Top 15 Budget Guitar Tube Amps Under $300, $400, $500

Finding a perfect tube amp is never easy, especially if you have a limited budget. Most players would always go for a Twin Reverb or something equally good, but not everyone can afford to spend a couple of thousand on an amp. This means that you will need to make a few compromises. 

But buying an amp on a budget doesn’t mean that you are out of options. There are still a couple of models you can find that don’t cost a fortune, and that are quite good. Needless to say, if you go for a cheaper amp, the power will usually be lower, and you won’t be able to use them in bigger venues. However, they can be a great tool for practice and playing at home. 

Here, I will go through some of the options for budget valve amps that will allow you to get that famous tube sound while still saving a lot of money in the process. 

Top 5 Budget Guitar Tube Amps Under $300

The first category is for the cheapest tube amps you can find on the market. Lowering the price range would be nearly impossible since you can’t find many amps for under $100 (if any). And even if you find one, I wouldn’t suggest buying it. 

Tube amps can be quite expensive, and this is the lowest price range you can find. You will probably notice that the majority of amps in this category are close to the price range or slightly under it. 

Harley Benton Tube15 Celestion

• 15 Watts
• 1 channel
• 12-inch speaker
• 3 preamp tubes
• 2 power tubes
• Reverb
• Dimensions: 16.8 x 17.13 x 9.25 inches (42.7 x 43.5 x 23.5 centimeters)
• Weight: 25.35 pounds (11.5 kilograms)

For the past couple of years, Harley Benton has been dominating the budget market. The company offers numerous guitars, and the price is quite low. Here, we have a Tube15 Celestion amp, which is a valve amp for a ridiculously low price. And if you are wondering whether the amp is good, the answer is yes. It is one of the best amps you can find in this price range, and you will have a hard time finding a cheaper valve amplifier. 

There is also a smaller version of this amp named Tube5, but it doesn’t come with reverb or additional effects. Tube15 has a full EQ, reverb, and you can use the footswitch as well. The amp is perfect for home practice and smaller gigs, and you can even use the switch to turn on the 1-watt mode while keeping the same sound. If you can afford to pay a bit more, I would suggest going for Tube15 instead of Tube5. 

Blackstar HT-1 MkII

• 1-Watt
• 2 channels
• 8-inch speaker
• One preamp tube
• One power tube
• Reverb
• Switchable clean and overdrive

The next one on the list comes from Blackstar. Now, if you are a fan of heavier genres, you probably already know about Blackstar. Compared to the previous model, this one is a lot smaller. The amp has an eight-inch speaker, and the power is only 1-Watt. However, you will be getting a tube amp, and it comes with additional effects you can use. 

Blackstar HT-1 MkII has four knobs you can use. The first one controls gain, there is one for volume, one for EQ, and one for reverb. Additionally, you can push the button to turn on the overdrive, and there is another one for voice. All things considered, this is a good amp for practice and for beginners that are looking to have that famous tube sound. As for the gigs, you might be able to play in a smaller venue, but the amp is not designed for larger spaces. The main drawback is that it has only one Watt of power, but it will be more than enough for home practice. 

Laney Cub Super10

• 6 Watt
• 10-inch speaker
• One channel
• Two preamp tubes
• One power tube
• Dimensions: 14.69 x 8.35 x 13.35 inches (37.3 x 21.2 x 33.9 centimeters)
• Weight: 21.16 pounds (9.6 kilograms)

The next amp on the list comes from Laney. Now, the reason why this amp is so important is that it served as an inspiration for Harley Benton’s Tube series. Laney Cub is one of the most popular tube amps you can find, and the main advantage is the price. As you can probably guess already, there are different sizes and types you can find on the market. 

This one here is a model with a 10-inch speaker, but you can also find a cheaper model with an 8-inch speaker instead. The amp has full EQ, gain, and boost knobs you can use to create the sound of your instrument. It is a decent amp for home practice, and the sound is quite good if you are a fan of Laney equipment. The amp is quite versatile, and it can be surprisingly loud if you plan on using it at home. 

Marshall Origin 5C

• One channel
• 5-Watts
• Two preamp tubes
• One power tube
• 8-inch Celestion speaker
• Full EQ
• Dimensions: 18.38 x 7.52 x 14.53 inches (46.6 x 19.1 x 36.9 centimeters)
• Weight: 20.72 pounds (9.4 kilograms)

Marshall has been around for a while, and it is one of the most popular brands of amplifiers you can find. Here, we have a smaller version of the Origin series, and it is an amp that has 5-Watts power. There are two tubes in the preamp section, and one in the power section. You also get a full EQ, along with additional knobs to control the sound. The Origin 5C doesn’t have a reverb, which might be a problem for some players. 

Naturally, the amp is a combo, and you won’t need anything other than your guitar to enjoy using it. The overall design of the amp is quite simple, and you won’t have any problems navigating it. You can also use the external FX loop if you have additional pedals, which is always a good thing to try out. 

Bugera V5 Infinium

• 5-Watts
• One channel
• 8-inch speaker
• One preamp tube
• One power tube
• Reverb
• EQ

The final entry, for this category at least, comes from Bugera. Now, Bugera amps have been rather popular, but still not as much as Fender or Marshall. This doesn’t mean that the amp is bad. In fact, the sound is quite impressive. One of the main qualities of Bugera V5 is how versatile it is, and you can use the switch to select between 5 W, 1 W, and 0.1 W modes. This is especially great for those that can’t crank the amp all the way up while practicing. 

The design of the amp is simplistic, and it has four knobs. You have a knob for gain, tone, volume, and reverb. And it looks great. You can also find a version with a protective cover, which is excellent for those that don’t use the amp every day and need protection. The output switch for power is on the back of the amp, and it doesn’t have an effect loop. 

Top 5 Budget Guitar Tube Amps Under $400

As we increase the price range, we can notice an improvement in quality and power. Naturally, you won’t be able to get a professional amp in this category, but there are a couple of incredible models you should check out. The primary focus here is on amps costing between $300 and $400. 

While the price increase might seem too small, the difference is incredible. There will be a couple of returning brands and models, but with better versions. Needless to say, if you can afford to go for something a bit more expensive, these are a great choice.

Laney Cub12

• 15-Watts
• One channel
• 12-inch speaker
• Three preamp tubes
• Two power tubes
• Reverb
• Full EQ
• Dimensions: 16.93 x 9.17 x 15.71 inches (43 x 23.3 x 39.9 centimeters)
• Weight: 25.79 pounds (11.7 kilograms)

To start the second category, we have an improved version of the Laney Cub amp I mentioned before. Almost every single part of this amplifier is improved, which justifies the price difference. For example, we have a bigger speaker, more tubes, and full controls for shaping the sound. The amp comes with a reverb, full EQ, boost, and gain, but it is still quite simple to use. You also get a switch to control the power, and you can select between 15 W and 1 W modes. 

Laney Cub 12 is a nice improvement compared to the previous one, and if you can afford to go for this one, you won’t regret it. Once again, the amp is perfect for practice at home and smaller gigs. But don’t let the power fool you. Having a 15 W tube amp is significantly different from 15 W on solid-state. 

Marshall Origin 20C

• One channel
• 20 Watts
• 10-inch speaker
• Three preamp tubes
• Two power tubes
• Full EQ
• Dimensions: 20.47 x 17.32 x 9.45 inches (52 x 44 x 24 centimeters)
• Weight: 30.64 pounds (13.9 kilograms)

Another improved version of the amp I mentioned before, but this time, it’s Marshall. You can see from the start that the amp is significantly better than the 5C version. It has a bigger speaker, more power, more tubes, and it will provide a better sound. Marshall Origin 20C is more in line with what you would expect from this brand, and the quality is quite nice. Regardless if you play it on single-coil pickups or humbuckers, the sound will be beautiful. Especially if you pair it with a couple of pedals. 

With that in mind, the amp has a series effect loop and numerous connectors. It is also worth mentioning that Marshall Origin 20C supports a footswitch, and it is included in the package. As with the previous model, the primary focus is on simplicity. This makes it easy to use, and you won’t struggle to find a nice tone for your guitar. 

Bugera V22 Infinium

• Two channels
• 22 Watts
• Three preamp tubes
• Two power tubes
• 12-inch speaker
• 3-band EQ
• Digital reverb
• Dimensions: 22.52 x 17.83 x 10.63 inches (57.2 x 45.3 x 27 centimeters)
• Weight: 42.77 pounds (19.4 kilograms)

As with previous models, we have an improvement from the previous version. The V22 Infinium bundle also arrives with an amp cover, and it has 22 Watts hence the name. The amplifier is equipped with a 12-inch speaker, which is an excellent addition. You also get a full 3-band EQ, digital reverb, and additional controls to adjust the sound. It also has its own gain, and if you like the previous version, you will love this one as well. 

Bugera V22 is quite versatile, and it works great for many different genres. Thanks to its output power, you can play it at home, for smaller gigs, or band practice. If you own a couple of pedals, there is an effect loop you can use, and the amp is an amazing option for this price range. 

Harley Benton Mighty-15TH Bundle

• One channel
• 15-Watts
• Power reduction to 7 Watts
• Two preamp tubes
• Two power tubes
• Indicator tube
• 3-band EQ
• Gain
• Boost switch
• Dimensions: 13 x 6.38 x 5.75 inches (33 x 16.2 x 14.6 centimeters)
• Weight: 20.94 pounds (9.5 kilograms)

Here, we have something a bit different. The first thing I should mention is that this is not a combo amp. You will not get a speaker with it, and if you don’t own one, you will need to buy it separately. But the amp is really good. It works incredibly well with pedals, and it’s highly versatile. Of course, there is no denying that some players will dislike the idea of having to buy a separate speaker, and it will only increase the price. 

But looking at the Harley Benton Mighty-15TH, it is surprisingly good. The lack of features on the amp can be easily fixed using pedals, and it is something that you might want to check out. 

Joyo Mjolnir

• 2 channels
• 15 Watts
• Three preamp tubes
• Two power tubes
• Full EQ
• Dimensions: 13.15 x 6.3 x 6.3 inches (33.4 x 16 x 16 centimeters)
• Weight: 19.62 pounds (8.9 kilograms)

The last entry in this category is Joyo Mjolnir. If you are unfamiliar with the brand, Joyo has been designing budget gear, and the company has been rather popular in the past couple of years. While the primary focus is on pedals, there are a couple of amps worth checking out as well. This is another head you might want to consider buying if you already own a speaker. It is similar to the Harley Benton head, and it has 15 W power. 

The design of the amp is beautiful, and it’s simple to use. There are knobs for bass, treble, volume bright, volume normal, presence, and it sounds incredible with the right settings. The amp is highly versatile and you can easily create the sound you will enjoy. 

Top 5 Budget Guitar Tube Amps Under $500

The final category is for amplifiers between $400 and $500. This is another small increase in price that can offer a huge difference in quality. These models are an excellent option for both beginners and those with a lot more experience. If you enjoy having a tube sound, these amps are something you need to try out. 

Of course, the price range is still below what you could expect from professional equipment, but there are a few incredible models available. 

Bugera 1960 Infinium

• One channel
• 150 Watts
• Three preamp tubes
• Four power tubes
• 3-band EQ
• Great quality
• Dimensions: 12.2 x 27.17 x 9.65 inches (31 x 69 x 24.5 centimeters)
• Weight: 48.5 (22 kilograms)

Here, we have another amplifier by Bugera. But this time, it is the head only. This is another example of a great amp that doesn’t come with a speaker. The first thing you probably noticed is that the amp is huge. And the sound quality is exceptional. Especially considering the price. Furthermore, it offers 150 W of power, and there are seven tubes in it. Naturally, it would be ideal if you could combine it with a couple of pedals, and it will allow you to easily create the tone of your dreams. 

Needless to say, without a good speaker, it would be rather pointless to buy a good head, so you might want to add that to the equation as well while calculating the price. The amp works great on both single coils and humbuckers, so you will love it regardless of your guitar. 

Vox AC10C1

• One channel
• 10 Watts
• All-tube
• Two preamp tubes
• Two power tubes
• 10-inch speaker
• Reverb
• EQ
• Dimensions: 20.47 x 8.27 x 16.14 inches (52 x 21 x 41 centimeters)
• Weight: 27.12 pounds (12.3 kilograms)

Everyone has heard about Vox. The company has been around for quite a while, and the gear it makes is incredible. While this model is a bit smaller compared to other ones on the list, the quality is exceptional. If you are someone who prefers quality over quantity, Vox AC10C1 might be a perfect choice for you. 

The amp is perfect for blues, classic rock, rock and roll, and even some heavier genres. There is a reason why Vox is one of the most popular brands when it comes to amplifiers, and this one just shows why that is the case. Even if you use it without any pedals, the tone is stunningly beautiful. Needless to say, you can use either humbuckers or single-coils without any problems. 

Blackstar HT-5R MkII

• Two channels
• 5 Watts
• One preamp tube
• One power tube
• 12-inch speaker
• Two voices
• Reverb
• Footswitch
• Dimensions: 15.94 x 17.44 x 9.92 inches (40.5 x 44.3 x 25.2 centimeters)

Another smaller amp that packs a punch. Blackstar HT-5R is an amp from the HT series, and I already mentioned the HT-1. The R in the description refers to reverb, and you can also find a version without reverb if that’s something you would enjoy. What is great about this model is that it comes with a twelve-inch speaker, and it is surprisingly loud. You can easily play this one on the gig, and if you are looking for something to use at home, there is a high chance you won’t be able to turn it all the way up. 

The amp is easy to use, and the design is quite simplistic. There are two channels with two voices on each channel. As with other Blackstar amplifiers, you can choose between “British” and “American” tones. It’s great for rock, hard rock, metal, but also for blues and something calmer. 

Marshall Origin 50C

• One channel
• 50 Watts
• 12-inch Celestion speaker
• Three preamp tubes
• Two power tubes
• Full EQ
• Two voicings
• Footswitch
• Dimensions: 22.83 x 9.65 x 18.9 inches (58 x 24.5 x 48 centimeters)
• Weight: 40.12 pounds (18.2 kilograms)

Another category, another Marshall amp. This time, we have an Origin 50C. This is the biggest model in the series, and it is incredible. The amp has 50 W of power, but you can easily adjust the output if you feel like it. There is a switch to choose between 0.5 W, 10 W, and 50 W, so you won’t need to worry about disturbing your neighbors. The amp is equipped with a 12-inch Celestion speaker, full EQ, and presence knobs. 

This amp is quite affordable, and it is a dream come true for every Marshall fan out there. If you are a fan of the Strat-Marshall or Les Paul-Marshall combo, you will love this one. As with the majority of good amps, there is an FX loop that works great with pedals. 

Supro Delta King 8 Combo TB

• One channel
• 1 Watt
• One preamp tube
• One power tube
• 8-inch speaker
• Dimensions: 13 x 7 x 13 inches (33 x 17 x 33 centimeters)
• Weight: 15 pounds (7 kilograms)

Finally, we have an incredible amp that’s not as famous as other entries on the list, but it is still worth checking out. Supro Delta King 8 is an amazing amplifier for those that don’t mind spending a bit more for a practice amp. The specifications might seem underwhelming, but the quality will surprise you. Furthermore, the design of the amp is gorgeous. It’s vintage-looking, and the tone is perfect for blues and rock lovers out there. 

Supro is a company with a rich history, and the amplifier is perfect for home use. Especially if you pair it with a couple of pedals. You can also choose between two colors as well. 

Conclusion

Finding a good tube amplifier usually means that you will need to spend a lot of money. But this doesn’t have to be the case. There are many great amps you can find on a budget, and the cheapest models are under $300. 

Naturally, these are smaller amps with less power, but the quality is surprisingly good. Of course, if you increase the price range and go for under $400, the options are even better. These amps are great for practice and smaller gigs, and they can be quite versatile. 

Lastly, going under $500 will give you a variety of amps to check out, and the quality can be incredible. Needless to say, it all comes down to how much you are willing to spend and which type of amp you will enjoy using.