Best Fender Tube Combo Amps
Get Your Fender Sound

For the most part, Fender amps stand in direct opposition to heavy guitar tones with their classically clean leanings. That’s not to say that there isn’t versatility within the wide array of Fender amps, but if you know that Fender amp sound then you know it.

This list is a comparison between some of the best Fender tube combo amps out there, but the winner of the round-up, for me, has to be the Pro Junior IV. It’s the guitarist’s amp. No bells and whistles, just tone and a bit of drive at a reasonable price.

Fender Tube Combo Amps We Recommend

Fender Bassbreaker 15W

Type: Tube
Number of channels: One
Total power: 15W Class AB
Speaker size: 12″ Celestion G12V-70
Weight: 40 lbs
Preamp Tubes: 3 x 12AX7
Power Tubes: 2 x EL84

What’s good: Gain versatility, Line out, and an effects loop.

Not so good: Not the best-distorted sounds, begs the question, should I have bought a Marshall?

The Bassbreaker series was a step in a new direction for Fender. They are divisive among the Fender amp traditionalists because rather than the traditional clean to crunch sounds that Fender amps are famed for, Bassbreaker amps capture a more distorted sound that’s aggressively mid-range. The Bassbreaker 15 is almost, if not quite, the best of both worlds.

With the Bassbreaker 15’s three-way gain structure switch, the amp allows for versatility between low and high gain voicings. There’s only one channel, but there’s enough room for malleability. LOW is the classic clean Fender sound, MED adds a bit more crunch, and HIGH is all out balls to the wall modern distortion. The high-end distortion this thing kicks out stacks up reasonably well in comparison to say a classic mid-range priced Marshall amp’s distortion, but is that something we really look for in a Fender amp? It boils down to taste.

As a 15 Watt tube amp with 1×12″ Celestion V-type speaker, the Bassbreaker packs some punch, but not enough for a huge live setup, so it’s more for the mid-range user. It’s small enough for home use, yet big enough for a small band in a live situation. The Bassbreaker 15 is more or less standard when it comes to its preamps with two 12AX7 preamp tubes into two EL84 power tubes.

The Bassbreaker 15’s line out and effects loop are notable features too for tipping this amp over the edge for buying, but overall, for me Fender amps are at their best when they stick to their roots of cleaner and crunchier amps…. call me bias.

Fender Pro Junior IV 15W Tube Combo

Type: Tube
Number of channels: One
Total power: 15 Watts
Speaker size: 1 x 10″ Jensen P10R
Weight: 22.85 lbs
Preamp Tubes: 2 x 12AX7
Power Tubes: 2 x EL84

What’s good: Looks great, classic Fender amp sound.

Not so good: Not much to play with, a bit expensive for what you get.

Okay, so the Fender Pro Junior IV looks fantastic with its classic Fender Tweed look, but can the 15 Watt baby compare to its bigger siblings? Of course, with a 1×10″ Jensen P10R and two 12AX7 preamp tubes into two EL84’s, the Pro Junior IV certainly is the baby in the Hot Rod series, but that’s not to say that it doesn’t live up to the bigger versions.

The Pro Junior IV is one channel and only has a VOLUME and TONE knob, so bells and whistles are officially out. However, that’s what Pro Junior is plumping for: a mid-range budget, no-nonsense tube amp. In terms of sound, the Pro Junior ranges from sparkling clean to gritty crunch. Don’t expect ear-piercing distortion, this amp wants to be no more than crunchy. Therefore, although there is tonal versatility within the Pro Junior IV, it’s certainly not for the metalheads out there.

Being so small, the Pro Junior IV won’t offend your neighbors’ ears, but that also means that it won’t by any means fill out a large venue. The Pro Junior IV is like a baby step into that classic Fender amp sound. Small and compact, but has little in way of added features, the amp sounds great but perhaps leaves you wanting a bit more bang for your buck.

Fender Super Champ X2

Type: Tube with Digital Effects
Number of channels: 2
Total power: 15 Watts
Speaker size: 1 x 10″ Fender designed speaker
Preamp Tubes: 1 x 12AX7
Power Tubes: 2 x 6V6

What’s good: Versatility in sound, almost the best of both worlds.

Not so good: Caters more for home use, jack of all trades master of none.

In direct opposition to the stripped-back Pro Junior IV, Fender’s 15 Watt Super Champ X2 is a two-channel hybrid tube and modeling power amp that no doubt divides its audience. Modeling amps essentially emulate other amps, for some this is great it’s a number of amps in one, what’s not to like? But for others, the term, “jack of all trades master of none” rings out.

The Super Champ X2 wants to be a fusion of modern and vintage technology. On channel one, the amp is powered by two 6V6 tubes and one 12AX7 preamp coming out of a Fender Special Design 10″ speaker for a tube sound. However, on channel two, the Super Champ X2 has sixteen different amp voicings ranging from distorted to clean but based on other classic amps. Channel two also provides fifteen on-board effects like delay and tremolo. Again, modeling and on-board effects will divide audiences because most advanced guitar users will undoubtedly use stomp-box pedals rather than built-in effects, but for the intermediate bedroom user, the built-in effects will perhaps be a plus.

Overall, because the Super Champ X2 has so much tonal versatility within the sixteen voicings, it’s not hard to get a good sound out of this little thing. However, it does place this amp almost exclusively into the beginner to the intermediate-range because amp modeling and on-board effects aren’t particularly useful outside the bedroom. The USB connectivity is a welcome feature, however, meaning that the amp can go straight into a computer for recording ultimately making this amp a good choice for the strictly at-home user.

Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb Tube Combo Amp

Type: Tube
Number of channels: 1
Total power: 15 Watts
Speaker size: 1 x 10″
Weight: 34 lbs
Preamp Tubes: 3 x 12AX7, 1 x 12AT7
Power Tubes: 2 x 6V6, 1 x 5AR4 (Rectifier)

What’s good: Sounds fantastic, compact.

Not so good: What’s not so good: Pricey, not great for live situations.

Another 15 Watt amp but a tube with three 12AX7 preamp tubes, one 12AT7, and two 6V6 power tubes, the Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb is a smaller, modern version of an old classic.

First of all, with a 1 x 10″ Jensen Special Design C-10R speaker and one channel, it’s small and it’s expensive so it might seem like a vast amount of cash for such a small amp. However, the ’65 Princeton Reverb is aimed at the home user who clearly has money to burn, but more importantly, for the studio user who needs portability without sacrificing a phenomenal tone.

The ’65 Princeton Reverb, of course, has the classic Fender reverb and vibrato effects on-board, but the aim of the amp is towards a no thrills and competent amp for the professional user. Based on its classic predecessor, of course, it sounds great, but the aim is squarely on the Fender amp lovers who want that classic clean to crunch sound. What that means is that this amp has no time for the casual user — it’s for the Fender amp traditionalists who want the sound of the original in a bite-sized amp.

The ’65 Princeton Reverb is not without exclusivity, but if you’re a fan of that classic sound and want it in a compact and modernized incarnation, this amp is looking at you.

Fender Hot Rod Deville IV Tube Combo Amp

Type: Tube
Number of channels: 3
Total power: 60 Watts
Speaker size: 2 x 12″ Celestion A-Type speakers
Weight: 55.25 lbs
Preamp Tubes: 3 x 12AX7
Power Tubes: 2 x 6L6

What’s good: Thoroughly classic Fender sound, looks great.

Not so good: Perhaps too exclusive, pricey.

A bigger sibling to the Fender Pro Junior IV, the Hot Rod Deville IV is a tube, 60 Watt beast with 2X12” Celestion A-Type speakers, and three 12AX7 preamp tubes with two 6L6 power tubes. There’s a reason that the Hot Rod Deville is a classic — the IV is merely an improvement on a great.

With great price comes great responsibility. Although the Hot Rod Deville IV isn’t the most expensive on this list if you’re willing to fork out this much for an amp, know that the Deville is very much the higher tier of combo Fender amps. It’s a kind of perfect summation of combo Fender amps — classic Fender twang up to well-rounded dirty tones in three channels.

If you know and love Fender amps, and to want a mid-sized amp for medium capacity gigs, the Hot Rod Deville IV captures the classic Fender sound perfectly. Not everyone is happy with the crunchy Fender amp sounds, so those looking for insane distortion, this amp surely won’t be for you. Again, this amp is almost exclusively for those versed in the Fender amp sound — it’s not here to cater to everyone. Whilst that might put some off, for the Fender amp enthusiasts, this one is for you.