some money.
I also love that this amplifier has a unique wedge design which makes it very stable on all kinds of surfaces. Thanks to the peculiar design, the speakers on this feel as if they were on a dedicated monitor setup.
As a beginner, it’s very important that you play your guitar as much as possible. The time you spend on your instrument directly translates to how much you can improve.
Thanks to the technology that Roland amps use, you can rest assured that you are getting the best value out of this amplifier. You also have the versatility to a gig by using six batteries of AA size if you wish but I prefer not to as I would have to keep batteries with me every time I want to play outdoors. It’s a great feature for beginners though.
Specifications
- 20-Watt budget amp
- Single preamp valve
- Adjustable gain knob
- Versatile for both clean and distorted playing styles
Our Verdict
If you are looking for a budget amp that features high gain and excellent sound quality, you cannot go wrong with the Orange Micro Dark Terror 20 W guitar amplifier.
What I really love about this amplifier is the fact that it features the best of both the tube and solid-state worlds. As a hybrid amp, you get some amazing tones that will help you improve tremendously on the guitar.
Specifications
- Cool aesthetics
- Great for silent practice
- Decent power output
- Weighs just 40 grams
- LED indicator to show the selected effect
- Auto-off feature
- Also works as an mp3 player
Our Verdict
If you are looking for a wireless amplifier that doesn’t cost much and provides premium features, the Amplug 2 portable guitar amp is a fantastic choice.
These are also available based on genre- which is a really cool feature is you can just get the Amplug 2 AC30 amp if you want to get the sounds that the AC30 amp offers or the blues model if you are looking for a bluesy tone.
What I love about this is the fact that you can actually get some rechargeable batteries and use them anywhere you want. I’ve also got a full review of the Amplug 2 amp models if you would like to read more about this.
Buying Guide to Small Amps
There are many things that you should consider when getting a small amplifier for bedroom practice. You should always do some research before getting gear of any kind but as a beginner, you should be even more careful to not splurge on unnecessary purchases. Careful consideration of the best electric guitar for beginners can set you up for success on your musical journey.
Get the input type and effects you need
Guitar amps come in all kinds of flavors- and while some amps don’t feature AUX-in ports, it’s always a good idea to look for AUX-in and headphone output as well. It allows you to easily play even when your neighbors are at home.
You may be confused as to why you need AUX inputs but having those allows you to play some backing tracks through the speakers while you practice.
As a beginner, you also don’t need fancy effects. All you need is a wee bit of reverb, some sort of looping mechanism that lets you save recorded tracks and play over them, and maybe a bit of overdrive.
Looper can be too much to ask of a practice amp, so you may not always find amps that feature a looper circuitry in the budget range but you should always make sure that you are getting a metronome with your amp.
Since you are still very new to guitar and music in general, having a metronome will allow you to progress much faster. A good metronome is every musician’s best friend.
The Budget
This is undoubtedly one of the most important factors to keep in mind when you are shopping for a guitar amp. You may want a wireless amp with built-in effects and amp models but it might cost you hundreds of dollars.
If you are a beginner and looking at amps, it’s usually a great idea to stick to a wired one of about 5-20W power so you aren’t getting something that you really won’t have any use for. Playing chops at full volume can feel great but it’s really just a way for others to make fun of your playing if all you can play is some open chords.
Get one you can carry easily
Getting a portable amplifier is a great idea for many reasons. You can move your amplifier to another room or into your friend’s car much easier. The fact that a beginner amp is usually lightweight is also great for a busking guitarist who doesn’t like to move their heavy setup around too much. For a truly compact and affordable micro amp, the Roland Micro Cube is a popular choice among guitarists seeking portability.
Versatility
If you get a battery-powered amplifier, you have the versatility to play outdoors. That may be a non-issue if you rarely go out, but if you are somebody who spends the majority of your time outdoors, having a battery-powered amp can open new doors to managing your practice schedule.
Built-in Effects
Having built-in effects can prevent you from having to buy a separate guitar pedal. Most guitar amps provide distortion, reverb, and delay built-in which can be super helpful to a beginner. I also recommend looking for a looper pedal so that you can learn while improvising but if it’s not possible on the budget you’ve got, it’s always a great idea to get a separate looper pedal.
Speaker power
Whether your amplifier is a 5-Watts portable amp built for practice or a 100-Watts expensive toolbox that is equipped for gigging at medium venues, you should get the one that you currently need.
It’s a great idea to get an amplifier in the 5-20 Watts range if all you want is a practice amp, and if you need an amp for performing live, it’s a fantastic idea to go for one with power specifications more than 50W.
By choosing the amp-type that you need, you are not only saving money but you are also saving storage space which can be great if you are living in an apartment and don’t have much free space to yourself.
Sometimes, an amp that is rated just 5-Watts can be pretty loud- so you may want to look up reviews on the internet before you actually decide to buy one.
Sound Quality
As far as beginner amp models go, the sound you get on most cheap amps isn’t really that good. I would say that sticking to a big brand name is a great idea to ensure that you are getting excellent value on your purchase. A prime example of a reliable choice is the Vox Pathfinder 10, offering excellent sound quality and value for its price.
There are also many guitar players who are just dissing cheap amps because they think they are inferior. I think the majority of guitarists who avoid cheap brands can’t even tell the difference between the tones of a premium Fender amp and that of a cheap Chinese copy. It’s not that relevant- and you should get the one you can afford.
However, there is something that you should pay good attention to – and that’s the sound you want to have. If you mostly play country or fingerstyle, an amp with clean tones would be the way to go. Similarly, if all you listen to is rock and blues, getting an amp with distortion and overdrive is a no-brainer.
One thing on guitar amps that I am very fond of, is the ability to model different amp cabinets. This makes it super easy to get the sound of an iconic amp model without actually having to buy that from the market.
I would suggest getting a dual-channel amp for more versatility.
Conclusion
There are plenty of guitar amps in the market that might fit your needs as a beginner guitarist perfectly. If you are just starting out, I highly recommend getting a budget amp of about 10W and later upgrading to a performance-grade amp, especially after understanding how guitar amplifiers work.
I also recommend looking for an amp that features a built-in metronome as it will help you improve as a player by leaps and bounds. I hope that you learned something from this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What batteries can you use with the Vox Amplug 2 amplifier?
The Vox Amplug 2 runs on two AAA-size batteries. Personally, I prefer to get rechargeable batteries as it prevents the need of having to replace them time and again.
Do I need a delay effect on my amp?
I think you should get a delay pedal if you can get one in your budget but it’s okay if you don’t get the delay effect. It’s nice to get a looper/metronome effect instead.