If you're a guitar player in 2024, chances are you don't have too many wads of cash burning holes in your pocket (thanks a lot, streaming services that pay their artists nothing!).
Fortunately, you don't actually have to spend an arm and a leg to get a totally usable brand-new practice amp for your electric guitar. Today's list will go over the 8 best mini guitar amps, all of which have their own strengths and weaknesses.
You'll have to read til the end to find which amp is best for your personal style of music. But here's a spoiler if you're pressed for time: The overall best amp, I believe, is the Boss Katana Mini. It's a 7-watt combo amp with fantastic hardware, and it makes it very easy to dial in a solid tone.
Stick around after the list for a buyers guide and FAQ section, so that by the end of the article, you'll be an expert on mini guitar amps. Time to amp up and get reading!
Quick Summary of the Best Mini Amps
- Boss Katana Mini (Best Overall)
- Orange Crush Mini (Most Affordable)
- Vox Pathfinder 10 (Best Classic Tone)
- Positive Grid Spark GO (Best Speaker/Amp Combo)
- Yamaha THR5 (Most Feature-Rich)
- Fender Frontman 10G (Best Fender Mini Amp)
- Marshall MG15GFX (Best for Rock)
Best Mini Amps of 2024
Best Overall
SPECS
- 2.6 lbs
- 7.12" x 9.6"
- Delay, 3-band EQ
What an awesome, no-nonsense practice amp. The Boss Katana Mini is like a scaled-down version of the Boss Katana line of amps.
It retains the same user-friendliness and hardware quality as Boss's other legendary amps, just in a much more compact package.
This is everything you want out of a practice amp. Boss kept it simple, including just 3 onboard tones – clean, crunch, and "brown" (aka distorted). All 3 tones have great sound quality with a high level of clarity for such a small amp.
The 3-band EQ is a nice touch as well, allowing you to shape your sound for any jam or practice session.
The built-in delay is another standout feature. You can adjust the delay time and level, which can add so much character to your signal, and really reshape your entire sound.
The Boss Katana Mini is a simple answer to all your practicing or jamming needs, and it's a particularly good fit for people who just want a simple product that works.
Above all else though, I appreciate this amp's high quality, durable hardware. The knobs are rubberized and will not break easily, and the back of the amp is completely covered, keeping the precious circuitry safe.
Most Affordable
An amp so small and affordable, you won't believe it actually sounds decent!
SPECS
- 1.99 lbs
- 5.7" x 5.9" x 3.26"
- 3 watts
It looks almost like a toy, but it actually sounds beautiful. This is the cheapest and most convenient way to bring that coveted "Orange sound" straight to your bedroom.
The Orange Crush Mini isn't like the other small guitar amps out there; some would consider it a "micro amp." At only 1.99 lbs and less than 6 inches across, there is nowhere this amp won't fit. Even the tiniest apartment jam-packed with gear or furniture can still find room for this little amp.
It may not be the loudest at only 3 watts, but its volume can still compete with acoustic guitars and other amps that are turned down.
Where this amp really shines is its tone shaping. It has a gain/drive knob that allows you to go from clean to distorted tones. It also has a shape knob that acts as a notch EQ, and finally a volume knob. This is all you need to get classic-sounding Orange amp tones that sound awesome for classic rock, punk, or clean genres.
Another impressive feature for such an affordable amp is the built-in tuner. It just goes to show that Orange wanted this amp to be as user-friendly and convenient as possible, despite its incredibly low price tag.
It even has an 8 ohms output so that you can connect it to a larger speaker but retain the tone you've used it to create. A tiny amp that scales up to a big sound. I like it!
Best Classic Tone
With simple yet robust controls, this amp is fantastic for classic rock and blues. But it's versatile enough to work for just about any style of music!
SPECS
- 10.24" x 14.96" x 6.69"
- 10 lbs
- 10 watts
This is an amp you could probably play gigs with if you wanted to. At 10 watts, it's designed for practice, but it's capable of achieving some pretty loud tones. Depending on the volume of the other instruments in your band, you could realistically use this amp at a coffee shop show or curbside concert.
In my opinion, this is also one of the best-looking mini guitar amps out there. The fabric on the front looks so classy, and who could complain about the gold logo?
This is all well and good, but you don't buy an amp for how it looks; you buy it for how it sounds. But don't worry, the Vox Pathfinder 10 sounds amazing.
The controls are extremely simple, but they'll take you so far. With a volume control and gain control, you can gradually apply some crunch that sounds perfect for classic rock, rockabilly, or blues.
There's also a 2-band EQ and a switch for clean or overdrive. This actually gives you a decent amount of tone control, and it makes it easy to dial in a pretty authentic-sounding classic rock tone.
Try it with high gain, high treble, and overdrive if you really want to rock out.
Best Speaker/Amp Combo
A fun gift or accessory for guitar players who also just want a Bluetooth speaker. It's impressively convenient.
SPECS
- 5 watts
- 3.3" x 1.9" x 4.7"
- 0.76 lbs
More and more Positive Grid Spark speakers are popping up lately because, to their credit, they do serve a bit of an unmet need: A Bluetooth speaker that also works as a guitar amp. They pulled it off.
The Positive Grid Spark GO is 5 watts of music in a powerfully portable package. Bring it anywhere you go and use it as a Bluetooth speaker. People will love it for its crystal clear sound quality that already outranks most other Bluetooth speakers.
They'll love it even more when they find out it's a completely functional guitar amp. (Just please know your audience before you bust out "Smoke on the Water" in the middle of a house party.)
The Positive Grid Spark GO uses a mobile app that allows you to choose from 33 preset amp models and 43 effect models. You can store up to 4 preset tones in the amp to be called upon instantly.
After you find the perfect tones for you, it's never been easier to plug in your guitar and get jamming anywhere. No wall outlet required. you can even jam along to any song, using the Spark GO as a Bluetooth speaker and an amp at the same time.
With up to 10 hours of battery life and a host of accessories that come with the amp, it's clear that Positive Grid wanted this to be a one-of-a-kind product, and I think they hit the mark here.
Sure there are tons of portable speakers and portable amps out there, but nothing else that fills both of those roles quite this well.
Check out our full review of the Positive Grid Spark Go to learn more.
Most Feature-Rich
Yamaha thought of everything with this amp. Its tone controls and effects are impressive, and it's a very useful tool for recording and tone tweaking.
SPECS
- 10 watts
- 6.57" x 10.67" x 4.72"
- 4.4 lbs
Yamaha has proven once again that they offer some of the best music products in the game, across so many different categories.
The Yamaha THR5 is a modeling amp with 5 different amp emulations and a host of onboard effects. It has a built-in tuner with a tap-tempo for time-based effects, and even some built-in modulation effects like phaser and tremolo.
All of the amp models do a wonderful approximation of a classic tube amp tone. You can even apply 4 different reverb/delay effects, so you can really fine-tune how your guitar tone behaves in the surrounding space.
The inputs and outputs on this amp provide even more versatility.
It has a headphone jack for silent practicing, and even more impressively, a USB output so you can record directly int your DAW. It provides you with 2 channels for recording and playback. You can even use the aux input for playback if you so choose.
It's also compatible with Yamaha's THR Editor software, which gives you instant access to some other effects like a compressor and noise gate. If you're a guitarist with a budget DIY studio, this is definitely an amp to keep an eye on.
Best Fender Mini Amp
Highly reliable and simple to use, this amp is a great choice for beginners or those looking to practice without waking the neighbors.
SPECS
- 10.25" x 5.75" x 8.5"
- 8.5 lbs
- 10 watts
Fender is the most historically and culturally significant guitar brand in the world. For Fender enthusiasts who want a mini guitar amp, let me suggest the Fender Frontman 10G. It's a 10-watt combo amp that keeps things super simple.
Between the clean and overdrive settings, you have a surprising amount of flexibility with your tone. There's a volume knob and gain knob, so you can determine how loud or gritty you want your signal to be.
There's also a 2-band EQ, which is all you really need. At only $80, the Fender Frontman 10G makes a great practice amp, or even a first amp for someone learning electric guitar.
You can quickly dial in an iconic Fender tone, and rest assured that the amp is well-made and durable because it's coming from one of the most trusted companies to do it. This is one of the most solid mini amp deals on the market today.
Best for Rock
SPECS
- 15 watts
- 15" x 14.9" x 8"
- 16.9 lbs
This is the loudest amp on the list, and it also happens to be the best for heavier genres.
Marshall's MG15GFX is a 15-watt amp that's powerful enough to hold its own during impromptu jam sessions or even modestly-sized gigs.
It has clean and crunch settings, with two different options for overdrive. There's also a gain, volume, and master knob. Marshall wasn't messing around with their distortion settings. You can fine-tune a dirty tone to fit just about any genre of rock or even metal with this amp.
Combine this with the built-in reverb and modulation effects and onboard tuner, and you've got a fully-featured mini guitar amp that is ready to rock in any situation.
On top of that, it looks sleek and classic just like the amps in Marshall's lineup. I love this amp: Great look, great sound, and a price tag that won't make you choose between it and paying rent this month.
Best Mini Amps Buyers Guide
No matter which mini amp strikes your fancy, there are certain criteria you're going to want to keep in mind. This buyer's guide goes over the most important things to look out for on your search for the perfect amp.
Below, I'll outline some of the qualities I looked for when testing for the best mini amps to fill out this list. I recommend you keep an eye out for these qualities and features when shopping for the best mini amp to suit your needs.
Budget
Chances are, if you're looking for mini amps, budget is a consideration for you. The amps on this list are proof that you can find totally usable, well-made amps without having to spend top dollar.
If you need an amp to practice with, or even to jam with friends or record your guitar parts, then a mini amp will get the job done. Every amp I've highlighted in this article is less than $250.
Once we start getting into the $300 or more range, we're looking at regular-sized combo amps, some of which may be too loud for apartment or household settings (depending on how chill your neighbors/parents are).
Wattage
The number of watts determines how loud the amp can go. Small guitar amps like these will fall somewhere in the 5- to 15-watt range; perfect for practicing and jamming.
If you need something more powerful, like in the 25-50 watt range, then you'll want a full-sized combo amp rather than a small guitar amp.
Effects & Tone Controls
What kinds of tone controls or built-in effects are you looking for your amp to have? Some guitar players prefer a simple amp where they can just plug in and play, not having to worry about tone or effects as much.
Other guitarists appreciate feature-rich amps that allow you to spend hours finding the perfect tone settings for your next song or performance.
If you're not sure how complex an amp's tone controls are, a good rule of thumb is that more knobs = more tone control.
Ratings & Reviews
For online product listings, checking out ratings and reviews is a fairly reliable way to predict how happy you'll be with the product.
If you have two amps that are just as appealing to you, and you're not sure which one to choose, then looking at the overall product rating can be a good deciding factor. Go with the amp that has a higher number of positive reviews, and chances are it will be a more reliable product overall.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why get a mini amp?
There are many reasons to buy mini guitar amps rather than your standard-sized ones. They are perfectly sized for practicing, and they're also lightweight and portable, which a lot of people appreciate.
Some amps like the Yamaha THR5 are even suitable for home studios thanks to their compact size and compatibility with DAWs.
Of course, the affordability is always nice as well.
Can mini amps be used for live shows?
The simple answer is, you could try but I wouldn't recommend it. Mini guitar amps are generally not loud enough to compete with a full drum set and bass guitar.
That said, some amps like the Marshall MG15GFX could feasibly be used for smaller gigs like coffee shop shows and such.
But as a general rule, most mini amps are best used as practice amps.
What kind of power sources do mini amps require?
Mini amps generally run on 9-volt batteries, which is what makes them so convenient. You can use them anywhere, no having to worry about whether there is a wall outlet around.
Many of these amp models also have the option of being plugged in so that it doesn't deplete the battery.
Can mini amps produce the same tones as full-sized amps?
Mini amps can generally produce tones approximating the tones that their full-sized counterparts can make. The main difference is the volume.
Even the absolutely minuscule Orange Crush Mini still sounds like an Orange amp, for example. Will the tones be just as good as the tones from larger amp models? Not quite, but they come in a more convenient and affordable package.
Check out our guide to the best combo amps if you think you might have room for something a little bigger.
In Conclusion
A mini guitar amp is a wonderful way to take your music and creativity with you wherever you go. For people in tight living quarters or just those who appreciate the convenience of a more compact amp, it's a great idea to pick up the Boss Katana Mini, or one of the other mini amps from this list.
There's just something you gotta love about a tiny amp that packs a loud punch. I still remember the first time I saw someone use a mini amp, and the tone and volume simply blew me away.
So for practicing indoors, jamming on the go, or introducing someone new to the world of electric guitar, mini amps are just ideal. Why not go see for yourself? Thanks for playing, the world needs music!
