9 Best Tube Amps Under 1000: Top Affordable Stereo Tube Amp 2020

The tube amplifiers are certainly one of the most popular choices when we talk about selection for live performances. You are provided with deeper, richer tones and a real depth with clean sounds. But for some reason, there is some bad reputation attached to it.

Often people think of tube amps to be a costlier alternative to some of the other amps. Most guitarists tend to focus on purchasing the perfect guitar. And having a tube amp might even seem less exciting as well. But there is some crucial importance and if you are worried about the cost, here are the Best Tube Amps Under 1000 that have good features that make them stand out from the rest, including for the best guitarists.

Stereo Tube Amp Comparison Table

 

Best Budget Stereo Tube Amp

Product Image	Product Name	Value	Check Price
	Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head	$$$	Buy on Amazon
	Fender Princeton Reverb 15-Watt	$$$	Buy on Amazon
	Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier	$$$	Buy on Amazon
	Blackstar HT5RH MKII 5 Watt Tube Head	$$$	Buy on Amazon
	Fender Blues Junior IV 15 Watt	$$$	Buy on Amazon
	Vox Bass Amplifier Head	$$	Buy on Amazon
	Monoprice 611705 5 Watt	$$$	Buy on Amazon
	Bugera T50 Infinium 50 Watt	$$$	Buy on Amazon
	Blackstar HT-20R MkII 20W	$$$	Buy on Amazon

 

Top 10 Best Tube Amps Under 1000 for the money

Are you looking for a tube amplifier and don’t know what is the best tube amp for the money right now? Then you have come to right place today! In this post I’m collecting top 9 best Tube Amps Under 1000 which you can use for Vinyl Turntable, Guitar or for home use.

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Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head – 100 watt Head: Best Overall

 

The Blackstar Silverline Deluxe head is the kind of amp that can be able to convert the old school models with the digital future. You are offered 6 choices of varied power tube response that is accessible with rotary dial turn. You can also select from the six preamp voices. Then the company also offers you a patented ‘ISF function’. This will help you in choosing the tone spectrum and then you are ready.

There is also a control panel of intuitive nature with EQ that transforms the audio completely. You will also be able to save the favorite tones with preset and there is access through footswitch and one can even go in detail through the free INSIDER software that you get from the company. It is extremely versatile, perfect for performers, and has all of the vital connections for making the recording work easy. Sure this one can be the amp of the new times but has some features of the past and this is the best part.

Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb 15-Watt 1×10-Inch Guitar Combo Amp: Best Value for Money.

 

This is an expensive product just around the budget that we mentioned but there are some good reasons for it. The Fender ’65 Princeton reverb will look extremely luxurious and collectible the moment you see it. There is a lot of emphases given to the vintage feel over the modern versatility. This is the 15 watt tube amp and provides stellar tones making it perfect for stage performances.

Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier (M-DSL40CR-U): Best quality speaker

 

If you get a little extra time there is a recommendation to go through the list of endorsees that Marshall had over the years. You will see that several legendary recordings were made with the game-changer amps they make.

It is an all-tube amp of 40 watts, but you also have the reduction option with 20 watts. There are many classic sounds that you get with this one. There are volume and gain per channel as well as resonance control. Now the model comes with the Celestion V speaker. It is also one of the amps on the list that has got some of the best reviews overall.

Blackstar HT5RH MKII 5 Watt Tube Head

 

One of the top sellers from Blackstar has been the HT-5RH. With 5 watts, this is a kind of low watt amp for practice. The MKII version certainly is an upgrade and has re-voiced channels. There are several features that can be called player-friendly. You get all of the modern tones with the clean channels and the drive channels will work with distorted textures.

And because of the patented feature called Infinite shape, you will be able to play everything from British to American high tones. This can be regarded as the all-rounder for practicing in-studio or spaces and also delivers some premium tube tones regardless of the situations one uses it.

This is also one of the options that will come into your budget and worth every penny. Its re-voiced reverb will be offering you the additional depth that you might have not seen before. Getting to the cracked tones with the right volume level will become easy and this is because of the power reducing circuit.

Fender Blues Junior IV 15 Watt Electric Guitar Amplifier: Best for beginners

 

There is a good reason for the Fender Blues junior to be one of the best sellers in the amp combos. The main feature is that you get all of the classic fender tones at a highly affordable cost. This is highly portable and hassle-free and can be used for good tube tones at low volume and is also pedalboard compatible.

But even before you start using this one, you can be sure of being mesmerized by it. There is a FAT switch that will be acting as a modest genius and does exactly what you wanted it to do. You can also widen the frequency as per your need for the single-coil tones.

The only switch over the control panel that needs some explanation is the FAT switch. Otherwise, all of the other features are pretty straightforward and can be called a modern classic. It is a 15 watt and comes with 12 inches A type speakers.

Vox Bass Amplifier Head, Black (AC4C1-12): Best User Friendly

 

Among all of the varied VOX amps that you get, this AC4 has been able to remain popular over the decades. It provides you with a hassle-free and simple way of enjoying the rich audio and is a good tube driven amp.

While the models before came with a speaker of 10 inches, you get this one with the 12-inch speaker that also delivers a level of sound that’s robust. There is the vinyl exterior that also offers a classic look of VOX traditions. It is an A tube amp that makes sure that you enjoy it regardless of the live performances or recordings. The combo amplifier has Bakelite handles that provide a retro look.

Monoprice 611705 5 Watt 1×8 Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier: Best with Good frequency ranges

 

For people that are in search of the combo that provides manageable volume that’s still enough for small performances, Monoprice 611705 can be suitable. There is considerable headroom that it offers, with the clean from country players to blues, and you can get the volume higher for addictive, musical, and warm tones.

This is a versatile amplifier and has a quality Celestion speaker. Also able to handle varied frequency ranges. You get an enhanced dynamic range that provides superior sound quality. One good thing is that the low, mid, and high tones stay balanced. The amp also has a back case of good quality with more ambiance and also there is a speaker grill with synthetic leather and a chrome exterior that offers a good retro look.

Bugera T50 Infinium 50 Watt: Best durability and build

 

One of the best features of the brand Bugera is that there have been hand-made with extreme quality standards. The Bugera T50 is an excellent cage styled guitar tube that also has 2 channels as well as effortless switches. There are classic warm sounds with the AB tones. It will be a perfect choice for practicing or intimate gigs that can add up for setting up truly unbelievable audio. There are typical controls for added high definition reverb that also has dedicated controls. Then the aesthetics are cool and the compact size makes it easy to carry around.

Blackstar HT-20R MkII 20W Combo(Reverb, Trafalgar Blue): Best Overdrive channels

 

You are provided a good change from the Blackstar HT-20 R as this is will be amid priced variant and provides you the good impression of the amp that you get thrice the cost of this one. There are 2 channel amp and overdrive voicing that is foot-switchable.

There is this uncanny capacity for playing the tone field. This clean channel provides simplicity with solitary tone controls and good volume with dedicated modes for the US tones and the British mode has the treble chime and solid middles. There is a high probability that you get lost with the cleans, addition of splash with reworked reverb that offers sounds of studio quality.

Also, make sure you are not forgetting the overdrive channels that have high and classic voice gains that one gets from the contemporary metal of the 70’s rock. All of this in just one purchase. The audio is loud enough for stage performances but you can also power it down towards 2 watts if needed. This is also one remarkable feature that makes it stand out from the rest.

Best Tube Amp Under 1000: Buying Guide:

 

The music genre that you play will be influencing the specific tube amp that you need. Playing jazz with the tube amp for instance can be a great choice. Most of the guitarists have individual preferences while they are searching for other options that can help in enhancing performance.

Therefore the kind of music that one plays will make sure that you select the best tube amp. Some of the other things that one needs to keep in mind are the audience size as well as the venue as this will have an impact on the power watt that is needed. Regardless of the specific model that you narrow down your choice too, here is a simple guide for the selection of the best tube amp that you can find in the market:

Sound Quality:

 

One of the main factors to consider is the sound quality when we talk about purchasing tube amps. While people can have different opinions over the fact that one model provides better audio than the other, most people will agree that dynamics, articulation, and clarity are vital too.

Because of the subjective nature, you cannot completely depend here on individual reviews. The main reason being that the tones might not be conclusively mentioned and you can try reading overall reviews, as it will offer reliable representation for making sure of the amp sounds.

Voicing or Amp Tone:

 

The different amps also have varied voicing, and this variation can range from being subtle to highly obvious. Some of the experts that also include manufacturers will be dividing the amp tones into flavors. This usually includes British and American tones and this can seem to be something generalized but it will also be making your work of describing the tonal differences a bit easier.

In case you aren’t much familiar with the amp tones, the best thing will be looking for the amp that is being used by your favorite guitarist and then going for something that sounds similar.

Equalizer:

 

The ability for shaping the guitar sound through the equalizer controls is vital, but this doesn’t mean that this work will be completed through an amp. There are many rack and pedal effects that can also fulfill the work of equalization with better accuracy.

Attenuation and Power Ratings:

 

Power ratings also dictate the amplifier’s loudness which comes along with the sonic headroom. The main idea is low-power amp will be perfect for practicing while one plays at bigger venues higher power requirements are there. Some of the tube amps come well equipped with special power attenuators.

This will allow a lower rating of power if you wanted to tame the volume of the amp. Also, with the low power output, the volume level can get quieter. A lot of people also use good toes without any disturbances to their neighbors. Also, note that the tube amps are louder than the solid-state one even if they have the same specification on power consumption.

Speaker:

 

The simple idea is to make sure that the speaker is big. This means that you can be offered with reproducing lower-frequency sounds well. But this might not be the right choice when we talk about having amp usage on stage. The best one to go for will be medium-sized as these are good enough for jamming, practicing, and also recording. These are also the first choice of professional guitarists.

Output and Input options:

 

A lot of the tube amps that come in the price range we have been talking about have one input. But there are others with two inputs as well and can accommodate varied kinds of guitars or for the signal routing towards different channels.

Going for amps with multiple inputs will provide you with additional flexibility and also can provide an option for playing two guitars with the same amp but there will be some limitations.

Amp heads have multiple output options, but you can also get combo amps with the extension speaker outs and headphones. People searching for silent practices will need a headphone output as well. Interestingly, some of the offers are directed towards the USB recording functionalities that make tube amp recordings a lot convenient.

Cabinet:

 

Because having a closed-back cabinet will be projecting the audio forward, there can be a production of clearer, punchier tones. It is also often preferred that the live sound engineers as they work for front projections and it can also make work easier. Then the cabinets with open back will be projecting the sound towards the back and front. This results in a sound that’s more naturally ambient.

It is also preferred by the guitarist as it can fill the stages and room better. With the backport cabinet, there can be some sound leaks through the small-ports present on the backside. And this is usually designed for the low-end emphasis.

Extra Features:

 

There are extra features that include tremolo, multi-effects that can be built-in. All of these make your tube amp and bring a lot of value. All of this extra will not be using the stage settings with the pedals are used for achieving a similar effect.

Extra Tip:

 

You need to be a bit patient with the tube amp as it can take some time to break in and offer the amplifier tonality. This is because the additional energy tends to head the tube amp from the inside. You will be able to find the amp that takes some time for kicking it to a higher level and can also become powerful at the end of the sets and becoming sure that the performance gets compensated soon.

Best Tube Amp Under 1000: FAQ

Do the tube amplifiers sound better?

Tube amplifiers will be offering the least distortion even at low sound levels. This is also the reason for using a tube amp for playing soft music and yes it can certainly make the sound better as well.

 

Is it possible that tube amp can kill you?

Understand well that the power in the caps is enough for killing a person. And therefore it’s vital that you are taking proper precautions and the discharge is not going towards your heart. There can be a power of 450 volts and higher in the tubes and this also means that it can charge to more than 600 volts as well. This might not kill you but surely can hurt you.

 

How much time should be the tube amp warmed up?

About 30 minutes. You must be warming the tube amp thoroughly. In case this doesn’t happen, the tones that you play will not be that good. As a general rule, you should be warming up the amp about 30 minutes before so that you can play the guitar well.

 

Why are tube amps expensive?

Tube amps are costly as they have power tubes for being the primary source of amplification. Each of the tubes can also cost you around fifty dollars and a lot of single units have four of these. Then the amps also have some components that add to the costs including large cases and some circuitry when you compare it with another solid-state amp.

 

What is the frequency to bias your tube amp?

If you have been using your tube amp regularly that means more than 2 hours per day then it will be good for keeping the minimum check on the bias from 3 to 6 months. In case you notice that the audio is becoming noisy or the tube is not working as it used to, this can be an indication that bias has to be set.

 

What should you not do with the tube amp?

You should never be running the amp without a plugged in speaker. This might cause huge damages. Make sure that you are not flipping the power button on and off rapidly. This can lead to damage to the power supply.

 

Conclusion:

 

From the list above you will surely be able to find the best tube amps under 1000. You can certainly find some of the low-cost options in the market but they will not be all tube in nature. Tube amps will be offering you incomparable natural and top-notch sounds as it produces warmer, smoother, and clearer sounds.

All that being said the choice of the best tube amp will be differing from one person to another as each of them can provide unique tones. Therefore, it is an individual choice and you should pay attention to the points we mentioned in the buying guide for making sure you have an individualized purchase.

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