tube amps

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“I was able to dial in tones that came damn close to Lifeson’s late ’70s/early ’80s sounds”: Lerxst CHI head and 1x12 cab review

By Chris Gill published 23 April 24

A lower-powered version of Alex Lifeson’s superlative Omega tube amp, the CHI could facilitate your guitar’s passage to Bangkok

“A robust meat-and-potatoes amp that can survive daily gigs, performs well in the studio and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg”: Peavey Classic 20 Combo review

By Chris Gill published 27 March 24

Revamped and downsized in all the right places, the Peavey Classic Series delivers bluechip tube tones at blue collar prices

“A just-right balance between pure, unadulterated vintage tube tone and modern conveniences”: Gibson Falcon 20 review

By Chris Gill published 19 March 24

This sweet-sounding tube combo puts Gibson's amp range back on its perch

“If detuned modern rock and metal is your thing, it’s definitely one to check out”: Victory VX The Kraken MKII Lunch Box Head review

By Nick Guppy published 18 March 24

Victory’s compact high-gain monster is back, revamped and improved, and with a new Clean mode

Marshall Studio JTM series – complete with head, cab and combo options

“We think Marshall represents the rock and roll attitude”: Amp sales accounted for just 5% of the Marshall Group’s revenues in 2023 – but it looks like new digital amps could be on the way

By Matt Parker published 4 March 24

A recent Billboard report shows the Marshall Group’s home audio wing brings home the lion’s share of the newly merged firm’s revenues

IDLES guitarists Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan

“I hate modeling, I think it’s wack. You can hear it right away”: IDLES explain why recording with an amp modeler risks messing with your tone, your head – and probably your dog

By Matt Parker published 1 March 24

UK post-punk heroes Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan reckon modelers are best consigned to the role of live backups – and you shouldn’t let them near your recordings

Vox Hand-Wired Series AC30 head and cabinet

“We found the perfect 1963 AC30 and we took it apart and figured out what made it tick”: Vox is making ‘classic’ amps and pedals again, as its Hand-Wired AC Series and Vintage wahs put the firm’s most iconic builds under the microscope

By Guitar World Staff published 31 January 24

We headed to Vox's NAMM booth to hear the results of its most ambitious reproduction process yet

NAMM 2024: “It’ll raise the tonal game of guitarists the world over”: Palmer’s Supreme Soaker is an all-in-one loadbox, speaker simulator and connection hub that could solve all sorts of problems

By Matt Parker published 30 January 24

Want an effects loop or headphone output for your old tube amp? Palmer’s got you covered...

“The message for tube nostalgists is clear: enjoy today what may not be here tomorrow”: Can the tube amp survive in the digital era?

By Jamie Dickson published 22 January 24

As digital guitar amplification continues to wow the market and guitar players alike, is it realistic to assume that it will be business as usual for the tube amp?

NAMM 2024: “The distinctive sonic punch of the larger, iconic amplifiers in a compact footprint”: Peavey introduces compact 20-watt version of its Classic tube amp combo without sacrificing tone

By Phil Weller published 19 January 24

The cream-colored, tube-powered combo promises the same Peavey sound in a smaller and more affordable package

NAMM 2024: “We’ve combined a decade of experience with that original mojo”: Revv celebrates 10 years of amp building with a revamp of its flagship Generator 120 – inspired by the original Revv prototype

By Phil Weller published 19 January 24

The Canadian manufacturer has gone back to its roots with a celebratory amp limited to 200 units

Gibson Falcon 20 and Falcon 5 combo amps

“Gibson is back in the amp business”: Gibson’s Falcon amps have landed – can the Mesa-made combos get their claws into the boutique amp market?

By Matt Parker published 16 January 24

The firm’s first new tube amps since the late ’60s are hand-built in the USA and seem priced to compete

“In keeping with Billy’s directive to ‘retain the gain or feel the pain’”: Billy Gibbons has helped Magnatone develop the Baby M-80 – its smallest and lightest tube amp yet

By Matt Parker published 14 December 23

The ZZ Top legend’s feedback helped shape the gain structure of the “unbelievably versatile” new compact head and combo

The world’s biggest amp brands are not who you think they are: these are Reverb’s best-selling guitar amps of 2023

By Matt Parker published 13 December 23

The used and new retailer's shared its top-selling amps this year – and it asks some serious questions of legacy names

A digital detox in amp form: Orange’s OR30 is the must-try tube amp of 2023

By Guitar World Staff published 11 December 23

The forward-thinking all-tube amp does it all – with just one channel. Here's what you need to know about the British amp legend's crowning achievement

“20 watts, four Galaxies, IR equipped”: Soldano’s Astro 20 is a tech-ed up tube amp that offers another dimension (or rather three of them) for high gain tone

By Matt Parker published 5 December 23

The tube amp stalwart turns its eye to the stars with this forward-thinking take on a modern, made-in-the-USA amp design – and all for less than $2,000

“A significant leap forward in sonic performance and flexibility for guitarists of all styles”: Bad Cat finally launches the Jet Black – the guitar amp at the heart of Tosin Abasi’s new rig

By Matt Owen published 21 November 23

In recent years, the Animals As Leaders virtuoso has turned to tube amps after moving away from Axe-Fx – and now the Bad Cat Jet Black plays a pivotal role in his new setup

“I was blown away by how it sounded”: After 30 years of Marshall stacks, Slash has switched to Magnatone – and a “killer” new signature amp is in the works

By Jonathan Horsley published 9 November 23

Is this the end of an era as the Guns N’ Roses rock legend joins Billy Gibbons and swaps Marshall for Magnatone?

Supro seeks to “redefine the pinnacle of Supro tube amp tone” with the Custom Amplifier series, hand-built in the USA

By Jonathan Horsley published 31 October 23

Two “ultra premium” tube amp combos will be available, promising gourmet tone wrapped in delectable aesthetics

“You don't run into amps with that kind of clean channel that also have this incredible gain sound”: Revv debuts the D40 Dynamis, a vintage-voiced tube head with onboard Two Notes Torpedo tech

By Jonathan Horsley published 31 October 23

Sweetening traditional tube amp tones with 21st-century technology, the D40 Dynamis arrives with a formidable array of features – and has the Shawn Tubbs seal of approval