How to Pick an Ultra-Portable Guitar Amp

“Oh, you play guitar! Play something!” 

These are the words I dread hearing when out in public or at a party with my gig bag strapped over my shoulder. (Really?) Ok, no not really. But in my head at least, if someone were to ask me to play something spontaneously, I would hate to bust out my electric guitar and play something where the sound of my pick hitting the strings is louder than the chords I’m actually playing. In reality, if I were put on the spot to play a sick riff for everyone to hear, I would at least want them to hear something that is not only loud, but also sounds like it's meant to be heard.

Enter the ultra-portable guitar amp. With a portable guitar amp, you no longer have to travel to or lug around a giant amp to play your guitar the way it’s meant to be heard. You can now plug in whenever, and wherever you like. Here are some things to keep in mind when looking around for the perfect ultra-portable guitar amp: 

Size and Weight

The first thing to consider when choosing an ultra-portable guitar amp is its size and weight. After all, the whole point of an ultra-portable amp is to be able to take it with you wherever you go without any hassle. Ideally, you want an amp that is small and lightweight enough to fit in a backpack, gig bag or suitcase, but still powerful enough to give you the sound you're looking for.

Sound Quality and Volume

Which brings us to the second most important part of an ultra-portable guitar amp – its sound quality. What’s the point of plugging into an amp that doesn’t do your guitar justice, right? You’ll want a portable amp that sounds more or less like an amp 5 times its size. Be sure to check the wattage. Generally, the higher the wattage, the louder the amp will be. However, you don't necessarily need a high wattage amp if you're just planning to practice or play in small spaces. In fact, a lower wattage amp can be more than enough if you're looking for something to use at home or in a practice space.

Tone Variety

Another key factor to consider when choosing an ultra-portable guitar amp is how many different tones you can get out of it. You want an amp that can be used with a variety of guitars and can produce a range of different sounds. We all know pedalboards aren’t very portable, so finding an ultra-portable guitar amp with built-in effects like distortion or delay will give you a variety of options when jamming out.

Connectivity

You’ll also want to make sure that your tiny amp has Bluetooth connectivity. There’s really nothing better than jamming along to your favorite tunes streaming wirelessly from your mobile device. It’s also worth mentioning that a headphone port is also very nice in case you want to jam in peace.

Power

Finally, you’ll want to consider how your future ultra-portable guitar amp will be powered. Ideally, you’re going to want something with a long-lasting, rechargeable battery so you don’t have to worry about running out of power mid-song. 

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