Guitar amps with Bluetooth compatibility allow you to easily connect to your mobile device in order to seamlessly stream music. It is hard to overstate the importance of playing along with songs, solos, and musical excerpts when practicing. Bluetooth-equipped amps are a phenomenal solution for this.
Guitarists and the market know this, as you can now find plenty of guitar amps with Bluetooth. They come in different sizes and wattage capacities, from more traditional 1×12 setups all the way to all-headphone models.
With so many options out there, how do you know what to get? We’re here to help. Keep reading.
Read more about our review process.
Yamaha THR30 II Wireless
Features: Wireless receiver, 15 Amp models, Companion app
Benefits: True wireless capability, Easy parameter changes, Superb sound quality
Positive Grid Spark
Features: Twin 4" speakers, 10,000+ Presets, AI Technology
Benefits: Fantastic for practice, Huge volume, Hands free operation
Blackstar Fly 3 Blue
Features: ISF EQ feature, Tape delay effect, Emulated line out
Benefits: Great cleans, Doubles as a multimedia speaker, Ultra portable
Contents
Our Top 3
The Positive Grid Spark Combo Amp is our Top Pick. This convenient Bluetooth amp offers good tone, ease of use, and plenty of features, tones, and sounds, with a strong 40 watts of power.
The Blackstar Fly 3 Blue is our Best Budget option. This is a battery-powered 3-watt guitar combo amp that features Blackstar’s Infinite Shape Feature, which allows you to dial in a British or American tone. With a simple control interface, this amp is ideal for practicing.
Finally, the Yamaha THR30 II Wireless is our Editor’s Choice. This Bluetooth amp for discerning musicians offers great tone, versatility, and ease of use with a solid construction, stylish design, and maximum convenience.
Individual Reviews
Positive Grid Spark Combo Amp
A complete solution with an endless array of options.
This is a fantastic option that gives you good tone, ease of use, and seemingly endless features, tones, and sounds. Well-built and intuitive, this Positive Grid amp will work nicely for any style or genre.
The Positive Grid Spark Combo Amp is a great choice for practicing and jamming and comes with numerous useful features. We plugged in our Strat and got a nice 40 watts of power that was plenty to fill up our room with sound. We loved not only the compact form factor of this amp, but also the design which features all controls conveniently located on the top.
This amp provides seven distinct voices, selectable via a knob on the left side of the top panel. Here, we picked Clean to start our tests. We got a nice round low end, with an excellent definition for such a small amp. The true character of our Strat came through, from the bitey tone of the bridge pickup to the rounder and funkier attack in position four.
With options labeled Bass, Acoustic, Glassy, Crunch, Hi-Gain, and Metal, this Spark Grid amp has got you covered for any style you want. Next up we tried Metal, where we got a gnarly and heavily distorted tone with a nice note definition. This voice was perfect for working on fast runs, as well as heavier riffs and parts.
Besides offering good tone and intuitive operation, the Spark Combo gave us plenty of flexibility to use as a standalone unit. With dedicated knobs for Delay, Reverb, and Mod, plus a three-band EQ, we were able to easily dial our favorite tones in conjunction with the seven available amp voices.
However, you can go much deeper via the Spark App (available for iOS/Android) via Bluetooth. Here you get an impressive 10,000 presets so you can dial just about any sound you could possibly want.
Verdict: The Positive Grid Spark Combo Amp is a great amp for practicing and jamming with an impressive number of quality features. With 40 watts of power and a compact form factor, this amp is very versatile and convenient.
Blackstar Fly 3 Blue
An ultra-small practice amp that does not require headphones.
The Blackstar Fly 3 Blue is a battery-powered 3-watt guitar combo amp that comes with the company's patented Infinite Shape Feature. In terms of portability, this amp is among the best. We also loved how simple its control interface is, with just four straightforward knobs.
We started playing with our Strat plugged in and added a bit of the onboard tape delay effect while keeping the Gain low. We got a nice tone for practicing chord voicings, classical etudes on electric, and more. Not only was the sound clean and well-balanced, the response of this amp was good, considering just how tiny it is.
We also got a kick out of the ISF, especially with distortion added via the Gain knob. The Infinite Shape Feature gave us more of a Fender amp tone when turned counterclockwise, and more of a Marshall or British tone when turned clockwise. This feature adds variety to this amp and lets you choose your preferred tone at any given time.
One of the strongest features of this amp is Bluetooth connectivity. We paired it up with our cellphone in order to jam to some YouTube tracks, in a seamless operation. This fact alone makes this Blackstar amp a great choice for beginners who are transcribing solos or playing along with practice tracks.
This unit operates via 6 AA batteries or you can use a power supply (sold separately). In short, a very convenient practice amp that delivers everything you need in a simple and easy to use unit.
Verdict: The Blackstar Fly 3 Blue is a battery-powered 3-watt guitar combo amp that comes with the company’s patented Infinite Shape Feature. In terms of portability, this amp is among the best. We also loved how simple its control interface is, with just four straightforward knobs.
Yamaha THR30 II Wireless
An ideal Bluetooth amp for discerning musicians.
Yamaha is renowned for providing quality solutions for musicians for decades. The THR30 II Wireless is no exception and gives the user great tone, versatility, and ease of use in a complete solution for practicing and jamming with quality.
The Yamaha THR30 II Wireless guitar amp comes with a durable and solid construction, stylish design, and maximum convenience. We loved how sturdy its enclosure is, and the fact that it features a convenient aluminum handlebar to move it around easily.
This Bluetooth amp comes with an impressive 15 guitar tube amplifier emulation settings. These feature Yamaha’s Virtual Circuitry Modeling (VCM) technology. This technology provides realistic sound and response.
We started our test with our Strat on the Clean setting. With a bit of chorus and echo reverb added via two dedicated onboard effects knobs, we got a beautiful open tone on this 30-watt amp.
This Yamaha Bluetooth amp produces quality practice tone and offers different distortion settings via its distinct voices. For instance, when set on Lead we got a punchy drive that was great for solos and riffing. We also liked the fact that the Gain knob allowed us to further change the distortion level of each amp voice.
In addition to all the choices on the main panel, you can also use this amp with the free Yamaha Rec’n’Share app. This app was designed to let players record audio along with songs from their music library and then share their performances online.
For greater convenience, this amp runs on an internal, rechargeable battery. Conversely, you can also opt to use it via AC power. In short, a superior Bluetooth amp with great sound, features, and convenience.
Verdict: The Yamaha THR30 II Wireless offers a nice tone and plenty of options on a convenient Bluetooth amp. With durable construction, stylish design, and ultimate convenience, this amp offers everything for the practicing musician who values quality and tone and is willing to pay for it.
Fender Mustang GTX 50
A good choice for you practice room to the stage.
The Mustang series of Fender amps gives musicians access to a huge array of artist-designed presets, which is part of the reason these amps are so popular. Besides, you can also create your own presets, and manipulate your effects any way you want them. The GTX 50 is one of the most comprehensive amps in this series.
The Fender Mustang GTX50 is a 50-watt guitar combo amplifier that relies on modeling technology and features a 1×12″ configuration with a Celestion speaker. It offers you over 40 amp models and works in tandem with the free Fender TONE 3.0 smartphone app.
With our trusty Strat, we auditioned many of the seemingly endless presets on the GTX50. Some of our favorites included presets with models of a ’57 Deluxe, ’57 Twin, ’65 Princeton, and ’90s American. We tried these while adjusting their settings and adding effects. Although all produced good enough distortion for certain contexts, we preferred them most in clean settings.
This amp is a good choice for beginners or players who want a versatile amp. However, with so many options, it can be a bit overwhelming for folks that prefer to plug in and quickly dial in true tube tone.
The Bluetooth streaming capability of this amp as well as the 1/8″ headphone output may strongly suggest that it is designed for practice even more so than gigging. In any case, this amp is capable of doing both and is especially good for practicing.
In short, a good amp for folks starting out and who want plenty of choices and to explore and create their own tones.
Verdict: The Fender Mustang GTX50 is a Bluetooth-equipped amp that gives you 50 watts of power on a 1×12″ configuration. With over 40 amp models, extensive onboard effects, and 200 presets, you get a very versatile amplifier for gigging and practicing.
Marshall Code 50
The amp giant delivers again with modeling technology.
This amp gives you lots of sounds thanks to modeling technology. Whether you choose to operate it via the onboard knobs or the mobile app, this Marshall is a truly practical and convenient amp for the stage or for practicing.
The Marshall Code 50 features 50 watts of power and relies on modeling technology to deliver superb flexibility. This combo amp comes with a 12″ speaker, 14 digital preamp models, speaker emulation, four power amp models, and more.
The first thing we liked about this amp is that Marshall chose to have the control panel on the top part of the amp instead of the front, as in more traditional models from this brand. This made it easier for us to dial our tones and explore the amp, whether standing or seated.
Plugging our Fender Strat directly into the Code 50, we were taken aback by just how many tonal options this amp features. After auditioning numerous presets, we preferred the clean ones over the distorted or overdriven options.
For instance, we really liked the tone and response we got with the JMV Clean Reverb preset. Our Strat’s character came through on this preset, with a beautiful chime and forward mids that were more musical than aggressive. The American Clean Chorus was another one of our favorite presets, giving us a gentle chorus effect with a nice and balanced overall tone.
Although the distorted and saturated presets sounded well, they were no match for real tube Marshall tone, which may turn off some users. That said, this amp does excel in terms of convenience, as it weighs a fraction of those Marshall tube amps with great distortion.
In short, this Marshall Bluetooth amp is a fantastic option for small club gigs and for practicing. Because of its features and price, it is a great choice for folks looking for a first amp.
Verdict: The Marshall Code 50 offers great flexibility with plenty of tones and sounds thanks to modeling technology. Besides offering you 50 watts of power, you also get digital preamp models, digital effects, speaker emulation, and Bluetooth Connectivity.
Boss Katana Air
Ultimate convenience with wireless operation.
When you talk about guitar gear, Boss is among the top brands. They got into the Bluetooth guitar amp market with a great offering in the Katana Air. This is a slick and compact amp that lets you dial in a vast variety of tones, with the reliability and quality that we've come to associate with Boss.
The Boss Katana Air features stereo speaker operation and comes with five amp voicings and customizable effects, making it a versatile amplifier. Plugging in our Strat, we started our tests with the Brown amp voicing, which we chose on the knob at the left of this unit.
We got a powerful growl with tons of harmonic, with a strong Eddie Van Halen character. We were impressed by this tone, especially coming from such a small amp. Needless to say, the Brown amp voicing was perfect for fast soloing and powerful rock riffing.
Our second favorite amp voicing was Clean, which gave us a pristine tone. This voicing was great for all kinds of clean rhythm playing, from open chords and arpeggios on position four with a bit of reverb, all the way to some chicken picking on the neck position.
For the first part of our tests, we had this unit plugged into a wall outlet via the included power adapter and used a cable. Here we got 30 watts of power from speakers. We then unplugged the power adapter and cable and used the included wireless transmitter. In order to save power and last longer, the Katana air switches to 20 Watt operation on the speaker, when not plugged in with the power adapter.
It was fun to play using the wireless transmitter and this Bluetooth amp does up the ante regarding convenience, also adding motion activation. You don’t even need a cable and can get up to 12 hours on a single charge of the wireless transmitter.
Besides the included Booster/Mod, Delay/FX, and Reverb controls, you can dial in your own custom sounds via the Tone Studio app. This app allows you to download a great number of setups from the BOSS Tone Central website, and also create and save your own.
Verdict: The Boss Katana Air gives you ultimate convenience and comes with five amp voicings and customizable effects. It is well-built and easy to use, offering tons of flexibility in the unit itself and a world of sounds via the Tone Studio app.
Fender Mustang Micro Headphone Amp
Quality tones with flexibility that fit in the palm of your hand.
If you're looking for a practice option that you can use in any imaginable place, the Mustang Micro is for you. Super small, and with several tonal options with intuitive control, this headphone Bluetooth amp lets you practice anywhere at any time.
The Mustang Micro Headphone Amp features 12 amps and 13 effect models from the popular Fender Mustang GTX amp series. We plugged the Mustang Micro directly into our Strat via its foldable 1/8-inch output. After plugging in the included headphones, we paired this mini amp with our phone via Bluetooth by pushing the on/off button for two seconds.
The first thing we loved about the Mustang Micro is that all the selecting and editing of sounds is done directly from the unit. Nothing against external app editors, but we feel that depending on one would severely bring down the off-the-charts convenience of this unit.
After auditioning all of the available modeled amps, our favorites were the ’65 Deluxe amp for clean and the Metal 2000 for tons of gain. Other nice options include a ’55 Deluxe, ’70s British, and a Bass Breaker 15. All of these are selected via the first set of tiny controls and are color-coded.
We thought it was great that Fender included a printed guide with all amp models and effects featured on the Mustang Micro, and their corresponding colors.
It’s important to note that the Mustang Micro does not operate with wireless or Bluetooth headphones. This is because the Bluetooth connection is reserved for use with your mobile device so you can jam along with tracks or play on top of a song section or solo of your choice.
The Mustang Micro offers you up to four to six hours of battery life per charge. In short, a wonderful solution for practicing quietly anywhere and anytime. That said, folks who don’t want to use headphones or who want to gig will need to look elsewhere.
Verdict: The Mustang Micro is an incredibly convenient practice solution that you can take anywhere. It works with regular wired headphones and features a variety of amp and effects models as well as USB connectivity for your mobile device.
How to Choose the Right Amp for You
Bluetooth guitar amps allow you to seamlessly connect your mobile device in order to practice along with music from your phone or tablet. This isn’t a new concept, as playing with tracks has been a thing for decades.
However, Bluetooth has eliminated the need for the typical 1/8″ cable, which was used for years. Having no need for an extra cable in order to play with tracks significantly increases convenience, and oftentimes improves the sound as well.
Whether you’re practicing in your room, jamming along to tracks with friends, or playing a gig with backing tracks, Bluetooth amps get the job done in style. Additionally, they are much lighter and easier to transport and store. Below we give you a few pointers on what to look for when considering a Bluetooth amp for guitar.
Size
How big do you need your Bluetooth amp to be? If you need it just for practice, the answer is not big at all. However, if you want to bring it to jam sessions or even use it for gigs, then size does matter. And when it comes to size, one of the most important aspects is how many watts the amp can give you.
For instance, a 40- or 50-watt amp will be enough for gigging in small venues and likely for rehearsing with a band as well. On the other hand, if you just want it to practice, then ask yourself if you’re OK with using headphones or having low wattage, or if you need the amp to fill your room with sound.
Battery vs Wall Adaptor
Battery-powered Bluetooth amplifiers offer great convenience, especially if you’re always on the move. Ideally, you want to get the best of both worlds and have an amp that can operate via battery or with a power cord. Batteries wear out and require constant charging, but you may not need to rely on them most of the time. However, they do come in very handy in order to practice outdoors.
Onboard Effects and Modeling
Bluetooth amps are popular in part because of the portability and convenience they provide. Having to haul your pedal board around severely affects the portability that most of us seek in a Bluetooth amp.
Therefore, the best guitar amps with Bluetooth usually provide onboard effects, amp modeling, and more. At the very least, try to have an amp with an equalizer, reverb, and distortion to cover your bases.
Also, don’t get caught up with the quality of the effects and amp models in Bluetooth amps when compared to pedals or dedicated effect units. Most Bluetooth guitar amps offer good or at least serviceable effects that are good enough for practicing and even some gigging.
Streaming
The strongest suit of Bluetooth guitar amps is the ability to stream music at will. Just about everybody has a smartphone or tablet where they can access music examples, songs, excerpts, and just about any other source of sound in order to practice.
And playing along with solos, songs, and didactic music books is still one of the pillars of practicing music in order to get better. Bluetooth guitar amps eliminate the need for extra cables and make MP3 players a thing of the past. For practicing, few tools are more convenient and powerful than a Bluetooth amp.
Final Thoughts
Guitar amps with Bluetooth fill a void that’s been present for decades. The convenience they provide is mostly understood by folks who had to learn to play guitar while using a heavy and loud amp, while handling needles on vinyl records in order to play along with the music.
As romantic and celebrated as that sounds to some, the old way was truly inconvenient. With Bluetooth amps, you can practice at any time of the day and just about anywhere, while having effects and tons of sounds at your disposal.
To recap our choices, the Positive Grid Spark Combo Amp is our Top Pick. This convenient Bluetooth amp offers good tone, ease of use, and plenty of features, tones, and sounds, with a strong 40 watts of power.
The Blackstar Fly 3 Blue is our Best Budget option. This is a battery-powered 3-watt guitar combo amp that features Blackstar’s Infinite Shape Feature, which allows you to dial in a British or American tone. With a simple control interface, this amp is ideal for practicing.
Finally, the Yamaha THR30 II Wireless is our Editor’s Choice. This Bluetooth amp for discerning musicians offers great tone, versatility, and ease of use with a solid construction, stylish design, and maximum convenience.
