What is the best amp for acoustic guitar? More importantly, what is the best acoustic guitar amp for every price bracket?
To figure this out, we need to understand that everyone has their own set of standards, and their own taste. We reviewed what we think are models worthy of the title of best amp for acoustic guitar.
In the guide below, you will find a number of models divided into different price brackets, with the goal of allowing you to make a more informed choice.
The amps we chose cover the full range of application. You will find great options for home practice or small studio sessions, but you will also find amps suitable for stage performance in small and medium venues.
We’ll start our guide with this type of amps and go to smaller, less powerful models as we move through the list.
QUICK RUNDOWN
These are our Top 3 picks for the Best Amps for Acoustic Guitars
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Table of Contents
Best Amp For Acoustic Guitar Under $1500:
1. AER Compact 60/3:
AER Compact 60/3 is the latest evolution of the original Compact 60 model. For those who don’t know, this amp used to be the go-to option back in the day. It’s not the cheapest amp on the market, but it’s well worth the money you’re asked to pay.
The quality of sound is impressive, to say the least. Even though it’s a somewhat compact amp, there is enough power in this thing to amplify a small to medium venue without any additional help.
After all, when someone like Tommy Emmanuel uses this amp, what else is there to say?
We are looking at an item for around a thousand bucks, and is frequently hailed as the best acoustic guitar-vocal combo amp. It comes with a convenient price, yet packs a surprisingly strong punch, it’s simple to use and one of the best contenders.
For more about AER Compact 60/3, check out customer reviews on Amazon.
- Sound 99%
- Quality 96%
- Value 100%
THINGS WE LIKED
- Hailed as the best acoustic guitar-vocal combo amp
- Surprisingly powerful
- Simple plug and play amp with dynamic control
- Can be heard well over drums
THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
- 4 basic effects, but they are excellent quality
Best Amp For Acoustic Guitar Under $1000:
There’s a reason why Fender is the go to brand, not only for guitars, but amps as well. The quality you get is on par with other world class amp manufacturers.
The one we’re looking at here is a 160 Watt unit that is capable of amplifying anything from a small studio, to a medium sized venue.
If you are looking for a great stage amp that has all the sonic properties necessary for a great acoustic sound, this is about as good as it gets.
This is an item crafted for seasoned musicians and comes from a classic and reliable brand, utilizing a sleek design and a set of two channel. The mix includes two input along with a solid choice of included effects – reverb, delay, chorus, vibratone, and echo.
For more about Fender SFX Acoustic Guitar Amplifier, check out customer reviews on Amazon.
- Sound 98%
- Quality 95%
- Value 99%
THINGS WE LIKED
- Amazing price
- 160 watts and state of the art technology
- Designed for professional musicians
- Classic reliable brand
- Elegant and sleek design
THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
- Absolutely None
When it comes down to choose which amp to put on the first spot in this list, this Fishman Loudbox Artist gave us a lot of headache.
Compared to the fender we just described, it’s a bit less powerful, but the sound it delivers is pure bliss. This versatile amp comes with all the features you need to dial in a rich acoustic tone, despite what kind of venue you’re working with. It’s smaller, but it packs a big punch.
The item comes with a fair and affordable price, along with a surprisingly loud punch of 120 watts and a weight of around 25 lbs. The mix also includes a carrying handle, a 3-band EQ, a set of two channels, along with included delay, chorus, reverb, flanger and an effects loop.
For more about Fishman Loudbox Artist, check out customer reviews on Amazon.
- Sound 95%
- Quality 91%
- Value 98%
THINGS WE LIKED
- Fair price
- Great for studio and home use plus medium audience gigs
- Easy to transport
- Rubber feet for stability
- Feels solid and durable
THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
- It does not have an integrated tuner
- No functionality for an internal guitar microphone
Best Amp For Acoustic Guitar Vocal Combo:
Marshall amps need no introduction, at least to anyone who’s been playing guitars for some time. Although their line of amps for electric guitars is downright legendary, their acoustic amps follow closely. AS100D is a 100 Watt unit that brings you the kind of quality only Marshall can deliver.
The range, and tonal properties of this amp will allow you to do just about anything you want with your acoustic guitar. It delivers a massive sound thanks to two 8-inch speakers, and comes with four separate channels.
The price we are looking at is around a seven hundred bucks and is well worth just about every penny. The device utilizes a set of two 8-inch speakers, a masterfully crafted design for acoustic needs, and a classy appearance to spice things up.
This beauty is one of the best options available, no doubt about it.
For more about Marshall AS100D, check out customer reviews on Amazon.
- Sound 94%
- Quality 95%
- Value 94%
THINGS WE LIKED
- Top-level sound quality
- Expertly designed for acoustic needs
- Classy appearance, well crafted
- 4 channels allow the instrument, vocal microphones and external devices to be used simultaneously
- Channels 1 and 2 have extra notch depth functionality, plus separate but linkable EQ and level controls
THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
- It is heavy
Best Amp For Acoustic Guitar Under $500:
In the sub-$500 range, this Laney is definitely the best looking choice. It comes in a very versatile package that is packed full of great features. Just like many amps in this price range, you get the best bang for the buck.
What we mean by this is that Laney AH80 brings a combination of great sound, multiple built in effects, and a decent amount of control over your tone. With 80 Watts RMS, you are looking at a pretty loud little amp that comes with an attractive price tag.
The device utilizes a single DI output that can turn this puppy into a gig amp, along with a set of three channels and a five-band EQ. Additional controls include feedback, digital delay, time and level controls.
For more about Laney AH80, check out customer reviews on Amazon.
- Sound 90%
- Quality 88%
- Value 95%
THINGS WE LIKED
- The best acoustic guitar vocal combo amp in this price bracket
- Long time established manufacturer
- Can be used for gigs thanks to a DI output and HF horn
- It accurately represents the input in the output, only much louder
- Comfortable
THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
- The amp looks less attractive than others on the market
Best Amp For Acoustic Guitar Under $200:
6. YAMAHA THR5:
This 5 Watt amp is a tiny miracle worker. It looks more like a vintage radio than a guitar amp. But looks are deceiving in this case. Yamaha THR5A is a super compact acoustic amp that comes with two 3-inch speakers.
Yamaha started this series of amps aiming at electric guitars but soon figured out that acoustic guitars are where this type of designs fits best. You’re probably wondering how loud is it. The answer is loud enough for home use, that’s for sure. One of the cool things about the THR5A is its capability to run on batteries. This makes it ideal for traveling.
Some of the nice thing people say about this fella is that it’s the best amp for acoustic guitar designed for offstage use. So if you’re looking for a beast of a house amp packing a set of two 3.2-inch speakers at an affordable price, this is your winning ticket.
For more about Yamaha THR5, check out customer reviews on Amazon.
- Sound 90%
- Quality 85%
- Value 92%
THINGS WE LIKED
- The best acoustic guitar vocal combo amp in this price bracket
- Long time established manufacturer
- Can be used for gigs thanks to a DI output and HF horn
- It accurately represents the input in the output, only much louder
- Comfortable
THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
- The amp looks less attractive than others on the market
This little amp brings the quality of sound that punches above its price range, that’s for sure. For a 20Watt unit, it has enough power to satisfy all of your practice needs. Whether or not it’s something you want to gig with depends on the size of the venue you’re playing at. Smaller gigs would probably be fine.
This is one of the cheapest devices in this niche you can get that actually packs a strong punch. It’s compact and light, utilizing a set of two channels with a 2-band EQ and delivering the goods through a single 8-inch speaker.
For more about Peavy Ecoustic20, check out customer reviews on Amazon.
- Sound 88%
- Quality 84%
- Value 89%
THINGS WE LIKED
- The best acoustic guitar vocal combo amp in this price bracket
- Long time established manufacturer
- Can be used for gigs thanks to a DI output and HF horn
- It accurately represents the input in the output, only much louder
- Comfortable
THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
- The amp looks less attractive than others on the market
Compact low power solid state amps are slowly becoming more and more popular. Fender Frontman 10G gives as the reason why. For a very low price you can have a little practice amp that delivers a decent sound.
Sure, this amp has a lot of limitations, but considering the price you’re asked to pay, that is something that is to be expected. If you’re in a direct need for an amp and your budget is tight, this fender is definitely something to keep in mind.
If you’re looking for a house amp and a house amp alone, this could be your winning pick! The weight is astonishingly light and the power is just strong enough to fill up and entire room or two. The device is also quite reliable and not prone to damage even after extended periods of cranked-out use.
For more about Fender Frontman 10G, check out customer reviews on Amazon.
- Sound 91%
- Quality 83%
- Value 95%
THINGS WE LIKED
- Super Cheap
- Excellent for beginners and home rehearsal
- Weights just 3.9kg
- Reliable and durable even when constantly cranked up
- Impressive sound level for a small amp
THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE
- As this is truly a beginner’s amp, you may outgrow its capabilities
Conclusion:
Figuring out which acoustic guitar amp is best for you largely depends on your personal needs. Before you even set out to find one, you should decide what you need the amp for, and what kind of money you’re willing to spend on it. If you are just beginning to learn guitar, you probably won’t benefit much from an expensive amp.
It takes some time to develop your own taste and learn how to recognize different tonal qualities. A smaller practice amp is going to be perfect for you.
On the other hand if you’re a professional looking for a reliable amp to gig with, you probably know exactly what kind of tone you need. The amps we showed you at the beginning of the article might be what you’re looking for.
We hope this guide gave you enough info to make an educated and informed choice when it comes to choosing the best amp for acoustic guitars.
Be sure to check our guides for the best fingerstyle guitars, top classical guitars under $1000 and the best acoustic guitars for different price points.
Now is your turn, share with us your amp choice in the comments below!!
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