The Best Tube Amps for Guitar - Combo up to $1000
Author & Contributors
Raphael Pulgar
I've been an audio engineer for 20 years specializing in rock and metal recordings, and also I play guitar and produce original music for my band and other content creators.
The Best Tube Amps Under $300
Monoprice 611815 - 15W 1x12"
This affordable tube combo amp comes in a 1 x 12" combo package, with three ECC83 preamp tubes and two EL84s in the power section.
And while the brand of the amp itself is not traditionally well-known, it does drive a nice 12" speaker from a popular brand - a Celestion Seventy 80.
It has controls for gain, volume, and tone, as well as 3-band EQ knobs. For the price, it also comes with built-in spring reverb.
Other features include having a cream-colored synthetic leather exterior and cloth speaker grill.
Specifications:
- Power Rating: 15W
- Preamp Tube: 3 x ECC83 (12AX7)
- Poweramp Tube: 2 x EL84
- Speaker: 1 x "12 (Celestion Seventy 80)
- Input: 1/4"
- Output: 1 x 1/4" Speaker Out, Effects Loop
- Cabinet: Rear Ported
- Control Knobs: Gain, Volume, Tone, Bass, Middle, Treble, Reverb
- Weight: 31.62 lbs
Pros
Value for money is the main selling point of this amp. Though it's not just about being budget-friendly for some users because they are impressed with its tone; especially its mid-gain tone. Even the amp's clean tone gets kudos, some users even write that with its tone, they would still buy this amp even if it was priced higher. The amp's spring reverb is another great addition according to many owners of the amp.
Cons
Some users weren't happy with the quality of the default tubes used in the amp. They recommend replacing the tubes, especially the preamp tubes to make the most of the Monoprice 611815. Ironically, this issue also hurts the overall value of the amp, because you'll have to spend a bit more to do that. Still, the overall expense is lower compared to amps with similar specs from some popular brands.
Overall
The value of this budget 1x12" tube amp is hard to beat, definitely worth considering if you're looking for a tube combo amp.
Bugera V5 Infinium - 5W 1x8"
At time of publication this was the Highest Rated Combo Tube Amp Under $300.
Bugera is a sub-brand of Behringer, tasked to make tube amplifiers more accessible. The V5 Infinium is one of their more popular Class A tube combo amp, rated at 5W with a single 8" speaker.
This particular model is meant to be a practice friendly amp with genuine tube tone with its built-in power attenuator that lets you switch between 5W, 1W, and 0.1W. This allows you to crank the amp's 12AX7 preamp and EL84 power amp at very low volumes.
Other features include digital reverb and Infinium technology, which extends the life of tubes by monitoring and maintaining their ideal operating level.
Specifications:
- Power Rating: 5W (5W|1W|0.1W settings)
- Preamp Tube: 1 x 12AX7
- Poweramp Tube: 1 x EL84
- Speaker: 8" TurboSound Speaker
- Input: 1 x 1/4"
- Output: 1 x 1/4" Internal Speaker, 1 x 1/4" Headphones
- Cabinet: Open Back
- Controls: Power Switch, Power Attenuator Switch, Gain, Tone, Volume, Reverb
- Weight: 22.1 lbs
Pros
For something so small and cheap, many are impressed with how much tone they are getting, to be more specific, people love its overdriven tone. Paul White of Sound on Sound even commented commented "...it does deliver a raunchy crunch tone reminiscent of ZZ Top, as well as being a very nice blues amp with the warm and responsive sound that only valves seem to give". Also, there are plenty of positive responses that point to the amp's power attenuator.
Cons
As expected in this price range, some users recommend swapping out the default tubes to get the most out of this amp. Also note that while the overdriven tone is well-loved, the clean tone seems to be off the mark for some users.
Overall
The Bugera V5 Infinium is an affordable tube amp for those who want nothing less than genuine tube tone for their practice.
The Best Tube Amps Under $500
Marshall DSL1CR - 1W 1x8"
Note: This was priced at $499.99 when we first published this Edition, however the price later went up.
Marshall's tube-driven crunch tone continues to be the go-to overdrive / distortion tone for many players.
The DSL1CR gives you that familiar crunch tone, albeit in a smaller and quieter profile, allowing you to conjure classic rock tube tones while keeping the peace at home and in your neighborhood.
This combo amp is rated at 1W, with two ECC83 preamp tubes, and a single ECC82 in the power amp section. At the rear of the amp is a power attenuator switch that reduces the wattage further down to 0.1W, if you want to crank the amp's gain levels while keeping the overall volume low.
Also, this amp has two channels, Classic Gain and Ultra Gain, and it comes packed with a single 8" Celestion Eight 15 speaker.
Specifications:
- Power Rating: 1W / 0.1W (Via Low Power Button)
- Preamp Tube: 2 x ECC83
- Poweramp Tube: 1 x ECC82
- Speaker: 1 x 8" Celestion Eight 15
- Input: 1/4" Instrument, 1/8" Aux
- Output: 1 x 1/8" (Softube Emulated out), 1 x 1/4" (Internal Speaker)
- Cabinet: Rear Ported
- Control Knobs: Classic Gain Channel: Volume, Ultra Gain Channel: Gain, Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass, Reverb
- Weight: 17 lbs
Pros
One user aptly describes the Marshall DSL1CR as a little monster amp. And while most reviewers who are happy with its tone are referring to overdriven tones, some are pleased with this amp's clean tone as well. The ability to lower the power rating further down to 0.1W is also very well received, especially for those who are looking for killer tones for their practice sessions.
Cons
There are a few who are not that impressed with the DSL1CR's tone, especially in low gain settings. Thankfully they are far outnumbered by happy and satisfied owners of the amp.
Overall
The Mashall DSL1CR is quite a catch for those who are looking for a quiet practice amp that utilizes genuine tubes.
Special Mention
The following amp was priced under $500 when we first published this edition, however we have decided to leave it here even though the price has since increased.
Fender Pro Junior IV - 15w 1x10"
At publication time this was the Highest Rated Combo Tube Amp Under $500 (the price went up after this edition was published).
Don't be fooled by its diminutive stature and minimal controls: The Fender Pro Junior IV lives up to the "pro" in its name.
It's a fully capable gigging amp putting out 15 tube watts of power.
15 watts is loud enough for small club gigs or getting the attention of your neighbors.
Specifications:
- Power Rating: 15W
- Preamp Tube: 2 x 12AX7
- Poweramp Tube: 2 x EL84
- Speaker: 1 x 10" Jensen P10R
- Input: 1 x 1/4"
- Cabinet: Open Back
- Control Knobs:Volume, Tone
- Weight: 22.85 lbs.
Pros
Many people who loved the amp were drawn by its simplicity. They were also surprised to find out how versatile it is with pedals. On its own, the basic tone of the Fender Pro Junior IV is a sparkling and warm sounding clean and crunch that's perfect for blues and jazz. This polite tonality morphs into a monster when you run overdrives, distortions, and fuzzes through it.
Cons
May be too bright for some people. The small speaker won't be flapping trousers anytime soon.
Overall
For a great pedal platform or standalone blues amp, the Pro Junior IV delivers straight-to-the-point tone.
The Best Tube Amps Under $1000
At publication time, the following amps were all tied for Equal Highest Rated Combo Tube Amp Under $1000: Vox AC15C1, Vox AC15C1X and Vox AC30S1.
Vox AC15C1 - 15W 1x12"
The British Invasion starts here!
The Vox AC15 is arguably the most important amp in the rise of the Britpop sound of the '60s.
Despite being 15 watts, the humble AC15 was loud enough to keep up with a drummer and was a staple in many bands of the time.
Today the Vox AC15C1 continues this legacy with the same chimey cleans and fat grit when pushed; perfect for today's brand of indie and alternative rock.
Specifications:
- Power Rating:15w
- Preamp Tube: 3 x12AX7
- Poweramp Tube: 2 x EL84
- Speaker: 1 x 12” Celestion G12M Greenback
- Input:2 x 1/4" (Normal, Top Boost)
- Output: 1 x 1/4" (16 ohms), 2 x 1/4" (single 8 ohm, 2 x 16 ohm), 1 x XLR (DI out), USB
- Cabinet: Open Back
- Control Knobs: Master Volume, Master Tone, Tremolo Depth, Tremolo Speed, Reverb Level, Top Boost Bass, Top Boost Treble, Top Boost Volume, Normal Volume
- Weight: 48.5 lbs
Pros
Many users called this their dream amp, particularly fans of the Beatles. The unmistakable Vox chime is the holy grail for many users and most of them have been enamored by the sweet, harmonically rich tones from the AC15C1. The built-in reverb and tremolo were also praised to be good. The Celestion Greenback also modernizes the tone and for many users, this is a welcome tonality. This amp has regularly out ranked most amps in its class - see details here.
Cons
Purists who prefer the sound of the original Jensen speakers did not like the use of a Celestion Greenback: a speaker more commonly associated with Marshalls.
Overall
If you want a great, harmonically rich tone with a more modern voicing, the AC15C1 is the perfect companion for your strums.
Vox AC30S1 - 30W 1x12"
The Vox AC30S1 is as straightforward as it gets with its single-channel format coupled with a single 12" Celestion speaker.
It is designed to be that way, to put the spotlight on the classic AC30 Top Boost tone, and nothing else.
At its core are dual 12AX7 preamp tubes and quad EL84 power tubes that give life to the touch-sensitive tone expected from a classic Vox tube amp.
Controls are also kept to a minimum, but enough to go from the familiar Chimey sound of old Vox amps, up to smooth overdrive.
Finally, this amp comes with reverb and an effects loop, which makes sense since this amp is designed for those who get their tone-shaping from pedals.
Specifications:
- Power Rating: 30W
- Preamp Tube: 2 x 12AX7
- Poweramp Tube: 4 x EL34
- Speaker: 1 x 12" Celestion VX12
- Input: 1/4"
- Output: 1/4" External
- Cabinet: Rear Ported
- Control Knobs: Volume, Reverb, Treble, Bass, Gain
- Weight: 54 lbs
Pros
The tone is the most commended feature of this amp, to be more specific, owners love its clean chimey tone. Together with its effects loop, many find the amp's clean tone to be very pedal-friendly. There are also a good number of positive remarks on the amp's overdriven tone, which is described as smooth and responsive. Guitar Player Magazine's Dave Hunter concluded his review by saying: "All in all, the AC30S1 looks the part and delivers an admirable portion of the essence of this British classic in a compact and moderately priced package that’s much easier to schlep to gigs than a full-sized AC30."
Cons
Its lack of features can be a let down for those who want something more versatile.
Overall
If you're looking for a classic sounding plug-and-play tube amp that works well with pedals, then this should be at the top of your list.
Things to Consider when Buying a Combo Tube Amp
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Sound quality is the main factor to consider when it comes to buying tube amps. While opinions may differ on which particular amp model sounds better, most will agree that clarity, articulation, and dynamics are important. Because of its subjective nature, individual reviews on tone are not conclusive, but when combined with other reviews, they provide us with a reliable representation of how good an amp sounds.
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Different amps have different voicings, and the differences range from subtle to obvious. Some experts (including manufacturers) divide tube amp voicings into flavors, usually labeled American (emphasizes the highs and lows) and British (emphasizes the mids and punch). While this may seem like a generalization, it does make the job of describing tonal differences easier. If you're not familiar with amp tones, the best course of action is to look at the amp used by your favorite guitarists and go for something similar sounding. Thankfully, some manufacturers (like Blackstar and Fender) produce tube amps with multiple voicings, they are ideal if you want sonic flexibility.
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Having the ability to shape the sound of your guitar via EQ controls is important, but it doesn't always have to be the amp that does this job. There are now many pedals and rack effects that can accomplish the same Equalization with more accuracy.
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Power rating dictates the loudness of an amplifier, along with its sonic headroom. The idea is that low power amps are ideal for practice while playing big venues requires more power. Some tubes amps are equipped with power attenuators that allow you to lower the power rating in case you want to tame the amp's volume. Also, lowering the power output also lets you crank the gain at quieter volume levels, which many use to get good tones without disturbing the neighbors. Note that tube amps tend to be louder than solid state amps of the same power rating specification.
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The general idea is that the bigger the speaker size, the better it can reproduce lower frequencies. But bigger is not always better, especially if you're not planning on using the amp on stage. Medium size speakers are good enough for practice, jamming, and even recording. They are preferred by many guitarists for their mid-range emphasis.
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While most tube amps in this price range have a single input, some have two inputs to accommodate different types of guitars, or for routing your signal to different channels. These multi-input amps provide added flexibility, and at times allow for two guitars to use the same amp, albeit with some limitations.
Multiple output options are usually reserved for amp heads, but there are some combo amps with headphones and extension speaker outs. Those looking for quiet practice will want a headphone output. Interestingly, some offer direct USB recording functionality, which makes tube amp recording even more convenient.
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Since Closed Back cabinets project the sound forward, they produce a punchier and clearer tone. They are often preferred by live sound engineers because of the front projection, which is easier to mic. Open Back cabinets project sound to the front and back, resulting in a more natural ambient sound. These are preferred by guitarists because they fill rooms and stages better. Back Ported cabinets let some of the sound leak through small ports at the back, and are usually designed for low-end emphasis.
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Extra features like reverb, tremolo, and even built-in multi-effects are welcome bonuses for practice amplifiers because they allow for straight to amp convenience. These extras won't get much use in stage settings when you use pedals to achieve the same effect.
Sound Quality
Amp Tone or Voicing
Equalizer
Power Rating and Attenuation
Speaker
Input/Output Options
Cabinet
Extra Features
Best Combo Tube Amp Selection Methodology
The first edition was published in 2017 and the current edition was published on July 27, 2021.
We began by looking at combo tube amps for electric guitar at major retailers in the USA and ended up putting 46 of them on our short-list for closer examination. We then examined relevant reviews, ratings and forum discussions about each amp on our short-list - this came to a total of more than 12,200 sources. We used that information to report on the pros and cons of each amp we've recommended above and we also processed that data with the Gearank Algorithm to produce the rating scores out of 100 which we used to select the highest rated amps to recommend above. For more information about our methods see How Gearank Works.
About the Author and Contributors
Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide's production - click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.
Lead Author & Researcher
Raphael Pulgar
I've been an audio engineer for 20 years specializing in rock and metal recordings, and also I play guitar and produce original music for my band and other content creators.
Aside from endlessly window shopping and watching hours of gear reviews for leisure, he enjoys playing competitive FPS games, MMORPGs and caring for his 5 cats. He is primarily influenced by guitarists like Kurt Ballou and Paul Gilbert. His favorite pieces of gear are his Ibanez RG550RFR, Orange Brent Hinds Terror amplifier and EQD Acapulco Gold fuzz.
Contributors
Alexander Briones: Supplemental writing.
Jason Horton: Editing and Illustrating.
Media
Main/Top Image: Created by Gearank.com using photographs of the Fender Pro Junior IV, Vox AC30S1 and Marshall DSL1CR.
All the videos have been embedded in accordance with YouTube's Terms of Service.
The individual product images were sourced from their respective manufacturers' websites, promotional materials or supporting documentation.
The Best Guitar Amp from the Top 10 Guitar Amp Brands
Comments
We've removed the following
Submitted by Jason Horton on
We've removed the following amp from the recommended list above due to it being discontinued: Supro Blues King 8.
We have removed the Vox
Submitted by Jason Horton on
We have removed the Vox AC10C1 due to a price increase that put it above the $500 limit for the section it qualified for. You can still see our analysis of it here.
The Vox AC15C1X has been
Submitted by Jason Horton on
The Vox AC15C1X has been removed from this guide to a price increase which put it above this guide's price limit.
You can still see our analysis of it in our guide to Low Watt Tube Amps.
Pleased to tell you that
Submitted by Sam Mitchell (not verified) on
Pleased to tell you that monoprice amp now shipped with all JJ tubes and celestion seventy80 speaker
Hi Sam,
Submitted by Raphael Pulgar on
Hi Sam,
We have updated the specifications on the Monoprice. However since the tube brand is not directly specified by the manufacturer and retailers, (and most likely is subject to change without notice) we have chosen to omit the tube brand.
-Raphael
Publication of our July 2021
Submitted by Jason Horton on
Publication of our July 2021 Edition resulted in the following discontinued amp coming off the recommend list above: Peavey Classic 50 212 II.
We've removed the Marshall
Submitted by Jason Horton on
We've removed the Marshall Origin5C from the recommended list above due to being discontinued.
We've removed the following
Submitted by Jason Horton on
We've removed the following amp from the Under $500 section due to a price increase: Marshall Origin20C.
This section is for the high
Submitted by Joe Lee (not verified) on
This section is for the high school kids, nothing wrong with that but if you're a player on the prowl just skip these articles.
Our research strongly
Submitted by Jason Horton on
Our research strongly suggests that the average guitarist using these amps are not high school kids, so can you elaborate and tell us what you think we should change in this guide?
Our September 2020 update
Submitted by Jason Horton on
Our September 2020 update resulted in the following amps coming off the recommended list above, but you can still see our analysis of them:
As a result of our November
Submitted by Jason Horton on
As a result of our November 2019 update, which included a modified methodology that excluded amps rated 15-watts or less from the $500 to $1000 section, the following amps came off our recommended list but you can still read our analysis of them:
Today the following amp was
Submitted by Jason Horton on
Today the following amps were removed from our recommended list above, due to having been discontinued, but you can still read our analysis:
As a result of the June 2018
Submitted by Jason Horton on
As a result of the June 2018 update of this guide, the following amps have been removed from the recommended list above but you can still read our thoughts on them: