One of the main reasons why I like modeling amps is that they are great for practicing. They make it easy to master your skills or just warm up.
Modeling guitar amps offers tons of great features. They include different amp sounds, effects, and other useful features. And that is a great option for practicing.
If you searching for small guitar practice amps, modeling amps would be my recommendation. Also, they are great for beginner guitar players.
What’s The Best Practice Modeling Amp?
I made a list of great modeling guitar amps for practice. All of them offer great features, and sound options, and are very affordable.
1. Fender Mustang LT25
Fender Mustang LT25 is a great choice as a practicing amp. They upgraded the Mustang series amps and added better options and it sounds better. This small guitar amp is full of great tones and effects. Very useful for practicing, like a bedroom amp, and also a great gift.
Mustang LT25 comes with a powerful and good-sounding 8” speaker. Has a footswitch option and I/O for aux and headphones. The amp includes 20 amp models, 25 effects, and 50 presets. Has a beautiful LED screen where you can choose the sounds. Also, you can connect it to your PC with a USB cable.
I can say that the sound of the Mustang LT25 is really good and useful. Fender thought about it and created a practice amp that has really good clean and heavy tones. Also, it has a power of 25 watts which is more than you need for practicing. High-quality sound and several tone options allow you to use it as a recording amplifier.
2. Blackstar ID Core 40
Blackstar ID Core 40 is more than just a practice amp. It has interesting features and 40 watts of power which can be used in small rehearsal rooms too. But the best things in this modeling amp are the features and sound quality.
One of my favorite features of Blackstar ID Core 40 is the twin speakers. It’s equipped with two 6.5” speakers and gives you stereo sound. Each speaker has 40 watts of power. Regarding sound options, you can choose between clean, crunch, and overdrive tones. Includes different modulation, delay, and reverb effects. It also has a USB connection and footswitch input.
Soundwise, I think this is a great amp. Twin speakers produce stereo sound and amp models sound good. Effects are great-sounding as in most digital guitar amps. Also, it has a special ISF knob that shapes the EQ and gives you more interesting tone options. A great bedroom and a practicing guitar amp.
3. Vox VT20X
Vox VT20X is a very interesting amp. It’s a combination of digital and hybrid guitar amps. This 20-watt combo features a preamp tube which gives you the true tube sound. And also includes modeling amp capabilities.
VT20X by Vox features an 8” speaker which is good for practicing. It is loaded with seven different amps sounds and three additional amps for custom use. Regarding pedals, you can choose from overdrive, compressor, modulation, delay, and four types of reverbs. Has four channels and all the default I/O. Also, you can choose between class A and A/B amps.
I love how Vox VT20X sounds. It’s very natural and rich. You can check my review of VT40X and see how great these amp series are. However, this is not a metal amp. I recommend it for those who want to get great clean and crunchy tones.
4. Marshall Code 25
Marshall Code 25 is a 25-watt digital combo that has a 10” speaker. It has a classic Marshall design but looks very modern. Loaded with some great features it’s a great bedroom or practicing modeling amp. Also, it would be a great gift for a beginner guitar player.
This combo amp has all the necessary I/O such as aux, headphones, USB, and footswitch options too. With dedicated buttons, you can create a signal chain. You can choose an amp, cabinet, and different effects. For more control, you have a nice LED screen. I like how well-designed the layout and features are.
But I can’t say the same about the sound. It’s not bad but at the same time, it’s not great. If you have read my Marshall Code 50 review, you know that I didn’t like the sound. And it concerns the heavy tones. Clean, crunch, and effects sound good. But heavy tones are every decent. However, as a practice amp, it’s a good choice.
5. Line 6 Spider V 20
Line 6 Spider V is not a popular amp in the Spider series. And I can agree with that. But as a practice amp, I think it’s a good choice. It’s a 20-watt combo modeling amp with an 8” speaker. Has some tone options and a decent sound.
First of all, you can select between seven different amp styles. Clean and crunch sound normal but heavy tones are not great. And a great feature is that you can plug in bass and acoustic guitar. I think that is a great feature for that price. Other features include effects, tuner, headphone output, etc.
Regarding the sound, I can’t say much. As I have said, clean and crunch tones are pretty good but heavy tones sound poor. However, for a bedroom amp, it’s a decent one. Also, it’s a very cheap amp. That’s the main reason why Line 6 Spider V 20 is on this list.
6. Peavey Rage 258
Peavey Rage 258 is not a typical modeling combo amp. But I think it has many great features that suit this list. It’s a solid-state amp with an 8” speaker and produces 25 watts of power. Has a two-channel and some very interesting features.
The clean channel has a single volume knob and the dirty channel has post and pre-gain knobs. EQ is the same for both channels. A great EQ feature is that you can choose between three styles – stack, modern, and vintage. This gives you more flexibility and versatile sound options. Also, it includes Trans Tube circuity which emulates vintage tube sound.
The sound of Peavey Rage 258 is great. For a practice amp, it has enough power, tone options, and sound quality. It’s simple but has some great features. Although it has no built-in effects, I think it deserves to be on this list.
Summary
All small modeling amps included on this list are great practicing amps. You will have enough power to practice, options to dial in different amp sounds, add effects, etc. Also, these combo guitar amps are great gifts for beginner players. If you are looking for a bedroom amp for practicing, I highly recommend checking any amp listed here.