6 Best Low Watt Tube Amps (Small Guitar Amp Combos)

The affordable V5 Infinium allows guitarists to enjoy the classic tube tone in a compact, portable unit. This amplifier has several features which improve its sound and functionality. 

One thing that caught my attention about this low-watt tube amp is the innovative “Infinium Tube Life Multiplier”. This technology works by constantly analyzing the way the tubes perform, and ensuring that they work at an optimal level to improve longevity. 

The preamp and power tubes installed by Bugera consist of a tried and tested combination of a 12AX7 and an EL84. This ensures a classic tube-driven tone with plenty of power and warmth. 

Due to the onboard power attenuator, I’d recommend this amp to guitarists who need to practice at low volumes without compromising on tone. 

Finally, the amp has an onboard reverb unit that isn’t limited to one variety. You can adjust the reverb controls to add different flavors of space and ambiance to your guitar. 

The AC10C1 by Vox produces the energetic tone associated with British guitarists in the 1960s and 70s. This mini tube guitar amp may be fairly small in size, but it certainly packs a punch. 

Featuring an all-tube, 10-watt combo design, the AC10C1 is a great choice for live performances, practicing, and recording. With a pair of 12AX7s in the preamp section and two EL84s in the power section, it sounds authentically vintage. 

To customize the sound of the amp, you can use the selection of onboard parameters. Firstly, the two-band EQ alters the prominent frequencies in the output. Then there’s the master volume and gain which impact tone and dynamics. 

Vox’s tube amplifiers commonly include high-quality reverbs, so it’s no surprise that they have installed a smooth-sounding effect on this compact combo device. 

The 10” Celestion VX10 custom speaker ensures brightness and clarity, even when the amp is used at relatively low volumes. 

Based on the revered 1956 edition of Fender’s Princeton tube amplifier, this reissue combines vintage qualities with modern improvements. 

The classic lacquered tweed design is almost identical to the early editions of the Princeton amp, but the inner circuitry is more resemblant of the equally popular Blackface. 

Offering 12 watts of tube-driven power, this small Fender tube amp sounds huge for a compact amp. It can easily be pushed into overdrive, especially if you combine it with high-output single-gain pickups. 

I believe that a large contributor to the powerful, crisp tone of this Fender amp is the 12” Eminence speaker. This is slightly larger than the speaker used in the original Princeton Reverb amps, resulting in a more substantial low end. 

A Fender tube amp wouldn’t be complete without the addition of their reverb and tremolo effects. The spring adds character to your guitar playing, and a tremolo is a great tool for making chord sequences and melodies stand out. 

There’s a reason that British amplifier manufacturers Orange have such a loyal following of guitarists – they constantly produce high-quality tones. 

The Rocker 15 contains all of the qualities associated with this iconic brand in a relatively compact unit. With switchable clean and dirty channels, you can instantly ramp up the heat when playing through this amp.  

A large portion of this small tube guitar amp’s distinctive sound comes from Orange’s commitment to keeping one-hundred percent tube driven. They’ve even carried this over into the effects loop which is powered by 12AT7s. 

The default wattage of the Rocker 15 is 15 watts, which is perfect for playing gigs and recording guitar. However, if you’re rehearsing at home, you can switch the wattage to 7, 1, or even 0.5 watts to suit your environment. 

This amplifier has two distinctive sounds which range from clean and chimey, to gritty and distorted. It’s therefore a great choice for guitarists who like to switch up their style often. 

I’ve always been a huge admirer of the tone Blackstar amps produce. Typically, they sound slightly darker than most tube amps, and when pushed into overdrive they’re hard to beat. 

The HT5R MKII is one of the best 5-watt amps on the market. It can blast out British-style aggression but also has compressed American tones in its arsenal. 

When designing this 5-watt tube amp, Blackstar drew inspiration from its previous creations in addition to other popular devices. This led to an amplifier that sounds balanced and powerful in the low, mid, and treble frequencies with no weak spots. 

Another feature that caught my attention when checkout out the HT5R MKII was its “Infinite Shape Feature”. Patented by Blackstar, this feature modifies the EQ settings to provide quick access to classic tube amp tones. 

If the power and volume of this Blackstar amp are too much for your home practice space, you can simply reduce the settings down to 0.5 watts to avoid disturbing anyone nearby. 

The Marshall SV20C is one of the more expensive best small tube amp combos on our list, but its tonal qualities justify the price tag. 

This amplifier is ideal for guitarists who need enough power to play in medium and larger venues, but also require appropriate volumes for rehearsing and perfecting their skills. 

The onboard power reduction circuit allows you to switch the wattage from 20 watts to a more manageable 5 watts. Even on the lower setting, the amp still produces a warm, powerful tube-driven tone. 

Sonically, the SC20C sounds like it has time-traveled from the British Invasion era. This is largely down to the inclusion of a 10” Celestion V-Types speaker, with sparkles with vintage character and clarity. 

I found the inclusion of four inputs intriguing, as this is quite rare for small tube amps. This feature allows you to blend different aspects of your sound and increases the connectivity options you have at your disposal.