If you’ve got a nice little semi-acoustic ukulele, you’ll need a good-sounding amp for its shine to come through. However, because the ukulele amp market is fairly small and relatively new, most people resort to using guitar amps, myself included.
Quick Look: Best Ukulele Amps
★ #1 Best Ukulele Amp Overall: Fender Acoustatonic 15 ★
- Best Cheap Ukulele Amp: Joyo Portable Acoustic Mini Amp MA-10A
- Best Ukulele Amp Under $1,000: Marshall Acoustic Soloist AS50D
- Best Ukulele Amp Under $500: Line 6 Spider V 20 MKII
The purpose of this best ukulele amps review is to help you pick the right amp for your playing style, tone, and budget. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the finest pieces of gear that the current market has to offer this year.
What Is a Ukulele Amp?
A ukulele amp is essentially an electronic device that can power up semi-acoustic ukuleles, giving the instrument increased volume and more versatile control over the tone.
Most guitar amps can be used as ukulele amps, but you should avoid amplifiers that have an innately distorted sound with high gain levels. Acoustic guitar amplifiers work best with semi-acoustic ukuleles.
Types of Ukulele Amps
Essentially, the classification of ukulele amps is the same as the categorization of guitar amps. The most popular ukulele amp types include:
Pocket Amps
The smallest, lightest, and weakest amps are perfect for home practice, even though they won’t increase the volume of your ukulele dramatically. Most pocket amps feature 3 watts of strength, and their biggest benefits are affordability and compactness.
Portable Amps
Portable ukulele amps are a bit bigger than pocket amps, but they’re still remarkably tiny and light. In comparison to pocket ukulele amplifiers, portable models are typically a bit stronger and outfitted with built-in equalizer features.
Rehearsal Amps
Amps that have at least 10-15 watts can be considered rehearsal amps, as models weaker than this will never be able to punch through the loudness of drums and other instruments.
Ukulele rehearsal amps are of a medium size and are normally a bit more expensive than pocket and portable amps.
Stage Amps
Big, loud, and pricey, ukulele stage amps are designed for professionals, ukulele veterans, and touring musicians. They typically pack more than 20 watts and are available in either head, head & cabinet, and combo variations.
Acoustic Amps
Acoustic amps are specifically designed to augment the clean tones of acoustic guitars, acoustic basses, and ukuleles. They have minimal distortion in their sonic signature, which makes them perfect for all types of ukuleles.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Ukulele Amp
Choosing a ukulele amp involves paying attention to its size, sound, and price. Amps are generally a bit more complicated than the instruments they’re used to power up, so below are the essential elements that you should keep in consideration.
Size
The size of a ukulele amp dictates the way you should store it more than the way it should be used. The size of any amplifier is not a dead giveaway of its power, although it’s safe to assume that larger models pack more wattage power.
Sound
The sound of an amp is difficult to guess, and even if you’re able to test it, there are many parameters that influence its sonic performance. The tone knobs and the way they’re used, for example, can yield numerous different combinations of sounds.
I recommend simple ukulele amplifiers to beginners, which are the models that have just a few straightforward tone control knobs.
If you’re more experienced and interested in experimenting with your ukulele sound, consider more advanced models with versatile controls and onboard effects, such as the Line 6 Spider V, for example.
Price
Ukulele amplifiers are typically more expensive than ukuleles themselves, especially rehearsal and stage amps. However, cheap, reliable models are easy to find.
In my experience, more affordable ukulele amps are simply less powerful and less versatile, but they’re still dependable and reliable.
10 Best Ukulele Amps
The market is full of excellent-quality ukulele amps, so picking the right one may take a bit of time. Now that you know what it takes to pick the best ukulele amplifier, let’s dive into the reviews.
Fender Mini ’65 Twin Amp
- Size: 64 inches by 5.56 inches by 3.35 inches
- Weight: 5 pounds
- Type: Pocket amp
- Watts: 1 watt
- Best for: Best ukulele pocket amp
The Petite Mini ‘65 is a classic Fender-style amp that offers a recognizable vintage sound alongside compact convenience. It’s fairly affordable, built from sturdy materials, and remarkably lightweight.
Furthermore, the Mini ‘65 Twin sports simple tone controls, including gain, volume, and tone, and it’s absolutely perfect for both beginners and professional ukulele players.
✅ Decently affordable
✅ Excellent tone
✅ Perfect for home use
✅ Simple tone controls
❌ Weaker power
❌ Small speakers
Why I Recommend It
Fender’s Mini ‘65 Twin is a gorgeous little pocket amp that was my go-to for quite a while. I recommend it to players who want a good-sounding amp with a magnificent tone and an easy, straightforward EQ.
Joyo Portable 10W Acoustic Mini Amp MA-10A
- Size: 4 inches by 8.43 inches by 6.38 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Type: Portable amp
- Watts: 10 watts
- Best for: Best cheap ukulele amp
The Joyo Portable 10W MA-10A may be petite, but it certainly has power beyond its size. Aside from having a simple 3-band EQ, it also sports two auxiliary controls and two tone types, and more importantly, its sonic signature is pristinely clear.
✅ Compact and lightweight
✅ Very affordable
✅ Clean sonic signature
✅ Bright and normal tone types
❌ Weak speakers
❌ Flimsy mesh guard
Why I Recommend It
Even though I’m personally a fan of big, loud amps, having a smaller one handy means that I don’t need to go to the studio and spend time powering my rig up. If you’re looking for a decently strong compact ukulele amplifier and if you’re on a tight budget, I warmly recommend MA-10A.
Marshall Acoustic Soloist AS50D
- Size: 34 inches by 10.28 inches by 16.38 inches
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Type: Stage amp
- Watts: 50 watts
- Best for: Best ukulele amp under $1,000
The Marshall Acoustic Soloist AS50D is an absolute powerhouse characterized by an iconic tone, remarkable wattage, and dependable performance. It features 50 watts of power, chorus and reverb built-in effects, and two separate channels, each with a dedicated 3-band EQ onboard.
✅ Excellent wattage
✅ Sturdy construction
✅ Two separate channels with 3-band EQs
✅ Onboard chorus and reverb effects
❌ Very expensive
❌ Big and heavy
Why I Recommend It
Marshall is one of the biggest amp-making brands out there, and their Acoustic Soloist AS50D is easily one of the finest amplifiers they’ve ever made. If money’s not an issue and you’re looking for the best ukulele amp, I guarantee you’ll be more than satisfied with the Soloist.
Line 6 Spider V 20 MKII
- Size: 3 inches by 13 inches by 12.2 inches
- Weight: 12 pounds
- Type: Rehearsal amp
- Watts: 20 watts
- Best for: Best ukulele amp under $500
The Line 6 Spider V 20 MKII is one of the most versatile amplifiers on the current market. It emulates more than 200 amplifier models and has built-in effects, an integrated tuner, and a modern-sounding sonic signature. Even though it’s a practice amp, it’s more than suitable for both live gigs and studio recordings.
✅ Superior versatility
✅ More than 200 effects and amplifier tone models
✅ Lightweight and sturdy
✅ Decently affordable
❌ Digital tone
❌ Slightly harder to use than traditional analog amps
Why I Recommend It
I recommend the Spider V MK II to intermediate and professional ukulele players who wish to experiment with different kinds of tones and sounds. This is a well-rounded amp that’s packed with numerous effects and sound styles, all of which are accessible via the Line 6 Spider V app.
Fender Mustang LT-25 Digital Guitar Amplifier
- Size: 25 inches by 14.5 inches by 12.75 inches
- Weight: 15 pounds
- Type: Rehearsal amp
- Watts: 25 watts
- Best for: Best ukulele recording amp
The Fender Mustang LT-25 Digital Guitar Amplifier is, much like Line 6’s Spider V, a well-rounded digital amp with a set of dozens of different tone styles. It’s fairly cheap and much easier to use in comparison to typical digital amplifiers, and it’s a perfect fit for home recordings due to its excellent versatility and portability.
✅ Built from high-quality metal
✅ Decently portable
✅ A versatile array of selectable tones and effects
✅ Programmable user banks
❌ No built-in handle
❌ Limited footswitch options
Why I Recommend It
Even though most people use downloadable rigs and resources to record nowadays, using an actual amp is incomparably better tone-wise. I recommend Fender’s Mustang LT-25 to anyone who wants to capture their tone and songs, and I also recommend it to musicians in a band and live players, as it’s more than strong enough to cut through the noise in smaller to mid-sized venues.
NUX Stageman 50 Watt Acoustic Guitar Amplifier
- Size: 2 inches by 12.6 inches by 9.4 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- Type: Stage amp
- Watts: 50 watts
- Best for: Best sounding ukulele amp
The NUX Stageman is an absolute beast when it comes to live shows. This amp features a highly intuitive 3-band EQ, built-in chorus, reverb, and loop effects, two dedicated channels, and a Bluetooth-operated footswitch pedal.
✅ Remarkable level of versatility
✅ Strong enough for bigger stages
✅ Numerous practice-oriented effects
✅ Excellent sound quality
❌ Expensive
❌ Quite heavy
Why I Recommend It
Nux’s Stageman is a highly versatile, beautiful 50-watt powerhouse that’s perfect for band practice, live performances, and studio recordings. It was specifically designed for live concerts, although its massive versatility provides you with the ability to use it in practically any setting with the same dependability.
Orange Amps Crush Mini
- Size: 26 inches by 5.7 inches by 5.9 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Type: Pocket amp
- Watts: 3 watts
- Best for: Best ukulele amplifier bundle
The Orange Amps Crush Mini is a 3-watt pocket amp that has remarkably simple, highly intuitive controls. It comes in a bundle alongside four guitar picks, a two-pack of patch cables, a power supply adapter, and a 10-inch instrument cable.
✅ Great selection of semi-acoustic ukulele accessories
✅ Perfect for beginners
✅ Intuitive controls
✅ Small and lightweight
❌ Relatively flimsy construction
❌ Weak wattage
Why I Recommend It
Amp bundles offer a perfect opportunity to stock up on semi-acoustic ukulele accessories, but they’re generally more expensive than they should be. Orange Amps’ Crush Mini Bundle stands out as an affordable, well-rounded package that consists of a great-sounding pocket amp and a great selection of accessories.
Sawtooth 10-Watt Electric Guitar Amp
- Size: 5 inches by 5 inches by 11 inches
- Weight: 1 pounds
- Type: Portable amp
- Watts: 10 watts
- Best for: Best compact ukulele amp
The Sawtooth 10-watt amp is small, sturdy, plain, and remarkably affordable. This model features simple tone controls, including volume, gain, master and drive. It also sports a robust 6.5-inch speaker and durable construction.
✅ Ideal for beginners and intermediate skilled players
✅ Portable and light
✅ High affordability
✅ Great for home practice
❌ Relatively quiet
❌ No onboard effects
Why I Recommend It
I recommend Sawtooth’s 10-watt electric amp to anyone who’s looking for a plain, straightforward home amp. It sports a headphone jack so you can practice without bothering others, and its volume controls are exceptionally easy to use.
Blackstar FLY3 Acoustic Amp
- Size: 8 inches by 5.4 inches by 4.2 inches
- Weight: 15 pounds
- Type: Pocket amp
- Watts: 3 watts
- Best for: Best traveling ukulele amp
Despite its petite size, Blackstar’s FLY3 is a remarkably versatile pocket amp. It sports three watts of power, two channels, the patented Infinite Shape Feature, and a built-in digital delay effect. Obviously, it’s the smallest and lightest uke amp on the list.
✅ Great for traveling musicians who want to keep practicing
✅ Tiny and light
✅ High versatility
✅ Patented Infinite Shape Feature
❌ Slightly pricier than most pocket ukulele amps
❌ Flimsy plastic parts
Why I Recommend It
If you miss your amp as soon as you go on a vacation, Blackstar’s FLY3 is a perfect solution for your practicing needs. It’s super small, lightweight, and substantially more versatile than most pocket amps, so I recommend it to all traveling ukulele players.
Fender Acoustasonic 15
- Size: 45 inches by 13.78 inches by 14.37 inches
- Weight: 13 pounds
- Type: Practice amp
- Watts: 15 watts
- Best for: Best ukulele amp overall
Let’s wrap it up with the Fender Acoustasonic 15. This is a portable, lightweight practice amp that boasts 15 watts of power, an onboard 3-band EQ, a dedicated chorus knob, and a headphone input. The sound quality is remarkable, and it’s much more affordable than you’d expect, given its well-rounded performance.
✅ Great for home and band practice
✅ Well-rounded performance
✅ Excellent versatility
✅ Decently sturdy
❌ A bit too weak for live gigs
❌ Potential problems with feedback at max volume
Why I Recommend It
Fender’s Acoustasonic 15 is neither too loud nor too quiet, neither too big nor too small, neither too complex nor too simple. It’s versatile, but at the same time it’s also very easy to use. This is the perfect all-around ukulele amp for home and band practice, although it’s a bit weak for live performances.
Ukulele Amp Aesthetics & Build
The looks of an amp are, in my opinion, insignificant. However, the design and dimensions of an ukulele amplifier are quite important.
Aside from that, you should keep your eye open for the amp’s material, hardware, and electronics.
Material
Typically, the base of a ukulele amp is made of hardwood, which is later reinforced with layers of leather or synthetic materials. The actual durability of any amp is normally not a huge issue, but its stability is.
An amp’s exterior needs to be made of sturdy materials that can isolate the sound coming from the sides and the back.
Hardware
Bolts, screws, nails, and similar features make up a ukulele amplifier’s hardware. While the material of an amp’s exterior defines its sturdiness and dependability, the quality of the hardware dictates the quality of its structural integrity and the complexity of the maintenance process.
Electronics
Tubes, transistors, pre-amps, and various other electronic gadgets make up the amp’s electronics. Essentially, these are the most important features of any ukulele amp, as they have a huge impact on its overall performance, sound quality, and reliability.
Buying New vs Used
Amps can last for years if they’re used properly and maintained regularly. While I don’t recommend buying used ukuleles unless you’re really low on cash, I think buying a used amp may be worth your while.
Amps don’t wear out as fast, and unless they’re used in a completely unusual way, for example with instruments that they’re not compatible with, you can expect their performance to be the same even a decade later.
However, there are some unique benefits you can reap if you buy a new amp, such as guarantees, a warranty, free repairs, and additional accessories that are typically supplied with ukulele amp bundles.
What’s in the Ukulele Amp Box?
Ukulele amp boxes aren’t as common as standalone amplifiers, but the bundles that are out on the market typically include a few handy accessories, such as:
Instrument Cable
The instrument cable is necessary in order to plug your semi-acoustic ukulele into a ukulele amp, so it’s obvious that this is the most common part of any ukulele amp box. You can buy these separately for cheap, though.
Picks
Uke amp bundles are oftentimes identical to guitar amp boxes, so you can expect to find a few picks inside. These accessories aren’t too handy for fingerstyle players, but they can be useful if you ever decide to switch over to picking style.
Polishing Cloth
Amps need to be cleaned and maintained just like ukuleles, so the polishing cloth is a common part of most ukulele amp boxes.
Tuner
Whether it’s a standalone clip-on tuner or a built-in one, tuners are fairly common in ukulele amp packs. This accessory is arguably a bit more valuable than picks and a polishing cloth.
Extras
Each bundle is different, and I’ve seen quite a few boxes that are supplied with features that are more commonly included in ukulele packs, such as gig bags, capos, and such.
See more: Best Concert Ukulele Strings Buyer’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions:
If you still have a few questions regarding ukulele amplifiers, I’ll be more than glad to answer them for you.
How Much Do Ukulele Amps Cost?
Some of the cheapest ukulele pocket amps cost around $50. Portable models cost approximately $70 to $100, while rehearsal amps are typically in the range of $150 to $300. Stage amps are normally above $200.
Where Are the Best Ukulele Amps Made?
The United States and Europe are the current leaders in the ukulele amp industry, although Asia isn’t too far behind.
Where to Buy Ukulele Amps
You can find ukulele amps in any music store, although it may be worth your while to check out popular online marketplaces first.
Amazon
Aside from the huge variety of models Amazon offers, you can expect better prices and different guarantees on any amp you select. I recommend you start your search here.
Online Music Retailers
Amazon’s stocks are finite, so bestselling amps, which are usually the best ones out there, are sometimes unavailable. In that case, I recommend checking out Guitar Center, Fiddlershop, and Sweetwater.
Your Local Music Store
If none of the online marketplaces have what you’re looking for, it would be best if you took a trip to your local music stores. In my experience, ukulele amps in local music shops are pricey, but they’re decent in terms of quality and performance.
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In Conclusion
I hope you liked my review of the best ukulele amps, and before I pull the curtains down, I want to leave you with a few words of advice.
Don’t confuse the amp’s wattage for sound quality. Raw strength is nothing if the electronics are bad. In fact, louder amps are not exactly practical for home practice and are quite punishing in terms of storage.
Finally, amps are meant to last at least a few years, so it’s always better to save up a bit more cash for a good one. Budget amps are great for beginners, but they don’t have the sound quality and versatility of mid-range and boutique models.