Best Amps for Acoustic Guitar (our top picks)

I always try to avoid over-complicating the recommendations we make, and my acoustic amp recommendation is a good example of that.

The Fishman Loudbox Mini BT is a solid go-to in the acoustic amp category.

While you can level-up to Mesa/Boogie for nicer options (which we'll cover) the price point of the Loudbox MINI series (various wattage versions) is going to be very manageable for the most people. 

And it checks off all our boxes of what makes the best acoustic amps tick:

• Faithfully maintains and promotes the natural resonance of an acoustic guitar
• Provides a full spectrum of EQ and feedback suppression
• Includes some acoustic-friendly onboard effects
• Has multiple channels
• Provides a balanced direct out (recording/PA system)
• Is affordable

So while we'll list some honorable mentions, the Fishman Loudbox MINI gets you all of this at an incredibly high value. You can take my word for it and just buy one, or keep reading. 

Compare More Acoustic Amps and Honorable Mentions

This section lets you compare the Loudbox to some other popular acoustic amps, including the Mesa/Boogie Rosetta. I always have a hard time saying no to Mesa amps, but it's certainly more money than the Loudbox. You can see live pricing for whatever amps you select.

Pricing Info

We pull live pricing from the most popular retailers to help you compare and find the best deal. But, really, they're mostly going to be the same if you buy new. You can find used options on Reverb and eBay.

Note that we've included a few different versions from the MINI series, as well as some bundles from Sweetwater.

Amazon Pricing

Pricing from Multiple Vendors

Price Alert (lowest price among listed vendors)

What are some highlight reel features?

I've mentioned a few features I like, but I'll try and consolidate them here in a bulleted list:

• Two channels
• Feedback suppression
• Microphone input (good for small gigs or practice)
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Direct out

Based on what I like to see in an acoustic amp, there's nothing missing here. The effects include reverb and chorus, though you could certainly add more via external pedals.

Read more: Best Pedals for Acoustic Guitar

Will the 60 watt version be loud enough for gigs?

Even higher wattage amps will struggle to fill a mid to large room, so sending the Loudbox MINI out on its own will only be workable in smaller bars and restaurants. However, it's easy to solve that problem with a PA system (more money, I know), which you'll probably need for a microphone anyway.

Personally, I don't love the idea of having to use an acoustic amp for my guitar and microphone, even though the Loudbox supports a microphone input.

That's a great setup for practice/rehearsal.

But even in smaller venues where you're performing, you should have a mixing system and speaker mains.

How good are the effects on the Loudbox MINI?

Both the chorus and reverb are digital models, which I think are fine for most acoustic guitar setups. When I use effects with an acoustic, it's usually just for a very subtle layer of modulation or ambience.

It adds extra texture that isn't really meant to be "front and center" but that definitely makes the tone more interesting and layered.

The onboard effects sound great in that context.

For anything more intricate, I'd probably try and run things from a pedalboard.

Does it have an onboard tuner?

The Fishman Loudbox MINI does not have an onboard tuner.

This is kind of a bummer, but most amps, acoustic or otherwise, do not provide onboard tuners.

In some cases, you'll have a tuner built into the acoustic guitar's preamp. It just depends on the guitar. The only alternative is to use a pedal tuner, like the Boss TU-3, which works great with acoustics.

Conclusion

The top sellers are a reliable indicator of what your best option is going to be, especially when it comes to guitar gear.

Of course, you need to do some research and put these recommendations in your context. It's also about making sure you don't pay for things you don't want or need, so look at the features and get a feel for the features what you want to pay for.

But I think the Fishman Loudbox MINI will be the highest-value option for the most people.

If you have questions about it, let me know down in the comments section.

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