Best Tube Amps for Home Use in 2022

After I had just graduated from a beginner player of a guitar to the ‘experienced’ level, I started to get more into the technical side of playing. I researched a lot about different types of guitars, pickups, strings, and amps. I remember stumbling across an article discussing the best tube amps for home use. Intrigued, I clicked on it and learned a whole new world that I had never known. As a ‘pro’ expert, I feel I should highlight a few things about guitar amps technology to lay the foundation for how I picked and why I selected the brands I have reviewed below.

What is a tube amp?

A tube amp uses vacuum tubes to amplify the signal from your guitar. They were the first type of amplifier and were used by most professional players until the 1960s when solid-state amps became more popular and cheaper.

While tube amps are more expensive and require more maintenance, they are prized for their warm, natural sound. Many modern players still prefer tube amps for their overdriven tones.

What are the benefits of using a tube amp?

Tube amps have a few distinct advantages over solid-state amps.

• They tend to produce a richer, more realistic sound because they don’t use digital modeling to recreate their tones.
• Additionally, tube amps respond better to pedals and other effects, resulting in a more dynamic sound.
• Finally, tube amps tend to last longer than solid-state amps, making them a wise investment for serious guitarists.

Why would I get a tube amp for home use?

There are a few reasons you might want to get a tube amp for home use.

• If you’re a serious player who wants the best possible sound, a tube amp is a great option.
• They’re also perfect for recording, as they produce a more natural sound than solid-state amps.
• Finally, if you’re looking for an amp that will last a long time, a tube amp is a wise choice.

What makes an amp great for home use?

If you plan on getting an amp for home use, remember that you probably won’t need a high-power amp to produce super loud noise and disturb your neighbors. A small, lower-wattage tube amp will do the job just fine. You’ll be able to get great tones at reasonable volumes without disturbing anyone.

If you’ll be using your amp at home for just practice, you should probably get a combo amp. Combo amps are amplifiers with both the amp head and speaker cabinet in one unit. They’re great for small spaces and easy to transport if you need to take your amp to a friend’s house or on vacation.

What else should I consider when choosing an amp?

There are a few other things you should keep in mind when choosing an amp.

• Type of sound you want: First, think about the type of sound you want to get. If you’re looking for clean tones, you’ll need a different amp than if you’re going for overdriven sounds.
• Size of your room at home: Second, consider the size of your room and how loud you’ll need to be able to play. If you have a small room, you’ll need an amp with lower wattage so you don’t blow out your windows.
• How they are powered: Third, think about how you want to power your amp. Some amps run on batteries, while others need to be plugged into an outlet. Be sure to consider this before making your purchase. Check out list of the best portable battery-powered guitar amps
• Your budget: Finally, think about how much you’re willing to spend on an amp. Tube amps can be quite expensive, so if you’re on a tight budget, you might want to consider a solid-state amp instead. Check out our list of inexpensive guitar amps here.

Now that you know a little bit more about guitar amps, let’s take a look at some of the best tube amps for home use.

Reviews of the Best Tube Amps for Home Use

Fender ’64 Custom Princeton Reverb

Our overall best tube amp for home use that you can find in the market in 2022 is the Fender ’64 Custom Princeton Reverb. It has a classic design, it’s small and fits perfectly in any home, plus it delivers an amazing sound quality that will make you fall in love with it at first hearing. The tube-driven spring reverb and onboard tremolo are both foot-switchable, bringing a layer of flexibility to an already superb amplifier you can use in the comfort of your home.

For incredible tones at home, this amp will enable you to output 12-watt power through a 1 x 10” Jensen Vintage Alnico P10R speaker. The ’64 Custom Princeton Reverb also features two channels—one normal and one vibrato—each with its own separate volume control. The Fender ’64 Custom Princeton Reverb is the best tube amp for home use in our opinion and you will love it too once you give it a try.

Pros:

• -Classic design
• -Small and fits perfectly in any home
• -Amazing sound quality
• -Tube-driven spring reverb
• -Onboard tremolo is foot-switchable
• Good mid-level overdrive.

Cons:

• -You need to push the volume hard for a breakup 

Blackstar HT-1R MKII Combo

Our second favorite brand of tube amps for home use is the Blackstar HT-1R MKII Combo. The HT-1R is the perfect amp for those who want to get great tones at low volume levels, as it only outputs 1-watt power. Despite its small size, this little combo amp packs a mighty punch and delivers a huge sound thanks to its unique tube design.

The Pre-amp tubes are 1x 12AX7 and Power amp tubes are 1x 12AU7. This gives the HT-1R a broad tonal range that will enable you to get everything from clean tones to high-gain sounds. The Blackstar HT-1R is also one of the most versatile tube amps on the market, as it comes equipped with an ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) control that allows you to dial in the perfect sound.

Pros:

-Perfect amp for those who want to get great tones at low volume levels

-Outputs 1-watt power

-Packs a mighty punch

-Delivers a huge sound

-Unique tube design

Cons:

• Its 8” speaker can sound boxy and not as full as a larger speaker.
• It is not good for gigs

PRS MT 15 MarkMark Tremonti

If you’re looking for a tube-based amp that can output a huge amount of power at home compared to the 1-watt Blackstar model above, the PRS MT 15 Mark Tremonti is a perfect choice. It’s a beast of an amp that outputs a massive 15-watts of power, making it one of the most powerful tube amps on the market. The MT 15 is also one of the most versatile amps around, as it comes with two channels—a clean channel and a lead channel—each with its own three-band EQ.

This gives you a huge amount of control over your sound, allowing you to get everything from sparkling cleans to crushing high-gain tones. The PRS MT 15 is also built like a tank, so it’s sure to withstand years of heavy use.

Pros:

-Outputs a massive 15-watts of power

-One of the most powerful tube amps on the market

-Huge amount of control over your sound

-Sparkling cleans to crushing high-gain tones

-Built like a tank

Cons:

-It’s quite pricey

-The cleans could be better