15-watt amplifiers are popular because of their versatility. They’re small, lightweight, and ideal for recording and practicing. With the correct mic arrangement, and are utilized for gigging in small or larger venues by guitar players like eddie van halen, brian may or even those using it as a starting point. You can always mike up these amps if you need greater volume in a live scenario, and some even include outputs for hooking up to bigger cabinets. Tube amps provide the most warmth and are ideal for classic guitar tones that would otherwise be impossible to achieve.
Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb
- 15-watt all tube amp (including tube rectification) offers stellar tone for small stages and the studio.
- 1-10" Jensen C-10R, 8 Ohm, 40 Watt Speaker with Ceramic Magnet
- Legendary long-spring Fender reverb and tube vibrato.
Fender Princeton Reverb 65 is one of the Best 15 Watt Tube Amps. This guitar amplifier is one of the most well-known in the rock n roll industry, as well as one of the first in classic rock history, having been released in 1946. They were originally designed by Leo Fender as practice amp with an old school look, but they are now recognised as outstanding recording studio amps as well. These amps have maintained their vintage aesthetic over the years, with the original vibrato effect and spring reverb intact for tube tones.
The Princeton Reverb 65 features a stylish design and two instrument inputs. There are six knobs: volume knob, treble, bass, vibrato (tremolo) speed and strength, and reverb depth. Three 12AX7s preamp tubes, a 12AT7, two 6V6 tubes, and a single 5AR4 rectifier tube are included in the 65 Princeton Reverb’s tube count. These are all high-quality components, and I especially like how the 5AR4 rectifier gently warms the amp up to the maximum point voltage. Jensen Special Design C-10R 10″ Speaker is also included.
The Fender 65 is known for having some of the best clean tones in the industry without any overdrive pedals or effects pedals. The clean tone from this amp features a shimmering treble and a powerful bass, while the natural overdrive produces a fat overdrive tone with a long sustain. The ‘vibrato’ effect is ideal for creating both slow and quick ambient pulses, and the reverb is often known to be on the brighter side.
Even though it’s only a 15-watt amp, it’ll blow you away with how loud it can become irrespective of music genres or gain tones. It’s entirely viable to apply this in a smaller setting. The amp costs less than $1000, which is incredibly unusual for an amplifier of this calibre. The Fender 65 Princeton Reverb boasts one of the best clean tones and is also ideal for some beautiful overdrive sound quality.
Supro Blues King 12
- Captures the vintage Supro amp tone that sculpted the sound of early electric Rock & Roll and the British Invasion of the '60s
- A “single-ended” Class-A tube power amp provides these raw tonal characteristics and remarkable touch sensitivity, while delivering a full 15W of...
- Front-end gain is supplied by a 12AX7 tube preamp and a FET-driven, fat boost function
The Blues King 12 Supro is one of the Best 15 Watt Tube Amps. Supro is another legendary amp manufacturer with roots dating back to the 1920s. Over the years, they’ve had many famous musicians use their amps, including Jimmy Page. Supro just produced an amp that is just as economical as the Fender Blues Junior and has much more features.
Volume (gain), boost switch, gain switch, and master volume are just a few of the incredible gain tone controls available on the Blues King 12. It also has a reverb knob and three-band EQ settings (bass, mid, and treble). The numerous gain and overdrive settings distinguish this amp from many other tube amplifiers, and each option has its own distinct personality.
Supro amps are recognised for their wonderful creamy clean tone control, and the clean sound is no exception. This, along with the Supro spring reverb and effects loop, allows you to create the perfect jazz, neo-soul, RnB, pop, funk, and other sounds. You can also obtain everything from Chicago blues tones to country tones to a very current rock guitar sound by adding a little boost and gain like sound engineers.
It’s ideal for recording and has a loud enough line output for live use, thanks to its low noise quality control. This amp may be the most versatile and cost-effective of the bunch. It poses a significant threat to all other popular 15-watt tube amplifiers. If you’re looking for the best budget tube amp, the Supro Blues King 12 is the Best 15 Watt Tube Amp under $500.
Fender Blues Junior IV 15 Watt Electric Guitar Amplifier
- 15 Watts
- Celestion 12" A-Type speaker
- Preamp circuit modified for increased fullness
If you want a similar boutique-level tube amp but can’t afford the ones above, the Fender Blues Junior IV is the best budget 15 Watt Tube Amps. Because of its affordability and high-quality tube amp performance, Blues Juniors are easily one of the most popular guitar amps in the world. Fender has made several versions of this amp over the years; this is the 2018 version.
The Blues Junior IV contains five valves – three 12AX7s and two EL84 power tubes – while other aspects of the amp are mostly unchanged from earlier iterations. Gain, bass, treble, midrange, reverb level, and master volume are the controls, with an additional ‘fat’ option. This is another of those ‘classic’ amps that can do everything you’d expect a 15W tube amp to do.
The ‘fat’ switch is a wonderful feature here. This fattens the tone, enhancing the mids in an appealing way, as the name suggests. It’s a handy tiny button that can produce excellent lead guitar tones. The Fender Blues Junior IV is a flexible amplifier that can produce a variety of tones. You’ll find everything from twangy and toasty drive tones to spanky, velvety clean tones.
Orange Rocker 15
- Power: 15W (tube) Attenuation: 15W, 7W, 1W, .5W Tubes: three 12AX7, one 12AT7 (preamp); two EL84 (power amp) Two channels Single input Speaker: 1x10...
- Capable of 0
- 5, 1, 7 or 15 Watts of output, the Orange Rocker 15 is an extremely portable combo that moves seamlessly from the home, to the studio, to the stage
Orange is known for making high-quality boutique amps in both rock and metal amplifiersmetal amplifiers. Their amps aren’t the finest for getting beautiful clean tones, but they’re fantastic for heavier rock and metal. With an intuitive design and a large range of customizable knobs and features, the Orange OR15H is a great choice for any practice room. You can modify the output wattage for the best results with a basic EQ control that gives you a lot of tonal freedom despite speaker size. The characteristic grit of this tube amp is highly recommended.
The EL84 tubes used in the Orange Rocker 15 are the same ones used in renowned amps like the Vox AC30 and many other British amplifiers. The Rocker 15 features a two-channel design with full / half-power mode and attenuation switches, as well as a unique collection of knobs and controls.
The waterways are categorised into two categories: ‘dirty’ and ‘natural.’ The ‘dirty’ channel has gain, master, and a 3-band EQ, but the ‘natural’ channel has only one volume control knobs. The half-power mode and attenuator controls come in handy in a variety of situations like channel switching from the amp head. The attenuator switch can reduce the overall power attenuator to just 1 watt in half-power section. This lacquer tweed cabinet is useful for recording or practising in tight locations, and it’s simple to go back to gigging with a switch.
The Orange Rocker 15 also has a low hum and low noise output from the amp speakers. When you turn on most tube amps, you’ll hear a bit of hum or hiss, but the Rocker 15 has exceptionally low noise for a tube amp, making it ideal for recording.
Overall, this is a fantastic tube amp for pop, rock, and metal that can be utilized for recording as well as live performance!
VOX AC15C1 Guitar Combo Amplifier
- 10 Watt tube combo offering the classic VOX Top Boost tone
- EL84 power tubes; 12AX7 preamp tubes
- Custom 10" VX10 speaker made by Celestion
Artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Yardbirds used the Vox AC15 to shape the sound of the British Invasion. It was the first AC series amp from Vox, released in 1958. The AC15 comes in a few different versions, but the AC15C1X is still the most popular, thanks to its secret weapon: a 12″ Celestion Alnico Blue speaker. Given that these speakers are already being utilised for AC30s, it’s a no-brainer upgrade. The treble on this speaker is incredible, and the bass is tight. It’s also louder than the Greenback speakers that were previously used.
You could be perplexed when looking at the knobs on the amplifier. With two major channels — ‘normal’ and ‘top boost,’ it’s an interesting setup. The treble and bass controls are not independent on the ‘normal’ channel, but they are on the ‘top boost’ channel. ‘Normal’ is great for beautiful clean tones, while ‘top boost’ is great for more overdriven tones.
The AC15C1X additionally contains knobs for master volume control and tone cut, providing consumers more control over the sound. There’s also an integrated spring reverb and a tremolo effect with rate and depth settings. Both effects are of excellent build quality, comparable to high-end guitar pedals. You can achieve a lot with this amp, from different clean sounds to gritty or warm overdrive, as well as ambient noises with the spring reverb and tremolo.
The Vox AC15C1X is powerful enough to be used on stage and in rehearsals. It’s ideal for practicing, but it may also be utilised in the studio. It’s less expensive than the Fender Princeton Reverb 65, but it’s still one of the best tube amps on the market.
Laney CUB12R Electric Guitar Power Amplifier
- 15 watts power and tone via a pair of EL84 power tubes. Coupled with 3 x ECC83 pre-amp tubes
- 12″ HH custom-designed driver exclusively for Laney giving the perfect loudspeaker pairing to the amplifier
- For an expanded rig the CUB12 can also be hooked up to a larger cabinet via its extension out socket
The Laney CUB-12R 15W is a smooth, rich overdrive with a lot of gain. Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass, Volume, Tone, and Reverb controls are included. The CUB12R’s output section is built on a pair of EL84 tubes, giving it a scooped tone compared to its smaller counterparts. Laney is a British amp company that makes incredible guitar and bass amps, and the CUB-12R is no exception. This is the best budget tube amp that can produce high-quality clean tones as well as harsh overdrive / distortion tones. The CUB 12R produces antique yet flexible tones for an amp that costs roughly $500, and it has a lot of knobs for tone adjustment and effects.
When you look at the amp, it almost seems like a guitar amp that was utilized by big band guitarists in the 1940s. For a guitar tube amp, it’s small and light, and the design makes it easy to transport. The open back design, which allows you to see all of the amplifier’s inner workings through the rear grill. The Celestion Rocket 50 12-inch speaker, two EL84 tubes, and three ECC83 tubes are all top-of-the-line components. These components may be found in amps costing twice as much, but Laney manages to make it all function for a fraction of the price. There are controls for reverb, tone, volume, bass, middle, treble, and gain on this amp. The settings are a little more expansive than some of the other amps, with the inclusion of a tone knob and a centre knob.
The overdrive tones are robust with screaming harmonics, while the clean channel is warm but with clear mids and highs. When compared to computerised or modelling guitar amps, there is a notable amount of depth. This amp’s reverb effect is stunning – even a small amount may make a big difference. Overall, the Laney CUB-12R has it all: detailed sound, high-quality parts, and a wide range of tones, all packaged in a tiny, vintage design with a slew of fascinating features.
PRS MT 15 Mark Tremonti
- 15/7 Watts (Switchable)
- 2 Channels
- 6L6 Power Tubes
While PRS is most known for their electric guitars, the company has also built some remarkable amplifiers throughout the years. Mark Tremonti, one of PRS’ longest-serving musicians, has dedicated his tone to them in the shape of the MT 15. Their Archon, Sonzera, and J-Mod amps have graced stages all over the world, so it’s no wonder that he’s entrusted his tone to them in the form of the MT 15.
The MT 15 is the 15 watt Mark Tremonti signature amp, and despite its modest lunchbox-style construction, it generates some massive tones. The MT 15’s two channels – one clean and one overdrive – provide the diversity of amps far more expensive than it, while staying simple, fun, and easy to use.
Now, 15 all-tube watts is a lot of power, and it can be a little much in most practicing conditions. Thankfully, PRS has designed a low-power circuit that produces only 7W, making your practice sessions much more doable. This also permits you to break the tubes without evicting your landlord or causing loud complaints from your neighbors.
Fender Super Champ X2 15-Watt 1×10-Inch Guitar Combo Amp
- 15 Watt Tube Power Amp
- Speaker: 10-inch Fender Special Design
- 15 Effects with Effects Adjust Control
This amp is straightforward, adaptable, and capable of producing a wide range of tones. You can effortlessly record loops, tunes, and backing tracks by connecting it to your computer through USB. You have a lot of freedom and flexibility in creating all of the songs you want, and you have access to an endless number of additional tones.
This tube combo amp is powerful enough to make you stand out at a rehearsal or for some intense home practise. It contains a voicing knob with Blackface, Twee, British, Metal, and 12 additional voicings, as well as 15 FX settings and a tap tempo control.
In one word, flexibility, this rich, full-bodied amp provides everything you need. The unit features a dual-channel tube and features 16 amp voicings, 15 FX settings, and limitless access to Super Champ X2 tones. You should definitely have a look at this impressive set of features!
Orange Amplifiers DA15H Dark Terror
- Tube driven FX loop
- High gain preamp
- Gig bag
When purchasing a large amplifier, you are constrained by its weight and size. What if you could have the same distortion control, tone depth, and power from a much smaller amp for a fraction of the price of a larger amp?
Over here, we’re talking about the Tiny Terror. It measures 55.1” x 118” x 74.8” and weighs only 13 pounds, making it substantially smaller than traditional full-size 15 W amps. The casing, on the other hand, is built entirely of thick gauge steel and is nearly bulletproof. To power this tiny demon, the interiors include dual ECC83 valves and 2XEL84 power valves.
Because the speaker has been removed, you’ll need to connect it to an external speaker, but once you do, you’ll be astounded by the quantity of sounds this amplifier can produce. And it does it without going into overdrive, so distortion is kept to a minimum.
Marshall 1974X
- 1x12" Tube Combo Amplifier with Tube Tremolo
- 2-channel
- 18-watt
This is the first hand-wired Marshall amp in a long time, and it continues the legacy of the Handwired series, which includes some of the most prized all-tube Marshall amps in the world. This authentic vintage reproduction of the beloved late-sixties model 1974 combo amp features accurate tube tone and simple operation, as well as aged Greenback T1221 speakers, for a new and enhanced version of the beloved late-sixties model 1974 combo amp that still closely mimics the original. Celestion has gone back to the original speaker and aged it for this amp, creating a unique Marshall-exclusive speaker that’s a major selling feature. These amps were designed with complete authenticity in mind, and they’ve delivered with this painstakingly re-created reissue – from circuitry to 1960s building methods, tone, and feel.
The Marshall 1974X is a two-channel 18W amp with one Celestion Greenback T1221 speaker, three preamp ECC83 tubes, one EZ81 power tube (rectifier), and two EL84 power tubes, three inputs (two 1/4-inch, channel 1; two 1/4-inch, channel 2 high/low sensitivity), and three outputs (two 1/4-inch, channel 3). Baltic Birch Cabinet with Gray/White Grille is the construction material.
This 18-watt, 16-ohm mono combo amp is a painstakingly re-created vintage reissue and Marshall’s first hand-wired amp in a long time. The rare, aged reissue of the original’s 20 watt ceramic magnet Celestion Greenback T1221 12 inch speaker, as well as the high-grade Baltic birch cabinet with finger-locked joints, make this an amp you’ll be proud to own.
VOX AC15C1X Guitar Combo Amplifier
- Classic Series 15 Watt combo amp with Normal and Top-Boost channels
- Master Section features Master Volume and Tone Cut controls
- Tremolo (Speed/Depth); Spring Reverb (Level); Switchable via optional VFS2A pedal
Here’s another indisputable classic that has played an important role in rock history. Artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Yardbirds used the Vox AC15 to shape the sound of the ‘British Invasion.’ It was the first AC series amp from Vox, released in 1958, however it was overshadowed by the AC30. After many years as the number two amp behind the AC15, Vox reissued the iconic amp in 2013.
The AC15 comes in a few different versions, but the AC15C1X is still the most popular, thanks to its secret weapon: a 12″ Celestion Alnico Blue speaker. Given that these speakers are already being utilized for AC30s, it’s a no-brainer upgrade. The treble on this speaker is incredible, and the bass is tight. It’s also louder than the Greenback speakers that were previously used.
The overall sound system is incredibly organic and responsive, and it creates profound clean sounds as well as amazingly warm overdriven tones for hard rock, just like the Fender 65 Princeton Reverb. The Vox AC15C1X is powerful enough to be used on stage and in rehearsals. It’s ideal for practicing, but it may also be utilized in the studio.
Fender ’57 Custom Champ
- 5-watt 2-channel All-tube 1x8" Guitar Combo Amplifier with Custom Weber Speaker - Lacquered Tweed
This lightweight, tiny 5 watt vintage reissue of the renowned 1957 Fender Champ combo amp gives you the same vintage sound and classic design that has made 1950s Fender Champ tube amps legendary for over seven decades. It includes an 8″ Weber Special Design speaker with an alnico magnet for vintage sound, as well as finely handwired circuits for diversified, responsive sound.
One 12AY7 preamp tube, one 6V6 power tube, one 5Y3GT rectifier, and two 1/4-inch inputs are included in this single-channel 5W Class A combo amp (high, low instrument). With these striking appearance and unique tweed tone, it’s easy to see why the original ’57 Champ was used by many great performers like Johnny Cash and Eric Clapton (“Layla”). When turned up, they sound fantastic, with a warm, fat overdrive and a vintage tone that has made the 1950s Champs such treasures. It’s a distinct, unmistakable sound that you won’t find anywhere else but this series, and the latest instalment does not disappoint. It’s also incredibly responsive to your sound and pickup placements, and gives different tonal quality with minimal fussing, thanks to the thorough hand wiring.
With authentic coupling capacitors, the 57 Fender Champ combo amp is meticulously made and hand wired to be true-to-form with the original. If you like the sound of classic Fender amps with an old-school Special Design Weber alnico speaker. The Fender 57 Custom Champ is the best 15 watt tube amp combo on the market right now for home use.
Monoprice 611815 15Watt
- Superior guitar tone and flexibility using this 15-Watt, 1x12 Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier with Celestion Speaker & Spring Reverb from Monoprice!
- Features a 15-watt tube power amplifier and a Celestion brand speaker. Amplifier Load Range: 8 ~ 16 ohms
- Uses three ECC83/12AX7 preamplification tubes and two EL84 power tubes for the amplifier section, plus a Celestion Red Truvox 1215 speaker.
Three ECC83/12AX7 tubes and two EL84 power tubes are used in the amplifier part of the 15-watt tube amp, which is powered by a Celestion Red Truvox 1215 speaker. It can handle frequencies between 80Hz and 10kHz with hum and noise levels of -75dB below power rating and a total harmonic distortion of 0.5 percent. The spring reverb gives a lush, airy quality to your tone and is controlled by a foot pedal platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tube vs solid-state: what should you choose?
This is a controversy that has raged since the invention of the transistor, but in recent years, digital modeling technology has made significant inroads into the tube amplifier business compared to solid state amps. There’s also no doubting that live venue volume limitations have tightened significantly, and smaller, lighter amplifiers are becoming more popular.
But, convenience and practicality aside, old-school tube amps are still incredibly motivating and expressive. Even high-end modellers struggle to match their dynamic response, feel, articulation, and harmonic intricacy.
What makes a tube amp good for practice?
If you’re looking for a tube amp to use at home, go for something with a lower wattage so you can drive the tubes while keeping the volume constant. Many current tube amplifiers now have power reduction, allowing you to use them at higher wattages when you need more volume levels and then turn them down for home practice.
