Updated by Bobby
Updated on March 24th, 2023
Removed the pricing threshold and added price guides that are updated live. We've added the Blackstar HT5R MKII, and the Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister Deluxe 20 to our list.
Best Cheap Tube Amp (our top Pick)
Marshall DSL Series Amps
Versatile, affordable, and all the flavor of Marshall, the DSL series is simply one of the best-value guitar amp purchases on the market. Both the head and combo versions are excellent on nearly every measurable quality marker.
In a way, an amp purchase is a much tougher decision than an electric guitar.
An amplifier is that other thing you’ve got to buy, which can be frustrating, when all you really want is to get your guitar and play. You need to find a way to replace your amp without having to spend top dollar on the world's best tube amp and without exchanging one crappy amp for another. Moreover, it would be really nice if you could get that authentic, warm tube tone that the best guitar amps are known for.
It can happen if you know where to look.
We've narrowed our selection down to five favorites plus a bonus.
Best Cheap Tube Amps (our top picks)
AMPS | Name | Rate | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Marshall DSL20HR | 95.2 | |
 | Fender Blues JR 4 | n/a | |
 | Bugera V22 Infinium | n/a | |
 | Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister Deluxe 20 | n/a | |
 | Blackstar HT5R MKII | n/a |
To support Guitar Chalk we partner with great companies like Sweetwater and link to their gear. If you click through our orange buttons and make a purchase, we might receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks to all for your generous support and trust over the years. It has been such a privilege to build this project. Thank you! - Bobby and Danielle
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Compare More Amps
You can search for additional amps in our database and add them to the compare bar below. We're regularly adding to it, though we may or may not have what you're looking for depending on what and when you're searching.
As a general rule, cut down on wattage and size to get a cheaper tube amp. Flickr Commons image via WickedVT.
1. Marshall DSL Series Tube Amp Head (best value)
The DSL 15H sounds and feels like genuine, powerful Marshall tone, and is exactly what you would expect from a brand that has produced some of the best guitar amps in existence.
For decades now, Marshall has been one of the best amp manufacturers, routinely living up to lofty expectations from professionals and amateurs alike.
While small, the 15H is no exception to the Marshall norm.
Since you have the two channels and tailored GAIN controls for each, the DSL 15H is completely accommodating for small rooms and practice environments.
It can be as loud or as quite as you want, able to handle mid-sized gigging venues or bedroom practice.
Either way, you get the full effect of Marshall’s tube-driven vibe. There’s little need to go with a smaller one.
Read the full review: Marshall DSL20HR
Price Guide and Comparison Table
All prices on this page up-to-date as of Wed, September 27th, 2023.
IDEAL FOR: Classic to modern heavy rock, clean and distorted tones, recording, and semi-pro rig setups
TONE
95
EQ/CONTROL
93
FEATURES
95
COST/VALUE
95
The Pros
- Tone doesn't sound like a "cheap Marshall"
- DEEP and TONE SHIFT buttons add a lot of variety
- Footswitch included
- Two separate gain channels will please the blues and hard rock crowds equally
The Cons
- Footswitch has no LED and doesn't control DEEP or TONE SHIFT buttons
2. Bugera V22 Infinium Combo Tube Amp (best budget combo)
You might be wanting the tube amp or needing the lower price but want (or need) a larger-sized amp.
The V22 Infinium alleviates that issue because it’s just bigger.
There’s still only one 12″ speaker but, the entire amp weighs just short of 55 lbs, much larger than most of the other amps in this list.
Without a pedal, I don’t like the V22’s high-gain settings for metal or hard rock. It’s smooth and bluesy but not heavy.
If you like having the warmth and thickness of the clean sound, just add a distortion pedal and forgo the gain knob on the V22.
Price Guide and Comparison Table
IDEAL FOR: Vintage styles and clean tones
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
FEATURES
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
The Pros
- Three-band EQ, presence, and reverb controls
- Two footswitchable channels
- Beautiful vintage tone with hints of Fender warmth
- 12AX7 and EL84 preamp/power tubes
The Cons
- High gain settings sound almost exclusively vintage
3. Fender Blues Junior III & IV Tube Combos (best minimalist combo)
Many tone qualities of the more expensive Fender Deluxe (which I owned for a long time) and Deville are embodied in the Fender Blues Junior sound.
The tone is warm, bluesy and completely organic.
Some of the most popular tube amps in existence come from this series and the Fender brand.
The Junior series sounds like what you would expect from a high-end Fender tube amp.
Three preamp and two power tubes (12AX7s and EL84s) create a resonance and dynamic response that is sensitive to your pick (or fingers) making a remarkable distinction between rhythm and lead play.
While blues and jazz players will find it the most appealing, it lays down a beautiful clean tone that can serve as a baseline for any style.
We like it better for live performing then recording, just because there's no line out.
Price Guide and Comparison Table
IDEAL FOR: Clean tones, church, pairing with a distortion pedal, and blues
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
FEATURES
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
The Pros
- True-to-form Fender clean tone
- FAT switch sounds excellent
- Five total tubes sound like a much bigger amp
- Spring reverb is the real deal
The Cons
- Only one channel
- FAT switch footswitch is a separate purchase
4. Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister Deluxe 20 (best modern head)
While designed to be portable, the Hughes and Kettner Tubemeister Deluxe 20 offers a lot more than mobile convenience.
Its sound quality is particularly strong with high gain levels, especially since its clean tones tend to get a little gritty on even moderate gain and volume settings. The differences between the Deluxe 20 and other heads like the TubeMeister 40 and the Black Spirit 200 is primarily wattage and the number of channels.
Though it is worth noting that the Black Spirit is a solid state circuit while the TubeMeister series is all tube powered.
Like the Blackstar series, they're all going to be uniquely appealing to hard rockers who are looking for something that will often be played using a distorted signal.
What are the Power Soak and Red Box features?
On the back of the amp you’ll notice a Red Box DI Out and a Power Soak switch. The Red Box DI Out allows you to go straight into a mixer and PA system while still preserving a balanced or "line level" signal.
It’s essentially a type of speaker emulation.
The Power Soak option allows you to select the power output of the amp, depending on what volume levels you need to maintain.
You can choose from the full 20 watts, five or one. Together, these features effectively allow you to use the Tubemeister amps as a tube-driven signal processor and forgo the need for an external speaker - or "speaker off" mode - if you so choose.
Price Guide and Comparison Table
IDEAL FOR: Modern rock, heavy styles, and semi-pro rigs
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
FEATURES
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
The Pros
- High gain sounds fantastic
- Red Box DI out allows you to go straight into a mixer with speaker emulation
- Effects loop and two channels on the TM18
- TM5 is nothing if not portable
The Cons
- Clean tones can sound gritty and distorted on the TM5, even at moderate volume levels
5. VOX AC10C1 Combo Tube Amp (best vintage combo)
With a rich history behind its brand VOX does an exceptionally good job of creating low-cost amplifiers that maintain the richness and warmth of the VOX tone.
Cost-cutting is done by bringing down wattage and size, including only one speaker and simplifying the EQ.
The real meat of VOX tube amps is still intact, which means nothing about its tone sounds cheap, digital or manufactured.
It’s a completely organic resonance that sounds the part of a larger, professional rig.
Price Guide and Comparison Table
IDEAL FOR: Vintage rock distortion, clean tones, blues, and jazz
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
FEATURES
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
The Pros
- Clean and distorted tones sound warm and full
- VOX top boost is included
- External speaker jack
- Excels handling brighter tones and high EQs
The Cons
- No midrange control
- Only one channel
6. Blackstar HT5R (MKII) Tube Amp (best modern combo)
Blackstar, as a brand, consistently does a good job producing cheap metal-friendly amps.
This particular model (currently the HT5R) gives you the two footswitchable channels and even includes the footswitch, along with a more thorough control scheme than its predecessor, the HT1.
Moreover, it includes the familiar three-band EQ along with a an ISF switch, which functions similar to the American / British control in the Defender V15.
The combo amps from the Blackstar HT series are ideal for metal, modern rock or any situation where you want to get high gain levels directly from you amplifier.
The distortion sounds great.
Price Guide and Comparison Table
IDEAL FOR: Modern rock, heavy metal, and for those needing a reliable amp-based distortion source
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
FEATURES
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
The Pros
- Three-band EQ plus ISF control
- Two footswitchable channels
- Reverb in the "R" version
- Effects loop
- Distortion sounds great
The Cons
- Speaker is a stock job
Cut Costs by Reducing Size & Watts
You don’t need a big 50 – 100 watt amp to make a lot of noise.
The nicest 15 watt tube amp is going to be far better than an average 100 watt solid state amp.
Look for amps that are lowering cost by offering a low wattage version of a nice tube amp. A good strategy is to look at a reputable tube amp series and just target the smaller variations.
Take the DSL series from Marshall, pictured here:
A few amps from the Marshall DSL series.
This means you get the sound quality and tone of a more expensive amp, but in a smaller box.
Avoid the Features that Don't Matter
An amp with built in effects, extra picks, “rock star settings” and all those other gimmicky add-ons don’t help your tone.
Avoid them.
Steer clear of the amp kits and avoid the cheap beginner or practice amp Easter eggs. While you can’t always be certain where a company might be cutting costs, the tone of a small tube amp is not something that can be easily masked.
Amp manufacturers can’t bull crap their way to great tone. This means that if you shop simply based on tone-related features, you’ll always be better off.
Best Amps for Pedals
The difficult thing about diagnosing an amp for a pedal, is that it’s a bit of a backwards errand. The ideal pedal-friendly tube amplifier will depend a lot on which pedal you’re using. I would advise to first find a tube amp you like, then choose your pedal from there.
Hughes & Kettner makes a great pedal called the Tube Factor distortion. Expensive, but worth consideration.
Also note that the distortion of a good tube amp’s gain channel is often preferable to that of a pedal. In fact, if you don’t have a distortion pedal already and you buy the tube amp, wait and see if you’re satisfied with your amp’s distortion first, before you go out and buy a pedal.
You may find that the amp’s distortion sounds better to you than what you might be getting our of a pedal.
Otherwise, there’s no “optimal” amp for a distortion pedal. If you have an amp with a thick and clear clean tone, most distortion pedals will fit nicely over top of it.
Solid State or Tube Amp
The technology in solid state amplifiers has improved over the years, though tube amps still retain their status as the more genuine and desirable of the two options. Tubes just produce a warmer and more full tone than what you’ll get with solid state circuitry. The difference between tube and solid state amplification is typically easy to recognize from a sound-quality standpoint.
Solid state amps are also becoming more digitized with built-in effects and other features that are harder to produce in a tube amp.
Thus, tubes are the more “organic” and purist-friendly approach, which means guitar players tend to prefer them. You’ll seldom see the pros with solid state rigs.
Questions & Comments
What do you think about the tube amplifiers list?
Have something in mind that should have been added?
If you know of another good, cheap tube amp option that deserves a spot on this list, let me know in the comments section below.
Related Articles
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Amps & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Amps & Roundups
I have a EHX Big Muff Pi (NYC) Fuzz/Distortion/Sustain Effects Pedal and a EHX Rams Head Big Muff Pi Reissue Fuzz/Distortion /Sustain. Effects Pedal. I play them through a Fender Champion XL100 2X12 combo amp. I’m into Sabbath, Doom/Stoner Rock and Grunge. Which of the tube amps listed above would be work best with my Fuzz Pedals?
For those styles I’d probably go with the Marshall (the DSL series).
Thanks, Bobby!
An interesting list, to be sure. I appreciate the thought that the writer put into this. However, I would suggest, at the time of the next update, that the author put an asterisk somewhere the top saying “Under $500 at the time of writing, now most are 400 to 700″… with the Hughes and Kettner linked to Sweetwater coming in at a whopping 1300. Regardless, this was a helpful article as a review and I appreciate it having been published.
Yes, thanks for pointing this out Stephen. I’ll put a note at the top. Stupid inflation. That’s how they git ya.
Although tube amps are still very popular and highly sought after…especially the newer bloom of small watt tube amps, this article seems like it was written 10 years ago. It’s becoming harder and harder to “recognize” the difference between tube tone and solid state modelling tone. And IN FACT…pros ARE using solid state technology in the studio and on stage. So while I appreciate the fact that you are presented information for the prospective tube amp shopper, it is very misleading to characterize solid state, particularity modeling technology as undesirable or even inferior.
Thanks for chiming in, Steve. That’s a very fair point. Though I’m not saying (not trying to say) that solid state amps are undesirable or inferior. Most of the time they’re just very “digitized” which a lot of people don’t like. Like the Fender Mustang GT series compared to the Vibrolux.
I think we could also argue that in this price range, the tube amps often provide more value.
I’m also not saying that pros never use solid state amps, but the vast majority of them use some kind of tube amp head.
Different strokes for different
folks!
More creative players will critique their tones with tubes amps.
I Had an solid state amp for a short time because that’s what it is a solid state amp.
So I said to myself, do you want a mass produced tone or do you want to setup your own true tone?
I went from a Marshall code 50 modeling amp to now my tube bugera g20w amp and never look back!!!
Code 50 had Bluetooth, “preprogrammed tones” , buttons to push till you turn blue .. Marshall should be ashamed for creating push button board like that ..
Bugera g20 tube amp is all knobs to turn & dial in and get jamming way quicker!
Use to own fender frontman 100w amp solid state that sounds just like that Code 50 .. transistor-ish.
My next Fender amp will be a tube amp bc i got a 60s Strat guitar & want true tones and not artificial tones..
Btw :
that Chinese Bugera tube amp w/2 – 1x12s cabs it’s a $500 setup and I
I’ll put it up against any Marshall with factory tubes anytime , I’m getting 6L6
tubes soon then it’s game over – lol
Hey i have Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster and I’m looking for a tube on which i can dial the Eric Clapton,Jimi Hendrix and SRV kind of tones so which amp do you think is best for that? And also I don’t mind getting modern distortion once in a while.
P.S: I don’t like very fat distortion, I’m more of a trebly and glassy distortions kind of guy. Thank you for your time and help.
Hey Sanad – if you want something a little more trebly and glassy, I’d go with the Marshall DSL. It definitely has a lot of strength on the vintage gain spectrum, but can handle modern heaviness really well too.
If you’re a Clapton guy, the Fender tube amps would also be worth considering. They’re a bit more bass-heavy and warm though.
I have owned them all and have settled on an amp that should be on the list. It is the Ibanez TSA 15 H. All tube, out Fenders the Fenders for under $300. Great clean pallet to color with any pedal, this amp loves them all. I can cover any gig or style with this head, my vintage 2×12’s cabinet and my pedal board. The first night I played through this amp on clean, the tone was so pristine and large and ambient I could hardly tell that it didn’t have reverb. Then I started kicking in pedals and the heavens opened. This amp is just incredible, my only knock on it is I wish in had direct out send.
Definitely +1 on that. Harf to find used now, and pretty expensive on Reverb. I’d like another to have a stereo pair. Failing that, looking ideally for something that has the tone stack after the fx return like the TSA.
I agree with the comment on the Ibanez TSA 15 H. I tried out each of the amps listed in this review (and more) and went with the TSA for . . . wait for it . . . its clean tones and how well it works with effects pedals. I couldn’t find anything in this price range that came close. The amp is versatile enough that I can switch from strat to tele with no need to fiddle with eq for tone and the Tube Screamer circuit was just a bonus since it eliminated my need for one flavor of overdrive. I like it so much that bought a second one that I leave parked in my practice room. That one came with the matching Ibanez TSA112C 12 inch speaker cabinet which sounds good enough that I let it stock. I mic a custom 12 inch cabinet with the TSA 15 head for live playing.
Hey, Ed – thanks for sharing this. Seems like the TSA15H might deserve a spot on this list.
I submit the TINY Terror as the thing that should’ve been on there. Sure, the Micro Terror is great and all, but the Tiny Terror is the true best amp under $500. This is coming from someone who owns aonly a MT currently, but is about to buy a TT.
Although if someone isn’t all about overdrive and prefers cleaner tones they should buy an AC30 used for a little over $600. It’s not too much more over $500.
I think the reason I left it off the list was because it typically retails for $600.
Love the write up!!
Which of these amps would you recommend to achieve the complete Metallica sound and tone of their 80’s albums (Kill Em All, RTL, MOP, AJ4A) all the way up to their 90’s records and beyond?
Thanks, Jamie.
I believe Kirk uses Mesa Boogie and Randall amps. Here’s more detail about his rig and amp settings: https://www.guitarchalk.com/kirk-hammett-amp-settings/
As far as what would come the closest from this list, I’d probably say the Marshall DSL is easily your best bet.
Hey great read. The problem I am having is all the shops in my area do not have most of these amps, of course only having your basic Line 6’s or $1500.00 Marshalls. So I am planning on buying online and just hoping for the best. Now I am looking to blend the classic leads from Randy Rhoads or Kirk Hammet with that new thick distortion from A7X or Volbeat. Also looking for a nice clean because other from my obvious hard rock band I am also in a funk/top 40 band which I would also need a Santana sounding distortion. I’m guessing the Marshall might be a good option but what would be your pick based off of what I need?
What guitar will you be running through it?
Dollar for dollar with all the features and good clean to metal thump it’s the peavey 6150mh
Thanks for the great information! I have an American special strat sss and a mim strat SSH. I have a thr10c amp but am looking for a larger amp for the basement family room. I like to play nirvana, Pearl jam, red hot chili peppers, oasis and the like. I have a cheap multieffect pedal. What would u suggest for me? Spending around $500 “feels” right, but I can go higher if u feel it is worthwhile. I have been playing for awhile, but am not that good, thought a nice amp would motivate me more. Thanks!
You bet, Eric. For your situation (and price) I’d go with something Fender, like the Blues Jr., Deville or Deluxe.
For the early ’90s grunge stuff it’s a great amp. Less of a modern edge and more of that classic, bluesy tone.
I used to use the Deluxe and loved it. I think it retails around $750.
Thank you very much I will look into those.
I just wanted to thank you for a really helpful list. I started learning to play not long ago, with an Epiphone Les Paul and a Blackstar HT-1R. This amp has a lot going for it, but I’ve gotten increasingly dissatisfied with its very limited clean tone capability. Looking through lists such as yours for recommendations. I think the Blues Jr. would be a spectacular choice, but my playing is so far still at home and trying not to be too loud, so it might be overkill (and I like having a headphone jack). The Blackstar HT-5R would be a great step up, but still pondering the choices.
Hey Christopher – thanks for the kind words!
Are you looking at a more contemporary “modern” sounding amp? Or something a little more vintage and tube driven?
I think that’s the most critical distinction before deciding what will be the most ideal.
Great list! I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to post this. Sadly none of these amps fit that ‘perfect’ amp which I am in search for. I am looking for something less than 500$ kinda like whats on your list but i want to buy it used. The amps main purpose will be to play blues and jazz so I want something with a nice ‘twangy’ clean tone and that ‘warm’ distortion that is produced by a tube amp.I really liked the Fender blues junior and vox AC10C1 but, I have heard great things about the Fender X2 as well as the Fender XD and more recently the Fender base breaker but I am still lost. Do you have or any one else have recommendations
What has you hesitating on the Fender or the VOX? If you don’t mind solid state, the Line 6 Spider series is decent and lets you model in a lot of different sounds. If you want to go tube, I’d definitely recommend the Fender.
Honestly that and the VOX are gonna be your best options.
If you don’t mind going a little higher, the Blues Deluxe is awesome: http://amzn.to/2anjPxW
Let me know.
Yeah, I have owned a Line 6 spider 30 watt for about two years now and I am not that happy with it. I will agree with you that you get a lot of tonal variety its just not the tone i like. Whenever I plug in my fender american special and put the amp on clean I get a really “thin” tone even with pedals and i know its not the guitar because if i put it in just about any other amp the clean tone is good. I also am constantly trying to get a overdrive or distortion tone like that of SRV and you would think between owning an Ibanez TS9 tube screamer pedal along with a american stratocaster equipped with Texas Special pickups I would get something remotely close to that tone but no. However, that’s just my two cents and i am sure someone could argue with me about all of the points I just made. Anyways, I can see that a fender tube amp of some kind is probably going to be my best bet. I am wondering though should I go out of my price range and purchase something like a blues junior, blues deluxe, or hot rod. Or, should i try purchasing something more affordable like a fender vaporizer or XD and have new tubes installed.I would like multiple opinions from you guys as well as one from you Bobby Kittleberger.
Personally, I’d go with the Deluxe or Hot Rod. I’ve owned/used both and they’re amazingly smooth. Beautiful-sounding, especially with clean tones.
Thank you
The Fender Vaporizer, hands down a great little amp with two tens and a ton of versatility.
Dollar for dollar I submit the Fender Vaporizer as the best low output tube amp around. It can be had for around three hundred in tip top shape, includes decent reverb and pumps out a lot of sound and very classic tone all easily manipulated with the volume and tone knobs on the amp and your guitar. I love mine.
I’ve never seen or heard of that one but I just looked it up and it looks pretty sweet. Thanks for the heads up!