7 Best Blues Amps — Become the Best Bluesman in the World!

The Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue Guitar Combo Amp is a favorite of blues players as well as rock and country musicians. This vintage-style tube amp has classic features that a lot of musicians prefer to more modern designs. Real tubes have a rich tone that’s unmistakable, and something Fender is known for.

Not only is the control panel loaded with features but the chrome finish adds even more style. Craft a unique sound using the adjustable spring reverb, effects loop, and three-band equalizer that controls highs, mids, and lows.

This combo amp uses an Eminence speaker with the versatility to support any tone, from squeaky clean to dirty. The sound is drive

n by two power tubes backed by 40 watts of power, a great combination for the blues. One thing that this version has over the original is upgraded circuitry which means you get the same sound quality without the intrusive, annoying hum of the original.

While this doesn’t affect the sound quality, we have to mention the classic tweed covering. This vintage look harkens back to the original Fender designs of the 1950s and adds a little something extra to the whole experience.

Overall, users loved the sound but felt that some of the controls were too sensitive. Although there is some improvement from the original, some users felt the hum was a bit distracting.

What stands out?

• Uses vintage style tubes
• Stylish tweed cover and chrome control panel
• Upgraded circuitry for better performance than original
• Adjustable spring reverb
• Effects loop
• 3-band equalizer

What cons did we manage to find?

• Some people felt that the controls were too sensitive
• Still hums quite a bit

This Marshall DSL20C Guitar Combo Amplifier is a versatile piece of equipment that’s great for a beginner who wants to invest in something that will grow with them. That said, experienced musicians will love it, too.

The all-tube circuit helps create the rich tone that Marshall is known for. It uses a single 12-inch speaker and a semi-open back set up to improve the focus and clarity of bass notes.

There are two different channels, Classic and Ultra. They share the equalizer, so you can adjust highs, mids, lows, resonance, and presence. Each channel has its own volume and gain controls. You can also adjust reverb and use the Tone Shift button to fine-tune your sound. As you can see, this amp gives you a fair amount of control over the music you’re creating.

Another cool thing about this one is that you can choose from full or half power, running the amp at 10 or 20 watts to adjust for various playing locations. It features multiple inputs and outputs plus a footswitch to alternate channels and control the FX loop. The design is stylish and durable, suitable for life on the road. Although there were reports of some interference or white noise, overall, customers were very happy with this amp.

What makes it stand out?

• Good fit for players of any skill level
• All-tube circuit
• Semi-open back setup
• Two channels with separate volume and gain controls
• Equalizer to adjust highs, mids, and lows
• Reverb
• Tone shift
• Can run at half or full power
• Footswitch included

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• Some people experienced white noise or interference

Next up is the Monoprice 611815 Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier. This amp uses three preamp tubes, two power tubes, and a Celestion speaker that combine for superior tone quality.

You get a nice amount of control over your sound with this one. The spring reverb is controlled using a convenient foot pedal and the equalizer adjusts highs, mids, and lows. Plus, there’s an FX loop to add effects to the preamp to change up your sound even more.

One of the first things you’ll notice about this amp is how stylish it looks. It features a leather handle, cream-colored textured faux leather exterior, cloth grill, and chrome corners. The rear of the cabinet is ported which gives a little more quality to the lows.

Monoprice offers a decent warranty, too. This amp comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and is covered by a 1-year replacement warranty. There’s also a technical support team available if you need them. Some users had problems where the amp stopped working after a few months or they received a faulty product but this wasn’t a typical user experience.

Why is it special?

• 3 preamp tubes
• 2 power tubes
• Spring reverb
• 3-way equalizer
• FX loop
• Foot pedal controls
• Stylish design
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• 1-year replacement warranty

What are the flaws?

• Some users stated their amps only lasted a few months
• Customers occasionally received faulty equipment

The Boss KTN-50 12-Inch Katana Combo Guitar Amplifier is a powerful 50-watt amp that’s ready to take the stage but it’s great for home, too. It sounds equally as good at low volumes as it does high.

This amp has five distinct settings: clean, lead, brown, crunch, and acoustic. After you choose, there are 58 additional effects to choose from to customize your sound even more using the BOSS Tone Studio Editor.

The Katana-50 has a dedicated gain and equalizer that adjusts highs, mids, and lows. You can program the amp to store your favorite combinations to come back to them quickly in the future.

Simple knob controls adjust the EQ and power control lets you pull back a bit when practicing at home. There are USB and aux ports to connect your phone or  recording device as well as a headphone port for quiet practice.

Some users commented that having to use a computer or app to access some of the features was a lot for someone who prefers to keep things simple. There’s definitely a learning curve and the more tech-savvy you are to begin with, the faster you’ll pick it up.

Why did it make our list?

• Powerful
• Great for home or performing
• 5 distinct settings
• 58 effects to choose from using BOSS Tone Editor Studio
• 3-way equalizer
• USB port
• Aux port

What is not ideal about it?

• Some users found this amp was a little complicated to use
• Have to be a little tech-savvy to get the most out of it

Our next pick is the VOX AC15C1X Guitar Combo Amplifier. Vox first released the AC15 in the late 1950s and it soon became legendary. It was used a lot until the 1960s when stacks came into fashion and interest started to fade. In 2013, Vox brought it back.

What makes this amp so special? It has two channels, one for normal play and one for a power boost. They share a master volume control and a feature called Tone Cut, which modifies tones between the amp to the speaker instead of during preamp. Each channel has independent volume control in addition to the master volume. Boost mode also has its own bass and treble controls. All of this gives you a lot of control over tone.

Other features include a built-in tremolo effect with adjustable rate and depth as well as spring reverb to create more traditional sounding notes.

This amp is portable but at just shy of 50 pounds, it’s a little cumbersome to lug around. It’s equipped with an output jack for an external speaker and can easily be used to play in smaller clubs or bars.

Most people are very happy with this best tube amp for blues. Some users were disappointed that the case was made of particleboard and wished for an effects loop but people are generally really happy with the sound.

What stands out?

• 2 channels
• Tone cut feature modifies tones between the amp and speaker
• Bass and treble controls with power boost
• Built-in tremolo effect
• Spring reverb
• Output jack for exterior speaker

What cons did we manage to find?

• Case made of particleboard
• No effects loop

If you’re looking for the best small guitar amp for blues, check out the Fender Blues Junior Lacquered Tweed Amplifier. This one has a lot of cool features but the first thing you’ll notice about it is its cool style. The lacquered tweed covering adds a retro feel and the shiny chrome control panel catches the eye. Plus, it’s durable and holds up well over time, even when traveling.

This one uses real preamp and power tubes to produce a warm sound with a classic feel. The sound Fender is known for. The knobs are easy to use, just turn the dial to modify treble, bass, and mid tones.

Other features include an integrated spring reverb and a FAT switch to boost the mids to add depth and clarity to your sound. Shock absorbers reduce any annoying rattle so you don’t have to worry about unwanted noise, even at high volume. It’s a great choice for blues and rock because it delivers such a high-quality, deep sound.

At only 21 pounds, this amp is easily portable and great for gigs. Some people complained that they had blown fuses after a few months of use, though this wasn’t typical and they still loved the sound of this amp.

What are its best features?

• Lacquered tweed and chrome vintage styling
• Durable
• Real preamp and power tubes
• Easy-to-use controls
• Spring reverb
• FAT switch
• Shock absorbers

What could be improved?

• Some users complained of blown fuses after only a few months of use

Our budget pick comes from one of the biggest names in the business. The Fender Champion 20 Electric Guitar Amplifier delivers a sound that’s worthy of the brand while fitting comfortably into any budget.

While this amp would work for anyone, it’s particularly suited for beginners. It has 17 different preset models so it’s easy to get just the sound you’re looking for. This means you can recreate the sound of old and new amps, US or UK models, or set up a perfect metal sound with the simple turn of a knob. Small lights next to the dials indicate the current setting and voicing so it’s easy to make adjustments.

There’s more. It features different effects, including delay, echo, reverb, chorus, and wah. This is a great way to experiment with different sounds without having to invest in an expensive pedalboard.

This amp won’t give you the sound of a top-of-the-line model but it’s definitely worth the money. It’s great for jamming at home and the basic plug-and-play design gets back to the basics.

Some people felt that, while the amp was great, the speaker in this combo left a lot to be desired. Others felt that the knobs and light indicator system were a little inconvenient.

What do we love it for?

• Good for beginners
• 17 preset models
• Built-in effects

What were we disappointed with?

• Speaker not as good as the amp itself
• Knobs and light indicator system can be difficult to use