# Recommend me a portable guitar amp **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565 "2010-04-09T18:39:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/1 "2010-04-09T18:39:50Z")
Picture this: It’s a beautiful spring evening. The heat of the day is past and a gentle breeze wafts away my cares. I am sitting in the shade of my new umbrella on my new sun lounger on my newly paved patio. I have a pint of Fuller’s ESB by my side and my surf green stratocaster on my knee is straining as the tension builds in Clapton’s solo in Sunshine of your Love. [QUOTE=Clapton] Dun dun da dun dun…dum dum…dun bwaan dun [/QUOTE] But I can’t hear it. Because I’m not plugged in. What’s a good ( cheap ) portable amp for such a situation? Extra credit if I can use headphones with it! ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/2 "2010-04-09T19:45:13Z")
Fender [AmpCan](http://www.activemusician.com/item--EM.022-1200-000). Crate [Taxi](http://www.crateamps.com/products/pindex.php?prodID=25). The Crate Taxi can be used with headphones. The Fender, I think so, but I haven’t actually used one. Neither sounds as good as a full sized amp, but either one can be taken to some pretty remote locations and still work. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/3 "2010-04-09T20:14:55Z")
From the taxi site… > [@](#): > > If you’re the type of performer who requires the ultimate in portability, but refuse to sacrifice tone for mobility, the Crate TX15 was made for you. I am perfectly willing to sacrifice tone for mobility :). I just want something that I can use for practicing. I won’t be performing. Any cheaper suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/4 "2010-04-09T20:26:07Z")
[This page has a bunch of mini amps that look interesting, but are they worth the trouble?](http://www.activemusician.com/Portable-Guitar-Amplifiers--c1360) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/5 "2010-04-09T20:38:08Z")
They all look fun, but I have no personal experience. Can you hie thee down to the nearest Guitarre Shoppe and check a few out? (I have no idea why I got all Ren Faire just then…) ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Alan\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Bird)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/6 "2010-04-09T20:45:29Z")
I had the Pignose Hog 20. Had problems with the batteries and/or recharger (I’m not the tech kind.) ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/7 "2010-04-09T20:48:29Z")
For headphones and minimal pain in the assery, there is my cheap-ass Danelectro Honeytone. > **[Amazon.com: Danelectro N10B Honey Tone Mini Amp in Burgundy : Musical...](https://www.amazon.com/Danelectro-N10B-Honey-Tone-Burgundy/dp/B000B6DHB2)** > > The Danelctro HoneyTone N-10 Guitar Mini Amp cranks like a little hot rod has a great clean or overdriven sound. The HoneyTone amp also boasts a real leather handle, belt clip, headphone jack, Volume, Tone, and Overdrive controls. The HoneyTone N-10... It is $20. It has a belt clip and a headphone jack. It lasts forever on a 9-volt. You can hear it abouuut the range of a porch. (It’s a 1-Watt amp.) I wouldn’t busk with it, I wouldn’t gig with it, but for practice, I’m loving mine. I should note that I wouldn’t know a _good_ amp if it bit me on the ass and yelled ‘STACK ME BABY’. But this just works. Frankly, I like it better than the ones that plug directly into the guitar, it doesn’t make the balance feel weird. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/8 "2010-04-09T20:52:04Z")
Oh, yeah. I have the Fender MD-20. I like the Danelectro better. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/9 "2010-04-09T20:59:36Z")
Oh - and just to get it out there: I love an \*acoustic \*guitar outside with a beer on these types of evenings… ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/10 "2010-04-09T21:28:35Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Oh - and just to get it out there: I love an \*acoustic \*guitar outside with a beer on these types of evenings… I considered that too but I’d have to spend some $$$ to get my acoustic in decent shape. That’s how i ended up with strat, remember? ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/11 "2010-04-09T21:36:01Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > For headphones and minimal pain in the assery, there is my cheap-ass Danelectro Honeytone. I like the look of that. How bit is it? Amazon says it ways a pound . The pictures make it look big, but you say it has a belt clip. I’m curious. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/12 "2010-04-09T21:39:53Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > For headphones and minimal pain in the assery, there is my cheap-ass Danelectro Honeytone. > [Amazon.com: Danelectro N10B Honey Tone Mini Amp in Burgundy : Musical Instruments](http://www.amazon.com/Danelectro-HoneyTone-Amplifier-Beatnik-Burgandy/dp/B000B6DHB2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1270846026&sr=8-1) > It is $20. It has a belt clip and a headphone jack. It lasts forever on a 9-volt. You can hear it abouuut the range of a porch. (It’s a 1-Watt amp.) > > I wouldn’t busk with it, I wouldn’t gig with it, but for practice, I’m loving mine. > > I should note that I wouldn’t know a _good_ amp if it bit me on the ass and yelled ‘STACK ME BABY’. But this just works. Frankly, I like it better than the ones that plug directly into the guitar, it doesn’t make the balance feel weird. I just ordered the Dano Honeytone for **Attacklad**. I will send a review in a week or two, after its been put through its paces. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/13 "2010-04-09T21:42:49Z")
Sorry to double post, but there are a bunch of youtube clips of lots of these minamps, including the Honeytone. They’re helpful for getting an idea of the size and volume. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu5nh1mzkAM) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pGy6mjn99FI/hqdefault.jpg "Danelectro Honeytone mini amp = maxi fun") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGy6mjn99FI) ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/14 "2010-04-09T22:44:23Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Sorry to double post, but there are a bunch of youtube clips of lots of these minamps, including the Honeytone. They’re helpful for getting an idea of the size and volume. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu5nh1mzkAM](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu5nh1mzkAM) > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGy6mjn99FI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGy6mjn99FI) That looks awesome! Will I be able to play like that if I get one? It looks exactly like the kind of thing I want. I like the short and curly lead too. I’m going shopping! ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/15 "2010-04-10T04:02:28Z")
# Epilogue I ordered the nifty aqua. Looks pretty close to Surf Green! ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/16 "2010-04-15T21:11:55Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > # Epilogue > > I ordered the nifty aqua. Looks pretty close to Surf Green! Arrived today! It’s beautiful! Color is exact match to guitar. Sounds great too. Louder than I expected. Incredible value for $20! ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/17 "2010-04-16T00:47:33Z")
The Squier SP-10 is a pretty decent practice amp…portable but not battery powered. Whatever happened to the Rockman and a set of headphones? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/18 "2010-04-16T01:34:32Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Whatever happened to the Rockman and a set of headphones? Still made (by Dunlop, IIRC): > **[Rockman Guitar Ace Headphone Amp | Guitar Center](https://www.guitarcenter.com/Rockman/Guitar-Ace-Headphone-Amp.gc)** > > Shop for the Rockman Guitar Ace Headphone Amp in and receive free shipping and guaranteed lowest price. I got a Pocket Rockit as a Christmas present from my parents: [http://www.guitarcenter.com/C-Tech-Pocket-Rockit-V2-Guitar-Headphone-Amplifier-103388344-i1124571.gc](http://www.guitarcenter.com/C-Tech-Pocket-Rockit-V2-Guitar-Headphone-Amplifier-103388344-i1124571.gc) it’s also a pretty nice little beastie, though the design means that, if I were to plug directly into the jack on the guitar (as it’s designed to do), it’d be on the _bottom_ of my Les Paul, which is kinda awkward…so, I use a cable and a female-female connector. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/19 "2010-04-16T02:15:39Z")
I can’t believe nobody mentioned the [Vox DA5](http://www.voxamps.com/us/da-series/da5/). I love mine. The batteries last a long time on the .5 watt setting and it’s plenty loud enough to piss off the neighbors. Trust me, awesome! ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565/20 "2010-04-16T03:32:14Z")
Of course, if you want to spend some money, the _best_ microamp, I’m hearing, is the Roland Micro Cube. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0qSf0mYO3R4/hqdefault.jpg "Roland Micro Cube Electric Guitar Amplifier") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qSf0mYO3R4) That said, I’m sure glad the Honeytone is working for you. Want fun? Bring down the volume fairly low, and play feedback games with it. neeeeaaar… faaaaarr… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-portable-guitar-amp/535565.md?page=2)