14 Best Beginner Guitar Amps You Won’t Need To Upgrade

We’ve rounded up some of the best beginner guitar amps that will last a lifetime and won’t need to be upgraded for many years - if at all! These starter guitar amps range from the small size practice or desktop amplifiers to the larger gig ready options that will accompany you on your guitar journey from beginner to gigging musician. These offerings from the likes of Fender, Orange and more prove that a beginner amp can actually sound great, will last a lifetime and when you choose the right option, doesn’t have to break the bank. Here’s our top picks in price ascending order.

Antiquity doesn’t just make awesome guitars – they also offer some of the best guitar amps for beginners on the market. Whether you opt for the 10, 15, or 30 watt version, you won’t find any other amps at this value anywhere else. 

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

The Antiquity range of amps are stripped-back to basics – but they do everything they need to do perfectly. As a beginner, it can be easy to trip up with too many FX and uninspired tones. These amplifiers ensure that your core sound is as good as it can be, so you can concentrate on learning.

With that being said, they also work as an exceptionally good pedal platform for when you start adding FX. The bigger models are suitable for gigging too, so you won’t need to upgrade in a hurry.

Check them all out here:

Next up we have the VOX AC2 RhythmVox Mini Guitar Amplifier which is used by guitartists everywhere who want that classic VOX sound, but don’t necessarily have the room for a full-sized VOX AC30 or VOX AC15 at home.

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

The Vox AC2 features 2 watts of power, so it’s not going to blast your windows out whilst you’re noodling away and honing your skills. However, it’s still loud enough so you can rock out and jam along to your favourite tracks or create your own music. Finally, it’s very budget friendly so it makes a great start guitar amplifier.

 The Blackstar LT Echo 15 Combo Amplifier is actually one of our favourite amplifiers here at PMT as it partners 2 x 3” speakers producing true Blackstar tones with Emulated Line Out for silent practice or recording. This means you can rock out loudly when nobody is around or practice quietly without annoying your flatmates. This is perfect for beginners as it means the amp responds more accurately to your playing thus encouraging better technique.

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

This Blackstar Amp actually performs at a level of a far more expensive amplifier and features specifically voiced Blackstar speakers which are crisp and clear. There’s a 3.5mm headphone output jack so you can plug your headphones straight in and jam along in silence. This is a perfect feature that beginners will appreciate and a must-have for beginner amps as it stops you feeling self-conscious if you’re just starting out in the world of guitars.

4. BOSS KATANA-MINI GUITAR AMPLIFIER

The Boss Katana-Mini guitar amplifier is not only one of the best beginner amps but one of the best amplifiers of 2018, packing all the lush tonality of the Katana series into a highly portable guitar amp. This may be small, but this thing is LOUD!

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

The BOSS Katana mini runs on six AA-size batteries or optional AC adaptor so it’s entirely portable and perfect for taking to practice sessions with a guitar teacher or just moving around the home for when creativity strikes. There’re three versatile amp sounds built in; Brown, Crunch and Clean so you can get to grips with a bunch of different sounds. There’s also a headphones output and Aux input for jamming along to tracks. However, the main reason we’ve included this as one of the best beginner amps is the fact it provides immense tone in such a small package. This high-quality tone will encourage players to keep practising, as it sounds amazing even at low volumes and quite frankly there’s nothing worse than bad tone!

 This next amplifier is definitely one of the best beginner amplifiers if you or your loved one learning guitar appreciates a wide variety of different musical genres and wants something a little louder for their first band.

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

We think the Orange Crush 12 Solid State 12W 1X6 Combo is a perfect starter guitar amp as it’s packed with two very distinct sounds, making it perfect for a wide variety of genres. This is a great amp for beginner guitarists as the headphone/line output includes the Orange CabSim feature. This basically mimics the sound of a mic’d Orange cabinet loaded with flagship Voice of the World speakers and encourages a better playing experience when you have your headphones plugged in. A perfect beginner amp that you’ll hand down to your grand kids!

Another amp designed for experienced players but priced for beginners is the Blackstar ID:CORE 10 V2 Stereo Digital Combo Amp in a limited edition cream finish. This is a 10-watt amplifier with 2 x 3” speakers a load of effects and a selection of premium amp models for versatility.

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

We think this qualifies as one of the best beginner amps because you have 6 channels of amazing sounds including Clean Warm, Clean Bright, Crunch, Super Crunch, OD 1 and OD 2 – which is perfect if you want a good all-rounded amplifier that can handle plenty of different genres. It’s ultra-compact, so it won’t break your back when you’re going to lessons or moving it around, it’s packed with 12 stereo effects and there’s a headphones input so you can practice in silence too!

7. BOSS KATANA 50 MK II

 The BOSS Katana 50 Mk II is perfect for beginners, intermediate players and professionals alike who need a great sounding practice amp that provides a variety of tonal options and won’t break your back when you’re moving it between music lessons, rehearsals, and gigs.

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

This amp can be played at 50 watts, 25 watts, or 0.5 watts - so no matter if you're practicing at home, rehearsing, or playing a gig, it'll do the job perfectly.

Packed with a range of industry-standard BOSS FX, this amp gives you enough tonal variety to do anything from a sparkling clean to a full-blown screaming solo. With an intuitive control section and the ability to connect a channel switch or expression pedal, the Katana range is truly inspiring for guitarists of all levels.

To shop the entire Katana range, click here.

We’re getting louder with this one as the Fender Champion 50XL Digital Combo Amplifier Black has 50 watts of power – more than enough power to keep up with a drummer and one of the best beginner guitar amps that you’ll still be able to use as a professional guitarist.

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

Aside from the fact it’s got 50 watts of power and is extremely affordable, you have 21 very different, classic amp models to choose from as well as quality effects built-in. This is like taking a full studio’s worth of gear with you everywhere – perfect for trying out a variety of different sounds and genres of music.

 Since it was released, the Yamaha THR series of amplifiers have quickly become some of the most popular amplifiers on the market thanks to their immense sound and budget-friendly price tag. Yet again, this is an amp used by professionals that beginners can afford - and is perfect for the home.

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

The modest price tag aside, there’s some really great features packed into the Yamaha THR5A. There are 5 selectable amp characters such as compressor, chorus, delay, reverb plus, using the free-to-download THR Editor software: noise gate, flanger, phaser, tremolo, & more.

When you don’t want to upgrade your amplifier for a very long time and want enough power to take your amp on to the stages of the world (and not look silly doing it) the Fender Champion 100 Guitar Amplifier Combo is a perfect option. Yes, it’s a great starter guitar amplifier, but it wouldn’t look out of place on stage at Glastonbury either!

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

You have 100 watts of power at your disposal straight out of the box with the Fender Champion 100 – more than you’re likely to ever need. It’s what’s known as a solid-state amplifier, so you get the same sound, whether you choose clean or distortion at lower volumes, so you don’t have to worry about disturbing anyone because the amp doesn’t need to be cranked to get the best sound! There’s Reverb, Delay, Echo, Chorus, Tremolo and many more digital effects built in as well as a range of different amp voices including British Rock, American Blues and many more.

Next up we have the Blackstar HT-1R MKII 1W Valve Combo Guitar Amp which has been designed for the gigging and studio musician but priced at a level that beginner players can afford.

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

This 1-watt combo amplifier is portable and robust but will make quite the racket when you want it to. We think it’s one of the best beginner guitar amps as you get a quality Blackstar sound at all volumes, whether you’re playing low at home or busting out the big riffs at band practice. This amp ensures you get a quality sound at all times, which makes all the difference when you’re just starting out. I If your amp sounds terrible, you’ll think it’s your playing and you might not stick at it – which is definitely not what we want! Thankfully, the HT-1R MKII sounds quality all the time. In addition, you have channel options to cover a wide range of sounds and a headphones out so you can practice without disturbing anyone.

12. LINE 6 SPIDER V60 MKII GUITAR COMBO AMP

 The Line 6 Spider V60 MKII Guitar Combo Amp is an amazing starter guitar amp that includes a world of different sounds to suit players of all genres.

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

We think the Line 6 Spider V60 MKII Guitar Combo Amp is one of the best beginner guitar amplifiers as it’s a 60-watt amplifier priced at a level we can all afford. There’s 200+ amps, cabs, and effects so a new guitarist can try out a bunch of different genres and sounds. You also get a tuner, metronome, jam-along drum loops, and 60-second looper built-in, so you can essentially create a full band jam in your bedroom. This is perfect for the beginner guitarists out there who want to dip into a range of genres and eventually take their sound to the stages of the world.

When you want that tube amp sound, but you don’t want to spend tube amp money, or break your back carrying one to practice all the time the Vox VT20X Guitar Amplifier Combo Bundle with VFS5 Footswitch is ideal. This amp effectively partners tube amp response with solid-state reliability. If you're seeking one of these amps then get in touch with the team at PMT to place an order.

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

The main reason we think this is one of the best beginner guitar amps, is due to the fact you get a hard-working amplifier that provides that classic VOX sound, with all the relevant tonal controls at a fraction of the cost. The team at VOX have somehow condensed the classic sound of their classic VOX tube amps into a more affordable amplifier that still gives you the response of a valve amp but doesn’t need to “warm up” when you switch it on, and doesn’t suffer from the unreliability that can sometimes come hand in hand with a tube amp. If you want a beginner guitar amplifier that is gig-ready when you need it, provides a professional level sound and offers up the classic British sound without breaking the bank, this is the one you need. You have 11 realistic amp models built-in, ranging from the Classic VOX amp sounds to other widely used amps. You also have 13 high-quality on-board effects and 33 preset programs modelled on the sounds of some of the worlds most famous artists.

Ok, we’re pushing the boat out a bit here as the Vox AC4C1-12 Mini Combo Valve Amp isn't exactly cheap, but it’s totally worth it, so stay with us…

WHAT MAKES IT ONE OF THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR AMPS?

We think the Vox AC4C1-12 Mini Combo Valve Amp is one of the best beginner guitar amps as it has a 4 watts which still give you the fantastic AC30 Top-Boost even at low volumes.