Choosing the right tube guitar amp head is the key to creating the perfect tone and achieving the right balance between sound and durability. While tube amps provide a warm, musical tone, they are more delicate and require more maintenance than solid state amps. Ultimately, the choice comes down to personal preference. To create a great sound, the tube amp head must complement the cabinet that it's mounted in.
Neumann KT88
Neumann has a long history of producing quality guitar amps. The KT88 is no exception. This single-ended tube guitar amplifier is one of the top sellers, and is available in many models. It features a back-to-basics control layout, pure tone, and 10 watts of power. Whether you're looking for an amp for your studio, rehearsal room, or small gigs, the KT88 is a great choice.
Tube guitar amps are known for their warm, classic tones. These amplifiers use Class A valves for a soft touch and smooth compression. They also offer tight bass response and a high headroom. The THR series of amps also features optional utility software. This allows you to fine-tune the tone of your amp to suit your playing style.
The Neumann KT88 tube guitar amp head was a versatile choice for rock guitarists who wanted a powerful, flexible amp. Its low-wattage design also allows it to be used with multiple guitars. This model has a very large range of applications and is often a bargain buy. Despite its low price, this model is still a great option if it's in good condition. Angus Young often used a guitar with a neck pickup, and he used it extensively on stage.
It was also available in a combo version, the JCM 2204S. It is smaller than its "little brothers" and is designed to fit with a 4x10 cab. Among the famous users of this head is Ritchie Blackmore. His amps were heavily modded by the Marshall factory, so they feature extra power tubes and gain stages.
It also has a dedicated footswitch to control various features. This gives you more control in the studio or on stage. This allows you to access boost, reverb, FXloop, and more with ease. Another bonus is that this head includes USB functionality. This enables you to quickly configure the on-board effects, switch between serial and parallel setups, and even upload IR data files.
Vox AC15C1
The Vox AC15C1 tube guitar amp is a limited-edition amp with a classic white finish. This head also features an integrated Celestion Creamback speaker. It has two channels with Volume, Treble and Bass tone controls. These controls provide a wealth of tone-crafting control. This model is available for repair, and parts are available at North Coast Music. This amp is still one of the most popular boutique tube guitar amplifiers today.
The AC15 Custom continues the tradition of quality amplifiers begun by VOX in 1958. It is a classic 15W head that uses three 12AX7 preamp tubes and EL84 power tubes. This amplifier is also available in a new White Bronco color.
Orange OR15H
If you want a class A guitar amp head that delivers an expressive voice, then the Orange OR15H is for you. This head is switchable between 15 and 7 Watts of output, and is capable of delivering a wide range of tones. It also features a footswitchable treble clef to adjust the amount of gain you get.
While the Orange OR15 is compact and the weight of a bowling ball, it packs all of the classic Orange tone that its bulkier siblings have. The OR15 delivers clean, chime-like chime tones at breakup, and a stately crunch at full saturation.
The Orange OR15H tube guitar amp head is a compact 15-watt tube guitar amplifier with a three-band EQ and four stages of gain. It also features a switchable seven-watt mode, which makes it perfect for studio work or rehearsals. Despite its small size, this amp head provides killer Orange tone and is an excellent choice for any guitar player.
The OR15H features an outstanding dynamic range and the smallest sleeved guitar amp head in the Orange line. This amp head has a class A design and switchable 7-watt and 15-watt output, making it ideal for beginners or seasoned players alike. In addition, the OR15H features boutique voicing, which makes it stand out among valve models.
The OR15H has a switchable 15W power stage that allows you to dial back the volume if you're not feeling like bending the volume control, and it also includes a valve buffered effects loop. It is as versatile as it is versatile, with the ability to change the volume on the fly, and it's also great for modern rigs.
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade 100W
If you're in the market for a new tube guitar amp head, you'll want to take a close look at the Hughes & Kettner Coreblades. These amps feature 4 independent channels and three parallel FX modules, plus an intelligent noise gate and automatic power tube management. The amplifier also uses analog programming technology.
The Hughes & Kettner Coreblades are powered by a 100W tube guitar amp head. Its power tube management circuit automatically biases the amp and shuts off any tubes that are not in good condition. The amp also has a tube rating indicator that lets you run different tube types simultaneously.
The Coreblade is designed with the guitarist in mind. The four channels give you the opportunity to experiment with multiple amp settings to find the sound that works best for you. There are two high-gain channels and one versatile drive channel. The amplifier also has three first-class effect modules. You can even backup your presets to a USB stick.
PRS Mark Tremonti MT15
PRS's MT15 tube guitar amp head is a versatile instrument that offers a great balance of power and versatility. The amp boasts eight tubes (six JJ ECC83s in the preamp stage and two JJ 5881s in the power stage), which delivers a classic tube amp tone and unparalleled transparency. The MT15's clean channel is perfect for fingerstyle and open tunings, while the overdrive channel delivers a powerful crunch when needed.
The MT15 tube guitar amp head is designed to handle any genre of music and is suitable for studio and live performance. It features an all-tube power output, effective EQ controls, and effect loop connections on the rear panel. A variety of inputs, outputs, and effects are available on the MT15, including USB and MIDI.
The PRS Mark Tremonti MT15 is a high-quality ultra-compact "lunchbox" amp that was custom-built for Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti. With 15 watts of power, the MT15 offers a wide range of tones for every playing style. Additionally, it is capable of switching down to seven watts if you want to play a lighter version.
The MT15 is equipped with a transparent effects loop, allowing you to tweak your tones with the effects pedal of your choice. It also comes with an external bias control, allowing you to fine-tune the tube's performance. The MT15 is designed for massive tones, but is also perfectly suitable for bedroom jamming.
