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Last updated: 24 Jan 2022
Reviewing The Best Acoustic Guitar Amps
Here’s the thing about guitar amps; you’ll need them at some point even if right now you’re certain that you won’t. How? Well, you may not be moving around playing gigs right now but at some point, you will be. Instead of making ends meet with a new sound guy every time, having your own gear will help you move forward with your own presets, saving both time and sound-related frustrations. Plus, there’s another reason why you’ll need a guitar amp and this one’s not very common - you’ll need it when you’re feeling the blues and just want a change of sound. Whether you have a sound processor or just filter your guitar through some DAW plugins, sometimes, you just want to have new and better sounds, play with the tone a bit. In the case of acoustic guitars, this is only possible if you can lay your hands on a guitar amp. So, if you’re somebody who likes to play those warm, mellow, lo-fi tunes, you may want to check out one of our favorite acoustic guitar amps of 2022 - we’ve reviewed 10 in this guide.
If you’ve never bought an amp before, don’t worry. There’s also a buyer’s guide at the end of this article to help you through your purchase. Let’s get started!
Acoustic Guitar Amps Worth Considering in 2022
1
Fishman Loudbox Battery Powered Acoustic Combo Amp
– Best Overall
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THE SCOOP
Costs around 500 bucks, is portable, and delivers a powerful, loud, and amplified acoustic tone for your local cafe gigs! The Loudbox’s amp features two channels, tone control designs, digital reverb, and chorus, an AUX input, and a balanced XLR DI output. The best part? It comes with Bluetooth wireless connectivity so you can bring in other tracks for accompaniment while playing.
Pros
- Delivers 4 hours of battery life at full volume
- 60 watts of rich amplified tone – perfect for cafes and coffeehouses
- 21.2 pounds weight, making it a portable one
Cons
- 21.2 pounds can be a bit heavy
2
Orange Crush 30 Acoustic Combo
– Runner-Up
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THE SCOOP
Bringing you a 30-watt, portable acoustic amp with that Orange zest and style. You can make it run on either battery or wall power. It comes with two channels; vocals and instrument or dual guitars. It has a lush sound that’s balanced through its tilt-back birch ply cabinet. Moreover, the amp includes an effects loop for choosy stomp and preamp integration, an AUX input, and pre/post EQ outputs for routing the signals to an interface separately!
Pros
- Can be powered by both battery or the included DC adapter
- Features shared reverb and chorus – blendable between channels
- Comes with an effects loop for pedal-integrated setups
Cons
- We suggest getting a carry bag with it but that’ll need to be done separately
3
Boss Acoustic Singer Live Acoustic Combo
– Honorable Mention
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THE SCOOP
Providing streamlined amplification for guitarists, the Boss Acoustic Singer Live LT sports a dual-channel design, delivering independent EQ control for your vocals and guitar, alongside independent EQ and reverb sections! Plus, you get a lot of power in this supremely portable package. It comes with a bi-amped speaker set, voiced to sweeten up your acoustic tones, eliminating the boxy, sterile sound and improving the overall presence. It’s a great amp to get your hands on.
Pros
- Comes with a vocal delay, chorus, and independent reverb options
- Footswitchable effects – however the footswitch is separately sold
- 2-way speaker system improves the sound
Cons
- The effects don’t provide the same dedicated controls as individual pedals
4
Blackstar Sonnet 120 Combo Amp
– Also Consider
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THE SCOOP
The Blackstar Sonnet delivers a natural tone with excellent amplification – really gives you that vibrant, popping, crisp sound out of your guitars. The top-shelf acoustic combo is particularly good at capturing percussive hints, tapped harmonics, and similar sophisticated playing techniques. In simple words, it’s a 120W acoustic guitar combo amplifier that delivers transparent, natural-sounding amplification!
Pros
- The optimized high-pass filter enhances the instrument’s acoustic resonance
- Comes with a handy tilt-back stand
Cons
- It is not as loud as it should be – given that it’s a 120W amp
5
Marshall AS50D 2-Channel Acoustic Combo
– Most Compact
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THE SCOOP
Who doesn’t know Marshall when it comes to the world of amps? This compact and robust acoustic combo is no different! The dual-channel layout, built-in chorus and reverb, and this amp’s very deep sound is loved by thousands worldwide! It comes with a dedicated line out and DI that lets you direct your signal to the house mixer. The AS50D is a steal at the price it comes.
Pros
- Comes with an effects loop for adding your favorite effects
- Line out and DI to let you direct everything through a mixer or a recorder
Cons
- Some units may induce a hum when running the signal out of DI
6
Roland AC-60 Stereo Acoustic Amp
– Best Looking
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THE SCOOP
A combo of great sound, great looks, and a marvel of convenience, the Roland AC-60 is a stereo 30-watt/dual 6.5-inch speaker, loud enough for club gigs, leaving both you and the audience wanting for more! In addition to all the traditional features of an amp, it uses advanced digital processing to give you a crisp, lush multiband/stereo “wide” reverb/delay and auto anti-feedback control, making the sound all the more interesting and present – that’s where we were sold.
Pros
- Has a built-in tilt stand that offers excellent acoustic projection
- Offers a very pure and natural sound
- Comes with a mute switch
Cons
- It’s difficult to use it as a monitor unless you have it pointed directly towards your ears
7
Fender Acoustic SFX II Amp
– Premium Pick
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THE SCOOP
One of the most expensive pieces on our list, the Fender’s SFX II, a 2-channel acoustic guitar amp with two combination XLR/TRS inputs, allowing you to sing and play at the same time! You can also add in Bluetooth tracks for playback and mid-break music! It has a very nice stereo field expansion that can take your sound to new and exciting dynamics!
Pros
- Comes with multiple reverbs, vibratone, chorus, delay, and more
- The looping function provides 60 seconds of recording time with the required controls, along with the undo function
- Stereo field expansion (dynamic and exciting sound) with a simple turn of the SFX knob
Cons
- SFX is not much noticeable unless you’re in a small room
8
Yamaha THR5 Modelling Combo Amp
– Best Value
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THE SCOOP
This vintage-style, cassette-player-looking amp is a portable combo guitar amp that gives you a ton of excellent tools for songwriting, jamming, and recording! It is a battery-powered guitar amp that does not only sound great but is crafted from five intricately modeled tube amp types, modulation effects, and four reverb/delay styles!
Pros
- It comes with USB connectivity that lets you play music on the go
- Loaded with essential tones you may look for in an amp and onboard effects
Cons
- It doesn’t have full EQ controls and so it ties you to have a second device at hand
9
ToneWood Amp Solo Effects Processor
– Best Solo
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THE SCOOP
This one is more of a multi-effects processor than your traditional combo amp – comes loaded with state-of-the-art reverb, delay, auto-wah, overdrive, and more! Plus, it has a unique innovative amplifier that taps into your original guitar sound and makes it big! Each effect has three parameters that allow you to play with the sound.
Pros
- 10 memory locations for each effect so you can save your favorite settings
- Can be connected to iDevices
- Perfect for small and intimate coffeehouse gigs
Cons
- Does not come with speakers
10
Roland AC-33 Portable Acoustic Amp
– Best Mini
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THE SCOOP
The Roland AC-33 is almost like its AC-60 counterpart but this one features 15-watt speakers! It has reverb, chorus, ambiance effects, and more. It has stereo AUX input in case you want to play some music and a removable battery cartridge for easy battery replacement. Comes with a built-in tilt-back stand as well!
Pros
- Features a built-in phase looper with 40 seconds of recording time
- Comes with an anti-feedback function
Cons
- There is no pole mount – it’s mainly for street husking
Finding Your Next Acoustic Guitar Amplifier: A Buyer’s Guide
When buying a guitar amp, a guitarist is usually looking for ideally two or more inputs - one for the mic and the others for the instrument. Perhaps, individual channel controls over reverb and delay and any other effects one may get their hands on. However, beginners may not know of this and the ones who do, may not be sure about the amp that delivers these features flawlessly. This section will simplify the whole thing for you - we’ve already put together the top guitar amps above. Let’s help you choose the one that best suits your needs!
What to Consider When Selecting a Guitar Amplifier
Portability
If you play in a band or you’re used to playing gigs, you’ll need to have a guitar amp that can be carried around easily. Similarly, if you just want to be able to play your guitars on the go - perhaps at bonfires, parties, or trips, get yourself one of those small portable amps. They will allow you to have cool tonal versatility without doing much!
Effects
Overdrive, reverb, delay, chorus, phaser - these are some of the most common effects you can find in a guitar amp. However, we’ll suggest you ensure that the effects are applicable to individual channels if that’s what you’re looking for. Similarly, an effects looper is another cool feature that you might consider having in your ideal guitar amp.
Channels
If you’re a solo performer, having two channels on your amp is a must-have! It’ll allow you to play your instrument and sing along! Plus, even if you have a single channel on your amp and you don’t play an instrument, you can just play an instrumental track through AUX or Bluetooth and use the channel for your mic. The best part about having these input channels on your amp is that they allow you to move freely on the stage and don’t limit your movement.
Depending on a sound guy’s equipment, however, does limit your movement and tonal diversity, to some extent.
Power
If you’re looking to be loud, you need an amp with high wattage. If you’re playing at home with a power outlet nearby, you can get an amp that runs on a direct power source. On the contrary, if you don’t need a loud sound and you’ll be needing to play at spots that don’t have power outlets, going with a battery-powered amp or an amp that supports both AC and battery power is the smarter choice!
Feedback
Your amp needs to have some sort of prophylactic measure that stops feedback. It strikes when you least expect it and it’s the result of some mischievous frequency. There’s usually a notch filter or frequency sweep filter in this case that cuts these frequencies off that may be causing a problem.
What is a Combo Guitar Amp?
There are two types of amplifiers - head and combo. An amp head is the brain of the amp that controls all the frequencies, usually followed by speakers in its cabinets that project the sound. In the case of a combo guitar amp, both the amp and speaker are loaded into the same unit. In this article, we’ve mainly targeted combo guitar amps since they’re the ones most widely used but if you’re really looking for that ideal, custom sound, you’ll need to do your homework, get yourself an amp head, and pair it up with the required cabinet speakers to get the job done!
Guitar combo amps are usually just as good, provide almost the same tonal diversity, and serve as an easy solution.
Tube vs. Solid State Amp
This debate is older than the amps themselves but here’s a spoiler; don’t worry about whether it’s a valve or solid-state-amp, as long as it sounds good, it’s a good product!
The transistor vs. tube debate has been here forever and will continue to be so - but the technology has improved and both types of amps have improved. We advise you to refrain from being bogged down due to this comparison.
How Much Should You Invest in an Amp
If you’re looking for a middle-sized amp with 30 - 60 watt speakers, you can hope to pay anywhere between $300 and $800. More often than not, this price range will be more than enough for you to get your hands on an ideal guitar amp.
The pricing thing with instruments is subjective - you can always go as high as you want to and get your hands on even a better product!
People Also Asked
Q: Do you need a special amp for acoustic guitars?
A: For them to sound? No. Acoustic guitars come with a sound hole and don’t need any external speakers for the sound signals to reach your ear. However, if you’re planning to amplify your sound when singing for an audience, that’s when you’ll need an amp.
Q: Can you turn an acoustic guitar into an electric guitar?
A: Both the guitars have their own unique sound. However, if you’re looking to get that same ambient sound of an electric guitar out of your acoustic, you’ll need to use advanced EQs, multi-effects processors, or some DAW plugins. It isn’t possible to achieve this solely through the acoustic sound hole.
Q: What is an acoustic guitar amplifier?
A: An acoustic guitar amplifier is designed while catering to specific frequencies. It helps improve the presence of an acoustic guitar and makes it more crisp and loud.
