We also took a moment to consult pro guitarists who own over a dozen amps and are familiar with the best tube guitar amp brands on both sides of the pond. They should be easy to transport and operate, allowing guitar players to focus on what matters – making music. Here’s how we define the best tube guitar amps – they are well-built, authentically-voiced, valve-based amplifiers that take pedals well and have fine springy reverb. Buying it is a red-letter moment, and we’ll help you find it. It’s a mission-critical ingredient to sauce the sonic stew, more so with built-in tremolo and long-tank reverb to sweeten the deal.

Not just sing - but croon, warble, chime, quiver, and grunt with gusto.

Also, check out our post on the best 12-inch guitar speakers (with great tone)!Įvery guitar player dreams of spell-casting tube amps that make guitars sing.

Our top picks feature Fender, Marshall, Vox, Mesa Boogie, and more.

We present seven of the best tube amps in the current market.

Looking for clean, lead, and crunch guitar tones at the flick of a switch?.

The description is geared towards a B-15 but the general principles apply.Disclosure: We may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. There is some information on biasing here. The bias can be checked and adjusted with a voltmeter. Too cold and the amp can be flat and sterile sounding, too hot and it runs out of headroom and distorts sooner than it should. Bias can be set hotter or colder than the optimal setting and that affects how the amp performs. An optimal bias will allow the amp to perform as it was intended. The bias sets the operating point of the tube, much like tuning a string to pitch. Ideally, the bias should also be checked during yearly maintenance. These need to be biased when the tubes are changed. Other amps are what is called fixed bias. These are self biasing like the preamp tubes. Some smaller tube amps are cathode biased. When you change your power tubes or as they age you need to look at the boas. With tube amps, the small signal tubes, like the ones in the pre-amp are self biasing. Occasionally the bias needs to be adjusted as the amp ages.

Adjustable bias guitar amp heads