8 Best Battery Powered Guitar Amps For Playing While On The Go

As a guitarist, having a dependable and portable amplifier is crucial, particularly when you’re busking or at a place where there are no readily available power outlets.

Battery-powered guitar amplifiers have grown in popularity over the years. These amps run off rechargeable or replaceable batteries and can be played on the go, in a bedroom, or even out on the street.

In this article, I will review 8 of the best battery-powered guitar amps and give you some of my top tips for choosing the right one. So, without wasting any time, let’s dive into my top battery-powered amps picks for 2024!

Looking for beginner-friendly amps with a bit more power? Check out my article covering the best beginner guitar amps.

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 1. Yamaha THR5 (Best overall)

Specs

• 10 watts
• Two 3.15″ speakers
• Solid state amp with Virtual Circuitry Modeling (VCM) technology
• 1/4″ and aux inputs
• Headphones and USB output
• Powered by 8 AA batteries or AC adapter
• 5.5 pounds

What’s great?

• Sounds and feels like a real tube amp
• Has 5 amp models and 8 different effects
• Bluetooth connectivity allows you to stream music wirelessly as you play and control the amp settings with the THR Remote App
• It has a tuner and a tap tempo function built in

What’s not so great?

• Not loud enough for live performances
• No 3-band EQ

Price

The Yamaha THR5II is priced at $210, making it a mid-range option for battery-powered guitar amps.

Tones & Effects

The amp features various amp tones, including Clean, Crunch, British-Hi, Lead, and Modern. It also comes with a built-in Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, and Tremolo, as well as 4 different delay/reverb effects. This amp also has a built-in tuner and a tap tempo function.

Battery & Playtime

It can be powered by 8 AA batteries, which will last for about 6 hours of continuous play.

My overall thoughts

For guitarists who appreciate portability, adaptability, and realistic amp modeling, the Yamaha THR5II is an excellent option.

This small battery-powered combo amp incorporates Yamaha’s Virtual Circuitry Modelling (VCM) technology, which simulates the sound and response of traditional tube amplifiers, making it ideal for practice, recording, and small indoor performances.

I found it to bring out the full frequency spectrum while running an electric guitar through it. The lows weren’t muddy, the mids were pronounced, and the highs didn’t crack.

The overdrive sounds particularly good with humbucker pickups, giving you a warm and creamy tone. This amp may be solid-state, but it is designed to sound like an authentic tube amp. It has excellent sounding overdrive and distortion, making it a perfect rock or blues guitar amp.

With two 3.15-inch speakers, the 10-watt Yamaha THR5 is perfect for home practice, busking, and intimate performances.

2. Roland CUBE Street EX (Best Busking Amp)

Specs

• 50 watts (also 25-watt and 10-watt settings)
• Two 8″ speakers
• Solid state amp
• XLR mic, 1/4″, and RCA auxiliary inputs
• 1/4″ and XLR line outputs
• Runs on 8 AA batteries or AC power
• 21 pounds

What’s great?

• Has a powerful 50-watt output and is ideal for street performers, outdoor shows, and even small venues
• Two 8″ neodymium speakers deliver crisp, powerful sound with ample headroom
• 4 independent guitar channels (Crunch, Lead, Clean, and Acoustic) and a mic channel
• Each channel has a 3-band EQ and reverb for tonal flexibility
• Battery life is displayed on the amp showing if you have full, half, or low battery

What’s not so great?

• The amp weighs 21 pounds, making it less portable than other options
• Electric guitars have a compressed dynamic range

Price

The Roland CUBE Street EX is priced at around $500, so it is definitely a more premium battery-powered amp. However, if you want a loud amp that can handle a variety of inputs, this is a great option.

Tones & Effects:

The Roland CUBE Street EX features 3-band EQ, allowing you to adjust the tone of the inputs to your liking. This amp also features an overdriven “Crunch” channel, Reverb, Chorus, and Delay.

Battery & playtime

The Roland Cube Street EX has a battery life of up to 20 hours at 10 watts or the “Eco” setting, 10 hours on the 25-watt “Normal” setting, and 5 hours at the 50-watt “Max” setting.

My overall thoughts

The Roland CUBE Street EX is a versatile and portable amplifier that can handle keyboards, microphones, and guitars. This is the best amp on the market for busking as it is powerful, sounds great, and has a long battery life.

Electric guitars with humbucker pickups sound heavily compressed through the amp. The sound is similar to plugging directly into your studio desk. 

While the Cube Street EX sounds a bit compressed and less dynamic, it has huge potential to take on pedals as it has a predominantly flat frequency curve. Slap on a blues breaker or a boost pedal, and you could get some serious mileage out of this versatile amp. 

The four independent channels and EQ/reverb/delay effects per channel allow for tonal customization and versatility. Electric and acoustic guitarists can both plug into this amp and play along with a singer and keyboardist.

Overall, the Roland CUBE Street EX is a solid option for musicians looking for a portable and versatile amplifier with a powerful output.

3. Vox Mini-Go 3 (Best battery-powered modeling amp)

Specs

• 3 watts
• 5″ speaker
• Solid state amp
• 1/4″ guitar, microphone, and AUX inputs
• 1/8″ headphone output
• Battery or AC powered
• 7.7 pounds

What’s great?

• Compact and portable design for easy transport
• Looks stunning with the trademark Vox design
• Includes a microphone input and controls, so you can sing while you play
• 11 amp models and 12 effects
• Long playback time on batteries (10+ hours)
• Includes Fender and Mashall amp tones

What’s not so great?

• Sound quality is not as rich as the original Vox AC15
• Not loud enough for anything other than bedroom practice or very small gigs

Price

The Vox Mini Go 3 is priced at around $150, making it an affordable option for a compact battery-powered guitar amp.

Tones & Effects

The Vox Mini Go 3 has 11 different amp models: Deluxe Clean, Boutique Clean, Boutique Overdrive, Vox AC30, Vox AC30TB, Brit 800, Brit VM, SL Overdrive, Double Rec, Vocoder, and Line.

This amp also has several different effects, including Chorus, Phaser, Octave, Tremolo, Analog/Digital Delay, and Spring/Hall Reverb.

Battery & Playtime

It can be powered by 6 AA batteries, providing approximately 10 hours of continuous playtime, or by an AC adapter for extended use.

My overall thoughts

The Vox Mini Go 3 is a full-featured and compact battery-powered modeling amp that is perfect for practice, small gigs, or busking sessions. This powerhouse of a battery-powered amp sounds spectacular for its size.

While the built-in effects of the amp are a huge selling point, it’s the original bright Vox tone that sounds strikingly good. Despite this amp being a solid state amp, it sounds like a vintage tube amp.

This is an awesome, budget Vox amp, but keep in mind it won’t replace a good quality tube amp if you need power and volume. If you are looking for a loud, high-quality, professional-level Vox amp, check out my review of the Vox AC15C1.

The amp includes 11 different amp models ranging from different Vox amps to the Fender Deluxe and more! 

Want to plug a microphone in? You can also plug a mic into the Vox Mini Go 3.

This amp is not very loud, but if you want to jam out in your room and experiment with different effects and tones, the Vox Mini Go 3 is a great option.

Overall, its compact design, spectacular tone, wide range of amp models, and built-in effects make it a versatile choice for guitarists on the go.

4. Danelectro Honeytone (Best budget option)

Specs

• 1 watt
• 2″ speaker
• Solid state amp
• ¼” cable input
• Headphones output
• 9V battery or DC adapter powered
• Weighs less than 1 pound

What’s great?

• Ultra-compact and portable design
• Belt clip for easy attachment to your belt or strap
• 3 simple and straightforward controls for easy use
• Takes humbucker guitar pickups quite well
• Very affordable price point

What’s not so great?

• Sounds hollow in the mids, and single-coil pickups sound especially thin
• Limited sound options with only the absolute basic volume and tone controls
• Too small and quiet for anything other than practice

Price

The Danelectro Honeytone Mini is priced around $35, making it an extremely budget-friendly option for a portable guitar amp.

Tones & Effects

The Honeytone Mini features the most basic controls: volume, a single-tone knob, and a drive (gain) control.

Battery & Playtime

The Danelectro Honeytone runs on a 9V battery that lasts around 5 hours continuously.

My overall thoughts

The Danelectro Honeytone Mini is an ideal choice for guitarists who prioritize portability and affordability. This tiny amp is incredibly compact and lightweight, making it perfect for on-the-go playing or practice sessions. The Honeytone can easily fit into your gig bag or a small backpack, so this is a good option if you are looking for a small practice amp that is easy to move around.

However, I don’t recommend using this as the primary amp to build your tone upon. This amp is only 1 watt, so you won’t get much volume at all. The basic clean tone is thin, and overall, it doesn’t sound great. That said, for less than $40, it is definitely a bargain.

Single coiled Strats and Teles sound nasally with this amp. However, if you play with a Les Paul or SG, you can expect a warmer sound with some decent overdrive.

If you are looking for the best battery-powered amp under $50, the Danelectro Honeytone Mini does the trick. This ultra-portable amp, complete with a belt clip for easy attachment, gets loud enough for a small practice session. But if you want something that can be played at live shows, has effects and amp modeling options, and has good sound quality, I recommend looking elsewhere.

5. Orange Crush Mini (Best Desktop Amp)

Specs

• 3 watts
• Single 4″ speaker
• Solid state amp
• ¼” and aux inputs
• Headphone and ¼” outputs
• Powered by 9V battery or DC power adapter
• 2 pounds

What’s great?

• Classic Orange tone in a compact package
• Gain knob allows you to add realistic-sounding natural overdrive
• Built-in tuner for quick and convenient tuning
• Headphone output for silent practice
• Lightweight and portable, perfect for backstage or bedroom practice.

What’s not so great?

• Limited features compared to higher-priced amps
• Not suitable for gigs or performances as it is quiet and distorts at louder volumes

Price

The Orange CR3 is priced at $75, making it an affordable option for those on a budget or looking for a compact practice amp.

Tones & Effects

The Orange CR3 features 3 simple controls, with a Volume knob, a “Shape” knob that replaces the standard EQ settings, and a Gain knob. However, this amp does not have any built-in effects.

Battery & Playtime

The micro crush has a battery life of 5-8 hours, depending on how loudly you play.

My overall thoughts

The standout feature of the Orange Mini Crush is its classic Orange tone, gritty with lots of character. The Orange CR3 is a great choice for guitarists who want to mess around with the classic Orange amp sound in a compact and affordable package.

While it may not have all the modeling amp features in other battery-powered amps like the Vox Mini, the primary clean and overdrive tones of this amp outweigh everything else. 

It’s the speaker size that hampers its overall performance, as I found the tone to be quite powerful when linked with a cab. The amp has a ¼” output port, so you can easily plug this amp into a mid-sized speaker and get a louder sound.

One interesting feature of this amp is that instead of having the standard tone controls, the Orange Crush Mini has a “Shape” knob. This knob gives you different tone options at every position on the dial, so instead of messing around with the EQ, you can simply find the sound that suits you best and get straight to playing.

This is an awesome low-budget battery-powered amp. While it doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, it sounds great and is perfect for guitarists looking for a simple portable guitar amp.

6. Fender Acoustic Junior Go – 100W (Best for acoustic guitarists)

Specs:

• 100 watts
• 8″ full-range speaker
• Solid state amp
• XLR and 1/4″ inputs
• Aux and ¼” outputs
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• 17 pounds

What’s great?

• Clear and natural acoustic tone that sounds realistic
• Has a powerful 100W output for larger venues or performances
• Has a rechargeable battery
• Bluetooth connectivity for wireless audio streaming
• 2 input channels for guitar and microphone
• Built-in Reverb, Delay, Chorus, and Vibration effects for added tonal options

What’s not so great?

• Way heavier than some of the other portable amps
• Not a viable option for electric guitar players as this amp is optimized for microphones and acoustic guitars

Price

The Fender Acoustic Junior Go is priced at around $499, making it way more expensive than many of the other amps on this list. However, with price comes the increased wattage and openness the others lack.

Tones & Effects

The amp features built-in Reverb, Delay, Chorus, and Vibration effects, allowing you to customize your acoustic guitar tone to suit your preferences and musical style. Plus, the Acoustic Junior Go also has a looper and a 3-band EQ for both channels.

Battery & Playtime

The Fender Acoustic Junior Go has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can last up to 12 hours at lower volumes. However, at higher volumes, the amp will last around 5-6 hours.

My overall thoughts

The Fender Acoustic Junior Go is a solid choice for acoustic guitarists who need a powerful and versatile amp for gigs or performances.

The 100W output provides ample volume for larger venues, and the built-in Bluetooth connectivity allows for wireless audio streaming and easy integration with other devices. 

The dual input options make this amp a suitable choice for both guitar and microphone use.

The Delay, Chorus, and Reverb effects all sound amazing. However, the Vibratone, for me, is the highlight of this amp due to how organic it sounds.

This amp also has a built-in looper which sets it apart from other amps on this list. You can run a 90-second loop with options to record, dub, play, stop, and undo.

Want to play along to one of your favorite songs? You can plug your phone in via aux or connect via Bluetooth to the amp!

This amp is a lot heavier and bulkier than other battery-powered amps, as it weighs 17 pounds. So, the question of portability over quality comes in. If portability is your absolute priority, this might not be the most convenient option. 

8. Blackstar Fly 3 (Longest battery life)

Specs:

• 3-watts
• 3″ speaker
• Aux and ¼” inputs
• Headphones output
• Runs on 6 AA batteries or AC power
• 1.98 pounds

What’s great?

• Compact size and lightweight design for ultimate portability
• Extremely energy efficient at low volumes, the amp can last up to 50 hours!
• Decent sound quality and volume for its size
• Infinite Shape Feature (ISF) for versatile EQ shaping
• Overdrive channel sounds very natural in this amp
• Has a built-in delay feature

What’s not so great?

• Not very powerful, only loud enough for personal practice

Price

The Blackstar Fly 3 is priced around $70, making it an affordable option for those seeking a compact and portable guitar amp.

Tone & Effects

The Blackstar Fly 3 features two channels: Clean and Overdrive, allowing you to switch between clean and distorted tones. It also features an Infinite Shape Feature (ISF) knob that allows you to tune in various tonal qualities, ranging from American to British-style tones. Furthermore, the Fly 3 has a delay knob which sounds pretty good.

Battery & Playtime

The Blackstar Fly 3 runs on 6 AA batteries, which they claim to last up to 50 hours at low volumes! This figure seems astonishingly high. However, at high volumes, the amp will realistically only last around 5-10 hours.

My overall thoughts

The Blackstar Fly 3 is an excellent option for guitarists who need a compact and portable amp for practice, busking, or small gigs. Despite its small size, it offers excellent sound quality and versatility with its Clean and Overdrive channels and Infinite Shape Feature (ISF).

Many battery-powered amps have the tendency to sound like toys. But Blackstar has focused on making the Fly 3 sound as good as possible with what they have to work with. As a result, the amp has a good-quality sound at a very affordable price.

The biggest downside of this amp is its durability. The Blackstar Fly 3 is made mainly of plastic, so it may easily break and wear down over time.

What makes a good battery-powered amp?

Battery-powered amps are perfect for beginner guitarists who only plan to practice in their rooms or in small settings.

You need to consider several factors when purchasing a new battery-powered amp. Here are the most important things I looked at in the amps on this list and how much of the overall score each factor made up.

Sound/Volume

The quality of sound generated by the amp is critical. It should be clear and balanced. Small amps generally have tiny speakers, so providing a well-rounded sound is difficult. However, some amp manufacturers are still able to get a very good sound out of these small products. The amp should have a decent frequency response, low distortion, and be capable of reproducing a wide variety of tones, from clean to overdriven, with rich dynamics and articulation.

The amp model you choose should also provide acceptable volume levels for your needs. Many of the amps on this list are under 10 watts, so you can’t expect much volume. However, some battery-powered amps pack a decent punch.

Whether you’re jamming with friends in a practice room or busking on the street, the mini amp should be able to generate enough volume without distorting or losing clarity, ensuring that your performance can be heard without problems.

Portability

Since battery-powered amps are frequently utilized for on-the-go concerts or practice sessions, portability is an essential factor to consider.

The amplifier should be small, lightweight, and sturdy, making it easy to move and set up. I looked at lightweight amps with built-in handles and even some amps that are so small they can fit in a gig bag

Features

Some budget-friendly amps on this list have very few settings, while others are modeling amps with many different effects and tone options. 

Choose an amp with the settings and features you need for your playing style. Different amp types, effects, EQ settings, and connection options are all possible.

A user-friendly interface with straightforward controls and quick access to settings can also be beneficial, allowing you to dial in your chosen tones quickly and effortlessly.

Battery life

The whole point of a battery-powered amp is to be able to play guitar on the go. So, you want the battery to last a few hours at the very least. I’ve tested amps with a battery life of around 5 hours as a minimum, but many of the amps on this list can last much longer than that. I also looked for amps with rechargeable batteries. Most of the battery-powered amps on this list also have power adapters so that you can have the option to play the amp plugged in as well.

Price

While budget is subjective, the price of the battery-powered amp should be considered in response to its overall quality, features, and performance. Battery-powered amps range in price from less than $50 to more than $500, so it is very important to work out your budget before searching for the right amp.

Things to consider when buying a battery-powered guitar amp

Here are a few other things to consider when purchasing your first battery-powered guitar amp.

How loud do you want the amp to be?

One crucial factor to consider is how loud you want the amp to be. Consider where you’ll be using the amp the most, such as at home for practice, small performances, or busking, and select an amp that can offer the necessary volume levels without distortion or loss of clarity.

Battery life

Because battery-powered amplifiers rely on portable power sources, the amp’s battery life must be considered. Look for an amp with enough battery life for your planned application, whether for short practice sessions or long gigs.

Consider the type of batteries used, the amp’s power usage, and if the amp has a built-in rechargeable battery or requires additional batteries.

Built-in effects

Some battery-powered amps include built-in effects like reverb, delay, chorus, or overdrive, which can enhance your playing variety and convenience.

Consider whether you want an amp with built-in effects or prefer to utilize external effects pedals.

Final tips for buying a battery-powered guitar amp

Here are some of my top tips for ensuring you purchase a battery-powered guitar amp that is right for you.

• Try before you buy. In-person testing at a music store or guitar center ensures that the amp meets your sound quality, loudness, and performance expectations.
• Read reviews. Examine online customer reviews to get feedback from other guitarists who have used the same amplifier.
• Consider brand reputation. Look for well-known brands that have a history of producing dependable amplifiers.
• Check for warranty. Select amplifiers with warranties for added protection against faults or malfunctions.
• Assess your needs. Take into account your specific needs, such as power output, battery life, size, weight, and features.
• Don’t go for fancy features you won’t use. Don’t pay too much for features you’ll never use. It is a bad idea to pay more for items that you will not use in your playing style or genre.
• Compare prices. Compare the prices of various amplifiers to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money.

Last updated 2024-12-11 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API