"The Valeton Tar-20G Asphalt is a guitar amp perfect for travel. Whether you need a small desktop amp for recording, or an easy to move amp to take to a gig, this amp can do it. All of this in a size that can fit in your guitar case, or gig bag.

Features at a Glance:
Tiny Metal Design is Sturdy, and Light. Making it Extremely Portable
FX Loop in the Back Allows for Versatile Tone Mixing with Any Pedals You Have
Headphone Out Acts as a Cab Simulator for Plugging into Speakers/Headphones, or Recording Interfaces So You Get An Amazing Full Tone
Line-in Allows You to Play Your Backing Tracks and Jam Along to Music for Fun or Learning
8 or 10ohm Speaker Output Allows You to Plug Into Guitar Speaker Cabinets or PA systems. Perfect for a Gigging Guitarist
Built in Digital Spring Reverb
1-Channel with Gain Control Making Tone Control Simple

Pros:
Simple Controls Easy for Beginners To Dial in Their Tone
Small Compact Design Making it Easy to Take Anywhere
Cabinet Simulation/Headphone Out Allows for Quiet Practice Sessions.

Cons:
The built-in gain isn’t very heavy. If you’re interested in playing heavier music like metal you definitely want to look into getting a distortion or overdrive pedal to push it the extra amount. Which is great, because it being an old school solid-state circuit means it takes pedals very well.

My Opinion:
This Versatile Pocket Amp is amazing for someone looking for a small form factor, good sounding amp. The fact you can fit it in a backpack, or guitar case means you can gig and practice anywhere. If you have this and your guitar, you’re ready to go.

So if you need a small guitar amp, this is the way to go. If you’re a beginner needing an amp that is simple and straight to the point, this is the way to go. The simple 3-band EQ, 1-Channel with Gain Control, and built-in digital spring reverb means you can get all your practice tones in the one amp.

For someone a bit more advance and who maybe gigs, or plays some small shows it is still just as portable and versatile. With the FX loop on the back, and simple solid-state circuit this amp is a great pedal platform. You really can’t go wrong if you’re in the market for an affordable amp."

"I'm always wary of solid state amps. So often, they turn out to be modelling amps, which I usually don't care for (USUALLY. I actually own a Yamaha THR10 and like it). My gripe with modelling amps is their claims:

"This setting sounds like a '59 Bassman mic'd up with two SM57's off center!" Really? From a eight inch speaker? I don't think so! But I digress.

This little guy came on my radar months ago and I dismissed it. "Responds like a tube amp!" is what made me look away. That, and the ad video for this thing is just two guys jamming away, with a heavily distorted guitar tone. "Reviews" I searched up on YouTube only featured guys shredding on this amp with the gain dimed (or through pedals) or plucking some tunes with the amp on a clean setting. None of what I've seen on the 'net does justice to what this little amp can do. It's a serious tone monster IF you take time to dial it in! This amp will literally go from a very clean tone to rather heavily distorted. If you're into modern metal, this amp may be lacking in the gain department for you, but anyone else should be able to dial in tones they like on this thing.

Returning to my rant earlier.... I'm happy to say this does not model itself after anything. It's single channel, and every single knob on this amp responds incredibly well to the slightest adjustment. I've ran a few of my guitars through this thing, and every time, I discover unique tones to each guitar. As someone that doesn't mind carefully dialing in a tone before playing, this amp has been a joy. There's ENOUGH control here. It's not littered with so many knobs you feel like you're dialing in a synthesizer, but aside from occasionally missing having a second channel, I never feel like this amp restricts me from tweaking my tone, be it going from a super clean tone to full distorted or sparkly overdrive, or adding/cutting just a teeny tiny bit of lows, mids or highs from the tone.

Normally, I get bored of an amp's tonal variety after a few days and break out the pedalboard, but I haven't even bothered to do that with this amp yet, I'm still enjoying experimenting with it! To elaborate on my claim in the title, yes, this amp is shockingly tube like! No, it's not EXACTLY like a tube amp, but for something that doesn't utilize modellng tech, this little monster produces very pleasing volume dynamics. I've played through a few solid state amps that have good tube-like dynamics, but this is the best one I've heard to date, even better than Tech 21! (Sorry if I offend any fans, but hey, my ears hear what they hear)

This little amp is one of those purchases where I think "Man, if I'd had this years ago, I wouldn't have bought and gone through so many amps!" Heck, I'm half-contemplating getting a second one to run in a stereo setup! Considering it's features, flexibility, and it's compact size, this little guy is staying in my collection. Even if I don't play it as much down the road, I can easily pop it into a drawer and take it out later when I want.

I have one gripe about this amp: No direct line out. Yes, the headphone jack can be used as one, but it's weak signal (obviously, since it's meant for headphones) makes it undesirable for direct recording. Running this through my Scarlett 2i4 into Ableton Live, I have to max out the gain and volume on this amp and crank the gain on the 2i4 to get any recognizable guitar tone, and it's badly distorted from me turning everything up so much.

A bummer, since my desk where I keep my recording gear is cluttered and having this as a recording amp would have freed up some space. Still, for the awesome tone I get, I may just cough up for a mic one day and try some mic'd recording with this little monster."

"I really do like it. Small package lots of power. I have run two 12-in Celestion speakers. One problem it does not run well with some higher gain dirt pedals. Clean to driven you might not need a pedal. The EQ is very effective, this is not your One Tone type of amp. The knobs are very responsive."