best small acoustic guitar amp

THESE 8 Best Small Acoustic Guitar Amps Are EXCELLENT!

Updated on April 1, 2022 by Dan Harper

Even though it’s capable of producing its own sound, there’re times when the acoustic electric guitar struggles to make itself heard. Let’s say, for instance, you’ve added a new unit to your collection and want to show off to your friends. Can you rely on the ax to make a presence on its own? Let’s not forget your afternoon gig down at the local coffee shop.

Quick Links To Our Best Small Acoustic Guitar Amp Recommendations

The ability to amplify your tone can be extremely liberating in such instances. And that requires you to hunt down a small acoustic guitar amp for your needs; let’s look at your options.

Even though it’s capable of producing its own sound, there’re times when the acoustic guitar struggles to make itself heard. Let’s say, for instance, you’ve added a new unit to your collection and want to show off to your friends. Can you rely on the ax to make a presence on its own? Let’s not forget your afternoon gig down at the local coffee shop.

The ability to amplify your tone can be extremely liberating in such instances. And that requires you to hunt down the best small acoustic guitar amp for your needs – let’s look at your options.

Our Top Small Acoustic Guitar Amplifier Reviews

AER Compact 60 – Our Top Choice For Small Acoustic Amplifier

With its no-frills dull black housing, the AER Compact 60 looks more like a hiker’s lunch box than anything else. But every doubt in your mind will instantly evaporate once you power the unit on and plug in your ax. Beneath the unassuming case is a solid-state engine that brings out the projection in your guitar’s voice with crystal-clear transparency. While other acoustic amplifier models make similar promises, the Compact 60 will do it comfortably in any situation. No wonder it’s become a favorite among the world’s top guitarists.

Highlights

  • 60W Dual-Channel Combo Amp with 8-inch Twin-Cone Speaker
  • Inputs: 1 x 1/4″ jack with 10dB Pad Attenuation Switch (Channel 1); Combo XLR + 1/4″ Instrument/Mic-In (Channel 2)
  • Outputs: 1 x 1/4″ Stereo Headphone out, 1 x 1/4″ Mono FX Send, 1 x 1/4″ Preamp Line-out, 1 x 1/4″ Tuner-out, XLR DI-out
  • EQ: Bass, Mid, Treble & Color (Channel 1); Bass & Treble (Channel 2)
  • Master Volume
  • Effects: Delay, Chorus & 2 x Reverb (Inbuilt); Parallel FX Loop (External)
  • 48V/9V Phantom Power
  • Power: Standard AC Cable
  • Weight: 14.3 lbs

Even with its edgy features, the AER Compact 60 acoustic guitar amp has a very intuitive control layout. One that’ll have you concocting all manner of tones in minutes; you’ll find it pretty flexible in that regard. The build quality is just as impeccable. Who needs a fancy chassis to make a best impression?

Pros:

  • Made for smaller spaces.
  • Great sound.
  • Good price.
  • Excellent value, it functions as both a guitar amp and a PA system

Cons:

  • Too small to be used as a main PA system.

Our Rating –
5/5


Check The Latest Price On The AER Compact 60

Roland AC-60 – The Runnerup Small Amplifier For Acoustic Guitars

Maybe you’re not quite ready to fork out four figures for an amp. Although it doesn’t quite hit the stratospheric heights of the AER unit above, the Roland AC-60 is a very capable rig in its own right. It has the grit to make your acoustic guitar performances come alive in any small to medium-sized venue, and the price is just well within your reach.

Highlights

  • Solid State Combo Amp; Twin 30W 6.5-inch Stereo Speakers
  • Inputs: 1 x XLR + 1/4″ Combo Jack, 2 x 1/4″ TRS Aux-in, 2 x RCA Aux, 1 x 1/4″ Instrument In
  • Outputs: 2 x XLR, 1 x 1/4″ Stereo Headphone Jack, 1 x 1/4″ Tuner/DI-out
  • Controls: 3-Band EQ; 48V Phantom Power Switch; Master Volume; Anti-Feedback Control
  • Effects: Built-in Chorus & Reverb
  • Mute Switch for quiet tuning
  • Power: 117V AC (Cable Included)
  • Weight: 21 lbs

In terms of tonal output, there’s a lot to love about the Roland AC-60. The digital processing engine under the hood is impressively-accurate at rendering the sound of your acoustic guitar. It’s not the most transparent, but it doesn’t discolor the tone either. And with the onboard anti-feedback control, trimming the signal into shape won’t be too much of a problem. Whether you want a gig-ready amp or just want something to practice your best with, the Roland AC-60 is worth a closer look.

Pros:

  • Excellent sound quality.
  • Can be used for live performances.

Cons:

  • Limited to use for acoustic guitars, but that’s its specialty.

Our Rating –
4.5/5


Check The Latest Price On The Roland AC-60

Fishman Loudbox Mini

Fishman pickups have for long been one of the best ways to capture the sound of your acoustic guitar. And now you can have an amp that embodies the company’s sense of musicality and precision. Bringing Fishman’s innovative preamp and tonal controls in an ultra-portable, ultra-affordable package, the Loudbox Mini seems like the perfect accompaniment for your travel ax.

Highlights

  • 60W Dual-Channel Solid-State Combo Amp
  • Speakers: 6.5-inch Woofer, 1-inch Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • Inputs: 1 x 1/8″ & 1 x 1/4″ Stereo Aux, 1 x 1/4″ Mono Instrument, 1 x XLR Mono Mic
  • Outputs: 1 x XLR Mono DI-out
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • EQ: Bass, Mid, Treble & Gain (Channel 1); Bass, Gain & Treble (Channel 2)
  • Built-in Reverb & Chorus
  • Master Volume
  • Comes with FT-2 Clip-on Tuner
  • Power: Standard AC Cable
  • Weight: 21 lbs

Clearly, Fishman have struck the perfect balance of versatility and user-friendliness with this unit. You get just the right amount of acoustic guitar tone-shaping capability with no bells and whistles whatsoever. And for its diminutive build, the Fishman Loudbox Mini has enough sonic presence to outshine amps that are more than twice its size.

Pros:

  • Small size.
  • Durable construction.

Cons:

  • Lacks some of the features offered in more expensive amps. This amp was made for acoustic guitar, so if you’re looking for a model that has different options and more features, this one may be a bit limiting.

Our Rating –
4/5


Check The Latest Price On The Fishman Loudbox Mini

Blackstar Sonnet

The Blackstar Sonnet is designed to amplify your guitar’s voice in the most natural and best way possible. It brings out the true character of your instrument’s tone with all the nuances created by your strums and picks. It’s the essence of an acoustic tone, but with enough projection for your gigging needs.

Hyperbolic as that might sound, you can bet you’re getting a serious rig when one Jon Gomm is involved in the design. Capitalizing on a unique opportunity offered by Blackstar, Jon helped create an amp that could handle both vocals and acoustic guitar sound. The Sonnet is one of few budget-range models that comfortably does this in any setting.

Highlights

  • 60-Watt Dual-Channel Amp with 1 x 6.5″ Speaker & Tweeter
  • Inputs: 1 x 1/4″ Mono Instrument, 1 x 1/8″ Stereo Aux, 1 x XLR + 1/4″ Combo
  • Output: 1 x XLR Mono DI-out, USB Stereo Digital
  • Bluetooth Audio Playback
  • EQ: 3-band (Channel 1); 2-band (Channel 2)
  • 2 X Built-in Reverb
  • Weight: 16.9 lbs

High-fidelity amplification aside, you’ll love the Blackstar Sonnet for its straightforward control layout. It’s tailored for the gigging acoustic guitarist who wants a rig they can trust on every stage.

Pros:

  • Very affordable.
  • Very small and portable.
  • 25 watt power provides distortion without overdriving.
  • Nice EQ presets for different genres of music (country, blues, rock).

Cons:

  • The Sonnet’s tone is sensitive to volume. If you turn the volume on 10 and switch it from clean to distortion, the sound will be very loud and distorted.

Our Rating –
4/5


Check The Latest Price On The Blackstar Sonnet

Fender Acoustasonic 40

While most other models on the list have 60 watts of output power, the Acoustasonic 40 from Fender will only hit a third of that. Not to say that it’s under-powered, though. If Fender’s long history in amp manufacture is anything to go by, 40 watts are more than enough to give your tone the on-stage presence it needs.

Indeed, the Acoustasonic 40 acoustic guitar amplifier disguises its sub-$200 price tag with a crisp, warm tone that immediately fills up the room. It’s not the most punchy, but there’s more than enough projection for your typical coffee house gig. Or maybe it’s a church performance? That shouldn’t be a problem either. As long as the crowd’s not too big, the Fender Acoustasonic 40 will let you make yourself heard.

Highlights

  • 40W Dual-Channel Solid State Combo Amp with 2 x 6.5-inch Whizzer Speakers
  • Inputs: 1 x 1/8-inch Aux-in; 2 x XLR + 1/4-inch Combo
  • Outputs: 1 x XLR (Line-Out)
  • 3-band EQ
  • Master Volume
  • Digital Hall Reverb
  • Power: Standard AC Cable
  • Weight: a compact 16.5 lbs

All told, the Fender Acoustasonic 40 is a mature, well-built rig that will be a delight for frequent giggers.

Pros:

  • Fender has been an industry leader in crafting great sounding amplifiers for decades.
  • It features two channels that are each footswitchable.
  • The amplifier is 40 watts making it ideal for recording.

Cons:

  • The price point is higher than average amps in this category.

Our Rating –
4/5


Check The Latest Price On The Fender Acoustasonic 40

Fender Acoustasonic 15

Forget what we’ve just said. You don’t even need 40 watts to jack up your ax’s sound. The Fender Acoustic 15 can get the job done with just over a dozen. And at a cent short of a hundred, it’s about as cheap as a stage-ready mini acoustic amp can be.

Or is it really stage-ready? There’s no denying that this is designed primarily as a practice amp rig. With only 15 watts of output power, the sound barely registers in a decent-sized venue. But in a petite room in front of a small audience, the Fender Acoustic 15 could very well be the only piece of gear you’ll need — besides your acoustic guitar, obviously.

Highlights

  • 15W Dual-Channel Solid State Amp with 1 x 6-inch Speaker
  • Inputs: 1 x XLR & 1 x 1/4-inch jack
  • Outputs: 1 X 1/4-inch Headphone-out
  • Controls: 3-band EQ; Individual volume controls for both channels
  • Effects: Chorus (instrument channel)
  • Power: Fixed AC Cable
  • Weight: 10.5 lbs

With its potent built-in speaker and lightweight build, the Fender Acoustasonic 15 is ideal for guitarists who like to jam on their travels. It’s proof that a decent small acoustic guitar amp needn’t cost a king’s ransom.

Pros:

  • Nice design.
  • Solid build.
  • Warm sounding tone.

Cons:

  • For use with acoustic instruments only, not electric guitars or basses. There are other models of the Acoustasonic that would be better suited to electric instruments.

Our Rating –
4/5


Check The Latest Price On The Fender Acoustasonic 15

BOSS Acoustic Singer Live LT

Once upon a time, you could plug into any black DI box you happened upon and have no qualms with the sound. But now that you’ve upgraded to a finer ax — and spent way too much time perfecting your strums and picks — you can’t afford to be so laissez-faire. You need a pro-grade amp that can coax the best sound possible out of your acoustic guitar. An amp like the compact Acoustic Singer Live LT from BOSS.

Highlights

  • Solid-state Combo Amp; 60W Bi-amp design with custom 6.5″ Woofer and 1″ Dome Tweeter
  • Input: 1 x 1/4-inch Instrument, 1 x 1/8-inch TRS (stereo aux), 1 x XLR
  • Output: 1 x XLR Mono Line Level, 1 x 1/8-inch Headphones/Rec-out
  • USB Port
  • 3-band EQ
  • Effects: Reverb, Echo, Delay & Enhance (mic channel); Chorus, Delay & Reverb (guitar channel)
  • Anti-Feedback Notch Control
  • Power: Standard AC Cable
  • Weight: 22.5 lbs

Featuring a bi-amp engine under the hood and a full-range speaker, the ACS-LIVE LT yields a crisp, high-definition tone that reflects the true abilities of your acoustic guitar and voice. It packs all the tools you need to shape your sound just right and set the stage alight. It’s so well-equipped, in fact, that you could dispense with your sound engineer. Yet, the control layout’s simple enough to navigate comfortably on a dimly-lit arena. And while the price does seem a tad out of reach, you can bet on the BOSS Acoustic Live LT to justify every penny it costs.

Pros:

  • Very good tone for a small amp and speaker.
  • Highly portable.
  • Has an XLR microphone input with plenty of volume to mic up an acoustic guitar with ease.

Cons:

  • None worth mentioning.

Our Rating –
4/5


Check The Latest Price On The BOSS Acoustic Singer Live LT

Marshall AS50D

Ready to rock your next gig with a bona-fide compact Marshall rig? No, not the one you’re thinking — a hundred-watt tube amps combo is way too much amp for your typical performance. Instead, you want a more-restrained unit that will inject just the right amount of oomph into your tone without turning it upside down. A box that has all the tools and tricks you need without being overly-complicated.

That’s exactly what the Marshall AS50D has to offer. Its custom speakers and tweeter combo yields a well-rounded tone that, thanks to the 50W output, is potent enough to cover small and mid-size venues. Two channels with independent volume and EQ controls let you keep things in control, and there’s a handy anti-feedback feature to help you rein in errant frequencies.

Highlights

  • 50W Dual Channel Solid State Combo Acoustic Guitar Amp
  • 2 x 8-inch Celestion Speakers, Polymer Dome Tweeter
  • Inputs: 2 x 1/4-inch Hi Instrument, 2 x RCA Low Line Level, 1 x XLR
  • Outputs: 1 x 1/4-inch Mono Line Level, 1 x XLR DI-out
  • EQ: Dedicated Bass & Treble controls for each channel
  • Master Volume Control
  • Effects: Onboard Chorus & Reverb; Parallel FX Loop (External)
  • Frequency Sweep for Feedback Control
  • Power: AC Adapter
  • Weight: 35.3 lbs

While it won’t get as many headlines as its valve-driven stablemates, the Marshall AS50D is bound to appeal to a wide range of players. It’s the perfect fit for the contemporary acoustic guitarist who wants a small tube amplifier that’s both capable and practical.

Pros:

  • The AS50D is a small, affordable, and portable amp with five watts of power to work well for rehearsals or small shows.
  • This amp comes with an 8″ speaker that does not distort sound at high volumes.

Cons:

  • The tone control is a little on the weak side, as it is not very noticeable when turned up or down.

Our Rating –
4/5


Check The Latest Price On The Marshall AS50D

What To Look For In A Small Acoustic Guitar Amp

Do you play acoustic guitar and want to plug into a good small acoustic guitar amplifier? Do you know what to look for in an amp. Check this out.

The best way to choose a small acoustic guitar amp is to think about what you need it for. Do you need something for rehearsing at home, or something more powerful that can handle live performances? If you’re playing in a band with other instruments, do you want an amp that can provide effects without sacrificing sound quality? If so, there are plenty of great amps out there. If the size and weight of your amp doesn’t matter, then do some research on the available features.

Versatility

It’s important to make sure that the amp is versatile enough and doesn’t have any problems with feedback or signal loss. You also should avoid buying amps that are too small in size. In addition, don’t settle just because it’s cheap either; it may not be as durable as you would like and may even break down on you while performing live.

Some good times to look for a small acoustic guitar amp are when going on gigs, rehearsing, or jamming at home with friends. Your amp should also be able to handle the sound of other instruments you may be playing along with.

Sound

The overall sound quality of the amplifier is also important. If you buy a cheap amp that sounds like it was recorded in a tin can, you should avoid buying an amp like this. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on an amplifier to find a great sound.

Durability

Another thing to look for is durability. You should assess the durability of the amp before making your purchase. If the amp looks like it won’t survive a few bumps and drops, then there’s no reason to buy it.

Extra Features

You should also check the small acoustic guitar amp for extra features; it doesn’t have to have a lot of them, but they can make your life much easier. Some extra features that you might enjoy include effects and amp modeling. Some small acoustic guitar amplifiers have a built-in tuner, which saves you from having to carry around an additional tuner.

Price Range

The price range that you’re looking for should also be considered. For the best sound, it’s best to spend more money and buy an amp that’s in your price range. If the price is too high, consider taking the time to save up more money or buying something smaller.

More similar amp buyer guides by price:

Best Mini Small Acoustic Amps Conclusion

Granted, the amplifier is nothing more than a means to step up the voice of your guitar. If you’re looking to buy one of these rigs in the hope that it’ll improve the tone somehow, perhaps you should channel your best efforts elsewhere. An average acoustic guitar will still sound mediocre no matter what you plug it into.

Of course, plugging a well-built, properly-voiced acoustic guitar into a sub-par rig will inevitably sour the sonic yield. As we highlighted, this isn’t something you want to take for granted after making so many sacrifices to get your dream acoustic guitar — and sharpening your skills over endless practice sessions. The point here is that you need to keep your expectations realistic while shopping; do so and you’ll seldom be disappointed with your best choices.