It may be an old technology, but it’s still the benchmark for guitarists of the modern age. The best tube amps deliver a goosebump-inducing sound that’s as yet unmatched by any solid-state or modeling amp. They may come close, but there’s just something about the sound of a cranked tube amp in a room that delivers the epitome of guitar tone.
Also known as valve amps, tube amps are comprised of analog circuitry which is part and parcel of their tonally rich sound. The distortion on a tube amp is smooth and musical, packed with harmonic content that can be warm just as easily as it can be visceral. A tube amp also responds dynamically to your pick attack, allowing you to maintain a clean sound with a soft pluck and get an overdriven sound when you dig in.
If you’ve never owned a tube amp before, then make sure you check out our buying advice section at the end of this article. For those who just want to see the best tube amps available today, keep scrolling for our top picks…
Best tube amps: Guitar Player's choice
If you’re on a budget or looking to buy your first tube amp, the Blackstar HT-1R will be the perfect introduction. With two channels, switchable voices, and even a USB recording output, you get a lot of bang for your buck here.
Our mid-level pick is the PRS MT 15 Mark Tremonti Signature Head. Its ‘lunchbox’ form factor and delightful array of tones make it perfect for guitarists who are regularly gigging. It’s packed with features and if you need more convincing, it looks stunning too.
Money no object? Well then, you better take a look at the Fender ‘64 Custom Princeton Reverb. Based on the hallowed mid-60s Princeton tube amp, it has one of the nicest clean tones you’ll ever hear. It also does an amazing drive tone when you push it too, making it a super versatile amplifier for any serious backline.
Best tube amps: Product guide
The hand-wired ’64 Custom Princeton Reverb delivers all the dynamics and nuances that mid-’60s Princetons were famed for. Incredibly responsive, it offers full-bodied, chimey cleans and, when pushed, classic American drive. It’s warm with a smooth mid-range and clear, sparkling highs, all of which are delivered by a 10” Jensen Vintage Alnico P10R. The tube-driven spring reverb and on-board tremolo are both foot-switchable and add a layer of versatility to an already incredible amp.
Two 6V6 tubes in the power amp section help to deliver an output of 12W, which will be loud enough for small gigs but not so loud that you won’t be able to gain incredible tones at home. There’s a good amount of clean headroom, though when playing live you’ll likely mic it up. Once you crank the volume to around halfway, you’ll start noticing some really sweet and musical breakup; keep going and you’ll get some really nice natural compression, too. The ’64 Custom Princeton Reverb is one of the most usable tube amps out there, and works really well as a pedal platform.
Blackstar’s small all-tube ‘HT’ series of amps put the company on the map soon after their release. We’re now on the MKII series of these amps - and they’ve got even better.
The HT-1R MKII adds a satisfying digital reverb into the mix, and along with the introduction of ‘voice’ switches on both channels - offering you a tasteful switch between UK and US tones - the versatility of the HT-1R has been improved which can only mean good things for us guitarists. With the HT-1R MKII being a small 1 watt, 1x8” combo for just a dash over 300 bucks, you’d expect to compromise on features - but that’s not the case here. This is potentially the best home practice amp for those who want tubes on a budget - and the level of compromise here is, like the amp itself, very small.
The only downside we can see with this amp is that the 8” speaker can sometimes lack the low-end presence we’d like to hear. To be honest though, it’s a small, all-tube practice amp for the price of a good overdrive pedal, so realistically there are no complaints here. It’s even got a USB output to enable silent home recording, as does the head version.
PRS, while being mostly well-known for their electric guitars, has produced some impressive amplifiers over the years. Their Archon, Sonzera and J-Mod amps have graced stages all over the world, so it’s no surprise that Mark Tremonti - one of PRS’ longest-standing artists - has entrusted his tone with them in the form of the MT 15.
As you’ve probably guessed, the MT 15 is the 15 watt Mark Tremonti signature amp, and as such, it produces some huge tones despite its small lunchbox-style design. With two channels - one clean, and one overdrive - the MT 15 offers the versatility of amps considerably more expensive than itself, while still remaining simple, fun and easy to operate.
Now, 15 all-tube watts is a lot of power, and in most practice situations it can be a bit too much. Thankfully, PRS has introduced a low power circuit, producing 7W to make your practice sessions that little bit more manageable. This also allows you to drive the tubes to breakup, without driving your landlord to eviction or your neighbors to noise complaints.
Seeking a premium, high-end, hand-wired tube amp? The MESA/Boogie Mark Five 35 ticks all the right boxes. Built to celebrate 35 years of the company’s flagship range, it takes some of the most popular features from previous models and repurposes them into an impressive new package.
It’s a 35W combo, with four EL84 power tubes, a 12” Celestion Custom 90 speaker and the ability to switch down to 25W or 10W, should you require a different feel and quicker breakup. This adjustable output means that the amp is just as well suited to home use as it is to stage or studio work. With two channels, each offering independent preamp stages and three modes, you can mine an almost unlimited array of sounds. Navigate from sweet clean tones, to a classic rock mid-range bite, to smooth saturation, all via an intuitive and well-thought-out control panel.
Add in the classic MESA five-band EQ panel, tube-driven reverb and a cabinet-simulated DI output, and you have one of the best tube amps for anyone seeking world-class tones.
Don’t let the small size of the Supro Delta King 12 surprise you, this cute little box is packing some serious power and functionality. The successor to Supro’s super popular Blues King, this great little tube combo sounds just as good as it looks.
The clean tone is gorgeous, sounding great with jazz chords and country licks. Drive the volume past halfway and you get that delicious tube breakup, perfect for rock and blues. Two boost modes let you push the amp even harder, taking you right into punk rock and grunge territory.
It’s just about quiet enough for home practice, yet more than loud enough to compete with your drummer at the next rehearsal. A dedicated line out lets you send your signal straight to front of house or use it for recording purposes. Combine that with the stunning-looking cabinet and you’ve got yourself one amazing little tube amp.
The Marshall Plexis of the 1960s shaped the sound of rock music as we know it. The likes of Pete Townshend, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton all relied on Marshall amps for their genre-defining tone, so why shouldn’t you?
The Marshall SV20C is a scaled-down, all-in-one combo version of the manufacturer’s iconic 100W Super Lead Model 1959, reducing the output to a more manageable 20W. This is perfect for gigs and band rehearsals; however, you’ll also have the option to run it at 5W, meaning you can crank it up at home too – it’ll still be loud, but your neighbors are more likely to forgive you!
It’s laid out in the same way as the originals, with two inputs for each channel, and delivers the same classic, mid-range bite that helped shape the Marshall sound. Whether you’re looking for old-school clean tones or want to crank up the volume for that definitive classic rock crunch, this tube amp will deliver the goods.
One of the bastions of the British invasion of the 60s, the Vox AC30 is synonymous with great rock and roll tone from the likes of Brian May and The Beatles. This modern version of a classic amp serves up great tone with loads of functionality, making it one of the best tube amps going.
You’ve got two channels to play with, giving you jangly clean chime right through to classic rock crunch. The Top Boost channel features separate controls for treble and bass, but the Tone Cut knob on the master channel is where the magic happens, providing plenty of scope for refining your sound.
Built-in tremolo and reverb effects let you augment your sound further, adding flutter and space to your guitar tone. The four inputs are ‘jumpable’ too, so you can plug into channel 1, use a pedal cable to connect to channel 2, and use both at the same time for even more tone-tweaking options.
For years now, the Fender Blues Junior series has given guitarists quality tube amp tones at a great price point. With 15W of output at your disposal, you’ll probably get away with performing smaller shows with it, but it’s the perfect amp for playing at home.
It delivers lush and warm cleans with a sparkling top end, as well as some classic-sounding overdriven tones. Stick a boost in front of it to really work the preamp section, or, for heavier tones, run it clean and use your favorite distortion pedal.
Whatever you choose to do with it, the amp’s 12” Jensen C12N speaker boasts the necessary quality to make your guitar work sing.
A few years ago, the Marshall JCM800 – one of the most pivotal amps in rock history – was reimagined as part of the Studio series. The SC20H is a 20W version of that classic tube head, which was used by nearly every rock and metal guitarist of the ’80s and early ’90s.
You can run it clean, add a touch of drive and push the preamp with pedals, or dial up both the master and pre-amp volumes to get all the tubes singing. As with all the models in the Marshall Studio series, the SC20H benefits from a power reduction option that enables you to run it at 5W and get the most out of it at more sensible volumes. Plus it’s got a DI output.
More often than not, the classics are classic for a reason, and this 20W take on the JCM800 is one of the best tube amps for rock and metal that you can get.
Marketed as the ‘lightest 50W amplifier on Earth’, the Blackstar St James EL34 certainly makes a bold claim. Utilizing some clever tech and a specially designed speaker, St James looks to give you all of that glorious tube tone minus the back-breaking weight.
We’ve played St James extensively and can personally attest to its incredibly small weight. You can rock up to a gig with this amp in one hand and your guitar in the other, it’s really that unsubstantial. It doesn’t skimp on sound either, with a classic Fender-clean type tone on channel 1 and that signature Vox-like chime on channel 2. It’s a proper tube amp with some clever tech to save you future visits to the chiropractor.
It’s got plenty of other tricks up its sleeve too. The power attenuation option allows you to knock the output down to 2 watts for safe home practice and there’s a ‘sag’ option that recreates the blooming, vintage feel of certain tube amps. On the back panel, you’ll also find a cabinet simulation out, which lets you record silently without losing any of that brilliant tube tone.