Top 7 Beginner Guitar Amps to Become a Rock Star

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Last updatedLast updated: August 21, 2024
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If you’re getting started playing the guitar, finding the best beginner guitar amp may be a bit overwhelming. After all, it’s an essential piece of equipment that virtually puts your sound into the world.

We put together this review to help you find the right amp for you. When researching these products, we kept a few key features in mind. Volume and output are important to consider so that you can be sure your audience hears you, whether your audience is a coffee shop full of people or just you in the living room. Sound quality is important, too, and the number of sound controls the amp has heavily influences the music you’re able to create. We opted for combo amps for this review because we loved their portability and felt it was an important feature for beginners to have. We also considered the weight and dimensions of each amp, too.

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We spent hours researching these products by looking at manufacturers’ websites, reading what the experts had to say about choosing an amp, and pouring through product reviews from people just like you who use these amps every day. The first thing you’ll see is a convenient chart where you can compare all of our picks, side-by-side. After that, there are detailed reviews of each product, followed by an in-depth Buying Guide, to help you find the best beginner guitar amp for you.

Top 7 Beginner Guitar Amps Review 2024

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1.

Fender Frontman 10GEditor’s Choice

Features
  • Type: combo
  • Output: 10 Watts
  • Controls: gain, volume, treble, and bass, overdrive switch
  • Dimensions: 11 x 10.25 x 5.75 inches
  • Weight: 8.5 lbs

Our Editor’s Choice for best beginner electric guitar amp is the Fender Frontman 10G Electric Guitar Amplifier. This compact amp weighs only 8.5 pounds so it’s easy to transport and the durable build protects it from any damage along the way.

One of the best things about this amp is the intuitive design. The controls are pretty straightforward. Easy-to-read knobs let you adjust volume, treble, bass, and gain when using the amp in overdrive mode. It’s a great choice for any genre, particularly metal or blues.

There are inputs for auxiliary equipment as well as a headphone jack for silent practicing. It’s an excellent option for beginners because it’s stripped down to basic functions that are easy to adjust. Plus, you’re getting the Fender name and quality at a reasonable price.

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Most users felt this was a great beginner amp but that it’s better suited for low volumes. Because there’s no adjustment for mids, some users felt this amp was best for practice sessions and for newbies picking up a guitar for the first time.

What are its best features?

  • Lightweight and portable
  • Durable build
  • Easy-to-use design
  • Auxiliary inputs
  • Headphone jack

What could be improved?

  • Sounds better at low volumes
  • Better for practices than performances
RELATED: 10 Best Amps for Ukulele – Make Your Favorite Instrument Sound Brighter!

2.

Donner Electric Guitar AmplifierBest Beginner Guitar Amp Under 100

Features
  • Type: combo
  • Output: 10 Watts
  • Controls: gain, boost select switch, volume, treble/middle/ bass
  • Dimensions: 11.2 x 18 x 28 inches
  • Weight: 9.4 pounds

The Donner Electric Guitar Amplifier weighs only 10.9 pounds, so it’s easy to transport. The speaker works in perfect harmony with selectable gain control to ensure clarity and quality with every note.

There are two different channels, clean and boost. Clean works like a regular amp while boost helps you out when you want to get loud. This amp really helps you tune your sound: the three-way equalizer enables you to adjust treble, middle, and bass tones.

This amp features an auxiliary input so you can plug in an MP3 player and play along with your favorite tunes. There’s also a headphone jack for quiet practice any time of day or night.

This is one of the best beginner mini electric guitar amps that we found in our research. It’s great for practicing, doing simple recording, or playing in small venues like coffee shops or bookstores. The edges are durable, and a rubber pad protects it from damage. People who use this amp report that there is some buzzing at high volumes but, overall, there were few complaints.

Why did it make our list?

  • Stylish design
  • Lightweight
  • Durable
  • Easy to transport
  • Two channels
  • Auxiliary port
  • Headphone jack

What is not ideal about it?

  • Can buzz when playing at high volumes

3.

Orange Amps Electric Guitar Power AmplifierBest Beginner Guitar Amp for Metal

Features
  • Type: combo
  • Output: 20 Watts
  • Controls: EQ, volume, gain, reverb
  • Dimensions: 7.87 x 13.78 x 15.75 inches
  • Weight: 17.64 lbs

The Orange Amps Electric Guitar Power Amplifier comes from one of the best-known brands in the business. Orange amps are respected for their fantastic sound, which is definitely something you want in a beginner guitar amp. It’s not overloaded with features and covers the basics very well.

While this amp is a little pricier than some of the others we chose, it’s the best-rated beginner electric guitar amp we found in our research. It features two footswitchable channels, built-in reverb, and a high-gain preamp. There are four stages of gain so you can create clean or dirty sounds, just the way you want them.

This Orange amp has more controls than most comparable options in this price range. Each channel has its own volume control, and there are dials to adjust bass, middle, and treble. It’s great for any genre but particularly suited for blues, rock, and metal.

This amp has an auxiliary port as well as a headphone jack so you can practice silently, a great feature for those just getting started. It’s extremely portable and tough.

Users had very few complaints about this amp. Some felt it was a little too quiet to be used on stage, but for home or practice use, it’s a great choice.

What do we love it for?

  • 2 channels to switch with foot
  • Built-in reverb
  • 4 stages of gain channel
  • Auxiliary port
  • Headphone jack
  • Reliable
  • Portable
  • Durable

What were we disappointed with?

  • Some users felt the volume wasn’t quite loud enough for on-stage performances
  • Pricey

4.

JOYO Electric Guitar AmplifierBest Beginner Bass Guitar Amp

Features
  • Type: combo
  • Output: 10 Watts
  • Controls: master volume knob, bright knob, gain knob, and channel switch to adjust the tone
  • Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.5 x 6.6 inches
  • Weight: 4.15 lbs

If you’re concerned about portability, another great choice is the JOYO Electric Guitar Amplifier. Although it’s battery-powered, the 10-watt output is significantly higher than that of the other battery-powered option we included on our list.

This speaker is powered by six AA batteries but includes a 9V power adapter for better performance if you have easy access to an outlet. It can easily be carried with straps and is great for indoor or outdoor use in the right conditions.

As for sound, this speaker produces clear, true tones. It features two channels and adjustable effects and simple knob controls to change the gain, volume, treble, and bass. In addition to being used as a guitar amp, it can also act as a speaker for a smartphone, MP3 player, or just plug in a simple USB flash drive.

Users didn’t have a lot of complaints about this amp, though some felt it performed best in smaller rooms rather than large stage performances. It performs well for the price and is a good choice for beginners.

What stands out?

  • Portable
  • Battery-powered
  • AC adaptor included
  • Two channels
  • Simple knob controls
  • Can be used as a speaker for smartphone, MP3 player, and USB drive

What cons did we manage to find?

  • Sound quality doesn’t hold up in large rooms

5.

Fender Mustang LT25Best Beginner Acoustic Guitar Amp for the Money

Features
  • Power Output: 25 watts
  • Speaker Size: 8-inch
  • Effects: 25 onboard effects

The Fender Mustang LT25 is a digital modeling guitar amplifier with a compact size, making it ideal for practicing, home recording, and small gigs. It features a 25-watt power output through an 8-inch speaker, a crystal-clear LCD display, and a user-friendly interface. With its vast range of tones, the LT25 allows guitarists to emulate many amp and effects combinations, catering to classic and contemporary sound preferences.

In terms of performance, the Mustang LT25 is a powerhouse for its size. The amplifier provides many sound options with its 50 pre-set sounds, 20 amp types, and 25 effects, all of which can be adjusted and saved as custom presets. The sound quality is top-notch for its class, delivering clear highs, mids, and deep bass tones, emulating some of the iconic Fender sounds and more. Moreover, its USB interface allows for easy recording, making it a great tool for budding and professional musicians alike.

The Fender Mustang LT25 shines brightest in scenarios where portability and versatility are key. For beginners just starting their musical journey, the LT25 offers an extensive palette of sounds to explore without overwhelming the user. Its size and digital modeling capabilities make it a go-to for home recording artists or musicians living in spaces where larger, louder amps aren’t feasible. Furthermore, its preset and customization features offer a quick switch between tones, making it a solid choice for small live performances.

What makes the Fender Mustang LT25 stand out from the competition is its balance between simplicity and versatility. While there are other modeling amps on the market, few offer the straightforward interface and the breadth of tone options that the LT25 does. The iconic Fender brand is also synonymous with quality, ensuring that the amp is built to last, providing consistent performance. Including USB connectivity is another boon, giving users an easy gateway to digital recording.

While the Mustang LT25 has many strengths, it has flaws. For those seeking an amp suitable for larger venues, the LT25 might not pack enough punch, limiting its application for more expansive live performances. Although a strength, the sheer number of preset options can also be overwhelming for some users, and a more intuitive categorization might enhance the user experience. Additionally, while it replicates many tones beautifully, purists might still prefer the authenticity of a dedicated analog amp.

What makes it stand out?

  • Compact and portable design
  • Vast range of customizable tones and effects
  • USB connectivity for easy recording
  • User-friendly interface and LCD display

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

  • Might not be loud enough for larger gigs
  • Overwhelming number of presets for some users
  • Might not satisfy purists seeking genuine analog tones

Features
  • Type: combo
  • Output: 1 Watt
  • Controls: dedicated tone, volume, and gain
  • Dimensions: 6.1 x 5.5 x 3 inches
  • Weight: 1.1 lbs

The Fender Mini-Deluxe Electric Guitar Amp is our budget pick, and it’s a great option for anyone who is looking for something small and simple to mess around with at home. It weighs just over a pound, which makes it perfect for travel. Just pop it in your suitcase and be on your way.

One of the best things about this amp is it’s powered by a simple 9V battery so you can use it just about anywhere. It features a headphone jack so you can practice privately and has easy-to-use knob controls for adjusting the gain, tone, and volume.

Because this amp is so small, it only has the basics, which is why it’s such a good choice for beginners. It’s limited by design, but that’s part of what makes it such a great choice for musicians who want something simple. This amp doesn’t get particularly loud, but adjusting the tone knob is surprisingly effective.

The biggest complaint about this amp is its size. Namely, some people thought it was going to be bigger than it is. Considering its size, though, it performs quite well.

What stands out?

  • Portable
  • Lightweight
  • Battery-powered
  • Headphone jack
  • Easy-to-use control knobs

What cons did we manage to find?

  • Some users were surprised by the small size

7.

Monoprice 40-Watt 1x10 Guitar Combo AmplifierBest Beginner Amp for Performing

Features
  • Type: combo
  • Output: 40 Watts
  • Controls:
  • Dimensions: 18.7 x 11.4 x 17.1 inches
  • Weight: 1.51 lbs

The best thing about the Monoprice 40-Watt 1×10 Guitar Combo Amplifier is that you can crank it all the way up to 11. Seriously, the volume dial actually goes to 11 for when you want to give the audience just a little bit more. The headphone jack lets you practice in peace, and an external speaker output provides more options when performing.

This amp has 40 watts of power, more than any of the other amps on our list. It features an adjustable spring reverb and gain level so you can play everything from lounge music to classic pop sounds like the Beach Boys.

There are two line-level inputs to connect the amp to a mixing board or recorder, and the return jacks can be used with external processors to create a range of effects.

Some people who bought this amp were a little disappointed by the construction, commenting that the cover wasn’t glued down correctly and that they expected metal corner covers instead of plastic. A few users also reported a slight buzz, but, overall, people were very happy with this amp.

What makes it special?

  • Volume dial goes to 11
  • 40 watts of power
  • Adjustable spring reverb
  • Adjustable gain level
  • Two inputs
  • Headphone jack
  • External speaker inputs

What cons did we find?

  • Some users complained about poor construction
  • Some users reported a slight buzz

Things to Consider

Choosing a guitar amp is no easy feat, especially if you’re just getting started and aren’t sure what to look for. We put together this buying guide to help you understand what features to look for and why.

Features to consider while choosing a beginner guitar amplifier

Top 7 Beginner Guitar Amps to Become a Rock StarThere are a few things you should consider when shopping for the right beginner guitar amp. Especially nowadays, when there are so many choices for guitar lessons Trusted Source Best Online Guitar Lessons 2021 Trying to avoid paying thousands of dollars for in-person guitar lessons? Check out these top online guitar lessons to learn guitar quickly! www.musicgrotto.com , both online and offline.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most important features.

Sound volume/Output

The sound volume itself is pretty self-explanatory. It’s how loud the amp is or how much output the amp has. Many people think the number of watts determines volume, but it’s not quite as simple.

Watts equals power, and power certainly affects volume, but they’re not the same thing. For example, a 15-watt amp like the Fender Mustang LT25 might be just as loud as a 20-watt amp like the Orange Amps Electric Guitar Power Amplifier. But when they’re played at the same volume, the quality will be way different.

A good way to think about the output is the higher the number, the louder the volume can be and still maintain a good quality sound. A 10-watt amp may be just as loud as a 20-watt amp, but the 20-watt amp will sound much better at higher volumes.

This concept is important to understand if you’re trying to decide between two amps that have similar output but it is somewhat limited in scope. For example, a 40-watt amp will most definitely be louder than a 1-watt amp.

When deciding what amp is right for you, it’s important to consider where you will be playing. If you want an amp that you can use for performances, go for something with more watts to make sure your audience hears you and that you’re creating the best sound possible. Lower watts are fine if you want something to practice at home.

Sound quality

As you might have guessed, sound quality also has little to do with watts and output. The louder the volume on an amp with low watts, the more sound quality is lost. The 20-watt amp sounds better than the 10-watt amp when the volume is cranked up but, again, this is a somewhat limiting way to look at it. A simple watt amp, like the 1-watt Fender Mini-Deluxe Electric Guitar Amp, won’t have the same quality as a more powerful amp, like Monoprice 40-Watt 1×10 Guitar Combo Amplifier, no matter what the volume.

The relationship between watts and volume causes what a lot of people refer to as “buzzing”. If you’ve ever had an amp that performed just fine at low volumes but lost quality as you turned up the volume, it’s likely the amp didn’t have enough watts.

Controls

These amps all have basic controls since they’re aimed at beginners. There are the self-explanatory controls like power and volume, but you’ll see other things as well.

Gain control is related to volume, but it’s not the same thing. Guitar amps produce sound through two stages. The first stage, or preamp stage, is when the amp takes the sound you’re creating on your guitar and processes it for the second stage when the signal is sent through the speaker.

Gain is the amount of input from your guitar into the amp during the preamp stage. It’s not only about volume, though, it’s also about tonal control and the balance between being loud and sounding good. High gains produce dirty tones. Low gains produce clean.

Top 7 Beginner Guitar Amps to Become a Rock StarAn equalizer is another important control feature that lets you tune your sound. Ideally, you can adjust lows, mids, and highs like with the Donner Electric Guitar Amplifier. Lows add a lot of warmth to your sound but are unclear or defined. Mids clean up undefined lows by adding more clarity and a bit of punch. Highs are a little lighter and don’t sound as deep, but they’re clear and have the most definition. You can see how playing with these settings can alter your sound.

Weight and dimensions

How much do weight and dimensions matter? Well, that depends on where you’re planning to use your amp. Smaller, lighter amps are easier to move around, and some don’t lose much in the way of sound quality just because of their size.

Price

These amps run anywhere from around $30 to just shy of $200 but they really do vary a lot in features. There’s something for every budget.

FAQ

Please briefly answer the following questions:

 
 

A combo amp is one that contains both the amplifier and the speaker in a single enclosure. The alternative is to use stacked equipment which would mean having both a cabinet for the amp and one for the speaker. Combo amps are portable and somewhat easier to use since you only have one control panel to worry about.

A head amplifier is an amp with no speakers attached, one that you would use in a stacked setup. It won’t produce any sound until it’s hooked up to a speaker. A cabinet is just the opposite, it only has speakers and is useless without an amplifier.

No. A preamp processes the signal from the guitar to the amp before the amp processes it to be sent through the speakers. They’re not the same.

Our Verdict

The Donner Electric Guitar Amplifier is our top pick for the best guitar amp for beginners. It has everything you need and nothing you don’t. You can finetune your sound because it lets you adjust lows, mids, and highs. Plus, it’s durable and easy to transport.

Next, we recommend our Editor’s Choice, the Fender Frontman 10G Electric Guitar Amplifier. This is just an all-around great amp. It’s lightweight, easy to transport, and the controls are easy to use. This is a great practice amp for anyone who’s just getting started.

Finally, we recommend the Orange Amps Electric Guitar Power Amplifier for anyone with little wiggle room in their budget. This is an awesome amp from a well-known brand loaded with features to take your sound to the next level. The equalizer lets you adjust lows, mids, and highs; each channel has its own volume control.

References

1.
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