Djordje LukovicThe best practice amps are the ones that can provide you with a sound that is as close as possible to the real thing, but has a lower volume and a portable shape and weight.
Whether you are an electric guitar player or a bass guitar player, you need to keep polishing your chops constantly to make sure you sound amazing on your full amp stacks of the big stages. This is especially the case during the lockdown. You need good practice amps now more than ever!
We have done the dirty work for you and scoured the web to find the best practice amps available on the market in 2023!
Let’s jump right in!
These are the best practice amps right now:
1. Blackstar Fly 3
Blackstar Fly 3 offers an unbelievable combination of coming in the smallest package possible and still providing you with the biggest sounds you could want from a small practice amp. Great features, high portability, and affordable pricing are what make this amp such a great practice option!
When you look at this one, you would most likely think it’s just a toy, not a real amp. Well, don’t judge a book by its cover, as they say.
This one is battery-powered and very small in size, making it highly portable and backpack-friendly. This number of different features at this size is truly an astonishing feat.
The Infinite Shape control provides you with the ability to alter the EQ of any given tone you dial-in. That effect in conjunction with the tape delay really gives this one an appeal you won’t find among the amps at this pricing point.
- Highly portable.
- Great features.
- Affordable price.
2. Boss Katana Air
This wonder of technology, although a practice amp, can be viewed as one of the forerunners in guitar amp innovation. The incredible design, a wide array of features, and a stellar playback section make this one worthy of the “best practice amp” tagline. The price can be difficult to stomach though.
Believe it or not, this is a wireless amplifier. Better yet, it automatically recognizes when you’ve picked up your guitar and switches itself on immediately.
The amp possesses a shocking number of effects and it comes with the app which carries the effects. The amp and your phone are connected via Bluetooth.
This lovely piece of gear also comes with two stereo speakers. That being said, your stereo delays sound perfect here, and better yet, you can play music via this amp and it sounds amazing!
- Wireless system.
- Highly portable.
- Jam-packed with different sounds and effects.
- Price.
3. Line 6 Spider V 20 MkII
Owning a Line 6 bedroom amp is really a rite of passage for any modern-day guitarist. This one, as with a lot of their products, gives you a vast abundance of options at a very affordable price. Versatility and portability are the name of the game here, so if that’s what you are after, look no further!
Line 6 never stopped evolving their Spider line of products. This home practice amp is no exception and it can be connected to a mobile device, which gives you endless editing options. The real superstars here are the 200 amp presets that come with numerous variations.
The abundant variety of effects, tones, and presets should be enough for anyone to use for practice use. With its amazing pricing point, and decent portable nature, this one definitely deserves to be on this list.
- The number of different tones and presets is quite unbelievable.
- Incredible value/price ratio.
- Some presets are a bit odd, but you are guaranteed to find the right one from the 200 presets that are offered.
4. Yamaha THR5
The suave looks truly make this small practice amp a great-looking addition to your bedroom showpieces. The vast number of features and sounds provide you with everything you need, and then some! It is just a tad bit pricey, but definitely worth it!
This battery-powered amp is really a traveling guitarist’s best friend. The number of sounds that you can dial-in will satisfy all of your practicing needs.
The further customization of the sounds can be done via the Yamaha app that goes with this one. The app is very user-friendly and can be connected via Bluetooth.
This very portable piece of gear can be a great touring accessory for pre-show warm-ups, but it can also serve as a cool-looking lounge asset.
- Great design.
- Incredible parameter control and adjustability.
- Battery-powered.
- Just a tad bit pricey.
5. Marshall DSL1CR
The mind-boggling thing about this lovely amp is the disparity between its size and its famous tones. With this amp, you are getting your legendary tube amp sounds with a number of modern-day twists and turns. The loss of some frequencies is a feat here and it is up to you to decide if that is something you find appealing with your practice amp.
If you like the legendary 90s Marshal Dual Super Lead tones, this one might be a dream come true for you. It is finally possible to have this legendary amp at a reasonable price, with it being highly portable and neighbor-friendly.
Your desired high gain sounds are achievable with this one; however, some loss in the low-frequency spectrum is just inescapable.
You are also getting some fancy features that are expected to be found on some higher-end amps. Those features are the built-in digital reverb and the effects loop section.
- Legendary high gain tube sound.
- Iconic look.
- This small practice amp is somewhat pricey.
6. Fender Super Champ X2
If you are ready to splash some cash on your practice amp, we might have exactly what you’re looking for! The signature clean sounds of the higher-end friend amps are also achievable with this one. The hybrid analog/digital combo is a real feat, if this price range is up your valley.
The interplay between the analog and digital circuits is the main forte of this practice amp. It allows for a great deal of variety that makes this amp truly great for practicing many different styles of music.
Fender’s signature clean amp sounds can be found here along with other overdriven and gain rich sounds.
The rear side of the amp has a USB port which makes this one able to be recorded via your PC or laptop.
Combining all of its features with the price, this one gives you better value than you’d expect in the practice amp category, but still offers all of the benefits that come with a practice amp.
- Gorgeous, clean sounds.
- USB port great for recording.
- Ultra high-gain sounds are not the best you have ever heard.
7. Orange Crush 20
If this is the kind of tone you are looking for, look no further! The legendary Orange sound is strong with this one. However it is a one-trick pony, so if you are looking for a vast plethora of sounds, you will not find them here.
It has a unique tone and unique looks. It’s all here! One of the most unique overdriven tones in the history of rock music is what Orange buyers are looking for. However, if you want fancy sounds and effects, you might want to skip this one.
The sheer simplicity of this model makes it very easy to use. There are two channels available, an EQ section, and a legendary four-stage gain preamp.
- The legendary sound at a highly affordable price.
- Very straightforward and easy to use.
- No additional effects.
8. Fender Rumble 25
The main draw of this amp is its versatility in terms of the sound you can produce. The features are also highly adjustable. It’s not very portable, but truly a legendary piece of home equipment that you can get at an affordable price.
This home practice amp packs 25 watts and a single speaker, making it a great tool for bedroom jams. The EQ comes with bass, middle and treble knobs and it allows you to tweak your sound according to your taste. However, the main superstars are the Contour and Overdrive knobs which allow you to create a wide variety of sounds; from a whisper to a roar!
- Legendary sound.
- Great options for further sound customization.
- Although small, somewhat weighty, and not very portable home practice amp.
Conclusion
The hunt for the best practice amp seems to be in full flight. After all, it is 2023, and most of the guitar players are bound to their bedrooms.
Everybody wants to find the best option for home practice, so they can keep up their chops. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned veteran, an electric guitar player or a bass guitar player, you will find the best option within our top picks.
We have tried to offer as much variety as possible, while still making sure that all of the mentioned home amps are worthy of the best practice amps list in 2023.
The technological advances have truly reinvigorated the art of making a perfect home practice amp. The Bluetooth connectivity and USB ports are just some of the amazing features to be found among the next-gen home practice amps.
One of the coolest things about modern-day practice amplifiers is that you can record whatever you are playing. The newer amps also offer a great opportunity to play back what you’ve recorded.
The amps are built to be sturdy, yet lightweight, ensuring portability.
With all of us locked in our rooms, this is probably the perfect time to invest in a quality practice amp.
We have the amazing benefit of having all of the technological riches at our disposal.
All of the brands truly stepped up and started making the best practice amps known to both electric guitar and bass guitar players.
We hope you find the information in this article helpful. Now it is up to you to find the best answer to your bedroom-playing needs!
