Any good guitar amp review should clearly bring out the differences between the 3 main types of amps. Tube amps offer a truly unique clean tone. There is a 5-way EQ for you to dial in your perfect sound even further. Vacuum tubes are like old light bulbs and do have certain quirks about them that can make them difficult to repair or maintain by the layman or tube initiate. 4. The Champion 20 has all the Fender characteristics but at a definitely more affordable price point. Steve is an extreme guitar geek. After all, it’s the best clean sound amp, in our opinion. If you’re about experimenting and don’t really focus on one genre specifically, this may just be the amp for you. 1. Though it may look like a regular old amp, it surely caters to the needs of pretty much any guitarist. Twin is "beefier". The best way to define tube amplifiers is to compare them to what most modern guitarists who are coming up are familiar with – solid-amps. I'm sure it will probably derive from the "blackface" era but there are many variations and boutique replicas. There are certainly great solid-state amplifiers and great reasons to use them. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. We are a professional review site that receives compensation from the companies whose products we review. You’ve got your standard headphone/aux I/O, as well as an 8 Ohm speaker output if you wish to use your amp alongside a cabinet. 3. It’s helpful for learner guitarists to choose an amp that will allow them to experiment with... 3. However, there are some great sounding modeling amps on the market, that not only feature loads of interesting presets, but sound pretty natural at the same time. Orange Amps are known for a unique and natural sounding clean tone, and the Micro Terror is no exception. The controls cover all the basics, with the gain, volume, treble, and bass knobs. At number 4, we have one of the best solid-state amps on the market, the Champion 20 by Fender. For what is a combination of science, nostalgia, and vacuum tube magic, so many guitarists search after tube amplification because nearly all the classic guitar sounds were produced first on a tube amplifier. If you are strapped for cash, tube may not be the way for you. Not only do I own a tube guitar amp but my home record listening set-up relies on tubes to do the amplification. This means that you can easily achieve a much stronger sound and that sweet tube overdrive, while still not being too loud. While there are folks on either side of the debate, tube amps are often considered to have superior sound qualities due to the vacuum tube amplification technologies utilized. You can even use the Vypyr VIP 1 for recording, or with various MIDI devices with the included USB port. But, you cannot get Marshall tone from the Twin, so the Marshall amplifier may be something to look at. Today, this article will help you determine the best clean tube amplifier. While you could basically use any kind of amp for each and every different genre of music, certain types just perform better and offer either tonal consistency or variety at a press of a button. This 10-watt, 1×12 combo is one of the best sounding tube amplifiers on the planet, with harmonically rich clean and breakup tones, stunning dynamics and spellbinding onboard effects. As a beginner, it should be more than enough, and is a great learning platform for developing your own taste and preferences! However, this model is reported to be the best solid-state amp with a nice tube tone. It’s an effect that you can hardly simulate to sound like the real thing. There are, today, a lot of players moving onto team Vox and it should be noted that the company is producing amplifiers that look good and are well-built. Thank you very much for reading, and I’ll catch you in the next one! However, not every amp is able to deliver a truly good sounding, versatile tone signature. For band practices or smaller gigs, the Champion 40 should be just fine. Being a modern amplifier and a modern speaker, it is not too difficult to change this speaker. Tube amps offer a truly unique clean tone. The consistency of the sound and the well-known durability make for a good investment. While professional musicians have the ability to use pretty much any guitar and amp and sound amazing, non professionals might have some trouble finding just the right amp for their needs. You can find out more by downloading his free resource above. Similar to the Micro Terror, the HT1R also has pretty minimalistic controls. The best way that I have heard this amplifier described is “Sounds like an old amp, with a new speaker”. Orange Micro Terror. You can rest assured that the build quality is good enough that it will last you a long time. The ISF, or, Infinite Shape Feature allows you to blend just the right sound between either a USA or UK tone. The nature of vacuum technology results in tube amplifiers providing a certain tone even on the cleanest settings. This thing will have no problem being heard over a band of whatever size yours is. Price: $299 | Type: Modelling desktop amp | Output: 40W | Valves: N/A | Number of ... 2. Things to bear in mind. The best guitar amps available today 1. The versatility of this system is something really to note. When it comes to modeling amps, most guitarists first think of the Spider by Line 6. Boss Katana 100 MkII. As far as effects go, the built-in reverb sounds pretty decent and is fun to play around with. The interface is well designed and makes for a quick and easy setup. This is perhaps one of the guitar tones to beat and it is a reissue of a 45-ish-year-old amp. The main downside of this type of amp is that they can sometimes sound too artificial, and well, digital. Overall, the best of the best has to be the PRS MT15 Mark Tremonti. Different types of distortion are used in different styles of playing and genres of music. If you like the look of the Vox amplifier, it certainly has the tone to back up the purchase. SonoBoom.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. That’s the reason why we’ve taken the liberty to scrounge the market for only the best of the best, which resulted with this electric guitar amp review. Including Fender, Boutique ect.. what has the best clean tone you've ever heard? A good clean tone on an amp should be able to easily represent the natural sound of the guitar you’re using. An amplifier is just that – a device for amplifying the sound of an instrument. Before you actually start looking for an amp, you should at least have a rough idea of the type of distortion you want. Top 4 Best Clean Tube Amps: Fender ’65 Twin Reverb Tube Amplifier (Editor’s Choice). Vacuum tubes are also fragile and will require maintenance that you may not be able to do yourself and may be very costly. The ultimate smart guitar amplifier. But, vacuum tubes are scarce and therefore pricey. A simple, straightforward approach that this amp boasts is a clear example of how you don’t need any bells and whistles for a natural and powerful tone. The Champion 20 by Fender is a simple yet very effective little amp that’s really enjoyable to play. Something about the pair of 10s and the characteristics of the amp that work well together. But Steve admits that he didn't actually improve his guitar skills until his late 50s when he finally dedicated himself to learning online. Tremonti [of Alter Bridge, Creed and Tremonti] likes his 15-Watt PRS signature lunchbox so much that he used it for the bulk of his … Marshall DSL40C is feature-packed. You’re in the right place. If tube amplification is an iconic sound, perhaps the most iconic sound there is is the sound of the Fender Twin Reverb. The volume and gain knobs are pretty self-explanatory, and the ISF controls offer improved versatility. But for my money, the best sounding clean is actually the Vibrolux Reverb, again, assuming you're keeping it at a clean volume. Starting with one of the best sounding vintage amps, we have the Micro Terror by Orange. This particular model is perfect for home practice sessions, as well as jamming alongside a friend or two. Vox made an about $80 amp that too many people say sounds just as good. Don’t let the low power rating fool you, as the HT1R is definitely a feisty little fellow! Cranking up the volume and gain up to a certain point results in a sweet yet powerful tube overdrive sound.