MonoPrice Stage Right Crazy Overhaul w/Fuse Mod

[Rufus Leakin]

This may not be for everyone, hopefully this interests some, and perhaps help those in a similar situation.

I love this little amp, as is and my major gripe concerned the color of the cabinet.

I attempted an easy color change fix along with remoting the 500ma SloBlo fuse to the front panel.

It seems quite a few folks have gone with a total re-cover which looks sharp; however I thought there might be an easier, quicker and more inexpensive solution.

Before and After

First -- guttify the cabinet -- take Everything out!

Make sure to remove the 4 bottom feet as those screws also go into the baffle board.

Cpmplte disassembly involves removing all screws,
and pushing the baffle board (once spkr is out) towards the back of the cab.
You'll be able to slide the chassis towards the back of the cab
PRO TIP: Remove all five tubes Before sliding the chassis, and then remove the speaker.
Also take out the verb tank

NOTE: the white vinyl piping is held in place w/staples,
and you can remove it, or mask it.
I masked -- however, if I ever do this again I'd remove the piping from the cabinet
I cleaned off the slight amount of excess paint from the piping with q-tips - first a little Kerosense and then Denatured Alcohol
and wipe between solvents -- and work also in a ventilated space with no open flame around

I took some glaze off white covering (tolex??? I doubt it) with 600 sandpaper
I then used this commonly available spray -
"Herculiner Do It Your Self Truck Bed Liner"
You should consider getting a spray can "Trigger"; also commonly avble --- and wear a mask when spraying

The Fuse Issue (at least for me)

Once I had the chassis out it became obvious
I'd have to provide easier access to the fuse,
cause if it blows during a show ----- oooooops

I bought a common panel mount fuse holder,
and fuses to fit it.

The replacement fuse is: 0.5A SlowBlow / MDL 6mm x 30mm or 0.25" x 1.25"
=== the fuse will be marked 500 ma MDL ===
Fuse Holder: Bliue Sea Systems 5021
Most panel mount holders require a 1/2" hole

Location is critical -- not much clearance if you dork it up
NOTE: where I wrote "washer" I mean "nut"

Anyway that's the part I used to locate the center point
of my 1/2" hole.

Here is where I soldered new wires

Hole Drilled
You will need a carbide tipped bit to get thru the front panel
for your "starter" hole

For doing most chassis work
I recommend a step cone bit
and . . . . . . . good ones are not inexpen$ive

New Fuse Holder Mounted and Wires Secured with Bayonet Connectors

You might consider doing a bench test
before putting the pants back on this thing

Front Panel After

Not Bad -- especially with the addition of black chicken heads

The metal tube protection grill is stapled in place.
I removed it before spray and then re-stapled it back into place

​

I realize completely voiding the warranty, and tearing into things, takes folks down a path many may not feel comfortable going down --- However, if you're one of those folks who subscribe to the old maxim: "If you come to a fork in the road . . . take it" ...... this transformation might be for you.

Anyway -- it's pretty simple, especially if you don't do the fuse mod.

Good Luck

​

 

[schmee]

That truck bed liner is way more shiny than I would have thought! Looks like gloss paint. Not thick I guess? Looks good though.
BTW: They sell vinyl spray for painting vinyl too.
Warranty? Do you speak Mandarin? haha

 

[bettyseldest]

One of the things I liked about the Monoprice amp was the colour, not that I have seen one in the flesh. Still, you made a decent looking job, and the fuse modification definitely rectifies a design issue which the manufacturers cannot be proud of.

 

[W.L.Weller]

Removing Paint from Tweed Amp

Hi, I'm new to the forum and was directed here by someone at the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum (where I usually lurk). Anyway I have a 1957 Fender Champ, that is near new condition and all original, but the original owner decided to paint it brown! Has anyone had any luck removing paint. Here...

www.tdpri.com

Maybe in another 50 years somebody will post about removing paint from an old amp

 

[Rufus Leakin]

Maybe in another 50 years somebody will post about removing paint from an old amp

ha ha ha .... you are probably correct. ( I guess on this one they could try some MEK, elbow grease and some serious ventilation)

and yes it was a bit more shiny than anticipated. I thought about lightly hitting it with a bit of 800 wet/dry and then after a few gigs I started digging the gloss ... brings out the mellow treble

 

[MuddyWolf]

Black? You should have gone full out.
Some ideas:
Zebra stripes.
Padded tuck and roll naugahyde.
Dayglo green 3" troll hair.
Favorite beer graphic.

 

[Peegoo]

Maybe in another 50 years somebody will post about removing paint from an old amp

In the 60s and 70s a whole bunch of old Fender tweed amps got painted black because they were used and they were cheap, rock and roll was not country music, and Marshall and Vox amps were expensive.