Many people believe that an amplifier is necessary to play an electric guitar. While having an amplifier is useful and preferred by many guitarists, it’s not absolutely essential, especially if you’re simply testing the guitar. You can use a few methods to test a guitar without an amp.
Here are a few great ways you can test your electric guitar without an amp:
- Use a PC or a Mac with headphones or speakers.
- Plug the guitar into a home stereo.
- Use guitar headphone amplifiers.
- Play through your smartphone or tablet.
- Play using a multi-effects pedal.
- Use a digital audio workstation (DAW).
Let’s take a closer look at each of these methods in detail so you’re prepared to test an electric guitar without an amplifier.
Related: how to ship a guitar safely. New to this topic? Start with our complete guitar maintenance and cleaning guide.
1. Use a PC or a Mac With Headphones or Speakers
You can play an electric guitar through a PC or Mac computer or laptop with headphones or speakers. If your computer has speakers that work relatively well, you’ll get a good idea of what the guitar sounds like by connecting it to your computer. For better tone and lower latency, follow our guide on how to play guitar through a computer with an audio interface.
To do this, you’ll need a guitar cord. I recommend the Elebase ¼ Inch TRS Instrument Cable from Amazon.com. I like that these cables come in a two-pack, so you get a better bang for your buck and that they’re made with an ultra-durable design that ensures their longevity. The product also comes with a twelve-month warranty, so you can make the purchase worry-free.
Once you have the cord, you can use it to connect the guitar interface with your computer speakers. Then, power up the interface. Now, your computer speakers can act as amplifiers, and you can test the guitar.
For the best results, start with the volume on low and gradually increase it as you play. This helps prevent any damage to your audio equipment.
For this method to work, you’ll need an audio interface. These devices are great tools for musicians, as they allow you to get audio signals to your computer and record, in addition to testing guitars when you don’t have an amplifier. The device changes the electrical signal from the guitar to a digital signal, processes it, and then returns it to analog to send through headphones or speakers.
The following table outlines my top choices for audio interfaces. All links are to Amazon:
| Product | Pros | Cons |
| IK Multimedia AXE I/O SOLO Portable USB Audio Interface | Compatible with Mac and PC.Includes specialized guitar inputs. Can be used for passive or active pickups. Variable input impedance.Capable of resolution up to 24-bit/192kHz MIDI inputs and outputs. | The tuner is unreliable.Some Windows users find difficulty getting the audio interface to work properly. On the expensive side. |
| Native Instruments Komplete Audio 2 Two-Channel Audio Interface | Compatible with Mac and PC. Small and lightweight, it only weighs 380g.Users can use individual selector switches to go between a microphone and a guitar. Simple to use because of the main out level and five-point level display.Comes in a package including a synth, phaser, compressor, Replika delay, and Ableton Live 10 Lite. Affordable. | Direct monitoring can only be done through headphones, not through the main output. Some users have difficulty accessing the included software.Can’t switch between monitoring outputs ½-¾. Some Windows users have difficulty with the software. Some users don’t receive prompt responses from the Native Instruments support ticket form. |
| Audient iD4 MKII USB-C Audio Interface | Compatible with Mac and PC.Simple and easy to use; great for beginners. Features a smart scroll wheel for tweaking settings within the software. Two monitor speaker outputs. Dual headphone outlets. Affordable. | No MIDI inputs or outputs. Doesn’t have an on/off switch.Accompanying software is difficult to use. Volume knob is fully digital. |
| Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface | Compatible with Mac and PC. Highest-selling interface in the world. Known for reliability and quality. Updated every year.Two XLR-¼” combo inputs. Two ¼” line inputs. Versatile. Great-sounding mic pre-amp. Simple design. | Relies on software. |
You can easily test an electric guitar without an amplifier with the right audio interface and guitar cord.
2. Plug the Guitar Into a Home Stereo
If you have a home stereo with auxiliary input, you can use it in place of an amplifier to test a guitar. All you need is a female ¼” to male RCA adapter, which will allow you to plug the guitar’s cable into your home stereo and use the speakers. Be careful not to play too loud, as this will damage your speakers.
You can also use a boom box as long as it has an auxiliary input and you have an adapter that is compatible with it.
I recommend the VCE RCA to ¼” Audio Adapter 6 Pack from Amazon if you need an adapter. These adapters are useful in various ways, as they are compatible with home theaters, cameras, headphones, speakers, tablets, and instruments, so you can use them in many ways. I also like the small design, which makes them easy to carry around and use.
If you don’t already have a home stereo system but want one, the PHILIPS FX10 Bluetooth Stereo System for Home from Amazon.com is a great choice. You can use this home stereo system to test an electric guitar, and you can enjoy the dual amplifier, MAX sound technology, and the ability to stream music wirelessly via Bluetooth.
3. Use Guitar Headphone Amplifiers
A convenient and easy way to mimic the sound of an amplifier without having the actual amp on hand is to use guitar headphone amplifiers. You can plug these headphones into the guitar’s input jack and use them to listen and test the sound. You can also use guitar headphone amplifiers with home stereos, combining the above method with this one to test the guitar.
Guitar headphones have different effects, such as delay and reverb, that can help you understand the guitar’s complete potential and mimic what it might be like to play it once you have access to an amp. However, there are some drawbacks to using guitar headphone amplifiers, including the following:
- Many are easily breakable.
- Some can only be powered by batteries, and if you run out of batteries, you’re out of luck.
- There may be a slight delay between the strumming of the string and the sound.
- Some don’t have a great tone.
Here are my selections for the best guitar headphone amplifiers. All links are to Amazon:
| Product | Pros | Cons |