Best mini amp for clean playing?

[frankmcr]

I'm working my way through youtube demos, but would very much welcome recommendations from real world users.

The Blackstar Fly 3W is slightly ahead of the pack so far, if that helps give an idea what I like.

[A Scot in Otley]

Originally Posted by frankmcr

I'm working my way through youtube demos, but would very much welcome recommendations from real world users.

The Blackstar Fly 3W is slightly ahead of the pack so far, if that helps give an idea what I like.

You can't go wrong with the wee Blackstar. I've had one for a number of years now. Decent clean with my SG Epi. Just dandy for home practice. There is a bluetooth one, which I wish I had for non guitar stuff, but the old one keeps on going.

[jonfields45]

A Positive Grid Spark Go adds a selection of great reverbs.

[davidd]

Get a Quilter Superblock US and a small cab and you have an amp that can rival a Deluxe Reverb in a tiny pedal size package. I'm using it at gigs and it is plenty loud. It can also run at 9 volts which turns it into a LOUD 1 watt amp.

Here is the Quilter on the pedalboard with a 112 cab.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by davidd

Get a Quilter Superblock US and a small cab and you have an amp that can rival a Deluxe Reverb in a tiny pedal size package.

Another vote for a micro-head/pedal and small cab: I've got a Randall RG8 (35W 1x8") that I pair with several pedalboard amps (Hotone Mojo Attack/Britwind, Traynor QuarterHorse, Vox MV50 AC) depending on the situation - perfect size for practice, and enough grunt to throw in my bag and serve as backup for a small-/midsize gig...

If you want to take it to the next level, the Bugera T5 5W mini-head is not only ridiculously affordable but a real little monster if clean tube tone is your game - and it'll drive (really drive) any size cab up to and including a 4x12":



https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...ss-a-tube-head

[6L6]

ZT Lunchbox Reverb amp.

Under 10 lbs, bulletproof steel cabinet, fantastic tone, 100Watts (plenty for playing a loud bar), tons of headroom... an INCREDIBLE amp at just $500.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by 6L6

ZT Lunchbox Reverb amp.

Under 10 lbs, bulletproof steel cabinet, fantastic tone, 100Watts (plenty for playing a loud bar), tons of headroom... an INCREDIBLE amp at just $500.

Former bandbud bought his to use as a full-time small-stage pedal platform: worked great - had plenty of volume and tough as they come (this thing really is a little suitcase nuke ), but he told me he found it a bit sterile and boxy when he ran guitar-cable-amp, especially at lower levels...

Disclaimer: I never tried it myself - YMMV - but it's a point to consider if it's going to be used as a low-volume clean amp...

[YamahaGuy]

A used first gen Yamaha THR5 if you can find one. Excellent USB interface for recording. Decent effects. Can run off batteries.

Or the newer THR10II.

[abn556]

Its not a mini amp, but I use a Fender Princeton Reverb Special Edition with a 12” Jensen P12Q speaker for all my clean playing stuff. Its also an awesome pedal platform.

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[frankmcr]

Thanks everybody! Much appreciated.

[Ian111]

I’d echo the THR5. I loathe mini amps because they all sound boxy and tinny but the THR5 stereo speakers offset that limitation somewhat.

Otherwise Katana 50 if on a budget and you don’t mind the larger footprint.
You can play the Katana 50 at equivalent THR5/Katana Mini/Blackstar Fly bedroom levels and sound immensely better than any of those mini amps. There is absolutely no reason to choose a mini amp over a Katana 50 if you can spare the space and you don’t need a travel amp.

Tube amps? At bedroom volume levels I don’t think they’re worth the expense or hassle.

[fpuhan]

Sadly discontinued, but among my "pocket" amps I own, I lean toward the Line6 AMPLIFi 30. Thirty watts of power in a lunchbox-sized packed, supported by a Bluetooth phone app that's incredibly easy to use. I can't understand why Yamaha, who owns Line6, decided to EOL this line.



I've since acquired a Spark MINI and a Spark GO. These guys are onto something!

[EZYPIKINS]

Smaller amps are Fender Deluxe Reverb RI, and Fender Custom Pro Reverb.

Both 112 combos. The custom pro is a bit on the stale side, as is doesn't have a tube rectifier.

But it's half the weight, and twice the power.

[thefsb]

Originally Posted by fpuhan

I've since acquired a Spark MINI and a Spark GO. These guys are onto something!

I agree. I have the original Spark and it sounds great. It's even pretty good for practicing bass guitar.

There's a lot going for modelling amps.

[rollypolly]

I have a Fender Bronco solid state 15w amp with upgraded Jensen speaker that sounds great for clean practice, which is exactly what I wanted. Plus it has plenty of vintage vibe.

I used to use a Roland JC-55 and wish I had one back. Those are clean sounding amps!

I also use a cheap Stagg amp for office practice and it's quite good for a $40 (on sale) amazon amp.

All of these are basic amps with no modeling features. Personally I never really liked the built in modeling on amps, but I guess it depends on what you play.