And that is the thing I astonishing, 'the amp cleans up if I pick softer or turn down my volume control'. I mean really, what did people really think would happen?
I know this is sacrilege but the Monoprice 15w wins over the 68 custom VC and PR
- Thread starter rpavich123
- Start date
$120 shipped! Bought this LAST CHRISTMAS night (2021) - as I could never afford any year of a real Fender Champ ( my buddies all have them, and I dig these amps, clean or dirty)
This Monoprice 5-watter makes me happy ( sounds great with Volume and Tone knobs up all the way, but crisp and clean at low volume)- plenty loud for lower volume jams or gigs.
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Probably less than it would cost to bring my dead Vox Night Train back to life . . . . .
Maybe I'm just thick, or easily moved.
- but I've played OD pedals ( for Ex.) that really don't clean up when you turn guitar down- they are just quieter.
So, just happy to have a responsive amp
eichaan
Tele-Holic
I did something similar for my Monoprice 15 watt:Make your own brand. Get yourself a muscle car badge and stick it on there.
An appliance badge, like Whirlpool or a vintage ColdSpot also look cool and generate questions.
Here's a homebrew amp with this idea:
This one is a Blackheart Killer Ant I found at a garage sale for $5. It was inoperative because two of the diodes in the rectifier bridge were blown. I replaced 'em and did a few mods, including removing the goofy plastic Blackheart badge. It's a little 1X 6BQ5 screamer.
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@eichaan ^^^Like! Very, very like!
THAT is how to do this stuff!
robt57
Telefied
Are you using one particular speaker/cab? Or are we talking 112 combo/celestion?
But pedals and amps are two different beasts are they not? An amplifier was designed to be able to produce its rated output and to do that at a low distortion of 5% THD (as an example). Proper amplifier design has the output stage clip first, then the preceding stage, then the preceding stage... . Even master volume control amps will allow a clean signal to go from the input to the output (master turned up all the way) with minimal distortion.
Wound_Up
Tele-Afflicted
No surprise to me. It's not just some POS cheap China amp. It's a Laney Cub 12R in, a different cab and using a spring reverb instead of digital.
There's absolutely no reason why it shouldn't sound great.
Wound_Up
Tele-Afflicted
Not much rework there that I see. The circuit is exactly the same. The only change is the cab and reverb.
They had to change something from the Cub 12R or we'd just be buying a $600 Cub 12R. The circuit is untouched. Exactly the same as the Cub. So you get plastic jacks. Particle board. Cheap tolex. A Seventy/80 speaker. Etc...
You want better? Get a Cub. There's literally no reason for Monoprice to offer a better quality version when there's already one available. Just go buy a Laney instead.
Wound_Up
Tele-Afflicted
Hi!
I would describe it like this...
The "touch" is the way you touch the strings on your guitar (left- and right hand) - like, the energy you put into it - and how good/sensible your amp is in transferring that kind of energy.
Say, you play softly, and the amp will sound nice and clean, you "dig in" and the amp will bark right back at you
I think it's a real thing. You can always work around an amp that isn't as "touch-sensitive" as you´d like it to be, but if your amp reacts to your "touch" it makes life a lot easier.
cheers - 68.
Sounds to me like you're describing the difference between using a compressor and not using one.
Because I've never seen or heard of any amp that doesn't play soft sounds when you softly pick and "hard" sounds when you pick hard.
Jaguar Blue 62
TDPRI Member
Those Monoprice 15 watt amps are surprisingly good - as you say with a decent tube swap they are really good sounding - I have had a similar experience with the HARLEY BENTON 15TH HEAD which is in my opinion one of the best small amps available today.. The HB came with matched JJ tubes from the factory and the sound quality was impressive from the very first time I switched it on - because I play a jaguar I found that it needed a touch more high end sparkle - so I replaced the V1 JJ with a Psvane and kept the other 3 original JJs in the amp.. The transformation was incredible - no messing around honest true kick ass vintage surf tones blues tones rock tones you name it brother it does it all... I must add that I use a custom made speaker cabinet with a Jensen 8 inch vintage speaker - C8R which is an absolute legend for its crystal clear bell like chime - it was originally standard equipment for smaller Fender amps since the 1950s...It goes to show that you have a killer small rig that you can actually gig with for a reasonably small amount of money and sounds great with any guitar.. Keep that Monoprice amp my friend - all the best to you.
SCXD Novice
TDPRI Member
This guy did it for you. Give it a listen.
I almost bought a Blues Jr. then I heard about and researched the hell out of the Monoprice. Everyone loves them. Even Darrell Braun the YouTube guitar reviewer guy. So I bought a used for $175. I already had a Fender 15W 10 inch SuperChamp but I wanted a second tube amp with a larger speaker. I am so very happy I went with the Monoprice that I bought the smaller 5W 8 inch version this summer snd put a Weber Alnico in it - both amps are awesome! And as someone above said put a clean boost in front of both - I use the TC Electronics Spark it also has treble & base knobs - excellent for about $100 new.
burntfrijoles
Doctor of Teleocity
Why is it sacrilege? You like what you like. As you said, tone is subjective. 100 other people may have a different impression of the Monoprice.
This is TDPRI where folks are routinely making such comparisons and picking an inexpensive product over better known and accepted item. I refer you to the frequent and well traveled “Classic Vibe is better than Custom Shop“ discussions of yore.
Many others have commented that the Monoprice is a good amp and great value so you’re not alone.
Terrygh1949
Tele-Meister
You're not the only one who praises this amp. I'm totally done with tubes, have been for a long time but, I may check one of these out. Heck for the right deal I may try one.
nortally
TDPRI Member
Heh. I picked up one of the 1st gen, with controls facing up and branded Monoprice instead of Stageright. Very sweet amp. I've read that this is Laney Cub clone and also that it's not. My takeaway is that a) Wherever it came from, it's a good circuit, and b) Monoprice does appear to have a commitment to quality.
That being said, I gave it to a friend when the Subway Rocket I'd been pining for came around. I paid just about $500 more for the Rocket and it's definitely worth it
hepular
Tele-Afflicted
think in terms of what's actually happening: differences in voltages induced and the transients associated with HOW those inductions are occurring. gotta mushy rectifier and power transformer working in the power supply? ain't gonna have the same 'touch sensitivity' as a power supply that won't get swamped.
PCollen
Friend of Leo's
Awaiting your review of that amp with bated breath
PCollen
Friend of Leo's
I had a Subway Rocket for awhile, around Y2k, and it was a very noisy amp..had a lot of HISS-s-s-s-s even with better pre-amp tube than the Sino 12AX7s Mesa uses. Paid around $500 (AIR) for it at Brook Mays in Dallas, after a couple weeks had Mesa Warranty Service try to tame the hiss and all they did was install a JJ V1, sold it for $500 after returning to Florida a year later. Subway Blues with a good drive pedal up front was a better rig.Heh. I picked up one of the 1st gen, with controls facing up and branded Monoprice instead of Stageright. Very sweet amp. I've read that this is Laney Cub clone and also that it's not. My takeaway is that a) Wherever it came from, it's a good circuit, and b) Monoprice does appear to have a commitment to quality.
That being said, I gave it to a friend when the Subway Rocket I'd been pining for came around. I paid just about $500 more for the Rocket and it's definitely worth it
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