Reviews: Three guitar practice amps

I recently started teaching guitar at a new school and found myself needing a practice amp to take along with me. I still remember my first amp, a Ross Fame 10 combo, which, like many amps in its class, had an anaemic clean tone and a horrific distortion option. There are still plenty of products out there that are no better than that little black box I started with so many years ago, and I hope this comparison saves your ears and wallets from unnecessary disappointment.

The Blackstar Debut 10E is a compact, solid-state 10-watt amp that focuses on simplicity. What stands out about this amp is its robust design; it doesn’t feel like a ‘landfill’ product destined for a three-year lifespan. I personally appreciate that this amp uses a mains power cord instead of a laptop-style power supply, which I’ve always found flimsy and a bit of a pain to use. It’s worth noting that some micro amps don’t even come with a power supply anymore, presumably to keep the retail price down.