Best Lightweight Guitar Amps

We’ve all seen the iconic amplifier walls of arena-rocking guitarists and felt the immediate desire to plug in, but is bigger always better? Stadium-sized sonics aren’t just for full stacks and multi-amp arrangements! Join live sound maestro Mitch Gallagher as he breaks down some of the best lightweight guitar amps that are anything but small on sound. Take a listen!

#Sweetwater #Guitar #Amp #Guide #MitchGallagher

[BeachJazzMusic]

I got my Quilter Aviator Mach 3 combo (the big brother to the Cub) from you guys and I couldn't be happier. It gets a bunch of different sounds, takes pedals really well, sounds amazing and is really loud. No tubes to go bad but sounds better than most tube amps. It weights in at 21 lbs. BTW I've been a professional guitarist for over 40 years.

[sejtaridiss]

I'm still in love with my Vox Pathfinder 15 (non R version for me). Small, beuatiful cleans and takes pedals well. Small and light. Enough to fill a small to medium room. Such a bueaty.

[samsantanamusic]

It’s great to see these things being tested in a real world band scenario. And I always love practical lightweight gear that sounds good! Some really solid playing as well.

[amrofarid]

Great vid! First time I see Mitch rock out like that, that was awesome you got a great touch and sweet chops!

[marktullo]

I bought a Boogie MK5/25 combo 3 years ago for exactly the reason this clip was about...lightweight, great tone and plenty of power to handle just about any gig or rehearsal. I also have a lightweight 1x12 extension cab I use with the combo. I put a Greenback in it to round out the sound, but even alone, the single 10" in the combo would be enough. Just a great little beast... However, one other amp I have that still comes in fairly lightweight (32 lbs) is my Katana MKII 100 1x12 combo. I realize the weight limit in this test was 25, but as an old school player that used to have to deal with amp heads that came in at around 50+ pounds along with heavy 2x12 or 4x12 cabs, or even Combos that weighed 60 to 70+, anything under 35 lbs that I can grab and go to a gig or rehearsal with is a major bonus. Great test, Mitch....thanks!

[jloch]

The orange 35rt was a nice surprise. Not normally known for clean. Nice warm almost valve like tone

[danieliger]

Depends on the drummer that you’re playing with. This drummer is playing with a light touch. So naturally all of these amps cut it.

[davestagner]

I use a Fender Tone Master Deluxe with both guitar and pedal steel, and I love it. It’s the first digital amp I’ve played that not only sounds real, but feels real. It responds correctly to dynamics. Mine sits side by side with a vintage 1977 Mesa Mark I that I’ve played for over a decade. Is it as good as the Mesa? Not quite - but neither is any tube Deluxe I’ve heard. Is it close enough that I wind up choosing the Tone Master Deluxe over the Mesa regularly? YES. Especially if it’s leaving the house - the Mesa weighs literally three times as much as the Tone Master! Not long after getting it, I took it to a jam with my pedal steel. Afterward, two different people who own real vintage blackface Deluxes asked me if it was vintage or a reissue. It’s good enough to fool people used to the real thing, it’s good enough for me.

[johns]

That was a great, informative demo guys. Thank you!

[eskytube]

Shred it Mitch ! well presented as always

[theiranxican]

Smaller amps can work just fine depending on your style of play. It also helps to elevate the amp on a stand/case or angle the amp upwards to maximize dynamics.

In my opinion either the Mesa or Fender combo will be your best bet regarding output with a band. Both brands have been engineered with greater power to where playing soft/heavy music won't matter. But I digress.

[stjepanbilic]

We need more videos like this with drums and bass.

[renodavid]

It was interesting how the Orange captured a bit of the Peter Green thing from the earliest days of Fleetwood Mac when he played pretty clean using the neck pickup. The song “Fleetwood Mac” comes to mind. Well he was playing Orange amps early on, but it could be just a psychological thing going on.🤷‍♂️

[andrewgremba]

Will they keep up? I'm that style you played...yes. In rock? Or metal? Not likely. I love Sweetwater though. Top notch people.

[robertcarey]

Don't let these guys BS you, if you are playing elevator music and only need to play at 80 or 85 decibels then all these will as would an acoustic guitar at 80 decibels. The blues jams I go to the overall volume is around 95 - 100 decibels and if that was the case then the Blackstar and maybe the Mesa would work all the rest would need a microphone into the PA

[kevinperry]

Lightweight heavy hitters for sure. Sweet licks too! Very nice. Great video, thanks 🤘

[chrisf]

Thank you SW / MG - what a great concept and another fantastic demo. Love to stop by with some bevs and listen to the band - cheers!

[CraigDeubler]

Great video, would like to see a round 2 that takes the band up a notch to do some hard rock, maybe include the 20W Marshall Studio series.

[MustafaBaabad]

Surprising to see Marshall and Orange can compete well with more expensive speakers. Cheers from Indonesia.

[LysanderLH]

I use a Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb. Works well with effects direct into inputs but doesn’t have an fx loop! Weighs about the same as a guitar in a case and has enough volume.