A great amp matters more than a great guitar — a cheap guitar through a good amp sounds better than a great guitar through a bad amp. Under $500 used, you can find legendary tube amps that sell for $800-$1,200 new.
The Fender Blues Junior is the most popular small tube amp in the world, and for good reason. It delivers authentic Fender clean tones with natural overdrive at manageable volumes. Used Blues Juniors regularly appear at $350-$450. The Vox AC15 offers chimey British tones at similar prices.
If you need more versatility, the Boss Katana series and Fender Mustang GT deliver dozens of amp models and effects in a single package. These modeling amps have gotten remarkably good — many gigging musicians now prefer them over tube amps for their consistency and convenience.
For home practice, look for amps with power scaling or low-wattage modes. A 15-watt tube amp at full volume in an apartment will get you evicted. The Boss Katana 50 MKII is the best home practice amp ever made — it sounds great at whisper volumes and can fill a small venue.
