As you’ve just started out in guitar playing, you’re thinking on how to improve the sound and tone your music produces. It’s when the best guitar amp for beginners comes in.
It makes guitar playing more worthwhile, helping you bring out that creative musician side in you. But then, choosing one that suits your preferences and style is dizzying, as so many choices are flooding your head right now.
It’s for the same reason I’ve put up the following guide along with top picks in the category. I do hope you’d be able to pick up the right guitar amp for beginners later.
Contents
Here are the best guitar amplifiers for beginners
- Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier
- Line 6 Spider V 30 Modeling Amplifier
- Roland Micro Cube Guitar Amplifier
- Orange Amps Amplifier Part (Crush35RT)
- Orange Amps Crush12
- Fender Mustang I V2 Amplifier
- NUX Mighty Lite Modeling Guitar Amplifier
Runner Up | Editor's Choice | Also Great |
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Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier
If you’re looking for more options in a portable amplifier for beginners, you should not miss the Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier. I love that it has a small and compact footprint, yet it is versatile to deliver different tones.
With it, you can enjoy playing better no matter your genre because it offers a range of modern and classic tones.
This small package amp comes with a 10-inch speaker that’s suitable for practices and private playing. You can also take it anywhere for its lightweight build.
I also liked that it comes with an emulated headphone output allowing for silent rehearsals. This portable beginner amp is also perfect for any stage on which you’re performing.
More so, I’d like to recommend it for those looking for a stylish and modernly designed amp. It is made with a gold metal finish and gold piping.
- Looks as great as it sounds
- Modern digital effects included for more versatility
- Limited preset and manual channel modes
- Not as powerful speaker as initially expected
Line 6 Spider V 30 Modeling Amplifier
The Line 6 Spider V 30 beginner amplifier is another option to consider if you want more bang of your buck. For one, it offers a full-range speaker system, which makes it more powerful than ordinary guitar amps are.
I noticed that the speaker system includes a custom-designed speaker along with a hi-frequency tweeter. These features make the amp versatile for use in music, acoustics and electrics.
Speaking of performance, you will appreciate that the guitar amp comes with 200 updated effects, cabs and amps models, allowing for an unlimited number of guitar tones.
Another reason I’d like to recommend it for includes the Artist Presets created by professional guitarists. It also comes with Standard Presets for classic originals.
- Wide range of effects and amp models
- Professional presets
- Quite heavier than others on the market are
- Controls might be a bit confusing at first
Roland Micro Cube Guitar Amplifier
The Roland Micro Cube Guitar Amplifier offers portability for it is battery-powered. I also liked that it packs a loud sound despite its small package.
Performing in a band or practicing alone, you’ll appreciate that it comes with different tones and effects, including 8 COSM tones along with 8 DSP effects.
It also offers versatility, as it allows pairing with the Free Cube Jam app that lets us playback music, pay songs and record amp tones.
And when it comes to portability, nothing beats the Roland Micro Cube amp, as it runs on battery. There is no dragging along of long and bulky cords.
And for added functionality, this model has a memory function to save desired settings. There is no going back to scratch.
- Portable and lightweight for bringing anywhere
- Added functionality for connecting with the Free Cube Jam app
- May need constant recharging
- Not the best looking portable amp around
Orange Amps Amplifier Part (Crush35RT)
If you’ve just started out playing guitar, we all want a reliable and solid performing amplifier. One of those I’d like to recommend is the Orange Crush35RT.
One of the things I liked about this model is ease of operation. It comes with two-foot changeable channels, adding to the convenience of use.
More so, the amp for beginners features a wide range of tones for extreme versatility. In addition, the Crush35RT packs the CabSim circuit, which emulates the power of a 4×12″ cabinet, via the line or headphone output.
I also liked that it’s a complete small package offering a reverb and an onboard tuner. So if you’re on the lookout for a combo amp that gives you more of your money, you might want the Crush 35RT.
- Includes a line/headphone output
- Features a 3-band EQ controls
- Not the lightest in the category
- Not the best sounding amp
- Limited sound performance
Orange Amps Crush12
Orange Amps has been around for a while, and I must say it keeps its commitment to offering great-sounding amps for beginners to advanced musicians.
One of their best so far is the Crush12 that packs a punch in terms of features and performance. This 12W model comes with a 6” speaker that’s just enough for rehearsals and private practice.
The Crush12 is also lightweight and portable, allowing you to take it anywhere – at the beach or anywhere the group wants to jam and play great music.
I also liked that it comes with dual gain controls, allowing us to choose desired settings for satisfaction. This beginner amp also includes a 3-band EQ, making it more versatile and functional.
- Extra portable and lightweight
- Easy to operate
- Not for large venues
- Limited sound performance
Fender Mustang I V2 Amplifier
The amp is one of the best choices I found on the market because it’s easy to use. For one, I can select different tones including mean and clean tones from the 17 amp models.
With just about any genre of our favorite music, we can pick from one of the amp models, and that’s valuable. More so, I liked that the amplifier offers the option of editing any of the onboard amp models using our PC through the Fender FUSE software.
I liked that it offers us option to edit the effects, including phaser and my favorite tremolo.
We can also jam along our favorite songs by just plugging in our MP3 player into the built-in Aux input.
What’s even more impressive is that we can practice privately with its 1/8 headphone jack put that lets us mute the speaker output.
- Unbeatable functionality
- Editing the effects is easy
- Pricey
- Warranty could be improved
NUX Mighty Lite Modeling Guitar Amplifier
Another beginner amplifier I find impressive in the beginner amp category is the NUX Mighty Lite BT portable amplifier that offers excellent functionality. It is a best in class in the mini amp category.
Whether you’re in for practice, jamming or hanging out with friends or preparing for a gig, the portable amp is reliable. It offers a low-amp draw, offering ultra portability for use on a desk, at home or anywhere.
What makes it even portable is that it offers a USB to power bank connection o operation through battery. It offers three different channels, namely distortion, clean and overdrive.
- Offers three different channels
- Allow BT connection
- Making it more portable
- Not for large venues
- Needs a little time to get used to
How To Choose Best Guitar Amp For Beginners
When shopping around for your first amp, consider certain factors to make the right decision.
Solid-state amp may be better than a tube amp
You’d do much better choosing a solid-state amp when starting out than tube amp. The reason is that the solid-state variety is more affordable, sound better and more reliable than a tube amp.
If you would, you should also be thinking how sooner you’d want to play in a band. Consider an amp with a watt range between 80 and 100 if the answer is sooner.
But if not, you might as well go for one within the 20- and 30-watt range. It will sound good with enough volume.
What speaker size do you need based on the sound you want it to produce?
According to Chris Gill of Guitar World, the amp’s speakers are the most important components, and their size has its specific tonal characteristic.
Thus, in addition to wattage, you must also select the proper speaker size. Based on the same source, tighter speakers are the smaller ones.
For example, an amp with a closed-back 4 x 10 cabinet may be able to produce more bass than 15-inch one with an open cabinet.
So what’s your preference in terms of size based on such description? Decide on that.
More to consider
Beginners should consider the price, their music playing style and the tone they want best. Generally, you must invest on a smaller one for your first amp for home use and less space that it consumes.
Editor’s Choice
Undoubtedly, the best guitar amp for beginners is the Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier that packs all desired functions and features, including ease of use, quality sound and portability for the budding musician.
Definitely, this Marshall amp is the best choice around for those looking to get more of their spending and looking for a portable amp for beginners.