Naturally, when you are looking for a practice amp, something for the office, or a vacation companion, there are some sacrifices that will need to be made. Check out this list of 10 options that aim to balance power with portability.
ZT Amplifiers Lunchbox Reverb
Need a lot of power on the go? This 100-watt beast offers stage-level volume in a package that can fit in your carry-on. It’s loaded with a spring-style reverb, 2-band EQ, and a DI/headphone output that offers speaker emulation.
$499 street
Positive Grid Spark
This 40-watt combo offers a lot of tech under the hood. Alongside deep integrations with streaming services, the mobile app uses the company’s BIAS software to emulate your favorite amps and effects. It also offers handy learning tools like smart chord detection, looping, and more.
$299 street
Yamaha THR30II Wireless
The latest iteration of the THR series is a 30-watt, battery-powered wonder that models 15 different guitar amps and three bass amps. Bluetooth connectivity offers a way to edit presets via the mobile app and jam along with streaming audio. A big bonus is that it can also function as a recording interface via USB.
$549 street
Blackstar FLY 3
Even though this uber-portable setup only pumps out 3 watts, it offers a wealth of features that are perfect for practicing on the go. Along with Bluetooth, aux input, and a headphone jack, it uses Blackstar’s Infinite Shape Feature to get the most out of its 3" speaker.
$75 street
Vox Adio Air GT
Even though the classic look of Vox is represented here, the Adio Air GT offers a cross-section of tones ranging from Texas-style dirt to over-the-top gain machines. It boasts 50 watts of stereo output, VET (Virtual Elements Technology), and 19 types of effects.
$329 street
Roland CUBE-10GX
Inside this 10-watt combo are three amp models (clean, crunch, and lead), a 3-band EQ, and a handful of effects including chorus, reverb, and delay. If you pick up the mobile app, you can access even more models including bass and acoustic amps.
$171 street
Orange Crush 12
Desktop rock in a little orange box. Designed to emulate the dirty channel of a Rockerverb, this mini marvel sports a no-frills setup that features a 3-band EQ, overdrive and gain controls, and a CabSim output that aims to mimic an Orange 4x12.
$99 street
Pignose 7-100
The OG of portable amps has been a staple for lo-fi rock since the ’60s. This solid-state setup not only runs on a handful of AA batteries, it has a preamp output that can feed a PA, DAW, or even a bigger amp.
$123 street
Boss Katana Mini
Decked out in sleek, modern style, this 7-watt combo houses a multi-stage analog circuit that fuels three different amp models (clean, crunch, and brown). Practice junkies will dig the cab-emulated output and aux input for jamming along with backing tracks.
$109 street
IK Multimedia iRig Micro
A recording interface is the magic ingredient in this 4-watt setup. Using a built-in iRig 2 HD, this micro combo functions as a fully formed audio interface for when you need to record on the run. Combine that with the company’s AmpliTube software and you get a deep well of tones.
$149 street
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This late-’90s Masterbilt was made to mimic the feeling and look of vintage luxury.
Some guitars just feel expensive. Not in an “I shouldn't be touching this, lest I scratch it” way so much as simply exuding luxury. Maybe it’s the flawless ebony fretboard, making gliding up and down the neck feel like ice skating. Or perhaps it’s the slim, ’60s-style neck shape which felt instantly comfortable in my small hands. It may have something to do with the sumptuously low 2/32" action at the 12th fret, requiring hardly any effort to play.
Makes sense, considering this guitar’s origin story. Mac Yasuda was born in Nishinomiya, Japan. At 15, he discovered the music of Hank Snow and fell in love with country music and the guitar itself. He stole a classical guitar from his cousin (“He never played it,” said Yasuda) and started a band with his friends. Yasuda traveled to the States in the ’70s and after picking up his first vintage guitar from a pawn shop, he was hooked. He began scoping out gear for his friends, which eventually grew into a shop called Mac’s Guitar Gallery in Kobe, Japan. By the ’90s, he estimated he had owned between 4,000 and 5,000 instruments, and his collection was valued at $3 million. He has authored several books about vintage guitars and is widely considered one of the world's preeminent authorities on the subject.
Yasuda is also an accomplished musician. While in Nashville in the ’80s—perhaps for one of the half-dozen times he’s performed on theGrand Ole Opry—he met Greg Rich, an instrument designer who was then head of Gibson’s banjo division. Yasuda enlisted Greg Rich and another guitar maker named Mark Taylor to produce a line of high-quality, vintage-style instruments under the name Masterbilt. “Vintage guitars are fine, but they're limited,” said Yasuda at the time. His Masterbilt guitars would give us mere mortals the chance to get a taste of the luxurious feel of a fine vintage instrument. Masterbilt debuted at NAMM in 1997, and it’s still unknown how many guitars were actually produced. The trademark of the Masterbilt name was cancelled in 2005 and has since been used by other brands, like Epiphone.
“Some folks think anything from the ’80s or before is vintage, but perhaps the fact that time has continued to march on should be factored in.”
Fanny's House of Music believes this guitar to be an early prototype, one of six ever made. Three were sunburst and three were natural. Playing it feels like playing any fine vintage 335; funny when you consider that at 27 years old, some would consider this Masterbilt vintage itself. The notion of what is considered truly “vintage” is hotly debated on Reddit every few months. Some folks think anything from the ’80s or before is vintage, but perhaps the fact that time has continued to march on should be factored in. Some guitars from the ’80s are now 45 years old! We consider guitars from the ’90s to be vintage at this point, so this 1998 Masterbilt prototype fits right in.
This Masterbilt is now 27 years old. In your books, does that make it a “vintage” guitar?
Photo by Madison Thorn
It’s a good example of how history and passion can intersect to create something special. This guitar tells a story of dedication to quality and an appreciation for the feel of a well-made instrument. Whether or not a 27-year-old guitar qualifies as “vintage” may be up for debate, but the magic in this guitar definitely isn’t. If you’re ever in Nashville, stop by Fanny’s and take it for a spin. You might find yourself feeling a bit like I felt after my unexpected ride in a Jaguar: getting a glimpse into the world of understated elegance, where refinement isn't about flash but about experiencing something crafted to near perfection.
SOURCES: namm.com, Los Angeles Times, Blue Book of Guitar Values, Vintage Guitar, Guitar-List.
British metal icon and Bring Me The Horizon guitarist Lee Malia has partnered with Jackson to create his signature LM-87, a shred-ready axe built for heavy riffing and alternative modern metal. As a founding member and lead guitarist of the Grammy-nominated band, Malia is renowned for his aggressive playing style and intricate solos. This high-performance guitar matches his demanding musicality.
With its offset Surfcaster™ body shape and vintage appeal, the LM-87 melds classic design with modern appointments. The thin open pore finish on the bound Okoume body and neck exudes organic style, while the unique 3-ply pickguard and chrome hardware add striking accents. The fast D-profile 3- piece okoume neck allows smooth riffing across the bound amaranth fingerboard.
Custom Jackson signature pickups, including a bridge humbucker with push-pull coil-split, equip the LM-87 with versatile tone-shaping options to fulfill Malia's sonic vision. The TOM-style bridge with anchored tailpiece and fine tuners provides rock-solid stability for low tunings and heavy picking.
Designed in close collaboration with the legendary guitarist, the Jackson Lee Malia LM-87 is built for shredding. Its blend of vintage vibe and high-performance features make this signature model a must-have for players who value commanding metal tone and smooth playability.
The Tune-o-matic bridge with an anchored tailpiece and fine tuners offers enhanced tuning stability and precise, incremental adjustments. This setup ensures consistent pitch control, improved sustain, and easier fine-tuning without affecting overall string tension.
The guitar’s three-piece set-neck guitar with graphite reinforcement offers exceptional strength, stability, and resistance to warping. The multi-piece construction enhances sustain and tonal clarity, while the graphite reinforcement adds extra durability and prevents neck shifting due to humidity or temperature changes. This design ensures a solid, reliable performance with improved resonance and longevity.
Features Include:
- Okoume body
- Three-piece okoume set neck construction with graphite reinforcement
- 12"-16" compound radius amaranth fingerboard
- 3-ply pickguard
- Chrome hardware
- Custom wound Jackson LM-87 pickups
- Volume with push-pull coil-split and tone control
- TOM-style bridge with anchored tailpiece and fine tuners
- Gig bag included
The Jackson LM-87 carries a street price of $899.99.
For more information, please visit jacksonguitars.com.
Unleashing the Pro Series Signature Lee Malia LM-87 | Jackson Guitars - YouTube
Jackson Pro Series Signature Lee Malia LM-87 Electric Guitar - Open Pore Black
