Whether you're dreaming of playing the centre stage at Manchester M.E.N or trying to write a top 10 hit in your spare time, you need to practice playing your instrument regularly in order to hone your craft. An amp is a vital part of your overall set up at home, but how do you know which one is going to be right for you and your electric guitar?
While fellow musicians will appreciate the auditory assault that a 100W stack amp can provide, your partner or neighbours probably won't. So, in our top 10 list, we’ll be looking at small yet powerful products with varying wattages that'll be able to provide your desired sound without disturbing others. With amps from brands like Fender, Marshall, and Blackstar on offer, you're bound to find one that brings out the best sound from your guitar.
Quick List - Top Guitar Amps for Home Use
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In this section, we’ll be thinking about the different types of amplifiers and how they may benefit your playing style. Plus, we'll take into consideration other factors that make certain amps more suitable for home use than others.
First up, let's talk about the different styles of amplification. There are hundreds of different models when it comes to amps, but all of them will fit into one of these three categories.
Tube amps are the most traditional kind in the music industry - they use vacuum tubes to increase the sound. Many guitarists prefer this style of amp, describing the sound it produces as "fat" with an organic distortion.
Tube amps are generally louder than the other kinds available, regardless of their wattage. This means that if you’re living somewhere like an apartment block, a tube amp will perhaps be too loud - even when set to a lower volume. For this reason, there aren’t very many home practice amps that utilise tube circuitry.
Solid-state amps, which use transistor circuits to convert an electrical signal into an audio wave, are a popular choice for two main reasons. Firstly, they very seldomly require repairs. Secondly, they maintain the same tones regardless of how high the volume is - so you can practise quietly at home but still perfectly hone your sound.
The downside is that if there comes a time when you do want to crank the volume up, this will cause major distortion in the sound - and not the cool, shoegaze kind! If you want to achieve decent distortion, then we recommend looking into the world of pedals when choosing a solid-state amp.
The newest of all types of amps, digital modelling amps use digital processors to recreate the iconic sounds of a tube amp. They do this by using software that imitates the sound of certain tube amplifiers and cabinets. So, with these amps, you can expect to find a lot more versatility as manufacturers usually pack a whole bunch of pre-sets into one package.
Furthermore, this kind of amp tends to be stacked full of different effects, allowing for a much greater exploration of the different sounds that a guitar can produce - without the need to buy loads of expensive pedals! The problem is that this style can be seen as a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. Perfect for exploring, but not great if you’re looking to nail a distinct tone.
Next up, you should consider the power. The wattage will depend on the type of amp you want - as we mentioned, a 25W tube amp will be much louder than a 25W solid-state or digital modelling amp.
So, bearing that in mind, we'd say that with a solid-state or digital amp, you can opt for anything up to 20W. You could go even higher though as the sound will still remain consistent at a lower volume - the amp just might be more expensive.
When it comes to a tube amp, however, we'd suggest reigning it in a little. You should probably stick to something that uses around 1-5W as this will be loud enough for your home space but not so noisy that you drive your neighbours up the wall!
Two of the most popular features when it comes to practice amps are headphone jacks and aux inputs. Headphone jacks will allow you to minimise noise and avoid upsetting anyone at all when playing, except maybe your partner who might have been calling your phone for the past 10 minutes!
Likewise, aux input is incredibly convenient as it means you can play songs straight through the amp and jam along to them. This is a perfect feature for practising that will see you strumming away for hours in your own little world.
Additional effects (think delay, reverb, chorus, etc) are not necessarily a feature that every guitar player is interested in. For example, some renowned players such as Keith Richards avoid them, as he states that he can get everything he needs with a nice guitar and amp. However, others such as Johnny Marr and Jonny Greenwood have built their careers using them.
If you’d like the option of exploring these different modulations, then we recommend looking for a practice amp that has at least a few built-in. You’re most likely to find them in digital modelling amps, but you can also find solid-state amps that will have a few loaded into them.
The one place you’re unlikely to find additional effects is on a tube amp. If you opt for this style of amp but still want to explore different effects, you’ll need to dabble in the world of guitar pedals instead - which, we must say, can be pretty exciting in itself!
A final consideration is the speaker size. Practice amps generally range from 3-10” so there's plenty of scope. Of course, the size you prefer will all depend on what kind of space you’re working with at home and whether you need your purchase to be portable, but it’s worth remembering that it will also affect the sound.
While smaller amps are more convenient to store at home and are easy to transport, they lose a bit of the low-end when it comes to the audio. Larger amps of around 8-10”, on the other hand, aren't as convenient to carry around but will have a better sound across the board.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Boss Katana 50 MkII | ![]() | Probably the Most Versatile Amp Around | |
2 | Orange Crush 12 | ![]() | Get the Classic Dirty Orange Tone for the Home | |
3 | Fender Mustang LT25 | ![]() | The Greatest Hits of Fender Tones | |
4 | Marshall Code 25 | ![]() | Offers A Crazy Amount of Tonal Variety | |
5 | Blackstar Fly 3 Mini Amp | ![]() | Don't Let the Small Size Fool You | |
6 | Fender Super Champ X2 | ![]() | Combines Both Old School and New Age Tech | |
7 | Marshall DSL1CR | ![]() | Produces an Iconic 90s Rock Sound | |
8 | Yamaha THR10II | ![]() | A Practice Amp That Looks as Good as It Sounds | |
9 | Boss Katana Mini Ultra-Compact Guitar Amp | ![]() | Take Your Music Anywhere You Want | |
10 | Line 6 Spider V 20 MkII | ![]() | Ideal for Trying Out a Variety of Sounds |
It's hard to find anything to say about the Boss Katana 50 MkII that hasn't already been said before. While it's more than capable as a practice amp, it's also got enough power to use at jamming sessions and even small gigs!
The sounds and effects are sensational, especially when you consider that they're not authentic tubes, just digital recreations. Take into account the mammoth amount of effects and presets too, and you've got a wickedly adaptable amp that can jump from metal riffs to jazz scales in a heartbeat. This amp is versatile, affordable, and every player can enjoy it - that's why it takes our number 1 spot!
While many practice amps try to cram as much in as they can, the folks at Orange have taken a completely different approach. After all, do practice amps need to be so complicated? This plug-in and play style relies simply on the classic gritty Orange tone, and people totally love it.
While the 12W power and 6" speaker are a little on the low-end and the amp doesn't have any additional effects, it's worth remembering that simplicity isn't necessarily a bad thing! If you're looking to play with gain and you're not too fussed about all the other bells and whistles, then this would certainly be our choice.
While it might have a rather understated design, there's a lot more going on with this product under the surface. With 20 different sounds to choose from, you could consider this the greatest hits selection of Fender. From the sparkling cleans to sizzling gains, this digital modelling amp has everything.
On top of the tones, there's an inbuilt tuner, a USB slot for recording or uploading new presets, and a headphone output for silent practice. Considering the low price, this is an outstanding purchase!
With over 100 different presets, 24 effects, and a varied selection of controls, it wouldn't be hyperbole to say that you can achieve pretty much any sound you could ever wish for with this amp. The presets are all based on classic Marshall tones, from their JTM, DSL, and other series that are all highly revered.
The amp also has Bluetooth connectivity which means that you can take control of the settings straight from an app on your phone, saving the issue of dealing with those on the amp itself. On top of this handy tonal control, you can plug straight in via the aux or headphones and jam to your heart's content.
If you're looking to get a big sound from a petite package, then the Blackstar Fly 3 Mini Amp packs one hell of a punch! While the small size might have you thinking this is for kids, there's really nothing childish about it.
We love the tape delay effect that supplies your playing with a more rounded sound. Plus, the "Infinite Shape" feature which gives you endless tone shaping options is regarded as one of the finer features of Blackstar products.
We think it's fair to say that this offering from Fender is a rather unique beast. You see, it combines qualities from both digital modelling and tube amps, making it an amazing practice amp with plenty of range.
The inclusion of new-age elements means you can connect your amp straight to a PC or laptop for recording purposes. Again, it's on the pricey side compared to other practice amps and it may be too much for beginners, but if you're an intermediate or more experienced player then it could be right up your street.
If you're hell-bent on getting those warm tube tones, you can always rely on Marshall. While the original DSL range from the 90s was intended for a large stage only, the company has managed to distil that tonal landscape into a highly portable 1W amp.
Moreover, this product includes a reverb knob, which is a nice touch. It's the addition of an effects loop, though, that will be music to the ears of experienced players. Sure, this amp is expensive for what it is - but it does exactly what it says on the tin and we're sure that true rock 'n' rollers will love it!
While it might look like a guitar head for a stack at first glance, this is actually a brilliant little amplifier. The retro design wouldn't look out of place on your bookshelf or side table. Luckily, this amp has more than just a pretty face though!
Packed with 20W of power, 8 different effects, and both headphone and aux inputs, this is a seriously efficient piece of kit. Some players have mentioned that the low-end can be a bit much, but whether this is negative or not truly depends on the style of music you like to play. Some jazz players will love it, whereas indie rockers probably won't!
The Katana series from Boss has been taking the guitar world by storm over the last few years because it combines great value for money with top-notch audio. This is their ultimate travel option, which not only offers fantastic versatility from its EQ but also includes some additional effects for you to play with.
In addition to this, the amp can be powered via plug or battery, making it suitable for those who want to be able to practice when they're on the move. The only issue is that the plug is sold separately, so you'll have to fork out for that if you don't fancy changing the batteries all the time.
Line 6 is a company that's known for producing wallet-friendly amplifiers, and owning one at some stage or another is pretty much a rite of passage for any guitarist. This product is superb value, especially for musicians who like to try out everything - it holds over 100 additional effects!
Of course, the sounds aren't perfect, and some of the pre-sets are plain odd to be honest. But, it's a great place to start for a beginner who doesn't quite know what they want yet!
Once you've got your amp set up, why not invest in some more accessories for your guitar? Delay and looper pedals can help you to achieve all kinds of cool sounds at your next jam session!
No. 1: Boss |Katana 50 MkII
No. 2: Orange|Crush 12
No. 3: Fender|Mustang LT25
No. 4: Marshall |Code 25
No. 5: Blackstar|Fly 3 Mini Amp
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