Video: 6 Small Amps That Sound Great

One of the defining guitar trends of this millennium is the move toward smaller amps. At this point, the days of most players turning up to a gig with a half-stack or even a greater-than-50-watt combo are long gone. With PA systems at venues able to amplify even the smallest amps into audible volumes and more recording taking place in small home and practice studios, most guitarists just need a reliable, small, good-sounding solution.

In our video above, Andy Martin shows off six great options, from the ubiquitous Fender Blues Junior to the lesser-known ZT Amplifiers Lunchbox Junior. While combos such as these are all-in-one amp-and-speaker packages, you can also go the route of something like the Zvez Nano Head, an amp-only box that can be paired with an external speaker or plugged in directly to a recording interface.

There's also no shortage of vintage options—like the Sears Silvertone 1481 Combo, which can impart classic mojo in a small and affordable amp—or new, vintage-styled amps like the Plexi-sounding Marshall Studio Vintage SV20C.

Watch the full video above to hear them all in action.

Have your own favorite small amps? Let us know in the comments.