Best Small Tube Amp: The Complete Buyers Guide For Guitarists
This is my review of the Best Small Tube Amp for all guitarists.
It’s time to look at a small guitar tube amp for the house. We can still achieve the beautiful vintage ‘amp breakup’ with lower wattage amplifiers.
The newborn baby can sleep in peace and you can remain friendly with your neighbor.
We can still rattle out those Rage Against The Machine riffs at home and not break the bank in the process.
There’s plenty to choose from in today’s market but only a small amount are real value for money.
Authority Guitar has dug deep to extensively review the best small tube amp, from 5 watts up to 20. Let’s take a look:
My Fender Tube Amp
What Is A Tube Amp? A Tube/Valve Amplifier Overview (Tube US/ Valve Amp UK)
As you’ve reached this page, you’re probably already a fan of the low watt tube amp, or you’ve heard somebody talk about how good they are.
Many guitarists regard the tube amp as the bee’s knees. But is it all that? Yes, in my opinion, I love them and can’t see myself ever not having one.
Whether they’re better than solid-state amps will always be debated, because tone is completely subjective.
Above is a picture of a typical tube that sits in the back of the amp and heats up. They glow a lovely orange color and after a short while they can break up your guitar signal, resulting in a lush overdrive.
There is a science behind what a vacuum tube actually does, but in simple terms: It’s a device that controls electric current flow in a high vacuum.
Before the transistor was invented, the tube amp is what guitarists played. Even with all the modern technology, a large percentage of players still prefer the vintage warm, crunchy tones. Myself being one of those fans.
Even though tubes are the technology of the past, all the music I like is from that era. I want my guitar to sound exactly like that. Just listen to Keith Richard’s tone, he doesn’t use any pedals, that’s 100% guitar tube amp break up.
Pros: Fantastic Value For Money. 2 Way Attenuator Built In. Looks Great In The House. Simple Controls. Class A Tubes
Cons:Headphone Sound Not Great
The Bugera V5 Infinium is the perfect amp for the bedroom or home player. It’s small and compact, a simplistic single channel amp which is really good value for money.
Due to the current world situation with the pandemic, there has been a huge boom in sales of small amps. This little tank is my favorite practice amp. An incredible vintage tone for such a small amp.
The Bugera is loaded with 3 x 12AX7 preamp and 2 x EL84 power tubes. An old school looking equalizer with dedicated tone control and a built-in 2-way power attenuator.
This allows you to get the ultimate sound at any volume from 5 watts to 1. One of, if not the best low watt tube.
The best way to describe the Bugera’s sound would be sweetly purring blues to thick scratchy crunch. The clean channel is surprisingly full and very rich in tone.
A real steal for the lower budget buyer looking for a suitable guitar combo amp.
Pros: Packs A Punch. Classic Vox Look, Affordable, Exceptional Note Clarity, Ideal Companion At Home
Cons:Low End Disappears At Higher Volume
The distinctive eye-catching Vox grille has been around for many years. The Beatles used these babies in the early days.
Stylish cream control knobs on a simplistic black background. Small and compact size, so it can be moved around without too much bother. A single channel to keep things to a minimum.
Great value amp from a very reputable amp builder and the little brother to the mighty Vox ac15c1.
Classic British Vox type tone, sweet-sounding reverb at bedroom levels.
Devastating gain with the volume controls punched up, so you won’t just be getting a jangly 60s sound.
You can use the AC10 in a band rehearsal scenario or in a small venue. If you take your time and have a good play with the gain, master volume controls, bass, and treble settings, you can achieve a surprising amount of tones.
This is more than a practice amp, Vox amps do come at a cost but there’s a reason for that. This guitar combo sounds fantastic.
It’s difficult to find any negative reviews on AC10 C1.
It’s an affordable small tube amp combo and more versatile than its competition.
Pros: Covers All Bases, Flawless Build Design, Classic Fender Sparkling Treble, Breaks Up At Volume 5, Impeccable Warm Tube Tone
Cons: Price
The Fender ’68 Custom Princeton Reverb Amplifier is the modern version of the traditional and legendary late 1960’s Fender Silverface amp.
There are two inputs for guitar on the front panel; input one being “Normal” while input two has a minus 6db feature for higher powered pickups, Fender is famous for; sparkling trebles and full-voiced lows, with lovely, almost shimmery overtones.
Master Volume at 5 is where the amp breaks up. The amp is designed to break up a little earlier than expected.
This is a feature I really like. This way you won’t need to blast it up to create the best tone the amp has to offer.
The 68 Custom has exceptional versatile tones that suit blues, rock and metal, country, and funk. Although the price is higher than the competition, the sale value is still lower than the boutique models of the same mold.
You are getting what you’re paying for, this amp could easily last you the rest of your guitar days.
Top-notch sound quality, professional tube tones will make this versatile amp your go-to weapon.
It can handle the gig scenario, is ideal for the studio, and can suitably be played at home.
Pros: Stunning Lacquered Tweed Finish, Simple Controls, Very Nice Spring Reverb, Suitable, Value For Money, The Ultimate Clean Channel Amp
Cons:None
The Fender Blues Junior has a clean tone that’s less cutting than the 68 Princeton above. I prefer that. Sometimes Fenders can sound too thin, but not in this case.
The best way to describe the tone is a golden, a big full mid-tone from the EL84 output tubes and 3 – 12AX7 preamp tubes keeping your sounds warm.
My favorite part of this amp is the “FAT” button, we all need a generous helping of midrange Fat eh?
The Fender Blues tube models are the world’s most popular. This tells you everything you need to know.
The blues junior is the most versatile of the amps in this review. It’s small, lightish, and can be played very quietly at home, all the way up to a small gig scenario.
I’ve got the 40w version of this amp, I’ll never part with it! (Although my neighbors want me too!)
All in all, you get an amp that is very close to imitating the boutique amp sounds, at a quarter of the price.
Pros: Superb Array Of Tone, ISF Function, Affordable, Comes In Beautiful Green, Blue Or Standard Jet Black, Available In Different Wattage Sizes
Cons: No Standby Option
The Blackstar collection is a little underrated in my opinion. They make a great selection of amps with British and American style tones (what more do we need?)
Lots of headroom with a beautifully voiced digital reverb. At 20 watts you can comfortably gig with a drummer yet still practice at home.
Its face looks a little like the retro British style back in the 60s.
The patented infinite shape feature (ISF) control knob has the power to revert from a tight, focused, percussive response, characteristic of American amps, to a woody warm traditional British sound.
This really is a super extra only found on the Blackstar. It gives you, the player, the power to create a tone using the whole control network rather than the narrow spectrum other amps allow.
In simple English, the ISF gives you the option to match sounds from other established guitar brands. This is an outstanding function.
Blackstar does some of the best amps on the market without a shadow of a doubt.
The Fender 68 Custom Princeton Reverb, fulfills the needs in all environments like no other.
It’s not overpowering in one area but lacking in another. Although you’re paying more for this amp, you’re also paying for pure quality in build and brand.
That alone will last a lifetime and is cheaper than buying two amps over a period of 10 years.
The Fender tubes sound better and better over time and will not lose their value. This is the best amp for the money without a doubt
I took these considerations when making a decision:
Playing at home (suitable volume)
Busking (volume, reach & durability)
Carrying to guitar lessons or rehearsals (good weight & durable)
Ideal for Studio work (The best sound for recording)
Small club gigging (volume, durable)
Gigging in an outside environment (power, reach, durable, superb mic’d up)
Here are some valuable facts to make your decision easier:
Let’s Start With Wattage:
Wattage is in relation to power. Don’t get this confused with the volume. It’s not the same thing.
A guitar amp’s wattage will determine a point when the volume starts to distort. So, the higher the number of watts, is how loud the amp has to go before it starts breaking up.
‘Breaking up’ is a guitar term used by musicians when you’ve found the fuzzy, growling, or gritty tone on the amp. Basically, it’s the Crème de la crème of a tube guitar amp tone. This is a sound you need in your life.
If you’re considering spending that bit extra on a tube amp, we need to look at how to get the most out of it.
Firstly, you’d need to turn it up loud enough (or to the breaking point, as mentioned above). This saturates the power amp and uses the speakers to their full potential.
This is the point where you’ll get a warmer sound than if you hadn’t pushed the power amp enough.
So it’s clear to see, if you have a 5watt amp and you only push it to 3watts, you won’t be getting the full potential. We need to find out how much wattage you require.
What Watt Do I Need?
1-5 Watts
If you’re a ‘home player’, you possibly need to consider the size of the amp. Amplifiers that give you 1-5 watts are perfect for home use as you can turn them up and get your crunchy aggressive tone, without getting a crunchy aggressive neighbor.
They are light and small and can be tucked away after use.
5-15 Watts
5-15 watts, again can be ok at home. You can gig with this size amp unless you have a ‘John Bonham’ on drums!
This size may suit the small venue guitarist or guitar tutor.
The amps are a little heavier than the 1-5 watts, but still ok to carry around
20 Watts Upwards
Live gigs, studio use, or busker. 20+ watts is probably best for you.
I have a 40 watt Fender Blues Deluxe at home, as I’ve spent the last 3 years gigging. I’ve just looked at my master volume knob and it’s at 1.25! And it’s still, really loud.
This volume in my house is a little too loud. When I play live, I haven’t ever been over 2.5. So, this gives you an idea of factoring in how much wattage you need.
Did You Know?
Jimmy Page pushed low watt tube amps to the max on the early Led Zeppelin albums.
Keith Richards also used a small guitar combo amp and grinds it hard, live, and in the studio. In the last 15 years, Keef loves using a 15 Watt combo Oahu Amp live!
Richards really has a unique tone and with only a 15-watt tube amp. Incredible!
Unlike the solid state amp, you don’t just plug in and play. Tube amplifiers need time to warm up and require cooling down afterward.
By warm up, I mean, play something quietly before turning up to a gig type level. Most tube amps have a standby switch as well as an on/off. Switch the amp on and into standby mode for around 30 secs.
After this period switch the standby off and play. When finished, switch the amp off, not back into standby mode. This practice alone will prolong the tube life and give you a longer-lasting amp.
Tubes are a superior technology for audio. They generally have fewer elements and smaller components than a solid state amp. Many players love the warm clean sounds of a tube amp.
The overdrive is far superior to a solid state amps, more responsive, and a very popular choice with professional musicians.
Lee has been playing guitar for over 25 years. In the 1990's he made a few TV appearances in London and supported a few big bands at festivals. He's recently sung on radio and worked as a full-time guitarist/singer. Lee is the founder of Authority Guitar, a site where he wants readers to enjoy every aspect of learning the guitar.
