Top 10 Best Tube Amp Under $1000 in 2021 – Unbiased Reviews

When we talk about equipment needed for live performances, one tool that we can never let go of is a tube amplifier. With this in your setup, you will be able to attain richer, clean and deeper tones and deliver an earth-shattering performance to your listeners. In case, you’re in search of best tube amp under $1000, you’re at the right page.

Most of the people are of the view that tube amplifiers are costlier as compared to simple amps thus, calling them a waste of money. But that isn’t the case, is it?

Tube amps are essential for ensuring that you give your best on stage. We know that this doesn’t look like a glamorous investment but once you start using this amplifier and see the results, you will know how crucial it is to your live performance.

So, if you feel you might struggle when choosing the right tube amp, don’t worry because we have got you covered. Here are our top 10 tube amp that we would like you to check out.

The Best Tube Amps Under $1000

1. Fender Blues Junior IV – 15 Watt Electric Guitar Amplifier

There is a great reason why the Fender Blues Junior IV 15-Watt Electric Guitar Amplifier is said to be one of the best amplifier combos available in the market. The selling point of this amplifier is that you get all the amazing Fender tones at a very fair price.

Fender is popular for producing high-quality excellent sounds but most of their tube amps come at a costly price point. When we saw how well this tube amp was constructed and the fact that it came with all the Fender tones, we knew this was something we had to share with our readers.

Features: The Fender Blues Junior IV 15-Watt Electric Guitar Amplifier is a portable and easy setup amplifier that goes great for tube tones. If you happen to be someone who is looking for an amplifier that offers excellent performance at low volumes, then this is it!

The company has designed this amplifier to be very simple and hassle-free. There is a FAT switch on this amp that will do exactly what you expect it to do. The overall controls are easier to understand and you also get a very detailed and thorough user-manual with this amplifier that is there to solve all your queries.

It also offers you the capability of expanding the frequency as per your need.

Final Verdict

The Fender Blues Junior IV 15-Watt Electric Guitar Amplifier is a powerful and affordable tube amp option that we would really like you to consider. It offers excellent performance and is greatly recommended for soft music composition.

2. BUGERA G5 Amplifier

Another 5-watt tube amplifier that has proven to be awesome is the BUGERA G5 5-Watt Class Amplifier Head with Infinium Tube. This is a compact tube amplifier that has been constructed out of high-quality materials and offers a wide range of tone customizing options that make it an amplifier worth having.

The reason why this tube amplifier has gained so much popularity among musicphiles is that it was engineered in British offering an incredible response rate and sensitivity.

Features: It features a 12AX7 pre-amp tube paired with an EL84 power tube that is then integrated with a built-in power magnifier that pushes them together, bringing them to a breaking point at higher volume levels. The power tube is capable of giving the preamp a thick overall tone which is why most people enjoy the richness and detail in its sound production.

The BUGERA G5 5-Watt Class Amplifier Head with Infinium Tube gives the users the option to choose from a wide range of available tones that aren’t just HD but can also be tweaked as per preferences to achieve different effects.

Bugera has also integrated the amplifier with the brand’s Tube Life Multiplier that keeps monitoring the performance of the tube throughout its life and gives the user the opportunity to maintain high-quality sound as per their liking.

Final Verdict

The BUGERA G5 5-Watt Class Amplifier Head with Infinium Tube is another affordable, less wattage option that any guitar player can go for. The brand has backed this tube amp with a lifetime warranty and trust us when we say, you are never going to get bored with its tones.

3. Orange Rocker 32 Tube Guitar Combo Amplifier

The Orange Rocker 30W Tube Guitar Combo Amplifier is a powerful tube amp that comes with a number of features that you can use to your advantage. The selling point of this tube amplifier is the fact that it comes with stereo capabilities.

It offers two output stages along with a mono stereo that has a great impact on the buffer valves. You also get a half-power option this amplifier comes integrated with that makes things a whole lot easier for musicians when practicing.

Features: Orange Rocker 30W Tube Guitar Combo Amplifier features a very intuitive control panel that uses pictograms to describe all the functions of the amplifier and makes it very easy for the user to continue using it.

You will find several controls for treble, gain, bass, volume and mid which will make it easier for you to adjust your music accordingly. We absolutely loved the extensive controls. It gave the users so much power over their music production and allowed them to record it just the way they wanted.

Final Verdict

The Orange Rocker 30W Tube Guitar Combo Amplifier is a solid tube amp that offers a high level of versatility and ensures you have maximum control over your music recording. It is a very good choice for musicians who are just starting out. If you like practicing regularly and want to have maximum control over your tones, go for this one.

4. Blackstar HT-20R MkII

If you have been hunting for the best tube amps under $1000 for a while, then you must have come across thousands of overpriced variants. Keeping the limited budget and topnotch quality in mind, we have chosen the Blackster HT-20R MKII 20W Combo with Reverb as our fourth model that we would like you to look into.

The HT-20R Tube Amplifier by Blackster offers enigmatic performance and a wide range of features that one can only get in overpriced models. The amp is backed by a 5-year warranty and delivers impeccable sound, so much so that we know it is going to become your favourite audio equipment in your studio as soon as you start using it.

Features: The Blackster HT-20R Tube Amplifier features overdrive voicing and two-channel amplifiers that are both switchable. The amplifier has an incredible capacity of playing true to tone whereas the simple channel offers individual tone controls so you can have maximum customizing options.

The tube amp works for both, US and British tones. The British mode comes with solid mids and a true treble whereas the US mode features solitary volume controls for every tone.

There is a great chance that as soon as you start playing your music with this tube amp, you’re going to get lost in the clean and crisp sound. The HT-20R Tube Amplifier comes in an elegant design and a solid structure that is built to last.

Final Verdict

For audiophiles who love practicing their music on a daily basis and are in need of a high-end yet affordable tube then HT-20R Tube Amplifier by Blackster is a good option to consider. It is among the most recommended tube amps on a budget and delivers a commendable performance.

5. Marshall Amps M-DSL40CR-U Guitar Combo Amplifier

The Marshall Amps M-DSL40CR-U Guitar Combo Amplifier is a solid choice for a reasonably priced amplifier.

Over the years, Marshall has come up with a wide range of models in the tube amplifier domain. But the one model they have kept on raving about is this one. If you go back in history, you will see that some of the best music recordings were done using the legendary Marshall tube amplifiers. Their models are constructed out of high-quality materials and are popular for their longevity.

Features: The Marshall Amps M-DSL40CR-U Guitar Combo Amplifier is an all-tube amp that comes with a maximum wattage of 40watts but they can also be reduced down to 20-watts when needed. With this tube amp, you attain some of the classiest sounds in history along with a preset module that will allow you to save your own tones and sounds for future use.

You will have resonance, gain and volume per channel control as well so you can attain a more customized sound for regular listening. This specific tube amplifier comes from their line of Celestion V Speakers. If you take a look at its Amazon buying page, you will also see how it has received stellar reviews from the users.

Final Verdict

The Marshall Amps M-DSL40CR-U Guitar Combo Amplifier is one of the top, most recommended amplifier for beginners. If you happen to be someone who is buying a tube amplifier for the very first time and have no idea what to invest in, go for this one, you will not ever be disappointed.

6. Fender ’57 Custom Champ – 5W 1×8 Tube Guitar Amp

The next model that we have chosen to be added to this list is the Fender ’57 Custom Champ 5W Tube Guitar Amplifier.

It is one of the most powerful tube amplifiers on the market. The dirt is impeccable on this model and so is the headroom but you will have to crank it a bit for maximum output.

Features: The overall construction quality is beautiful on this unit. Fender has used the highest quality components to manufacture the Custom Champ Tube Amplifier and it has a very beautiful colour. It has been integrated with a Weber speaker to deliver optimal performance and to ensure you have a great listening experience.

The amplifier consists of an industrial-grade 12AY7 pre-amp tube that is popular for being solid and well-built. Fender has installed a very intuitive control panel that will allow you to have great customization options.

The amplifier works beautifully with pedals. It is highly suitable for people who are just setting up their studio and are in need of an amplifier that is easy to use and setup.

Final Verdict

The Fender ’57 Custom Champ 5W Tube Guitar Amplifier has an incredible design and it works beautifully with attenuator and pedal both. It is a pricier model on this list but the level of efficiency it offers and the fact that it is very user-friendly make it worth buying.

7. Vox Bass Amplifier Head

The Vox Bass Amplifier Head may be an old model but it is one of the most recommended and widely used tube amplifiers that remains a top choice to date.

The selling point of this amplifier is that it allows the user to enjoy a very simple and hassle-free music enjoying experience. It is a good and durable tube-driven amplifier. The amp produces a rich and very detailed sound so you can hear even the minutest details of your favourite track.

Features: In the previous versions of Vox Bass Amplifier Head, you got a 10-inch speaker head but in this latest upgrade, Vox has upgraded the size of the speaker to be 12-inch so the users can enjoy a more dynamic experience.

It delivers a high level of volume without any distortion or vibrations. The sound quality is robust and is the amp itself. Vox manufactured this tube out of the highest quality of materials only to enhance its longevity. Once bought, the VOX Bass Amplifier Head can last you for up 8-years.

We strongly recommend this amplifier for stage and studio performance. If there is a concert coming up and you need a tube amplifier that will outshine your previous performance then this would be a perfect choice.

Final Verdict

The VOX Bass Amplifier Head is an incredible tube amp that is easy to setup and even easier to enjoy. It comes with hassle-free controls that will allow you to setup your entire stereo system with the utmost ease. We were also thrilled because of how truly affordable this little piece of equipment is.

8. Blackstar HT5RH MKII – Best for Beginners

The Blackstar has manufactured some very popular tube amplifiers over time and one of their top-sellers is the HT5RH MKII 5-Watt Tube Head with Reverb. It comes with a power of 5-watts and we recommend this tube amplifier for practice.

However, with the MKII version as their upgrade in this tube head, we found the tube amp possessing some latest and very well-crafted tones that you are going to enjoy playing.

Features: The HT5RH MKII 5-Watt Tube Head comes with some latest integrations, all of them have been extremely player-friendly. With this tube amplifier, you will be in possession of all the modern tones, all of those have been made part of the clean channels and as far as distorted textures are concerned, they will work with distorted channels.

The Blackstar comes in an infinite shape that will allow you to play from British to American tones, all in a single amplifier. We found this tube amp to be an all-rounder amplifier that can be used at home and in studios for practicing purposes. It also delivers some high-end tones doesn’t matter what kind of a scenario it is in which you’re using the amp.

Final Verdict

The Blackstar HT5RH MKII 5-Watt Tube Head is a highly affordable and powerful tube amp that is definitely going to come under your budget. As a reverb amplifier, you will also get some extra depth from this amplifier that you can use if you want to.

All in all, this is one of the most commonly recommended tube amps among beginners because of its all-rounding capabilities.

9. Monoprice 611705 5-Watt 1×8 Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier

The Monoprice 611705 5-Watt Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier is a powerful tool given its small size. It also comes at a very reasonable price and delivers efficient performance to enhance the overall sound quality of your speaker system.

Even though Monoprice isn’t a leading brand in the music industry but the manufacturers have come up with some really good amplifiers and subwoofers that we find worth considering.

Features: The Monoprice 611705 5_watt Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier is a very well-constructed amplifier, made out of high-quality components and it has the potential to last for a very long time. We loved the vintage design of this amplifier and it comes in a cream colour, giving a leather like-look. the tube amp is extremely lightweight and will make a very good option for a travel amplifier.

The tube amp combo comes with an 8-inch celestial speaker that occupies a sufficient surface and is capable of producing all levels of frequencies with a lot of efficacy. Monoprice has integrated this amplifier with a high-quality magnet that is HD and highlights even the minutest nuances in the music as naturally as possible.

Along with that, the Monoprice 611705 Tube Amp has been integrated with a 12AX7 pre-amp tube that delivers accurate analogue signal without causing even the slightest of distortions. We also loved how rich the tones truly are being produced with this tube amp.

Final Verdict

The Monoprice 611705 5-Watt Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier is high quality and reasonably priced tube amp that provides a wide range of advantages to the user. It has very minimal controls that will make it easier for the user to set it up and control the adjustments as needed.

10. Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head

The last model that we have on this list is the Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head. It is one of those amplifiers that come with old school and traditional construction but have the capability to be converted into a future model.

With this tube amplifier, you get the advantage of six powered tubes that can be easily adjusted through a rotary dial according to your preference.

Features: The Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head might be a traditional amplifier but it does have its perks which make it worth buying. With this amplifier, you get the opportunity to select from six different preamp voices along with an integrated ISI function.

The ISI function lets you choose tone spectrum and once that’s done, your tube amp is ready to hit it off. You also get very easy to use control panel with an equalizer that is going to transform your music production completely. There is also a preset function that will let you save all your favourite tones for future use.

The Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head is an extremely versatile tube amplifier, perfect for commercial use. It will help you transform your music right from the word go and attain better than ever results. Blackstar has also integrated this amplifier with a detailed manual so you can read it thoroughly before you set the amp up.

Final Verdict

The Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head is a solid, affordable and very versatile choice for a tube amplifier. It comes with various advantages, the best one being that it is easy to control and lets you transform your music to a whole new level.

Conclusion

So, this is everything we had on the best tube amp under $1000. We hope this article has been helpful in your search and you were able to find exactly what you were looking for.

If there is a tube amp you have been using yourself and is worth considering, do let us know through your feedback below.