BEST SMALL GUITAR AMP FOR GIGS
8 Best Small Guitar Amps For Gigs
Lugging a guitar amp around from show to show can really take alot out of any musician, even before playing. Bulky or heavy gear could put a damper on your mood which can translate on stage.
Many guitarists just want a great gigging amp that's easy to handle - an amp that's a great size to manage but also that can overcome volume challenges when trying to play over a full band. Having a small amplifier will make it much easier and worry-free for any guitarist.
Now, what would be the best small guitar amp for a gig? Let's get started ~
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The Bugera V5 Infinium is a small, all-tube guitar amplifier with a classic design. It has a 5-watt power output and a single channel, which makes it well-suited for practice, recording, or small gigs. Some of its other features include:
Infinium Tube Life Multiplier:
This technology helps to extend the life of the amp's tubes, reducing the need for frequent replacements and maintenance.
Warm, tube-driven sound: The V5 Infinium is designed to deliver a warm, rich, and natural sound that is characteristic of classic tube amps.
Low-noise operation: The amp is designed to be quiet and free of distortion, even at high volumes.
Compact size: The V5 Infinium is small and lightweight, making it easy to transport and set up.
Classic styling: The amp has a vintage look, with a cream-colored tolex covering and a retro-style control panel.
Overall, the Bugera V5 Infinium is a compact and portable amp that delivers a warm, classic tube sound and is well-suited for a wide range of musical styles.
2. Marshall Code 50
This is a great 50-Watt solid state modeling amp. It has a 12" speaker inside and with 50 watts, this can carry decently over a drummer.
Now, you can use the modeling feature on the amp which has 100 presets OR you can hone in your own tones and sounds using the featured effects (delay, reverb, distortion, and many more).
You can customize the modulation settings easily using a downloadable app on your phone and connecting to the amp through bluetooth.
You can even use the app to record in case you come up with something great and you want to record it fast with quality.
3. Vox AC4C1
The VOX AC4C1 is an awesome small tube amp with 2x12AX7 preamp tubes, and an EL84 power tube.
With only 4-Watts, this thing packs a punch. You can get some great sounds out of these as it definitely captures that signature VOX sound. These amps have a great clean chime-y sound to them, but also their gain breaks up fantastic.
It has a 12" Celestion speaker installed which can carry it's weight in guitar volume nicely for small gigs.
We love the classic VOX amp look and signature grill. And with the weight of these coming around 23 lbs - these are great gigging amps.
The size of these amplifiers is great as well. You can set one of these essentially anywhere you want.
4. Monoprice 15-Watt
These 15-Watt tube amp come in at an amazing price point. With 3x12AX7 preamp tubes and 2xEL84 power tubes the sound on these deliver!
Built in this small amp comes with a 12" Celestion Red Truvox speaker, and Monoprice Spring Reverb.
The Superior guitar tone and flexibility using this 15-Watt, 1x12 Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier with Celestion Speaker & Spring Reverb from Monoprice.
Personally, I think the older 50s-60s look of these amps looked better, but with the price on these and tones that come out of these amps, there should be no complaints.
Coming in at about 30 lbs, the size of these would be easy to take with you just about anywhere.
5. Orange Crush 20RT
This Orange Crush 20RT solid state amp sounds great! With 20-Watts and a 8" Speaker this cranks very well. The clean tones are bright and smooth with that orange signature sound.
The gain on this has that great rock-break up sound to them. You can also crank it up to get some great 'chug' metal tones for those that want to slay.
Features include a Reverb, Built in Tuner, Gain and "Dirty" knobs - which 'beefs' up the gain on these.
This light weight amp is great to travel around to play at shows and take to practice as well as being able to play at a comfortable volume in your home.
The overall signature orange vintage cabinet and grill look of these are awesome. They definitely have a british rock look to match their tones.
These awesome small amps weigh in at about 16 lbs.
6. Fender Bassbreaker 15
The Fender Bassbreaker 15 Amplifiers have a beautiful sound to them. They come with 3x12AX7 preamp tubes and 2x EL84 power tubes.
A great feature is the line out 'Cabinet Emulation' Switch on the back of the amp. You can plug directly into your interface, hit the standby switch on the amp and record directly in without losing any of its tone.
The Hall Reverb it comes with also has a great smooth sound to it. If you are ever in need of a little more of that chime-y high tone, it also features a bright switch.
The amp can be used as a combo amp or a head with another 12" cabinet. Also, since the amp is all-tube the gain on these amps break up really great.
Now, these amps are a little heavier weighing in at about 40 lbs, so despite the size being on the small side that might be something to consider.
I really dig the look of these amps. It kinda has an old 30s diner vibe to them.
7. Supro 1970RK Keeley
The Supro 1970RK Keeley is a limited edition version of the Supro 1970RK amp, which is based on the classic Supro amps of the 1960s. It is a tube-driven, all-analog amp with a distinctive, vintage sound. Some of its notable features include:
15-watt power output:
The 1970RK Keeley has a modest power output, which makes it well-suited for practice, recording, or small gigs.
Two channels: The amp has a clean channel and a lead channel, each with its own volume control, which allows players to switch between different sounds.
All-analog design: The 1970RK Keeley is an all-analog amp with no digital components, which contributes to its warm, vintage sound.
Collaboration with Robert Keeley:
This limited edition version of the 1970RK amp was developed in collaboration with Robert Keeley, a well-known guitar effects pedal builder, who helped to refine and improve the amp's sound.
Retro styling: The 1970RK Keeley has a vintage look, with a retro-style control panel and a black and silver tolex covering.
Overall, the Supro 1970RK Keeley is a classic-sounding tube amp with a distinctive vintage character and a range of tonal options, making it a great choice for players who are looking for a unique, retro-inspired sound.
8. VOX AC15C1
The VOX AC15C1 is a 15-watt, all-tube guitar amplifier with a classic design and a wide range of tonal options. Some of its notable features include:
Two channels:
The AC15C1 has a clean channel and a top boost channel, each with its own volume control, allowing players to switch between different sounds.
Wide range of tones:
The AC15C1 is known for its wide range of tones, from sparkling clean sounds to warm, crunchy overdrive.
All-tube design: The AC15C1 is an all-tube amp, which gives it a warm, harmonically rich sound that is characteristic of classic tube amps.
Compact size:
The AC15C1 is small and portable, making it easy to transport and set up.
Classic styling: The AC15C1 has a vintage look, with a cream-colored tolex covering and a retro-style control panel.
Overall, the VOX AC15C1 is a classic-sounding amp with a wide range of tonal options, making it a great choice for players who are looking for a versatile amp with a vintage character.
There are a few things to consider when picking a great small guitar amp:
1. Size
The size of a guitarists amp would be the first thing to consider. Since we're only talking about small guitar amplifiers here, it probably goes without saying. Small guitar amps would easily fit in the trunk of your car along with other gear.
2. Weight
Weight should go hand-in-hand with the size of a guitar amp. Most small amplifiers are typically much lighter when compared to large combo amps or half and full stack amplifiers. Having a lighter amp would make gigging much easier and less of a hassle while loading and unloading.
3. Tube Guitar Amp
Tube Guitar Amps tend to be louder. So one guitarist might see '15-Watts' but not understand having a tube amp brings out the volume much more than a solid state amp or valve. *They also have a SWEET break up sound to them when cranked a little louder*
4. Features
Now, most smaller amps will have fewer features so you should consider bringing along guitar pedals to compensate.
5. Speaker
Smaller guitar amps have smaller speakers. You should understand most venues mic the amps so this shouldn't necessarily be a big problem - also most soundmen actually prefer this as they can get a great sound through their board without overloading their speakers.
Best Small Amp Head For Gigging
Orange Micro Terror
For those still wanting a separate amp head, the best choice would be the Orange Micro Terror. Look how tiny this is! But don't let the size fool you for one bit as this packs a punch.
With 20W of tube power, you can plug this into a small speaker for easy guitar playing in your room, or swap for a 2x12 or 4x10 and play easily with a live band.
The gain on these sounds amazing. Orange amps are well known for their great British guitar tones. The size is great enough to carry anywhere with ease. And last but not least, the price on these will not break the bank.
Best Small Tube Amp Combo
Fender Pro Junior IV
The Fender Pro Junior IV is a straight forward tone machine. If you're looking for added features, this amp will not be for you, but for features this amp lacks, it exceeds in guitar tone. There's something about tweed fender amps that shine above all else.
This comes in at 15W, with 2 EL-84 Power Tubes, 2 12AX7 Preamp Tubes and a 10" Jensen Speaker.
This amp is LOUD - just a simple dial to 2 can play well over a band. When you start to crank the volume even more, you can control the amount of beautiful tube break up sound comes through.
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