While they are well known for their tube amps, Fender does not shy away from technology, developing and releasing DSP-powered amps that represent them in the entry-level market. The Mustang LT is one such amp, with 20 amp models that include emulations of iconic tube amps from Fender, along with 25 digital effects.

This is a great practice amp, with more than enough effects and amp models to cover much of old and modern musical styles. It's also easy to use and carry around, so you can practice anywhere inspiration strikes.

In particular the clean tones are really good. It's important to do some of your practice on clean settings because it helps expose timing errors whereas the heavy tones with reverb can mask problems with some parts or runs you need to improve.

The high gain tones are Ok, but when you crank the amp they can sound a bit brittle or thin. This isn't much of a problem for practice, and given it's small 8" speaker, this is not an amp for playing heavy and loud.

Other features include color display, headphone out, aux input and USB connectivity.

If you're looking for a practice amp with good balance of tone quality and sonic versatility, then check out the Fender Mustang LT 25.

Specifications

• Power Rating: 25 Watts
• Speaker: 1 x 8"
• Amp Models: 20
• Effects: 25
• Controls: Gain, Volume, Treble, Bass, Master, Preset Control Switches
• Input: 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8" (Aux)
• Output: 1 x 1/8" (Headphones
• Weight: 14.9 lbs.

Positive Grid have taken software and hardware integration to another level with the Spark 40 producing a compact amp that's crazy versatile and a system that 'just works' for home practice use. The the amp is pitched toward home practice for electric guitar, bass guitar and acoustic guitar which is a lot to pack into one unit. If that's not enough it's also a pretty capable bluetooth speaker as well.

There are over 30 amp models to chose from and these can be combined with over 40 pedal effects. To control all this you need to use Positive Grid's "Spark Amp" app via bluetooth which is available on the Android and IOS app stores. The app really does offer a smooth and polished experience that 'just works' while offering a ton of useful options at your fingertips.

Positive Grid where previously known for their excellent 'BIAS' software modelling apps and that experience shines through here. The amps and effect models are quite good but the sound is hampered by the speakers sounding too bass heavy which often leads to a 'muddy' tone by default. There are ways to address this but it's a hassle to have to deal with. Not everyone find this a problem but many do including myself so be warned.

The Spark 40 on a table. Ideally it should be closer to the edge to reduce low frequency build up

The Spark 40 aims for the look and feel of a small boutique amp and they've done a pretty job at making it home friendly as possible. You still have your classic amp control knobs for gain, Hi/Mid/Low and Master volume plus Mod Level, Delay and Reverb and you can store 4 patches in the unit.

One of the highlights of the package are the features that allow you to play along with practically any song on YouTube with chords automatically detected and shown. There's also a 'Smart Jam' feature where you can play a short chord progression and it will add a bass and drum accompaniment as well as generic track for you to Jam with. This doesn't always produce great results but it can be handy.

If you're looking for a home friendly amp with a ton of sounds and practice options literally at your fingertips via the app then this is a great choice.

Specifications

• Power Rating: 40 Watt Class D
• Speaker: 2 x 4"
• Amp Models: 30 Amp Models
• Effects: 40 Effects (Noise Gate, Compressor, Distortion, Modulation, Delay, Reverb)
• Controls: Amp Type, Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble, Master, Mod, Delay, Reverb, Output Volume, Music Volume, Four Programmable Preset Buttons, Tap/Tuner Button
• Input: 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8" Aux
• Output: 1/8" Headphones
• Extra Features: Bluetooth Streaming, USB Audio Recording, Smart Jam (Auto-Accompaniment), Auto Chords
• Weight: 11.46 lbs.

Instead going for quantity, the Katana Head MkII limits its number of amp models to just 10. And this limitation has proven to be a sensible choice, Boss was able to focus on fewer amp models that actually matter, making them sound substantially better than the average amp modeler.

The Katana series started with just 5 amp models, Clean, Crunch, Lead, Brown and Acoustic. The MkII version expands it with a "Variation" button, which provides a modified version of the original, expanding the total voicings to 10. More importantly, all these amp models sound good, no fluff or useless models among them.

The Katana series initially made waves for its impressive Lead and Brown mode high-gain tones. The MkII further establishes this reputation with nice saturation, tight response and heavy bass that fits modern metal nicely. The Crunch mode is quite good for an attempt at mid-gain tone, but it's a bit too refined sounding, which is contrary to the more open vintage tones you'd expect from mid-gain style amps. The Clean and Acoustic channel does the job really well, but not as bright as old school amps, which can be good or bad depending on your preference.

Another important feature of the amp is its built-in power attenuator, which lets you lower the power rating from 100W to 50W, and all the way down to 0.5W. And it even comes with an internal 5" speaker which you can use at the lowest power setting, turning this loud amp into an instant bedroom practice amp. This is a big deal, because it not only ups the functionality of the amp, it also crosses over between being an amp head, and a combo amp. For me, this is what makes the Katana Head MkII an incredibly good deal.

And since this amp is made by Boss, it has very good quality effects built into the amp, which again expands your sonic palette without compromising tone.

Other features to note include having multiple boost types, a power amp input, and an effects loop, making this a truly stage ready and pedalboard friendly amplifier. It also has a software editor which opens up the amp for deeper parameter tweaking, but it takes a bit of time to get used to.

If you're looking for a true all-in-one amp head that you can use in your bedroom and on stage, then get the Boss Katana Head MkII.

Specifications

• Power: 100W (Power Attenuator: 50W, 0.5W)
• Amp Models: 10
• Effects: 60 Boss Effects
• Controls: Amp Type, Gain, Volume, 3-Band EQ, Booster/Mod, FX/Delay, Reverb, Presence, Master, Power Control, Variation, Cab Resonance, User Preset
• Input: 1 x 1/4, 1 x 1/4" (Power Amp), 1 x 1/8" (Aux)
• Outputs: 2 x 1/4" (Line/Speaker), 1 x 1/4" (Headphones/Rec)
• Weight: 19.4 lbs.

With its 240 Watts of power and dual 12" speakers, the Spider V 240 MkII packs Line 6's amp modeling technology into a combo amp that's meant to be loud. It has more than enough volume to fill most stages and venues, while retaining the versatile DSP functionality of the Spider V line.

It comes with the same amp modeling selection that's found in other Spider V amps, letting you choose from a total of 78 amp models, 24 cabinet simulations and 4 mics. You also have to consider its built-in effects, which allow for over 100 options, expanding your tone palette even further.

That's a lot of tone options, and this is really what the Spider line is known for. Quality wise, the amp models sound OK, but they can actually sound better, with a bit more tweaking and use of the software controller. Unfortunately, not everyone has the patience for tweaking, hence the Spider series infamy for average sounding default presets. So if you're not into tweaking and diving deep into controls, then this might not be for you.

Once tweaked, the Spider V 240 MkII has a polished sound that can be saved and loaded up instantly as you please. I particularly like its clean sound presets, and its id to high-gain tones. Combined with its big speakers, this makes it a true all-in-one rig that covers a lot of genres. On the flipside, the presets can sound too polished, to the point that it misses on some nuance that makes guitar tones sound musical. Still, "processed" tones can get the job done consistently night after night, without having to deal with the sonic limitations, maintenance needs and sensitivities of a tube amp. And in live situations, most of the musical nuances of great sounding amps are usually drowned out by the band anyway. This amp is really not meant to replacement for great sounding amps, rather it is meant to be a convenient and reliable all-in-one workshorse amp.

This amp also houses two tweeters for fuller higher frequencies, which ups the realism of the modeled amp sounds. This for me is what separates the Spider V240 MkII from conventional amps. The downside to this setup is that your tone sounds more like sampled tracks than coming from an amp. So for those who aren't fans of the tweeters, Line 6 added a Classic Speaker mode where the tweeter is turned off, along with cabinet and mic emulation. This allows for more traditional amp feel and simpler setup.

Speaking of setup, getting familiar with the controls and the overall functions of the amp will take a while. This is not a plug-and-play amp. Having a built-in power attenuator would've added even more value to this amp. Without one, this loud amp is limited to stage and big venue use.

If you're looking for a reliable and loud amp that stays within reasonable budget, then check out the Line 6 Spider V 240 MkII.

Specifications

• Power Rating: 240 Watts
• Speaker: 2 x 12" Woofer, 2 x Tweeter
• Amp Models: 78 x Amps, 24 x Cabs, 4 x Mics
• Effects: 100+ Digital Effects
• Controls: Drive, 3-Band EQ, Volume, Comp, Fx1, Fx2, Fx3, Reverb, Master, Preset
• Input: 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8" (Aux in)
• Output: 1 x 1/4" (Headphones), 1 x XLR (Right, L/Mono)
• Extra Features: Classic Speaker Mode (Turns off Cab modeling and Tweeter), Built-in Tuner, Metronome, Looper, and Drum Loops
• Weight: 42.9 lbs.