Are you on the lookout for a small 10-watt guitar amp for practice or for small gigs? I have had small 10-watt, 15-watt, and even 20-watt guitar amps by different renowned brands such as Sawtooth over the years. In this article, I’ll review the best 10-watt guitar amps currently available on the market, based on my experience.
What is a 10-watt Guitar Amp?
A 10-watt guitar amplifier is a small and portable amp that is designed for low volume playing. These amps are great for bedroom practice, or for small gigs where you don’t need a lot of volume.
Their total power output (RMS) is 10 watts, which is why they are called “10-watt amps”. RMS stands for “Root Mean Square”, and it is a way of measuring the continuous power that an amplifier can produce. These small amps give you the lowest frequency resonance making them ideal for low-key playing at home, office or any place where low-volume-playing is required.
The max power input ranges from 10 watts to 20 watts, which is the measure of how loud your amplifier can get before it starts to distort the sound. The distortion level is usually very low on these types of amplifiers since they are not meant to be played at high volumes.
How loud is a 10-watt guitar amp?
A 10-watt amp can get loud reaching up to 85 dB but you should note that they get shrieky when cranked very loud. Its optimal volume level is between 40-50% of its max volume to avoid sound distortion and to enjoy its sweet tones. To put this into perspective a 10-watt amp is about as loud as a hairdryer on high.
Watch any of the demonstration videos below of our top 10-watt amps to listen how loud they can get.
If you ever want to play with a drummer, get a higher-watt guitar amp as these 10-watt amps will get quickly drown out.
Benefits of 10-Watt Guitar Amps
Very portable:
One of the main benefits of 10-watt amps is that they are portable and small in size. This makes them very easy to carry around with you, whether you’re going to a friend’s house to practice, or taking them with you on vacation.
Cheaper:
They are also much cheaper than their larger counterparts, making them a great option for beginner guitarists who are just starting out. Our top choice, the Sawtooth only goes for less than $50 and is among our best amps under $100 that are available in the market today.
Lower power consumption:
Since these amps have a lower power output, they also consume less power. This means that you’ll be able to save some money on your electric bill if you’re using one of these amps at home.
Lower volume:
Another benefit of 10-watt amps is that they produce a lower volume than larger amps. This can be beneficial if you live in an apartment and don’t want to disturb your neighbors, or if you work in an office and don’t want to disturb your co-workers.
Drawbacks of 10-Watt Guitar Amps
Limited volume:
One of the main drawbacks of 10-watt amps is that they have a limited volume. This means that they might not be suitable for larger gigs, or for practicing with a drummer. If you need an amp that can produce more volume, you might want to consider one of the larger options.
Not suitable for high-gain styles:
Another drawback of 10-watt amps is that they are not suitable for high-gain styles of playing. If you’re a metalhead who needs an amp that can produce lots of distortion, you’ll want to look at one of the larger options.
Factors To Consider When Choosing the Best 10-Watt Guitar Amp
Now that we’ve gone over the benefits and drawbacks of 10-watt amps, let’s take a look at some of the factors you should consider when choosing the best one for you.
Size:
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a 10-watt amp is the size. These amps are typically small and portable, but there are some larger options available. If you need an amp that you can easily carry with you, make sure to choose a smaller option.
A typical small 10-watt guitar amp has a length and height of about 10 inches with a smaller width of about 5 or 6 inches. These makes them great for packing and for carrying them around easily.
Price:
Another factor to consider is the price. 10-watt amps are typically very affordable, but there are some more expensive options available. If you’re on a budget, make sure to choose an amp that fits your price range.
Sound Quality:
Sound quality of a guitar amp is determined by many factors like power output, preamp, and EQ. If you’re looking for great sound quality, make sure to choose an amp with a high-quality preamp and EQ. A high-quality preamp are those that can model different amplifier sounds and great EQ will allow you to shape the tone of your sound.
Power Output:
The power output of a 10-watt amp is typically between 5 and 15 watts. If you need an amp that can produce more volume, make sure to choose one with higher power output. A tiny 5-watt amp model may produce a good clean sound but may not be enough for gigging. Their volume in decibels does not exceed 85dB.
On the other hand, a 15-watt amp is already too much for small venues and for practice at home. If you need an amp for gigs, make sure to choose one with at least 30 watts of power output.
Preamp:
The preamp of a guitar amplifier is responsible for the sound of the clean tone. It is the first stage of amplification where the signal from your guitar is amplified. A good preamp will be able to model different amplifier sounds.
EQ:
The EQ of a guitar amplifier is responsible for shaping the tone of your sound. A good EQ will allow you to boost or cut the bass, mids, and treble frequencies. This will allow you to create your own unique sound.
Number of Channels:
Most 10-watt amps have two channels: clean and dirty. If you need more than two channels, make sure to choose an amp that has the number of channels you need.
Effects:
Some 10-watt amps come with built-in effects like reverb and delay. If you’re looking for an amp with these features, make sure to choose one that has the effects you want.
Gain / Distortion Pedal:
Most small-amps do not come with a lot of gain or distortion. If you’re looking for an amp that can produce a lot of distortion, make sure to choose one that has a gain/distortion pedal. You may also choose to buy your own gain/distortion pedal if you prefer to purchase a bigger amp.
Reviews of the Best 10-watt Guitar Amps
#1. Sawtooth 10-Watt Electric Guitar Amp
Our overall best 10-watt guitar amp is the Sawtooth 10-Watt Electric Guitar Amp which came top on this 2022 list because its sound-output quality is very high with more than 500 guitarists giving it an average rating of 4.3/5. This small amp by Sawtooth has been on the market since 2013.
This amp is perfect for those who are looking for an affordable small-amp option that doesn’t sacrifice quality. This Sawtooth 10-watt electric guitar amp is perfect for the beginner or intermediate player. It has a total output power of 10 watts RMS, and comes with a 6.5” speaker. The amp also has volume, gain, and drive controls, as well as a master EQ with treble, middle, and bass settings. It also includes input and headphone jacks.
EQ: Treble, Middle, Bass
It’s a good idea to have an EQ on your amplifier so you can fine-tune the sound to your liking. This Sawtooth 10-watt electric guitar amp has a 3-band EQ so you can adjust the treble, middle, and bass frequencies.
Number of Channels: 2
This amplifier has two channels: clean and dirty. This gives you the flexibility to get a clean or distorted sound, depending on what you’re playing.
Effects: Reverb
This amplifier comes with a built-in reverb effect, which gives your sound a bit of “echo”. This can be turned on or off, depending on whether you want to use it.
Video Demonstration of this small amp:
Specs:
| Amp Name | Sawtooth 10-Watt Electric Guitar Amp |
|---|---|
| Brand Name | Rise by Sawtooth |
| Item Weight | 5.1 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 10.5 x 5 x 11 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| ASIN Code on Amazon | B00FBRUSAE |
| Item model number | ST-AMP-10 |
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 519 ratings |
| Best Sellers Rank on Amazon | #75 in Electric Guitars |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | September 20, 2013 |
| Compatible Devices | Guitar |
| Connector Type | 6.35 Mono Jack, 6.35 Stereo Jack |
| Output Wattage | 10 Watts |
| Jacks | Input- 6.35 MONO JACK, Headphones- 6.35 STEREO JACK |
| Controls | Volume, Gain, Drive; Master |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
Pros:
- It is perfect for beginner or intermediate players
- Great price, among the cheapest amps we’ve reviewed here.
- It is very slim and compact.
- You’ll like the knobs that have a nice feel to them.
- It is pretty well built.
- I appreciate the controls being positioned on the top back, as well as the input and headphone jacks.
- I like the 1/4-inch jack for the headphones as it enables me to use any type of headphones.
- The sound is pretty good for such a small amp.
- It doesn’t weigh much so it’s easy to carry around.
Cons:
- Some people may not like the digital reverb, preferring instead a spring reverb which can be found on some tube amps.
- Some customers have said that the clean channel doesn’t sound as good as the dirty channel. For example, it’s hard to use the treble, middle, bass knobs on clean channel
- It doesn’t have a lot of power, so it may not be suitable for those who want to play loudly.
- Not battery-powered
Verdict:
- Overall, this is our best 10-watt guitar amp because it offers great value for the price. It is perfect for a beginner or intermediate players who are looking for a small amp that doesn’t sacrifice quality. The sound is pretty good, and it comes with a built-in reverb effect. It is also very slim and compact, making it easy to carry around.
#2. Fender Frontman 10G 1×6″ 10-watt Combo Amp
Our second-best small 10-watt guitar amp is by Fender and is the Frontman 10G 1×6″ 10-watt Combo Amp which is a solid-state combo amp and is among the best small amps by Fender. This amp is one of the most popular small amps on the market, with over 9,500 guitarists giving it an average rating of 4.6/5 on Amazon as of this review in May 2022. It has been in the market since 2008, about 5 years before the release of Sawsooth.
Unlike Sawsooth above, this Fender brand is a combo amp which means that the amplifier and speaker are all in one unit. It has a total output power of 10-watts, and comes with a 6” speaker. The amp also has volume, treble, and bass controls. It also includes an input for an optional footswitch.
This Fender amp has 2 EQ, less than Sawsooths’s 3 EQ and it lacks Middle EQ.
The Fender Frontman 10-watt Combo Amp is perfect for beginning guitarists, offering a wide range of sounds and features in a compact package. This solid-state amp has a 10-watt output, making it perfect for home practice or small jams. It also features dual selectable channels (normal and drive) for more versatility. The 6″ Fender Special Design speaker offers great sound quality, and the amp is also lightweight and easy to transport.
The only downside of this amp is that some guitarists may find the lack of a middle EQ knob limiting.
This amplifier doesn’t come with any built-in effects, but it does have an input for an optional footswitch.
Specs:
| Item Weight | 8.5 pounds |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 5.75 x 10.25 x 11 inches |
| ASIN | B001L8PIFW |
| Item model number | 2311000000 |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 9,560 ratings |
| Best Sellers Rank | #208 in Music Recording Equipment |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | November 15, 2008 |
| Color Name | Black |
| Compatible Devices | Guitar |
| Material Type | Metal |
| Output Wattage | 10 |
Pros:
- A lot of guitarists say this is the best-sounding practice amp they’ve ever used.
- It’s very versatile with its two channels and EQ controls.
- It’s lightweight and easy to transport.
- The 6″ Fender Special Design speaker sounds great.
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
Cons:
- Some guitarists may find the lack of a middle EQ knob limiting.
- This amplifier doesn’t come with any built-in effects.
- More expensive than our top choice 10-watt amp by Sawtooth as it cost almost double.
The Fender Frontman 10-watt Combo Amp is our second-best small 10-watt guitar amp because it offers great sound quality in a compact package. This solid-state amp has a 10-watt output, making it perfect for home practice or small jams. It also features dual selectable channels (normal and drive) for more versatility. The 6″ Fender Special Design speaker offers great sound quality, and the amp is also lightweight and easy to transport. The only downside of this amp is that some guitarists may find the lack of a middle EQ knob limiting.
You can get this amp on Sweetwater here or on Amazon here.
#3. Marshall MG10G 10 Watt Guitar Combo Black and Gold
Our third pick in this list is the Marshall MG10G 10-watt guitar combo amplifier which is a great-sounding small practice amp. The Marshall MG10G has been in the market since 2017 and has an average rating of 4.7/5 stars on Amazon with over 550 guitarists reviewed as of this review in May 2022.
The Marshall MG10G is a solid-state combo amplifier that has 10 watts of output power. It comes with a 6.5″ Marshall speaker. The amp has two channels (clean and overdrive) and controls for volume, gain, treble, middle, bass, and reverb. There is also an effects loop and an emulated headphone output.
The Marshall MG10G 10W Electric Guitar Combo Amplifier is perfect for home use – and it’s small enough to take with you wherever you go. This amp has 2 channels – clean and overdrive – plus a contour control that lets you fine-tune your tone. The Marshall MG10G also features a classic Marshall ‘Gold’ control panel, plus an AUX-in jack for playing music from your phone or other devices.
The advantage of this amp over the Fender Frontman 10-watt Combo Amp is that it has an effects loop which means you can add in your favorite pedals to create your signature sound. It also has a headphone output so you can practice quietly without disturbing others. The only downside of this amp is that it doesn’t have a footswitch input.
Pros:
- It has an effects loop for adding pedals.
- It comes with a foot-Controller and can use it to switch channels out of the box
- It has a headphone output for silent practice.
- The Marshall MG10G sounds great.
- Small and very portable weighing just 5 kgs/11 pounds
- It comes with 3-year extended warranty, the best in this list.
Cons:
- This amp does hum noticeably as the volumes and gain go up
- The sound is generally murkier than that of other solid-state amplifiers, such as the Katana series.
Verdict:
Go for this Marshall MG10G if looking for a great-sounding small practice amp with an effects loop, foot-controller, and headphone output. It’s also reasonably priced considering it’s a Marshall amplifier.
You can buy the Marshall MG10G combo amplifier on Amazon here. For some reason, I can only find it on Amazon UK site and not the US site.
Check out our video review of the Marshall MG10G below:
#4. Kustom 10 Watt Guitar Amp
Our fourth pick in this list of best 10-watt guitar amps available in the market today is the Kustom 10-watt combo amplifier. Kustom is not as popular a brand as, say, Fender or Marshall, but they make great amps nonetheless – and the Kustom KGA 10FX 10-watt combo amplifier is no exception.
The Kustom Dart 10 Watt Practice Amplifier has a 10-watt output power and comes with a single 6.5″ speaker. Kustom Guitar Amplifier Combo is a 10 Watt amplifier that gives you all the features needed to get started with guitar playing.
The amp has 1 channel and Overdrive for distortion, and also includes voice control EQ for added sound shaping. It comes with an overdrive switch and volume knob, as well as a headphone jack so you can practice without bothering your neighbors. This amp is great for practicing at home or jamming with friends.
The Kustom Dart 10 Watt Practice Amplifier is ideal for beginners looking to hone their skills on an affordable amp that includes features usually found on more expensive models. If you’re just starting out, this is the perfect amplifier for you.
Pros:
- This Kustom Dart 10 amp is very affordable.
- It’s a great-sounding amp for its price.
- It has all the basic features you need to get started playing guitar, including an overdrive switch, EQ, and headphone jack.
- It’s small and portable, making it great for practicing at home or taking to your friend’s house.
Cons:
- This amp doesn’t have as many features as some of the more expensive amps on this list. It goes for $120 but is still fairly price and is among good guitar amps under $200.
- It doesn’t have a lot of volumes, so it might not be suitable for playing with a band.
Verdict:
If you don’t mind a 10-watt amp with one channel and just the voice-control EQ, you can get this Kustom KGA10H for a very affordable price. It’s great for beginners who are just starting to play guitar and want an amp they can practice with at home without bothering their neighbors.
You can find the Kustom KG10FX combo amplifier on Amazon here.
Hi there! I am Jack Musau, the founder of this Best Guitar Amp Review site. I am an avid musician with several years using both traditional and electric guitars and created this site to assist others looking to find the best guitar amplifiers in the market today. I also offer private coaching and training on how to use guitars and guitars amps of all kinds. You can reach out to me using my email, jack@soundspros.com.