If you're a guitarist and you've never had the exhilarating experience of playing through a cranked stack, we highly recommend you seek out a suitable place to do it. There's nothing like striking a power chord and feeling the air move in front of a catastrophically loud amplifier. That said, we all know we don't need that kind of volume for home practice – and we could do without the noise complaints, too. That's where the best practice amps come in.
Simply put, these humble home combos can enable you to practice your guitar without worrying about the noise levels – and better yet, many of them are fully loaded with effects and other handy features that make practicing way more enjoyable.
Unlike guitar amps geared towards gigging musicians, the best practice amps don't need to be enormous, they don't need to be powerful enough to be heard over an enthusiastic drummer, and best of all, they don't need to be pricey. So, with that in mind, we've hand-selected affordable, great-sounding options from the likes of Yamaha, Blackstar, Positive Grid, Vox and many more.
We've also included some expert buying advice from our team of experts at the bottom of this guide, so if you'd like to read it, click the link. If you'd rather get to the products, keep scrolling.
Best practice amps: The quick list
With 15 excellent amp tones and a look that will blend seamlessly into any household, the Yamaha THR30II Wireless is the perfect practice companion.
If you need to practice in a tight space but still want great tone, the Blackstar Fly 3 will tick all the boxes with its compact form factor and surprisingly loud volume.
For those who want more power or are looking to jam with friends and play small shows, the Line 6 Catalyst offers some serious volume with loads of great practice tools.
With its incredible range of sounds, amazing AI-powered practice tools, and easy usability, the Positive Grid Spark 40 is one of the most powerful practice amps on the planet.
For guitarists who want to practice with lots of effects pedals, the Boss Katana-50 Gen 3 features a huge selection of Boss' top-quality stompboxes, all accurately modeled.
If you just want great tone and you're not too fussed about all the bells and whistles that other amps offer, the Orange Crush 20 is a simple 2-channel amp that is all about the sound.
Recent updates
15/03/24: We audited the product list to ensure we are still recommending the best practice amps. We have also added a handy "at a glance" section to each product to help you better understand our choices.
07/11/23: As well as auditing the products to make sure the list is up to date with the very best practice amps around, we've also given this page a fresh new look, improving the navigation to make it easier than ever to find the right unit for you. Want to get to the good stuff without reading walls of text? Use the "quick list" section to get to know our top choices without any fuss. There are also links to read a more detailed review of each model if you'd like to learn more.
Best all-rounder
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you want a great all-rounder: The Yamaha THR30II takes our top slot as it's reliable, easy to use and sounds brilliant.
❌ Avoid if you want a giggable option: If you want to use your home practice amp on stage as well, you'll want to look elsewhere as this one isn't powerful enough.
Although the Yamaha THR30II doesn’t look an awful lot like a guitar amplifier, that’s kind of the whole idea. It can sit anywhere in the home due to its ‘home-audio’ look - keeping guitarists and non-guitarists happy all the same. The latter can even use the THR30II to stream audio via Bluetooth.
The guitarists, however, are in for a treat, as we found this offering from Yamaha to be a serious piece of kit. With 15 amp tones courtesy of Yamaha’s Virtual Circuitry Modeling, reverb and delay effects and natural-sounding onboard modulation, there is a whole lotta tone here in this killer modeling amp.
The THR30II even includes a pair of 1/4" line outputs, which make it a great option for home recording, and an all round versatile piece of gear. Yeah, it’s not the prettiest amp in the world, but it surely makes up for it with what it can do.
Read the full Yamaha THR30II Wireless review
Best compact amp
2. Blackstar Fly 3
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you want a portable option: This pint-sized Blackstar is ideal for musicians on the move.
❌ Avoid if you don't need portability: If you don't plan on carrying your amp around, you're better off opting for a full-sized practice amp.
As the smallest amp on this list, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Blackstar Fly 3 is little more than a toy. If you’ve ever seen one up close, you’ll know exactly how small they are. Yet plug into one, and you’ll soon realize this little amp is almost the perfect practice amp.
Battery-operated, small enough to pack into a backpack, yet packed with enough features to make it useful, the Fly 3 is a great option as a dedicated practice amp. We particularly liked the Infinite Shape Feature, taken from some of Blackstar’s better-known ‘big’ amps, which gives the user control over the EQ of a given tone.
We also liked the tape delay effect, which nicely rounded out our sound to make it less thin. Pair a couple of them together in stereo and you’ve got yourself a fun little practice setup.
Best for volume
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you want a practice amp you can gig: At a blistering 100W the Line 6 Catalyst is ideal for gigging and home practice.
❌ Avoid if you want to keep the volume down: At 100 watts, this amp may be too loud for some.
If you're familiar with amp and effects manufacturers, you'll know all about Line 6. Famous for its Spider and POD amps, and more recently its Helix and HX floorboards, Line 6 has upped the ante in the amp-modeling game and in turn, created some of the most highly sought after products on the market.
The Catalyst series offers a more simplistic, traditional take on the ever-popular modeling amp, reminiscent of the Boss Katana series. The Catalyst's amp tones sound spectacular – which is all down to the HX technology that this amp borrows from the Helix range. There are six separate amp models which span from super clean to ultra-dirty, which makes the Catalyst an impressively versatile piece of kit. The 18 other effects, as well as six separate types of reverb, help to bring these tones to life even further – and for the money, the amount of choice you have is incredible.
Granted, 100 watts is a lot of power – but when it comes to a digital modeling amp, you needn't worry. Seeing as there are no tubes in your amp, your tones won't change a bit when you take the master volume down. There's also an output power selector on the panel which lets you select either half power or 0.5W, as well as a mute option for when you want to record – which can be done using the Catalyst's USB 'B' connector. This also enables editing of patches through the Catalyst editor app. More features than you can shake a stick at, right?
Read the full Line 6 Catalyst 100 review
Best for practice tools
4. Positive Grid Spark
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you want extra practice tools: This amp is loaded with handy practice tools, including the ability to stream audio via Bluetooth, work out the chords to any song, and generate your own digital backing band.
❌ Avoid if you don't like apps: To get the most out of this amp, you need to use the free Positive Grid Spark app.
Integrating the already highly respected BIAS tone engine with some pretty incredible smart technology, the Positive Grid Spark has taken the world of the best practice amps by storm - and we can definitely see why.
With 30 amp models and 40 effects onboard, the Spark is a catalog of great tones - and with 10,000+ more tones on the online library, you’ve got plenty of options. There’s Bluetooth connectivity to stream music, as well as ⅛” Aux and headphone inputs. You’ve got USB inputs and outputs too, which enable you to use your Spark as an audio interface for when you need to capture that next great idea.
If you want learning tools to help you develop your talent, then the Spark is the amp for you. Those features include ‘Auto Chords’ - which will find chord charts for any song you choose - and ‘Smart Jam’ - which will generate an authentic backing track to accompany you, whatever you play.
Read the full Positive Grid Spark review
Best for effects
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you want world-class effects: Boss produces some of the best effects in the world and they are all available within the Katana.
❌ Avoid if you don't need many effects: If you're not into effects, you'll want to look elsewhere.
There's a reason why the Boss Katana 50 is one of the most popular practice amps to be released in recent years - it sounds fantastic. Now the Katana has gotten even better with the Gen 3 version, which has had a significant sonic update, as well as a brand new amp model.
In our experience, the now six channels - Clean, Crunch, Pushed, Lead, Brown, and Acoustic provide killer tones that are sure to satisfy the fussiest of guitarists. The effects are great too, as you’d expect from anything Boss-built.
All sounds are taken from Bosses famous stomp-boxes, whether it’s chorus, delay, reverb - or something a bit weirder. If you’re looking for some new and exciting tones, connect the Katana to your PC, and you'll be able to gain access to 60 different additional effects via the Boss Tone Lab.
Read our full Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 review
Best for simplicity
6. Orange Crush 20
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you want to keep it simple: The Orange Crush 20 is about as simple as a practice amp gets.
❌ Avoid if you want extra features: This amp can seem a little basic when compared to others on the market.
Orange amplifiers are something of a connoisseur’s choice in the amp world. Beyond the garish colour scheme, the British brand’s most signature element is the unique gain sound they offer.
Thick, chewy, and heavy on the mid-range, Orange amps have one of the most distinctive and recognisable overdriven tones on the market. Its traditional tube models can be at the more expensive end of the ladder, yet with the Orange Crush 20 you can access amazing tone for a fraction of the cost.
Where other amps in this list have more in the way of bells and whistles, the Orange Crush 20 favours simplicity. Two channels, basic EQ and a meaty four-stage gain preamp make this something of a one-trick pony, but what a trick it is. Some reverb wouldn’t have gone amiss, but otherwise, this is a compact, efficient machine, that had a tone we couldn't get enough of.
More options...
So those are our top picks, but there are still plenty more great choices when looking for your next practice amp. We've picked out some more of our favorites for you below.
7. Blackstar ID Core 10 V3
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you are on a tight budget: Blackstar's ID Core range offers superb value for money.
❌ Avoid if you need more power: At only 10W, this isn't the loudest practice amp on this list. Luckily, Blackstar makes the ID Core in 20W and 40W formats.
It may be a practice amp, but that doesn't mean the Blackstar ID: Core 10 is boring. This incredibly versatile amp is jam-packed with tonal possibilities. It is almost impossible to get a bad sound from its six channels and twelve effects - trust us we tried! From boutique clean tones to face-melting rock tones, this little amp can do it all.
The ID: Core 10 impresses us most with its studio-quality effects. These newly re-voiced in-built effects range from classic reverbs, wide stereo delays and vintage sounding modulation. If that wasn't enough, Blackstar's Architect software allows you to edit and manage patches and gives you access to Cab Rig Lite via the USB port located on the amp's top panel. This port can also be used to turn the ID Core 10 into an audio interface, making it the perfect amp if you want to record your electric guitar.
Purely on value for money, the Blackstar ID: Core 10 is hard to beat. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you'll find something to love about this amazingly versatile amp.
Read the full Blackstar ID Core 10 V3 review
8. Vox VT20X
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you want classic Vox tones at home: The AC30 model on the VT20X is particularly good.
❌ Avoid if you need modern features: The VT20X has been around a very long time and doesn't have some of the modern features others do, such as Bluetooth.
The Valvetronix has been a staple of many guitar player’s practice rigs since it was introduced in 2001, and it's easy to see why.
Seamlessly blending a modeling engine with a single valve pre-amp, Vox manages to deliver an amp that outperforms more expensive entries on this list. Featuring 11 authentic amp models - 20 when using the librarian software - and 13 studio-quality effects, the tone possibilities are endless.
If you’re looking for an easy to use amplifier that combines the functionality of a digital modeling amp and the warmth of a valve pre-amp - but you don't want to break the bank - then this might be the amp for you.
9. Line 6 Spider V MKII 30
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you want lots of sounds: There are so many presets in the Line 6 Spider V that you'll never run out of tones.
❌ Avoid if you don't like digital modeling: If you aren't a fan of digital amps, you won't like the sound of the Line 6 Spider.
Owning a Line 6 practice amp is almost a rite of passage for many guitarists. The brand has been pumping out cost-effective, feature-filled practice amps for years now, each time with incremental improvements to make them more suited to the trends of the day. With the Line 6 Spider V, that means the inclusion of mobile device connectivity for the deep editing of parameters.
Despite their budget amp reputation, the Spider range actually offers superb value for guitarists who like to try a little bit of everything. And, with over 200 preset amps, models and variations included, you’re bound to find something here you can use for practice.
Read our full Line 6 Spider V MKII 30 review
10. Marshall DSL1CR
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you want real tube tones: This miniature Marshall delivers stellar tube tones at home.
❌ Avoid if you want effects: This model does not include any effects, apart from a digital reverb.
We couldn’t have a list of the best practice amps and not include a Marshall, right? Thankfully, in the Marshall DSL1CR, there is almost the perfect home practice amp for the tone-conscious rock and metal player. The traditional Dual Super Lead amps from the 90s were synonymous with heavy music, thought of by many as the best amps for metal, yet their size made them nigh-on unusable outside of a stage environment.
Cleverly, Marshall has taken everything from the original DSL range and shrunk it into a highly portable 1-watt combo, meaning you can get that classic high-gain sound without shattering all the windows in your house. We found the digital reverb to be a nice touch, as is the effects loop, making this a high-quality option for the discerning player.
Best practice amps: Buying advice
How do I choose the best practice amp for me?
When choosing the best practice amp for you, it's worth remembering that the main job of a practice amp is to get you playing quickly and conveniently when inspiration strikes. It doesn't need to sound like a $3,000 Two-Rock – although we'd all like a practice amp to – and it definitely doesn't need to cost as much.
All you really want is an amp that sounds good to your ears, and that you can plug in to and play without too much thought. Us guitarists all have an idea of what the perfect tone sounds like, and practice amps are getting much much closer to that benchmark. Long gone are the wasps in jar sounds of the past.
The vast majority of practice amps that are available in today's market come with a huge array of effects, different amp voicings and even easy recording functionality. Some also feature remote control over parameters via a tablet, laptop or mobile device, as well as savable and shareable patch editing. Long story short, amps these days have become very smart – and very capable of recreating near enough any tone you can think of.
Do I need to consider the styles I play?
Long story short, yes. Considering the styles you play (or are learning to play) is an important process to undertake when buying yourself a practice amp.
Most practice amps – especially digital modeling amps – will be able to recreate many different tones, which means that you won't need to be quite so picky if this is the route you wish to go down.
Tube or Solid State amps don't often have this same high-gain versatility, but if you're going to be playing with mostly clean tones, then a small tube amp may just be what you need.
Take a look at the bands or artists you like for inspiration on this – most often, you'll be able to buy a more practice-friendly version of the amps they use – or at the very least, you'll get an idea for the characteristics of their amps and their sound.
What features do I need?
Choosing whether to purchase a smaller-scale tube amp or a dedicated practice amp will dictate the best practice amp for you.
For example, tube amps are still much louder than the equivalent power solid-state amps, so a 20-watt tube amp will make the walls shake in your room. That said, many tube amps for practice often have built-in attenuation so that you can drop the power down to a more manageable level. In our experience, even a 1-watt all-tube amp will more than suffice for home practice. In contrast, a 10W to 20W solid-state amp will usually do the trick.
Some practice amps have built-in recording capability via a USB port. It is always a good idea to record your practice sessions and listen back later. This will help you hone in on what areas of your playing need practice.
How we choose the best practice amps
Here at Guitar World, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything guitar related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.
When choosing what we believe to be the best practice amps available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.
First and foremost, we are guitar players, and we want other guitarists to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can proudly say are the best practice amps on the market right now.
Read more about our rating system and exactly how we test each product.
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You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
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