Blue Guitar Amp 1 For Sale (2024 Update)

Mighty sound in a micro package. And it's not a compromise on a traditional tube amp or head. Lots of options, channels and tonal choices. Build quality excellent too. Check out Bluguitar's YT channel Academy of Tone for all you need to know about the AMP1 and the brand.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Open the box, tested with a Katana 2×12 cab, sound was awesome. Same goes to a Laney 2×12 but sounded much more better. Considering the size of the Amp1, the Nanotube is a real deal. Drives is authentic. Growls like the full tube amp head. Cleans nicely from high to low gain. Tried again with a Yamaha powered speaker and speaker out to a BluBox, cuts through with the band easily. Everyone was so impressed with the sounds. Amazing tones.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Overall: I've been looking for portable, potent, Plexi and then some Marshall tone and kept trying little modelers. Most sounded fine, but I struggled to get them right. I have so many great Plexi sounds…and then some…in my Kemper, but wanted something to fit in a gig bag. I remembered having seen Jack Gardiner's video about this and LOVING the sounds he got. When I played this at NAMM 2020, Hall D was just too loud to really appreciate it. But I remembered liking it. So I ordered it. Wow! Let me tell you, I like it so much I just ordered the Remote1 switch for it to use it for more than just a travel option! This thing sounds phenomenal!More often than not, clean channels sound like afterthoughts. This amp has a beautiful clean channel and when combined with the boost gives you excellent, chimey, pushed clean and Vox-like tone. Henning Paulie had Thomas Blug on and they got really close to his Morgan AC30 style amp. Frighteningly close! Well, it really does it! And the dynamics of this amp are incredible. Even with the boost engaged, I can roll the volume down and clean up the vintage and classic channels nicely! I have a lot of amps. This hangs with the big boys easily. And it takes pedals as well as any big amp. I am so happy I can stop looking for a plexi for my gig bag. zZounds has a great return policy. It won't hurt to try it. But I promise you won't likely send it back. I know I won't. This is a keeper.Randy

Mighty sound in a micro package. And it's not a compromise on a traditional tube amp or head. Lots of options, channels and tonal choices. Build quality excellent too. Check out Bluguitar's YT channel Academy of Tone for all you need to know about the AMP1 and the brand.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Open the box, tested with a Katana 2×12 cab, sound was awesome. Same goes to a Laney 2×12 but sounded much more better. Considering the size of the Amp1, the Nanotube is a real deal. Drives is authentic. Growls like the full tube amp head. Cleans nicely from high to low gain. Tried again with a Yamaha powered speaker and speaker out to a BluBox, cuts through with the band easily. Everyone was so impressed with the sounds. Amazing tones.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Overall: I've been looking for portable, potent, Plexi and then some Marshall tone and kept trying little modelers. Most sounded fine, but I struggled to get them right. I have so many great Plexi sounds…and then some…in my Kemper, but wanted something to fit in a gig bag. I remembered having seen Jack Gardiner's video about this and LOVING the sounds he got. When I played this at NAMM 2020, Hall D was just too loud to really appreciate it. But I remembered liking it. So I ordered it. Wow! Let me tell you, I like it so much I just ordered the Remote1 switch for it to use it for more than just a travel option! This thing sounds phenomenal!More often than not, clean channels sound like afterthoughts. This amp has a beautiful clean channel and when combined with the boost gives you excellent, chimey, pushed clean and Vox-like tone. Henning Paulie had Thomas Blug on and they got really close to his Morgan AC30 style amp. Frighteningly close! Well, it really does it! And the dynamics of this amp are incredible. Even with the boost engaged, I can roll the volume down and clean up the vintage and classic channels nicely! I have a lot of amps. This hangs with the big boys easily. And it takes pedals as well as any big amp. I am so happy I can stop looking for a plexi for my gig bag. zZounds has a great return policy. It won't hurt to try it. But I promise you won't likely send it back. I know I won't. This is a keeper.Randy

This little amp is quite amazing in sound and features. With the Guitar input, Aux In, and headphone jack it nails the features desired for practice. EQ/Gain control and volume can make a huge difference. I read the one critical review below about no bass or treble/AM radio sounding, etc…I don't get that? Probably doesn't understand the gain/vol/ and boost…or his was pre-owned and maybe had issues. Hey, if you're expecting the Fender tube sound of a Princeton or Vibrolux or Deluxe…get real, this is a 10 watt practice amp. For the money, it's a quality Fender product and does everything needed to practice.madillac09

This is doing the job I wanted. It doesn't have fancy effects like reverb, but it produces a nice sound for practice. I don't do public performances, so can't say how well it works in that environment. For the price it's a winner.lndi2007_yrggd7or

Im really disappointed with this amp. I know its not supposed to be super loud because its only 10 W, but I was hoping that the sound quality would be better. The sound reproduction frequencies are all mid range. Sounds like cardboard. Color is grey. Bass and treble tones are all but nonexistent. The eq is useless because speaker cannot reproduce bass and treble frequencies. The sound is very cheap and does not give a representation of the Fender vibe whatsoever. You are better off just playing your guitar with no amplifier at all rather than using this, because it make a good guitar sound bad. I equate the sound to that of an a.m. transistor radio. Its really bad. I actually read some of the favorable reviews on this amplifier before I bought it, and Im seriously starting to think that none of those reviews are actually real. There are better practice amps with better fidelity out there, and I would avoid this one if your ear demands quality sound.mrmarksiii

I bought this amp to have a small, cheap portable amp to play harmonica through. For that, it is decent enough. I use a Shure bullet mic and the amp produces good enough tone and is plenty loud for practice or small gigs. When I plug my tele into it the clean channel is decent and clear, but the overdrive channel is junk and hurts my ears. I would rather run the clean channel and use a fuzz or distortion pedal. So that being said it is decent enough to practice licks on and it is tiny so it tucks away easy. If you look around you can find a bigger amp with more features used for the same price but if you want a new amp, this one is probably worth what they charge for it. I would only buy it if you have a specific purpose for it though.Roy

It's small, and pretty portable. However, the sound quality is trash, given the speaker is tiny, but the overdrive is just horrible. If you buy this, try returning it. If you can't return it, just get a fuzz pedal and leave it on clean. Imo, just buy the mustang lt25-50Hotdog Games

I bought this amp to have a small, cheap portable amp to play harmonica through. For that, it is decent enough. I use a Shure bullet mic and the amp produces good enough tone and is plenty loud for practice or small gigs. When I plug my tele into it the clean channel is decent and clear, but the overdrive channel is junk and hurts my ears. I would rather run the clean channel and use a fuzz or distortion pedal. So that being said it is decent enough to practice licks on and it is tiny so it tucks away easy. If you look around you can find a bigger amp with more features used for the same price but if you want a new amp, this one is probably worth what they charge for it. I would only buy it if you have a specific purpose for it though.Roy

It's small, and pretty portable. However, the sound quality is trash, given the speaker is tiny, but the overdrive is just horrible. If you buy this, try returning it. If you can't return it, just get a fuzz pedal and leave it on clean. Imo, just buy the mustang lt25-50Hotdog Games

Great sounding clean tones for playing at home, which is why i bought it – my beloved Mustang 1.1 started having issues and I MUST have a great clean tone to relax. Wanted a tube amp and did my research. Decided on the Blackstar. I must say I'm extremely happy with it. The reverb is KILLER to my ear and does a great job at adding shimmer without destroying the tone. No external effects are needed to get a gorgeous clean tone – I use my Zoom G3Xn into the front end to get univibe and compression. The effects loop is very functional. The amp can be very bass heavy, depending on your instrument, but if you run a 10 band EQ (go with MXR) in the loop you amp can achieve any tonal result you want. My best sound comes with everything at 12, with some of the bass rolled off with the MXR EQ – but its just a matter of taste i guess. This amp moves a lot of air when you use the drive channel, and if your not pleased with the amps distortion it does respond really well to distortion pedals. I'm mostly in the clean blues zone but must brag on the amps darker side: it can get very loud and stay rich. I haven't tried any of the direct recording features. The 2 selectable characters of clean that the amp offers thrill me and ,again, the reverb is classy and a bit different from other amps ( I read that is a room reverb). Highly recommended.Tim H.

This amp out of the box sounds fantastic. Crystal clear clean tones and a snarly gain channel that lets you choose between a more American gain tone and a British gain tone. I would say ‘cater for everyone’. But, I received my first amp and within an hour of playing I’d noticed a loud ‘POP’ when changing channels. This pop occurred if a note was being played at the same time as the channel change. (Footswitch and Amp buttons) So, of course I returned the Amp to PMT. they arranged DPD next working day collection for me, completely hassle free. I awaited my next amp, as a direct replacement. A few days later the next Blackstar HT-5R mkii arrived, box fresh like the last. I plugged the amp in, let the tubes warm and away I went. Within minutes of found a great tone again, but the loud ‘POP’ I heard from the first unit was there again on this amp. I tried 4 sockets in the house in case there was any kind of interference/static, but to no avail. Absolutely gutted, I called PMT again. The amp was returned for the second time. Apparently this hasn’t happened to anyone else, I may just be unlucky or the amp may not get along with the electrics in my home. Just check this out as soon as you buy one. I’ve tried two other valve amps on my house since, including a Blackstar Artist 10 AE and an Orange terror with cab, and there’s absolutely zero noise with these. Very important to note here, this is not a slam of PMT, they’ve been absolutely brilliant throughout this whole thing. Customer service is second to none and they are very easy to contact. Used these for a very long time and I will be returning once stores open to try out a new amp.Jack H.

I picked this up for my son so he could practice around the house. Killer stocking stuffer! When the son is away the dad will now play. I started playing my Mustang Bass through this and it did the job. It's a small amp, not a practice amp. This is perfect for camping trips, rocking at the office or kicking it in the backyard. Oh yeah and you can plug in 1/4 headphones and keep the concert to yourself. It runs on a 9-volt battery or you can plug in a 9-volt adapter.SERGIO

Took a chance on this and purchased it without every playing it. Watched video reviews on it and gave it a shot. Yes, I know that it's small in size, smaller than a kids lunchbox but I hoped it'd produce quality sound and what I got was muddy sounds at increased volumes. It's not clear sounding and my goal to play through an amp is to sound good and I felt if I actually played this in front of people, the muddyness would make me sound amateurish. So, for what you pay for this, yes, you get amplified but it's not real great quality, unless you're a metal player because you don't get a clean sound from this. I rate this 3 stars because it's convenient to have a portable battery operated tiny amp that you can plug into and get sound from, however, the quality almost makes you not even want to play it.Jesse

This ain't no micro cube or vox. This less than 20$ & runs on 1 9v battery or 9v plug in the wall.(transformer not included)& Holy Friggin' Smokes does this baby perform.Monster overdrive tone & super bright, clean tone.Headphone input.Probably exceeds 60 decibels,which is beyond city ords. could get U a fine it's so damn loud. My Strat Squire sounds soooo Fender good out of this lil sucka & my electric/acoustic, sooo crisp.Ultra light to carry around.I've been using the JOYO mini,I love it,plug in,no chord,fun but this Fender mini is a bit more.More tone options and louder.I've yet to find out how quick it eats batteries. The JOYO burns them up fast.Get the rechargeables.Also the JOYO has an MP3 input.This doesn't. I run guitar strap thru the handle so the chord is like non-existent or U can old school it and have a 10 or 20 ft chord.So light it can be pulled over by the chord.These mini amps also pick up radio signals. When I turn them on I can hear radio stations at certain angles. So get 1 for the road.It's all about the fun.annoyingted1

This amp is the holy grain of tone I have been searching for at a volume my wife and kids can live with. If you want that classic fender tone achievable at volumes that won't upset the neighbours or wake the kids but you can still gig with……this is the amp for you. I have been trying to achieve that classic Clapton fender/music man sparkle and this amp does it easy. I barely use my pedals other than my compressor. All in all very happy indeedReviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Overall: I have owned a multitude of amps over the past 25 years – primarily from Fender and Mesa Boogie. This amp is as good as any high end tube amp I've owned. It packs a load of heat at 30 watts that will send anyone who wants save their hearing running for the hills. I've played plenty of outdoor gigs, and the Blues Cube Hot can reach out to large crowds like a high powered 4×10. The attenuator is an awesome feature that tames this beast down to bedroom levels without sacrificing tone or sustain. I'm sold on Rolands. Buy this amp, take it to a jam, and just don't tell anyone it's a solid state. Watch the tube snobs say how great it sounds, and then decide for yourself if you want to make them eat crow. The boost and tone buttons really add a nice enhancement when used with the Boss FS-6 footswitchRobert

This is a guitar players amp giving a classic Fender sound. Simple to use without the displays and presets on modelling amps.The cool thing is the output power selector that will give classic sounds at room volume which is something a tube amp can't compete with. The volume control goes from clean to the edge of breakup with the master volume setting the sound level. Others have suggested running the master at the max setting but I don't go with that. The boost button gives a good drive sound that can be adjusted with the volume. I have the Tone button on all the time as it seems best for my pickups. So unlike the many modelling amps that don't really excel at any particular sound, this amp and speaker have come really close to a vintage tube amp sound. It is really robust and well built, the only negative is the hole it burnt in my wallet.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

…this amp absolutely nails the classic Top Boost overdrive tone, just in a smaller package. I use this amp in church, and it's great in that role because it's loud enough that it allows me to hear what I play without needing a monitor (which reduces overall stage volume). I found the stock speaker to be serviceable, but there's plenty of room in the cabinet for a speaker upgrade, just be sure to do some measurements first. I upgraded to a Celestion G12H30, and due its wide magnet, I had to reposition the output transformer a couple of inches. Depending on how you want to use this amp, I would recommend replacing V1 with a lower gain tube (like a 5751 or 12AU7) if your intent is to turn it into a pedal platform (especially because there is no FX loop). I've also found that cranking the Volume produces a fair amount of gain as well, so if you want to tame the (characteristically VOX) fizz for recording purposes, a lower gain V1 would help in that regard too. If mic'd up with a PA system or paired with a 2×12 cabinet, this amp could easily be used as your #1 gigging amp… but it would probably be more economical just to get a used AC30C2/CC2 or AC15C2 Twin.Gordon

This is a great little amp and has been my main gigging amp for the past couple years. It does a good job at keeping up with my band at smaller venues, but I usually mic it anyways. I would definitely recommend giving it a mic anywhere bigger than a small club, unless you play in a more mellow band. I've always been a fan of smaller, low wattage, tube amps with minimal controls and this definitely fits the bill. I wouldn't really recommend it for bedroom/apartment practicing because it's still pretty loud and it sounds best when you can really push it. It's definitely a very bright amp, maybe a little too bright with some guitars, but there's also mods you can do to it to change that. I plan on changing the speaker someday, just haven't gotten around to it yet and the speaker it comes with is decent enough, just a little stale in my opinion. It's a pretty rugged little amp, it has spent some good miles rattling around in the back of cars/vans/trailers and i haven't had any problems with it. Overall a great amp for anyone looking for a simple, portable, low wattage tube amp that will give them that classic Vox sound at an affordable price!Gandalf

I own an older Victoria version of the 80W blues cube. It has two rows of controls, two channels and a "lead" selection that adds extra punch. But you might not ever use that, the natural sound of this amp is superb. The clean is not a clean as the Roland Jazz Chorus, maybe not as sparkly as the Fender Twin Reverb. But the clean is perfect for the type of music you buy that amp for, blues, blues/rock, country… Whether the Artist 80W or the Stage 60W you can't go wrong with these amps. I do not have a sound pack tube installed and I get plenty of tone and power. I do have a switch to select between solid state "diode" or tube logic technology "tube" tone. I can tell a difference, the "Tube" selection sounds warmer and when playing softly on clean setting it sounds just right but when I really bight down on strings I get a little bit of break up tone like a tube amp gives — that tone that you can feel as well as hear. Best amp for the money, easy. If you are a 100% tube amp person I'd say give one a try for a while and Roland might change your opinion.SlowLaneCruiser

The BC is an 85 watt, solid state 2X12 guitar combo. No modelling or loads of effects. It's based on the Fender Tweed series of amps from the 1950's and has tremolo & reverb built in. There is a 'clean' channel that will dirty up and a crunch channel that will overdrive. Normal 3 band EQ, master volume & presence plus a boost for each channel and a tone button that gives extra treble and bass leaving the middle to where you have set it. Very useful and effective. There is a foot-switch available, but it's an additional £75 which is, in my opinion a bit expensive. I use only the clean channel set to slightly breaking up, so I can do without the foot control although it would be nice to use the boost facility from a single foot switch, but this wont work. You have to get the large and expensive Roland GA-FC . You can however switch channels with a Boss FS-5L. There is some misleading info around about this, so bare it in mind. As for the amp itself..Brilliant…The closest I've heard to a real valve amp. More than enough power (that's switchable on the amp from 85 watts down to .5 of a watt) for band/gig use and great for recording with the line out or USB out facility. It takes all types of stomp boxes very well and is a good deal lighter to carry than most 2X12 valve amps I've come across. I'm gigging the amp (Rockabilly/rock'n'roll) and the other band members say it gives an authentic, and more than loud enough sound. (I generally use the 45 watt setting with master volume on 3 ). Apart from the niggle of not being able to operate the boost facility from a single footswitch, I can't fault the amp. Bit pricey, but it's a Roland.. High quality and bomb-proof. All analogue, no digital nonsense.. A real sturdily built gigging amp that should outlast me.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I finally pulled the trigger on a digital amp. I've been playing guitar for 36 years. Started with a fender blues deluxe and then a fender deluxe reverb. Traded everything in for Peavey classic and an American Strat in 1996, played with just it and a Strat for over 20 years. Was really happy with that combination but had to get some ambient pedals as I stated playing space rock music. I started upgrading my rig. Decided to buy some Custom shop guitars and boutique amps. Got a Bogner and a Budda. Both awesome amps, but actually missed my Peavey. After so many years with just the Peavey and Strat made me really get the feel of that set up. Getting the BCA was like getting my Peavey classic back on steroids. I dialed in my old Peavey clean and dirt in about 5 mins. But from there it's even more versatile, the Bassman character and tones are really awesome to my playing style and ear. I've been having a lot of fun playing this amp. To be honest it is my favorite amp out of all that I have played on. I feel confident that I can get the sounds and tones I want out of it at any volume level. So easy to get it dialed in. My back up plan was to get a Tweed Blues Jr if I still needed to have a tube amp on hand, but right now I'm thinking I will probably get a Blues Cube Hot instead. I'll give it a month or two to make sure, but honestly this thing sounds every bit as good to me as any tube amp I've had. Now I can just spend my time playing.Bradley

Big punch in a little package. Nice cleans and searing gain. Bluetooth works great. I use it with my 4×12 cabinet and if you didn't see the little mite sitting on top you would never believe it. Accepts the signal from my processor very well. Glad I finally took the plunge and tried it. I now have two. Also got the Meteor. Subtle tonal differences, both seem a necessity. Haven't used the FX loop yet but see no reason it wouldn't work as well.spalev_hvjwt0wt2y

For the money, this is an excellent piece of kit. For a small but powerful, lightweight amp it gives good clear headroom and works well with pedals. FX loop is great. Have gigged with it, using a DI through the FX return – more than good enough. well worth trying out.bill1763

This a very well constructed amplifier that, for it's tiny physical size, performs incredibly well regarding sound quality, and for only 20 watts output produces a sound level that defies belief. I cannot see anyone being anything other than amazed with this product.forresman

If you like Fender modelling amp sounds, you'll find this perfect for headphone practice. The selection of Amps is a bit more limited than in a Fender Modelling amp, and the Effects depths similarly limited, but hey, the thing is the size of a matchbox and it allows you to jam along with your online selections, via Bluetooth. Your headphones must be cable, not Bluetooth, however, to avoid latency. But as the headphone cable goes over your shoulder straight into the Mustang Micro, you are not hampered by any connecting cable to your playback device. Until you try this, you may not appreciate how liberating and convenient this is. Its pivoting jack also allows it to go into a Strat recessed socket, many others don't.Geoff

Overall: I'm very pleased with the Micro overall. Read my review below. It really is great. If I were to suggest any changes to the Mustang Micro, it would be this: 1. Include some earbuds with the amp…I mean, why not? You can buy decent earbuds for ten bucks these days…probably cost Fender fifty cents and would mean ready to go out of the box. 2. In the new model, set it up to have a bluetooth output for using wireless headphones. While not a huge deal, I'd really rather not have that wire running from the headset to the guitar. I always end up fumbling with it when taking the guitar off or putting it on. 3. Go ahead and print the basic amp settings on the Micro. The reference card works. But, just having the amp models printed on the amp itself would be handy. There is enough blank space on the Micro to accommodate this.These are just my ideas for improvements. The amp is already a great sounding and super handy device.Ericbstl

I picked this up on a friend's recommendation as a better than average headset amplifier. My Likes: In terms of sound quality it is quite good. It is compact and I do like the USB charging feature a lot. The amp models are better than I expected and sound different with each guitar I use, just like a good amp should. The effects were a nice bonus, simple and effective. I haven't tested bluetooth connectivity yet, but I presume that it will do its job. My concerns, Use while Seated – nearly impossible,as with most headset amplifiers, especially with a side mounted jack . With my Fender Stratocaster, it is more easily used because of the top mount, but with any side mount, it gets caught on my knee and can get pulled out when seated. EQ feature. It does not seem to impact the sound very much in clean or driven settings. I would have preferred paying an extra $20 for a small set of wheels for hi/mid/low Overall it is a B+ for Fender, which could be a quick A with some more mounting options and a small 3 band EQKAS

I bought this amp to have a small, cheap portable amp to play harmonica through. For that, it is decent enough. I use a Shure bullet mic and the amp produces good enough tone and is plenty loud for practice or small gigs. When I plug my tele into it the clean channel is decent and clear, but the overdrive channel is junk and hurts my ears. I would rather run the clean channel and use a fuzz or distortion pedal. So that being said it is decent enough to practice licks on and it is tiny so it tucks away easy. If you look around you can find a bigger amp with more features used for the same price but if you want a new amp, this one is probably worth what they charge for it. I would only buy it if you have a specific purpose for it though.Roy

It's small, and pretty portable. However, the sound quality is trash, given the speaker is tiny, but the overdrive is just horrible. If you buy this, try returning it. If you can't return it, just get a fuzz pedal and leave it on clean. Imo, just buy the mustang lt25-50Hotdog Games

Amazing little tube amp! If you're looking at getting your first tube amp, this is a highly recommended starter amp. It sounds great as a studio amp and it gets plenty loud given it's 15W, which makes it suitable for smaller gigs. With the volume turned down, it sounds really clean, but it breaks up pretty nicely around 6-8. It also handles pedals and overdrive pretty well (especially with the fat switch engaged). The Jensen C-12N sounds really nice. The cabinet is particle board, which might be a con for some people, but it's not a deal breaker considering the price. Fender really got it right with the Gen IIIs, which is probably why they're still selling pretty well.Matt T.

I spent six months trying to decide between the tweed Blues Jr., the Blues Jr. IV, the Vox AC15, and the Roland JC40 (a bit of an outlier in this list), and finally decided to go with the tweed after several visits to GC and many side-by-side comparisons. I'm not a serious blues player, nor do I spend much time with classic rock influenced jamming/noodling, but was looking for an amp with a stellar clean sound for playing clean or as a canvas for pedals, decent distortion, and surfy spring reverb. The Vox is classic for a reason, but the clean tone was lacking personality. The built in tremolo is great, but the reverb wasn't heavy enough for me (although many others complain that it is a bit too much for them), and the overdrive tone wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Otherwise, it seemed well constructed and had a great look. The Roland JC40 is a solid state amp, so very quiet in comparison to the others in the list. I only was considering this because it has an incredible sounding chorus and is an otherwise perfect canvas for pedals, but the clean tone was bland and the drive couldn't compare to that of a tube amp. The standard Blues Jr IV sounds boxy and dark in comparison to the tweed, and the reverb tank is much more subtle. Although it has a good Fender clean tone, it is somehow lacking. The tweed is bright, really bright, but that is what I want. The reverb is killer. I imagine very few people will max it out, or even keep it above half-way, but I absolutely love to crank it up and get a super wet classic surf tone. Keeping the volume low and maxing out the master volume retains a good deal of clean chime without breaking too much, yet can begin to breakup if you have a heavy strum. Maxing out the (pre-amp) volume gives you a decent crunch, which only gets better as you turn up the master (Communication Breakdown sound). Yet, this gets LOUD, pushing beyond home use volumes. I am happy with my choice, but recommend you test your optionsRyan

The magic started as soon as I turned the amp on. This little amp has personality, with the retro look I felt as I had traveled to a time long past. This amplifier sounds great, it's actually loud, and the tones are nice and simple. I pair it with my favorite pedals, and I blast off to a whole other world of pure creativity. If you're wanting a classic sound to fiddle with, I highly recommend this beauty. I even purchased a cover for it since I was worried it would get dirty or our cat would treat it as a scratching post. It not very heavy or big and doesn't consume much electricity and is capable of being loud enough to bother your neighbors, since it's a very simple amp, you'll have to get your pedal collection ready. I hooked my crybaby and fuzz pedals and I swear I connected in some way with Hendrix himself. This little amp isn't just for blues or jazz, crank up the volume and you'll get some loud distortion. My only con would be that I wish it had a built-in spring reverb just like the BJrIV. but I already have 2 different pedals that do the job. Anyway, you'll spend hours just mixing and matching all your favorite pedals. Have fun players, this is a good one.Kevin

Unbelievable. This is NOT my Vox AC30, and nor is it my 100W Katana. However, for a package that is powered by batteries and can, quite literally, fit into the palm of your hand, the Katana Mini is simply fantastic. The amp models are brilliant and the delay (reverb) function is an excellent feature. On "clean" settings the volume of the amp is perfectly adequate and will fill a room with no issues, and on the "crunch" and "brown" settings, the amp was more than loud enough to fill a large room at 2/3 volume. Whilst I personally think that this is not quite enough for an advanced/intermediate players sole amplifier, I would completely agree that for a beginner, they would need no more than this. Having tried options from Yamaha and other brands, this is firmly my favourite battery powered micro amplifier for any level of guitarist and equipment, the tone is simply that good! The best way I can describe it is this – when I first plugged my PRS McCarty 594 into it, I was vaguely aware that I wasn't playing through my Vox. However, after five minutes or so, I had completely forgotten this wasn't a "real" amp, and had to keep looking down at the tiny box on the floor to believe it! Well done, Boss!Mr I. F.

I use it primarily as a practice amp at lower levels, but I'd feel confident doing coffee house gigs with it, and maybe smaller clubs too. It sounds warm and rich at low volumes, and the EQ is effective. All three voices are useful and I'm not left wanting. I have to make special mention of the delay. I adore reverb (including and especially spring reverb and gritty, trashy reverb of all kinds) but a simple delay circuit is way more useful in this amp. Doubling, slapback, echoes. The treble roll-off and fixed feedback are well-tuned. If you're using this for busking or other guerilla performance, you will suddenly realize that a single delay is worth more than a thousand reflections, because those reflections sound godawful* against naturally-occurring surfaces. *maybe awesome in a sound design way thoughChesterfleet

I had previously bought a Roland 80GX but it required too much tweaking to get the sound I was looking for. So I still wasn't satisfied. When I was playing out in the early nineties I was using an all tube Carvin half-stack which was pretty basic…clean or distorted with reverb and very loud. Great amp but I eventually sold that because it was way too much for home use, and frankly, it sounded best when cranked up. I teach guitar now and I don't intend on playing out again, but I still wanted an amp that was simple to use, solid state so I wouldn't be concerned about replacing tubes, and would be powerful enough to do a gig if I ever got swayed into that again. The only built-in effect on the Bandit is reverb which is all I want besides distortion. I've read that it takes pedals great but I haven't gotten around to trying any. The best thing about this amp (for me) is that I can stop searching for the amp I want. This one is perfect. Clean or dirty, it has great sound and can get seriously loud. For my purposes it also sounds very good at low volume.Russ

Overall: I was able to gig with the unit twice before I had to send it back for exchange. The one I got had issues that occurred,buzz started to happen when nothing is plug in and even when all the controls are set to zero,buzz is still fairly loud!and then the three way switch in the rear panel that switches from 100%-50%-25% does not engage to 25% percent. yes this amp is loud! and last of all you have to buy the peavey footswitch….The Great news is, this amp sounds very good both clean and dirty channel. The cleans can be dialed well(fendery!) and takes Overdrive/Distortion well and that's if you need a pedal. The Lead channel has great gain depending on what you use it for! I like the classic Overdrive/Distortion(aka- marshall) setting allot. I play in two different bands, the first band I'm in plays Rock/Alternative,Twang Rock,Blues Rock,Heavy Rock, Responds real well to volume knob adjustments on the guitar during live playing. The other band is more Funk,Jazz fusion,Gospel,R-n-B type and this amp does it well without any pedals! and that's what I bought this amp for! basically I don't wanna use pedals,just amp cable,guitar and the footswitch to switch from clean to dirty and solo boost when needed. And it does it very well! I dig this amp allot. All the features and especially the solo boost function is awesome! the effect loop works well. I hook up my Boss DD20 with two 15ft cables(not live just for home use!) and there was hardly any tone lost or I could not tell at all. And this is coming from an overly picky Guitar Player. This amp is well thought out by Peavey Engineers and last of all its pretty light amp!Now I just have to wait for the other Peavey Bandit to be delivered to my front door and hope its trouble free!,and thank you zZounds for taking care of business, you always took care of me when there were unexpected issues and you got on top of it fast. Thank youWb

Everyone treats this like either a country/blues amp, or a metal amp. But it does fantastic tones for bands in between. Think Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, Kings of Leon, The Gaslight Anthem, Death Cab… those in-between tones…it NAILS them. The amp sounds tube. And i mean that. And i've played/owned a LOT of expensive tube amps. I love this thing. Sounds great. Is it a JCM800, Princeton, AC30, or Deluxe? No. It's not. But it can get amazing ballpark sounds. And I dont mean "Line 6, Fender Mustang" ballpark, I mean close your eyes and it would take a discerning ear. Sounds great at low volume but absolutely keeps up with a drummer at half volume. I can gig with mine no problem. If I HAD to pick something to gripe about, it's that by now the new ones should have the 3 different overdrive types foot-switchable. As it is, you can switch between clean and overdrive. But you set which type of overdrive (vintage, modern, high gain) at the amp and if you want to change your OD type you have to do so with your hands. This is an extremely minor complaint though and I'm being crazy picky. Especially considering that between a tube-screamer, Joyo AC Tone and the vintage channel, I can get every sound I'll ever use. I'm not really into the heavy stuff, but it does do that very well too. Oh also, it takes pedals like a tube amp. I've read reviews from people who say that it doesn't and they must be insane. Also..i dont know why the youtube videos comparing them to fender amps sound so muddy or dark, that is DEFINITELY a settings problem. I can get mine sounding VERY fender. And i'd put it up against a Hotrod Deluxe any day of the week.underXtheXradar

This is a remarkable little amplifier. The positive reviews are all justified. Very diminutive, even senior management, who tends to frown when black boxes arrive, approves. And it produces a variety of great tones in remarkable amounts bearing in mind its small size. Perhaps not for the O2, but great in our lounge and enough muscle for a small venue before it gets a bit chesty. Very happy.biga268

I use it for practice. Although it has a bass setting you can program via the phone kit, the speaker is not as good as a basic bass amp like a fender rumble. The default presets sound the best, and if you need a different sound, it's probably best to use pedals on the clean setting. The effects aren't as good as I hoped for. The chorus effect is nice; but delay, reverb, and spring could be loads better. It gets the job done and I wasn't needing the other effects to be there at all so a good purchase for me, but if you need all the features to be awesome, look elsewhere.Waukegan

Purchased this along with the Squire Bullet Tele. Worked beautifully. All effects. Everything. Then nothing. No power. Nada. Probably why it's discounted $40 when you buy the Tele. Avoid.Joe

So far so good. A little hot with active pickups, def functionally. Appreciate the aux in to feed music or backing track while practicing and very portable. Worth the price.matta2z76

Had my reservations about buying this, a cheap headphone amp, as I have had others in the past and the o/d or distortion always sound awful. Don't get me wrong it isn't replacing my Marshall amp, but for a really portable and handy headphone amp it is great. I can use this, and move, whilst the kids are in bed, no more having to be 2 mtrs from my big amp….. As a practice and experimenting tool I love this!gastall1978

It's better than expected, though the design might not compatible with some guitar models. It requires an AAA battery. Works pretty well with any headphone. It also has an AUX port so that you can plug and play any songs you like and jam along. Thumbs up from me!wamin0

Incredible value for money all tube head… Fantastic on stage as just quiet enough to crank the master past halfway and retain the full valve tone whilst being mic'd. Strangely bass heavy for a Laney… The VC30 and Lionheart I own have both been treble monsters, so I was really surprised to be dialling the bass off here and winding the treble right up. Decent head room to take pedals as well. Bargain.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Fantastic sounding amplifier in both 1w and 15w modes. Spring reverb and boost are excellent additions and the tone from the speaker is outstanding. I upgraded from a HT-1R and am certainly not disappointed. My strat and tele sound awesome! Only complaint is that it would be nice if Laney provided a foot switch in the box.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

We have 5 Marshall’s in our studio 800.900, 2000, silver jubilee, plexi. We also have a Vox and a orange TH. Our first Laney and it sounds fantastic….what a sleeper company…. The sound is all British but it really has great rich smooth harmonics… It compares to our Friedman but at a fraction of the price. We can’t stop playing this boutique sounding amp… Good job LaneyShred Flintstone

Sell all of your dirt pedals, because the DSM has a VERY wide range of dirt available from "hairy" cleans to metal (if that's your thing). I've been playing guitar for 30 years, been through A LOT of amps, & I'll tell you this amp inspires. There is no dirt pedal that can match the clarity and glorious overdrive of the DSM's EL-34 tubes. From mild to wild, there are NO bad tones in this amp, and the three-way mini toggle is just icing on the cake. There is an effects loop that I put a delay & vibrato through, and I only run an Archer Ikon through the front as a boost, which sounds killer through the DSM btw. This is a well thought out design, portable & lightweight, built like a tank. Yes, you want to know if it will keep up with a loud drummer at a gig right? At a bar gig yes. The only instance you will need to absolutely Mike it is if you are playing a large room & want it's cleanest available tone (with the gain at 2 or 3 & the master at full). If you don't want to mike it while gigging larger rooms, get the 40 watt Dirty Shirley. Bottom line..My Telecaster sounds more "alive" than ever as this amp dishes out Brad Paisley tones in spades. My Les Paul sounds thick with an intense clarity at all volume & gain levels. Roll off the guitar's volume & it cleans up beautifully. Even with the mini toggle at it's highest gain setting, roll off your volume pot & the darn thing still cleans up without any noticeable tone loss.Johnny R.