The Best Marshall Practice Amps in 2024
For many budding guitarists, owning some of the best Marshall practice amps available today may seem like nothing more than a pipedream.
Yet many of the best Marshall practice amps are not only affordable, but they also come in a variety of different sizes and outputs without sacrificing their innovative features.
This makes owning a Marshall amp an actual aim for any budding guitarist. One which they can enjoy even in the comfort of their room.
Keeping that in mind, it’s time to reveal which are the best Marshall practice amps you can get your hands on today and bring your dreams one step closer to reality.
The best Marshall practice amps available today
Top Pick: Marshall MG15GR
- Clean & overdrive channels
- 3 band EQ
- Custom 8 inch speaker
- Line in for jamming along with tracks
- Emulated headphone output
If you want a practice amp that ticks all the boxes, then Marshall’s MG15GR is the best choice to go with. What makes this stand out is the way you can personalize this for your own needs. This goes for if you want a clear or overdrive mode and equalizer settings on 3 levels and even reverb. All this ties together to form sound settings to suit any style.
Away from customizing your settings, the amp provides great sound quality. This comes through its 15W speakers and design, which mimics larger amps. All this equates to a sound that can be subtle or deafening however you want it. The MG15GR also comes with headphones and MP3 player connections for enhanced playback. A great all-around practice amp worthy of its name.
Pros:
- Great sound
- Saves settings
- Supports playback
Cons:
- No speaker jack
- Some sound issues with headphones
Best Seller: Marshall MG30
- Custom 10 inch speaker
- Modern digital effects
- Emulated headphone output
- Manual & preset channel modes
- Line in for jamming along with tracks. Clean, crunch, OD1, OD2 channels.30 Watt (RMS) Output @ 4 Ohms
Part of the MG-Gold Series, the MG30, is a real powerhouse in terms of practice amps. What makes this such a fun amp to play with is the amount you can do with it. It has 4 channels to play with, including two overdrive channels and 9 different effects to alter your sound.
The MG also caters to players of any experience, too. There are several presets beginners can enjoy whilst the manual options give more advanced players as much control as they want over their sound.
It offers headphone support with noise cancellation features, allowing no external sounds to ruin your jamming session. It also looks great too with gold-plated markers on all faces of the amp. This makes for an impressive look on top of dominant sound.
Pros:
- Noise cancelling playback
- Lots of effects
- Great look
Cons:
- Misleading flashing lights
- No guide for manual settings
Premium Pick: Marshall DSL40
- Gain and volume per channel. Dedicated resonance control. 2 separate master volume controls
- Reverb. High and low power settings
- Now with Celestion V type speaker
- Softube Emulated output
- 4 x ECC83 and 2 x EL34 valves.Output wattage: 40w (with power reduction option to 20w)
From Marshall’s signature DSL line, the DSL40 packs a big punch for a practice amp. But this shines through no matter how you set up your guitar. This is because you can play your settings in no less than 5 different areas through high or low power to give full control over your sound setup. This works no matter if you are altering gain, equalizer or reverb settings.
It’s not a power-hungry device either with the amp able to operate at 20W or 40W depending on the settings you use. Throw in no less than 2 master volume switches and you have full control over everything you do with the DSL40. With optional jacks for headphone use and MP3 playback, this is an amp that puts you in control.
Pros:
- Full control over effects
- Restricted power options
- Powerful speakers
Cons:
- Minor issues with reverb settings
- No manual for use
4: Marshall MS2 Amp
- Battery Operated (Best with Polaroid 9V Batteries)
- 1 Watt
- Volume & tone control
- Headphone jack
- 0.34 lbs.
It may seem smaller than many of its cousins, but the MS2 is a great little practice amp for jamming in your room. Even though it fits into the palm of your hand, the MS2 delivers excellent sound through either a clean or overdrive channel. You can alter this through an easy-to-use dial that helps you find the sound you need in just a few seconds.
What makes the MS2 stand out is that it is extremely easy to use everywhere. This comes down to its ability to run on just one battery and fit easily within any bag. It still has dedicated headphones jacks to drown out the world, allowing you to play all day no matter where you might be. All this enables the MS2 to prove that great amps don’t have to be large devices.
Pros:
- Battery powered
- Comes with an accompanying case
- Dual channels
Cons:
- Low clean sounds
- Rattles at louder volumes
5: Marshall MS4
- Battery Operated (Best with Polaroid 9V Batteries)
- Smokin’ stack design
- Screamin’ stack sound
- Functional gain, volume, and tone controls
The Marshall MS4 Stack might be the smallest amp stack in existence, but it doesn’t miss a beat. This stack comprises two dual speakers which have 4 channels to control from this mini-combo. Despite being a stack, the whole combo sits at only 25cm, making it easy to transport and still get a great sound no matter where you play.
It is all powered by just one 9V battery enhancing its ability to be played anywhere. The additional headphone sockets let you also plug in and play without arousing suspicion from anyone nearby. It’s a surprising combination that gives a big sound from a small package.
Pros:
- Portable
- Runs on batteries
- Headphone support
Cons:
- Slight rattles
- Muffles on louder volumes
What are the best characteristics of a Marshall amp?
No matter what era you look back on, all the rock greats have used Marshall amps in their career. Whether it’s in music videos or gig posters, you can’t escape the huge amps and iconic logo. So why are Marshall amps so revered by guitar enthusiasts? And what makes them so iconic?
An Iconic Look
Let’s be honest—half the appeal of a Marshall amp comes from their look. With their huge front face covering the speakers, they look epic from a distance or close up. Then you get the famed silver name imprinted on the top of the face to confirm the authenticity. All this adds up to feeling like you own a piece of history in your very own home.
Masterful Engineering
Aside from the looks, Marshall amps are engineered beautifully to produce impressive sound. The glorious sounds produced come from the company’s unique approach during the construction of their amps.
Behind the speaker heads, Marshall amps use vacuum tubes to channel the sound waves and reduce the vacant space to deliver a loud and direct sound. These are filtered and changed by specially designed components to translate these sounds into the loud and crisp tones we know Marshall amps for producing.
Unique designs and variations
If you think that Marshall amps come as just those famous big units, then you would be mistaken. Marshall amps come in most shapes and sizes.
Some models, such as the MS line, are much smaller and can fit on a desk or a bed for practice in your own home. This is a far cry from premium model ranges, such as the DSL line that are still small enough for home use and use on an indoor or outdoor stage.
You will also find that amplifiers come in both individual units and combination stacks. Stacks comprise two or three devices in a similar range to give a larger sound presence – great for playing on stage or in a studio. Meanwhile, individual units are great for just jamming or practising wherever you see fit.
FAQ
Are Marshall amps made in England?
They manufacture most of the leading Marshall amp series in the UK, but they also made smaller models and basic products in several locations in East Asia
Are all Marshall amps battery-powered?
No—only some amps in the MS product line run on battery power. Most will need to run through a direct power source to operate properly.
What music styles work well with Marshall amps?
Most styles will produce wonderful sounds through a Marshall amp, but classic rock and hard rock styles produce the best tones from these devices.
So what is the best Marshall practice amp?
No matter which type of Marshall amp you opt to choose from, you’ll find some significant benefits to enjoy. Even if the MS products like the MS2 and the MS4 might look small, their easily portable nature makes them a brilliant investment. Likewise, the DSL40 gives you all the control you could wish to find in a practice amp – without having a heavy unit to set up.
However, we think the MG line of products—such as the MG15 and the MG30—are the best practice amps in the Marshall umbrella. They provide all the tech and effects more premium series offer but remain easily portable like smaller models. It is why these are the best Marshall practice amps around today and allow you to play and sound like the rock stars of yesteryear.
