The Best Practice Amps That Won't Terrorize Your Roommates

Dear upstairs neighbor who’s learning—I repeat, learning—the trombone, thank you for poorly serenading me with scales every night this week. (I hope you’re having fun and that you get a mute as soon as possible.)

Sound familiar? Maybe you’re the upstairs neighbor (or the roommate) who picked up an instrument over quarantine. Perhaps it’s an electric guitar, or another string instrument that requires an amplifier. And maybe, just maybe, you’re in denial about the fact that while your roommates and neighbors are happy that you picked up a new hobby, they’re also very, very tired of hearing your awful rendition of “Seven Nation Army” pierce their thin apartment walls. 

But what is one to do? The gnar must be shredded, after all. When the music calls, one must answer—even if it’s 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning and your roommate has a Big Meeting in eight hours. (We kid, roommate.) The answer to your distorted dilemma? A practice amp. 

Practice amps are great for learning the basics at home, jamming in public places, or playing anywhere where you don’t want the rock gods (and nearby people) to have to shout over your umpteenth attempt at getting through “Iron Man” without a hand cramp. They’re also perfect for busking—aka street performing—since they’re portable and can be set up (or hastily packed away if you’re getting kicked out) with ease. Here are some of the top picks for practice amps that sound great, but not so stadium-ready that you wake up your whole building. 

This “little monster,” as the makers call it, weighs a single pound, but blasts 50 watts of power. It also features Nutube, which produces “authentic tube tone at a fraction of the size.” One reviewer described it as “Pure, perfect pleasure.” Need we say more?

VOX MV50 Series Amplifier Head, AC (MV50CL), $219.99 at Amazon 

This ultra-cute practice amp is small enough to clip onto your belt loops, and looks like it was plucked straight from the set of Grease. It features a real leather handle, a belt clip, a headphone jack, and volume, tone, and overdrive controls. Plus, it’ll look great sitting on a shelf if your interest in music suddenly wanes over the summer.

HoneyTone N-10 Guitar Mini Amp Black, $27.99 $21.89 at Musician’s Friend

Everyone else’s practice amps? A bunch of squares. But not you, dude. You bring the oblong, Bluetooth-enabled Yamaha that sounds finger-licking good (one reviewer says it has a “great variety of sounds”), and slides right in your duffle or backpack like an electronic baguette.  

Yamaha THR10II WL Wireless 20W 2x3 Guitar Combo Amp Cream, $469.99 at Musician’s Friend

… and toured in a Balkan-inspired, folk-indie string band around 2014. Of course your amp is made of a worn, homely cigar box that (like you) has lived so many lives. Plus, it’s USB-chargeable, so you won't need to burn through batteries. 

JonBoy Romeo Y Julieta Reserva Real HP Cigar Box Amp, $107.10 at Etsy

Who siphoned all the joy from a 1970s Florida orange juice commercial, spiked it with acid, and left it out to bake in the sun until this amp was born? Which leg of the Dead and Company tour are they on this summer? We will forever chase the serotonin high of an Orange Crush amp. 

Orange Amplifiers Crush Mini 3W 1x4 Guitar Combo Amp, $69 at Musician’s Friend

Nothing wrong with that. A Fender amp is to your musical career what a decent pepper grinder is to your kitchen: It will make you hate yourself less, and probably make life taste better. “If you want compact then look no further” writes one of the 2,000+ reviewers on Amazon about the seven-inch amp, “It's super tiny but for how big it is [it] has an impeccable sound.” 

Fender Mini '65 Twin Amp - Miniature Electric Guitar Amplifier, $59.99 at Amazon

Jesus. We might have to just get this for our American Girl Doll, because the attention to detail on this Fender amp is so good, it’s almost rude. You get all the features of a regular sized Tone Master—cab corners, retro grille cloth, and vintage white control knobs—but in mini. 

Laney Mini-STB-Lion 6W 2x3 Bluetooth Guitar Combo Amp, $49.99 at Musician’s Friend

C’mon. You know you want this. The usual names that tone settings and pickup switches have are so boring. Don’t you want “FRIED” and “GRILLED” to be proudly displayed on your pocket-sized amp? We sure do. 

The SPAMP, $78.44 at Etsy

Need a backing track for some living-room rocking? This Spark amp pairs with an app that responds to your voice commands. Just tell it to stream a song or backing track, or ask for a virtual band to follow your playing. We live in strange, wonderful times, friend.

Spark Guitar Smart Practice Amp, $269 $249 at Positive Grid 

Yes—but only if you’re talking about a power chord or a bitchin’ solo. No mints in our purse, only fruit leather, dildos, and rock ‘n’ roll. This amp is small, portable, and delivers an unsurprisingly fresh and crisp sound.

Rock on, quietly.

The Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story.