The 12 Best Small / Low Watt Tube Amps

The Monoprice 1×12 Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier has a classic design that will definitely stand out from the rest of your instruments, but not in a bad way. It had 15 watts total but can be reduced to 1 if needed. There’s also a tone switch that can be used to up the reverb.

You can get really good distortion effects this way, and the sound will not emit any clipping or audio disruptions. If you have other speakers that you plan to use with this one, setting everything up shouldn’t take too long. There is two audio in jacks just for this purpose.

Take note of the screws though, which are cheaply made and may break if handled poorly. And by poorly, that means using them as any normal person would do. A screwdriver will likely strip them and render the front useless, resulting in new screws being needed.

Make sure you have some before you disassemble. Also, the build quality is questionable, at least regarding how long it will remain in good shape. It’s made from fiberboard and may crack or break if you drop it. Make sure you handle it with care!

Buyer’s Guide

Whether or not you’re a familiar with guitars and tube amps, you’ll still want to do your homework before settling on any low wattage tube amp. There are a few things to consider before you buy, and should reduce the likelihood of a return for something else. With this being said, it’s time to dive into the meat and potatoes with the Buyer’s Guide.

Wattage

Most tube amps don’t have a set wattage. This means that you’ll be able to change the amount of power that’s fed into the amp itself. For example, if you were playing in a location where the volume level would need to be toned down, you could change the wattage to from 10W to 1W.

Granted, the amps shown above will have more options for this, but it’s a basic attribute that you’ll find on just about any in the category. And if you don’t, take heed to know the amount of power you need before you buy. You don’t want to end up in a situation where you cannot use the amp at all, due to the waking up the neighbors!

And there’s also sound quality. Tube amps that have a low power setting can sometimes have better clarity in the sound. This is often due to fewer chances of clipping and other feedback that can make your notes appear more strained.

Most consumers won’t need this to be a prime factor in the purchase of an amp though since the wattage doesn’t typically get lowered to a degree that changes the sound too great. It’s more a matter of personal preference, so be sure to look at online videos that show the changes in an amp’s power switches if you’re not sure.

Playing Style

As you look through the different amps that are available, you’ll find that each of them has its own unique sound quality. This is probably the most important thing to consider before getting a new tube. Some amps are better for such genres as classic rock, blues, or heavier sounds such as metal. Classic brands tend to be better for the genres that have been around longer, but not always.

If you play music that’s heavy, make sure that you acquire an amp that has good connectivity to pedals and a dedicated gain and volume switch. For classic sounds, look for those with good chime and cleans that don’t take too much tinkering around to set. This is another tip that would be best for you to hear on your own just in case.

Compatibility

As mentioned, your tube amp sound can be magnified easily with pedals. You could put them on virtually any amp, whereby all sorts of distortion effects can be practiced.

Still, pedals aren’t the only thing that some amps are compatible with. If you like to record a track or fine-tune your music from an external laptop or PC, check out those with USB ports. By plugging your amp into a computer, you could also change the quality of your music, depending on the type of software you have available.

Some amp brands have their own software that’s compatible with the amp you’re using, so if you’re interested, be sure to check more information in the product description. It’s a great way to save all of your practice sessions quickly. Additionally, some amps may also hook up to select a smartphone device with a USB port. Just check with the manufacturer for more details.

Gain Controls

A typical tube amp will come with at least one or two channels for controlling the gain and volume. To avoid confusion, the gain is not a way to control an amp’s volume. Instead, it’s used as a way to maintain the level of power that the volume produces.

For instance, if you turn the gain all the way up to the max (which may be indicated on the knob as “drive”), you will notice a more rich and enveloping sound that comes through the guitar when the volume is higher. Neither of these will be the master volume though, but they can determine how much power will come through it, along with the level of headroom you have.

Speaking of headroom, this is the amount of unused power that you have available to your amp, which can prevent poor, muffled, or clipped sounds from coming through the speakers.

Where the Amp will Be Used

Yes, your set and setting. Tube amps are generally well suited for either solo play at home, or small to medium-sized public locales.

Don’t expect to use them in a place that’s loud and heavily populated though, such as a bar or club. But if you must use one for such a location, be sure that it’s built to take 8 to 16-ohm speakers. If it doesn’t you could always mic it if need be, so don’t put all of your bets on this alone if you are going to be using it in a residential area more often than not.

And there’s also the street you stay on. If you don’t want something that’s going to wake up the community you live in, smaller is usually better. Still, most tube amps can be connected with headphones, so there are alternative ways to reduce noise pollution on even the loudest amp.

Break-In

Tube amps can be a lot like buying a new pair of shoes. What are the things you look for when searching for a new pair? Size and quality are important factors but break-in time as well.

The same applies to most amplifiers, most notably the speaker system itself. If you’ve ever opened up a tube amp before, the first thing you probably noticed where the speakers. Celestion is one of the largest producers of these, but may not always have the right amount of “depth” that you’re looking for when played for the first couple of times. Talk to an audiophile, and they will tell you that this is a normal process; the electricity that flows through the speakers will broaden the sound quality or the break-in.

So if you buy a new tube but feel that the sound is a little bit different to what it seemed online, wait a few days to see if it changes a bit. Most of the time, it will improve quickly.

Mobility

If you play music in multiple locations, having instruments that are easy to carry is always a plus. Heavier items are a pain to lug around from venue to venue, and the chances of damages occurring are much higher, especially if you’re going solo.

If you appreciate mobility as much as quality, then you will want to acquire a tube amp that’s lightweight and has good carrying accessories. Unfortunately, getting one with both of these qualities isn’t always the easiest thing to do.

Some amps may sell their carrying cases separately from the main product, forcing you to look for something to go along with it at the same time.

If you need to have a carrying case included with the amp, look and see if it’s included with the product before you finalize your purchasing choice.

And if it doesn’t but you would like to get the amp anyway, look for a case that’s built specifically for your product. Amps have different shapes and sizes, and the wrong bag may not fit the speaker properly. It’s easy to tell what can though, at the handles will protrude out of the case when putting on, along with the brand informing you of the tubes that will actually fit it.

And once you know which case you want, be sure that it secures all of the amps. Furthermore, check the quality of the handles themselves. Just because you have a good amp sound wise doesn’t mean that the body or carrying handles will be just as good. But on a good note, these things can usually be replaced or last for a couple of years without breaking.

Modifications

Many players love to modify their amps by changing the interior components to accessories that improve the quality of their sound. This may also assist in creating a unique tone that’s simply not feasible with the factory gear.

If you anticipate opening up your tube amp sometime in the future, be sure that you know what you’re doing. Most importantly, taking it apart may void the warranty of some brands. In short, know the product before you get it, and read the warranty if necessary. Still, as long as you’re comfortable with replacing the parts and reassembling everything back together when finished, it’s perfectly fine for you to upgrade any of the tubes shown in the reviews. For many, the speakers are the main piece that is switched.

American brands tend to be favored the most, so getting rid of some parts, such as Chinese Celestions, is a great way to boost your amp and increase the value of the product.

Summary

If you remember anything out of the tips that were provided, the great piece of advice is to always go with what you want, first and foremost.

Much of the information given could be taken as subjective, and the tube amp or attribute that one would be recommended on a product could be pointless to another player. Keep your choices in mind first, then go over the guide to see if there’s anything more that can help assist in your final choice.

If you haven’t done so already, take a peek at the comparison list if you did skip some of the reviews on the list. All twelve of the tube amps are great in one respect or another, but only you can tell which would accommodate your guitar and playing style.

Conclusion: Which One is the Best?

Now that you’re done, it’s time to announce which tube amps sit at the highest portion of the shelf. As stated, all of them are outstanding products in their own right and will bring out the sound in your guitar that you may have never noticed or heard before.

But if you want great controls, compatibility, and ease of transport, the BUGERA V5 5-Watt, and EVH 5150 III LB XII are the best of all. But to be clear, that doesn’t take away from the rest of the amps in the lineup; it’s just a guarantee that both beginners and enthusiasts will have no problems working them into their practice and/or live music sessions. Stick with what you want, but try out the two mentioned if you’re not sold. Then wait for your amp to arrive to create great-sounding music like never before.