Vintage Valve Guitar Amplifiers – All Tube Amps

Guitarists often mention a seemingly mystical thing called “tone” however this comes from a pursuit of that vintage guitar amplifier tone that appears on classic recordings from the 40s and 50s. In those days the only guitar amplifiers available were small size practice valve guitar amps developed from the technology used in car radio players and home radio units. This was due to the availability of components in what was a new field of sound amplification. It is known that a lot of the old guitar players used valve radios to amplify their instruments, these were modified to take a basic guitar pickup input. This created a random and somewhat unrepeatable tone.

From the 1930’s onward a number of companies began manufacturing small combo valve guitar amplifiers. By todays standards we would call these practice valve guitar amps however back in the day these 1W to 5W amps were the biggest available. These early amps featured valve circuit design technology for converting the small voltage that was generated by a pickup, or microphone, in the guitar body and amplifying it into a larger voltage that could drive a speaker cone and allow the sound to be heard.

Since those days guitar amplifier manufacturers have been trying to recreate the sounds of the vintage valve guitar amplifiers the greats used, some manufacturers have got very close, Fender valve amps and Vox valve amps for instance, but most have failed taking the route of cost saving or mass production and missing out on the actual goal.

Vintage Valve Guitar Amplifiers Tone

When you hear guitar players talking about superior tone and sonic characteristics then it is highly likely this refers to the sound from a valve guitar amplifier. Serious guitar players and valve guitar amplifier enthusiasts will tell you that all tube guitar amps produce a “warmer” sound with a smoother, natural “overdrive” sound.

Overdrive is when the pre-amplifier valves are driven harder, either by the input gain control on the amp being set high or by using a pickup booster pedal, leading to a softer clipping, or distortion, of the input signal. This is then passed to the power valves and amplified to a much higher level to be heard at the speaker. Depending on the strength of the signal from the preamplifier stage the power tubes may also start to clip, adding more sonic qualities.

Check Out These Vintage Valve Guitar Amplifiers

Bugera V55 Infinium Valve Amp Combo (55W 1×12)

The Bugera V55 Infinium Valve Amplifier Combo has retro design syling and vintage valve guitar amp tone. Based on the original V55 valve amp design, this full-featured and hand-built, 55W, 2-Channel tube combo amplifier  possesses modern features that will launch your tone into the sonic stratosphere. Loaded with 3 x 12AX7 preamp valves and 2 x 6L6 power tubes, this boutique-style powerhouse gives you the flexibility of two independent channels and selectable reverb, both switchable via the included footswitch. Add to ...
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Fender 57 Custom Pro Valve Guitar Amplifier (26W-115)

This new reissue of the vintage fender tweed amp design of the 50s. The hand-wired Fender 57 Custom Pro Valve Guitar Amplifier delivers pure vintage fender valve amp tone from an all tube circuit that replicates the classic Fender tone. Designed with an all tube circuit based on the original fender tweed 5E5A circuit that includes a single 12AY7 tube and two 12AX7 preamp tubes, two 6L6 power amp tubes and single 5AR4 rectifier tube. This sonically flexible guitar amplifier ...
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Fender 59 Bassman Vintage Valve Guitar Amp Combo (45W-410)

The Fender 59 Bassman Vintage Valve Guitar Amplifier Combo is a vintage fender tweed tube amplifier with the same vintage fender guitar amp tone.  This  all tube circuit delivers 45W of legendary Fender Bassman tone via a tweed covered filled with four Jensen 10" speakers. Originally designed for use with the Fender Precision Bass guitar this guitar amplifier became popular with guitarists in the 60s and 70s with enough power for gigs and studio work. quickly becoming one of the ...
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Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb Valve Guitar Amplifier (22W-112)

The Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb Valve Guitar Amplifier delivers vintage fender valve amp tone, with the classic fender silverface amp design styling and 22W of all tube power into a single 12" Jensen speaker. The Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb is for rock, country or blues players who want a moderately powered amp they can crank up on the gig or in the studio. The fat, snappy guitar tones heard on many of our favourite recordings, from Memphis to Abbey Road, ...
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Fender 65 Princeton Reverb Valve Guitar Amp Combo (15W-110)

The Fender 65 Princeton Reverb Valve Guitar Amplifier Combo produces 15W of pure vintage tube amplifier tone into a single 10” Jensen C-10R speaker rated at 40W with ceramic magnet. This is a fender vintage tube amp with a single channel that has two inputs. Included in this package is a valve driven spring reverb. The Fender 65 Princeton has a cult status among guitarists who are seeking a smooth clean tube amp tone for Jazz or Country playing. And ...
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Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb Valve Amp Combo (22W-112)

The Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb Valve Amp Combo provides 22W of pure vintage Fender guitar amp tone from a single 12" Celestion G12V speaker. This is a reissue of the classic Fender Silverface guitar amp design launched in 68. That year Fender decided to give the classic Fender tweed guitar amps a makeover introducing a new black and silver design style. These amplifiers became popular with musicians across the world for a clean sound that can be driven into ...
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Fender 68 Custom Princeton Reverb Valve Amplifier (12W-110)

The new reissue Fender '68 Custom Princeton Reverb Valve Amplifier is a modern adaptation of the legendary 1968 Fender Silverface guitar amps which combined a warm and full tube tone, visually pleasing design styling and an on board reverb and vibrato. Retaining all the features in the original 1960's Fender Silverface amplifiers the 68' Custom Princeton Reverb Amplifier emanates vintage fender tweed amp tone and looks with a few modern features added such as a new tone circuit, reduced negative ...
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Fender 68 Custom Twin Reverb Valve Guitar Amplifier (85W-212)

Back in 1968 Fender changed the design of the original Fender tweed amps, the legendary Fender tube amp tone remained but the new amplifiers were given a makeover with a silver-and-turquoise front panel and classy aluminum drip edge grille cloth trim. The Fender 68 Custom Twin Reverb has since remained the go to amplifier choice for many pros and amateurs since. Designed with a clear, deep and powerful big tube tone, combined with reverb and vibrato effects. The new reissue ...
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Fender Bassbreaker 18/30 Valve Combo Bass Amplifier (45W-212)

The Fender Bassbreaker 18/30 Valve Combo Bass Amplifier delivers 45W of vintage Fender guitar amp tone via a pair of 12" Celestion speakers and three switchable channels. The vintage fender guitar amplifier circuit includes

three 12AX7 preamplifier tubes and two EL34 power tubes that can provide a clean to hard rocking overdrive sound range. Flexibility is the name of the game for the Fender Bassbreaker 18/30 combo, the latest evolution of the best selling fender amp of all time the ...
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Fender Blues Junior Valve Combo Guitar Amplifier (15W)

The Fender Blues Junior Valve Combo Guitar Amplifier features real valve tone and classic Fender saturation in compact design with a 15W output into a single 12” speaker. The latest version of the vintage Fender Blues Junior includes a modified preamp circuit that provides a fuller sound with more definition and clarity. There is also a new reverb circuit keeping your tone clear and intact, regardless of reverb level. The Fender Blues Junior is a single channel valve guitar amp with ...
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Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV Valve Combo Amplifier (40W)

The new reissue version of the sought after Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV Valve Combo Amplifier is designed around the same legendary fender valve amp tone but built to modern standards for extended reliability. The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV features modified preamp circuitry, smoother-sounding spring reverb and updated aesthetics that any guitar player will appreciate. This scorching 40W, 1x12" combo, includes a 12" Celestion speaker for balanced output with smooth highs, laid-back midrange and full, round lows. The modified preamp ...
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Honkin Toms Super Chump Valve Guitar Amplifier (5W)

The Honkin Toms Super Chump Valve Guitar Amplifier has the tone and style of a bygone era. This 5W practice guitar amplifier is based on the legendary Fender 5F2A tube amplifier circuitvalve guitar amplifier circuit of the 50s Fender Princeton vintage valve guitar amp, a variation on the legendary Fender Champ that can be used for guitar or harmonica. This is a single ended Class-A all valve amp hand wired turret board construction classic amplifier that will be of use ...
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Honkin’ Toms’ Vintage Valve Guitar Amplifier (15W)

Review the Honkin' Toms' Vintage Valve Guitar Amplifier. This 15W all tube combo guitar amp is based on vintage valve guitar amplifier circuits and generates a deep colourful tone. With twin inputs for guitar and harmonica this classic tweed valve amp takes you back to the 50s.  The Honkin' Toms' Vintage Valve Guitar Amplifier has sweet clean tones however if you push the drive setting up you can delve into a rich layers of gain, producing sounds to suit all ...
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Laney VC30 Valve Combo Guitar Amplifier (30W-212)

The Laney VC30 Valve Combo Guitar Amplifier (30W) is available in two versions, Laney VC30-112 with a single 12" speaker and the Laney VC30-212 with two 12" speakers. The Lany VC range is packed with vintage warmth and tone,  and enough gain for contemporary playing. If you are looking for pure, classic valve guitar amplifier tone, you need to look no further than the Laney VC30. Designed with a Class A tube amplifier circuitvalve guitar amplifier circuit the VC30 is ...
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Tone King Gremlin Combo Valve Guitar Amp (5W)

The Tone King Gremlin Combo Valve Guitar Amplifier has vintage valve guitar amplifier tone and design styling. Hand made in the USA this small practice amp oozes the vintage 50s guitar tone that any old blues player would love. Custom made, vintage style valve guitar amplifier hand wired in USA. This valve practice guitar amp features all valve technology with a 5W power output and 2 channels. Output is via a single 12" Loudspeaker. Volume and tone controls to adjust the ...
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Some of these vintage valve guitar amps may need a vintage valve guitar amp speaker cabinet to work. Click on that link.

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