Finding a decent amp for practice use is a problem. Either you get those grotty little toy-like ones with all the tone and vitality of a squashed earwig or else you find yourself looking at an amp which needs a crew of six to move it around. Why doesn't anybody make a decent practice amp which sounds like a top-class stage amp, but which is just smaller and cheaper? The answer is, they do — and I've just found it!

The amp in question is the Pro-Amp Demon. Being best known for making some of the finest sounding valve amps as well as MOS-FET amps around (the Vipers and the Venoms), Pro-Amp know what makes a good sound and aren't the sort of people to palm you off with a cheap practice combo that's rubbish. They've got a professional reputation at stake and that's the sort of maker who is in the best position to produce a decent practice amp.

The Pro-Amp Demon is a towering inferno beside most other people's small combos. It's really toughly made and uses typical Pro-Amp high quality components, even down to a genuine Celestion speaker — not some obscure brand you've never heard of. Officially the Demon puts out 15 watts — which shows they appreciate a good joke down at the Pro-Amp factory! The sound pressure level is fantastic — easily up to rehearsal levels, although as the Demon features pre and post gain controls, you can get a tremendous overload sound out of it even when it's turned down quiet enough not to wake your Granny next door.

The Demon has a single input, treble, middle and bass controls (how about that on such a low-cost amp) and comes with an option of a genuine Accutronics spring reverb — the type that all the full-power Pro-Amps use. It also has a headphone socket which is a boon for totally silent practice in the small hours. Another amazing feature on the Demon is the rhythm/lead rocker switch. This enables you to flick from a really warm chord sound to a searing, biting lead overload with a kick like an angry ostrich!

"IT'S REALLY TOUGHLY MADE AND USES TYPICAL PRO-AMP HIGH QUALITY COMPONENTS, EVEN DOWN TO A GENUINE CELESTION SPEAKER..."

You might be forgiven for expecting such a cracker of an amp to come out at a really high price but no, the Demon sells for just £99.95 with reverb, or £69.95 without.

That makes it about the bargain of the year in my book — and I'm off to get one soon. The Pro Amp has got to be the perfect amp for anyone from a beginner to a pro who needs a portable combo packing a real punch and having a quality sound. The price may be low, but the quality of this little amp is great.

I found out about the Pro-Amp from my local Rosetti dealer, you'll probably find one in yours too. If you've got any questions about Pro-Amp though, you can always contact Rosetti at (Contact Details).