I've had my Monoprice 15 watt amp over 5 yrs for $179 and still working great. I did increase the volume by swapping out the 98 decibal 70/80 speaker to an almost 103 decibal Eminence Wizard speaker. Just enough room for it's gigantic magnet.
+1 would come back and watch your mods for this. I would explore input impedance, a raw/mids control, and maybe wire up the 1w mode at a variable larmar. Also popping a spare 12AY7 in v1 would be interesting. As a player/builder playing mostly my own builds these days like you, I would maybe think of this amp as a gift for a buddy who is just beginning more than a keeper.
Nice review. I only own 2 tube amps; the Blackstar HT-1R combo and the VHT Special 6 Ultra which I like as a straight Class-A amp and power tubes are interchangeable without biasing. I have an EL34 in it now. Plus it is mod friendly having a point to point wired board. It’s a great pedal platform with both a clean and “ultra” input activating the other half of the preamp tube for added gain.
Nice amp! I just picked up a Epiphone Valve jr for 40$. Repaired the fuse holder the previous owner had broke. Plays like a dream. May upgrade the speaker and do the tone mod you did. Keep up the great playing and videos brother!
Sounds great for the price the tubes alone are worth close to that. That was some nice guitar work. I say open it up lets see the circuit. Id be curious to see 1W vs 15W.
Thanks! I got it on the bench tonight and will be working on it this week. I saw a schematic. Forums indicate it is a clone of a Laney Cub 12, which would indicate the 1W setting is inserting a fixed post phase inverter master volume - which is kind of an interesting and weird choice!
Yep, excellent score for 140. I have a cub12r that I'm about to open for a service, it has terminal strips in it that get oxidised over time, but when it's healthy it's a great amp and sounds very similar if not identical to the monoprice.
I think a lot of the Tube 15s you'll see these days are the second generation, I've heard that they have different circuits but that's just internet rumours, I don't know for sure.
It would be interesting to find the tech that designed this amp and his or her history . Like was some guy contracted, did they put out memo we want an amp how it happened. I'd realy interest in the designers career what else was developed from this person. Could have worked for Peavey or Crate many others some that are gone. I've got one of happy also have a egnater rebel 20
Looking forward to you opening it up to see just how they did it. Crazy value! I’m surprised I haven’t seen you tackle a Filmosound…I recently picked one up for a song.
@@KleyDeJong I would love that too. Those filmosounds are jam packed but I’ve seen folks just plug and play with few mods in the rats nest. I was really hoping to score an EL84 Canadian version but it was nearly free. I just picked up a dead late 50’s Wurlitzer organ but it has great tubes and iron…a bit to big for a simple amp as it is powering 30-40 tubes. The output transformer looks awful nice though. You have some mad skills! And you can play; a rare combination of passions on display. I have always loved sounds, or have been annoyed by them. My sense are just too stimulated; taste, smell and hearing. Only age has taken the vision. I thought you really walked through the Robinette mods well. Cheers and look forward to what you do with the mono price. I was a bit suspect but I’ve enjoyed all of the sounds I’ve heard. I’ve yet to see anyone throw a nice Greenback or Gold Celestion in a Monoprice or Harley Benton. That may be over the line…..but I’d like to hear it. I can already hear “But that’s heresy!” Sounds like a great platform with few downsides. You can’t buy the tubes for what they cost new.
Thank you sir for the video and I will say to you have really good guitar player I enjoyed listening to you yeah I have the same amp only I bought mine about three and a half years ago it's over 3 and 1/2 years now I've never had a problem with this and it's been in like really really dusty places and at one point pretty recently my landlord opened up a hole in my ceiling above the amp and just moved it so now it's also got a bunch of drywall dust and everything but I'm worried that the little girl fiddle overheating so I put a little fan behind it and when I'm using it but yeah I'd love to see modifications on that I really would if I was still able to see I would build a cabinet myself and I've been thinking of changing the speaker in there but also I said to myself you know a Harley Benton has a 2X 12 cabin it's horizontal and vertical I'm looking at the vertical one it's got the two vintage 30s in a vertical 2 * 12something like $250 and they also have a the same cabinet with I think it's a green back in it and they are like a little over 300 or maybe three and a half I'm not sure what to Celestia and greenbacks in it and I'm thinking I'll probably go that route because I'll be able to use it with the output speaker output right in the back of the amp and then my next stamp version will just be ahead I'm considering the offender supersonic 22 but I'm not sure yet again I hope to see the modifications I think that's a great thing I'd enjoy watching it I'm sure others would do and yeah and after listening to you and you know play through that amp I have my last guitar purchased sitting on my bed it's about a month old is the Epiphone 1958 Karina explorer the latest version and the yeah I think I'm just going to plug into that that's a really great guitar electronically it's a Gibson what is what I'm not at home with guy I believe that would does make a difference in the tone of the guitar but I don't think it's so much that is as much species oriented and it is density etcand the amount of difference in one piece of Karina would to another is probably negligible and my point is is that the guitar is basically now I know when I pick it up it's not I haven't played the version of it the Gibson makes because it's $10,000 or more for the custom shop but basically you know except for the you know that I guess the aesthetic qualities of the wood it's got all the you know things that you would want out of a Gibson in this guitar and I can't believe I'm saying that and I've been saying to myself sometimes should I should I maybe I can exchange the bridge and the tailpiece for a Gibson and I'm sure they'll conversions that could be done but you know what am I going to get out of that am I going to gain is going to sound a million times better I don't think it will and I'm happy with the way it sounds now so I'm basically just going to leave it I'm pretty sure I love the brass bucket stuff they're really cool pickups I have them also in the Epiphone 59 kit Les Paul I also own two Gibson's Iona a firebird 5 and I own a Gibson SG batwing style the Epiphone 59 Les Paul kit also is electronically all Gibson all the electronics sorry I went off on a tangent here on the guitars oh I really should have said is the first sentence which was this is your playing and and listening to the amp inspired me to after the text pick up the lights in my bed and plug it into the stage right lol all right again hope to see you soon LOL cuz I don't see much anymore if you do any modifications to it sincerely sincerely Bob the blind
I recently purchased a new version from monoprice with the controls on the front. I wonder if it's been improved since then. I love it I paid $250.00 . New
Just add an graphic eq pedal in front or in the effects send and you've got most any tone you like- no need to swap out the speaker. I did swap the 3 12AX7's for 3 lower gain 5750s, much happier with a tamed overdrive. ruclips.net/user/neilslade
Very very pleasing sounds there, the best demo that i have ever heard regarding this amp, thankyou.
You make that thing sound great. Believe it's your ear coming out yer hands. Great ear for tone.
Sounds good to me. The other low end amp I like is the bugera v22. Lots of cheap gear that is great now days. Great chops sir
Thanks. I had a Bugera V22 once and also really enjoyed it. Reminded me of a Vox AC15.
I've had my Monoprice 15 watt amp over 5 yrs for $179 and still working great. I did increase the volume by swapping out the 98 decibal 70/80 speaker to an almost 103 decibal Eminence Wizard speaker. Just enough room for it's gigantic magnet.
+1 would come back and watch your mods for this. I would explore input impedance, a raw/mids control, and maybe wire up the 1w mode at a variable larmar. Also popping a spare 12AY7 in v1 would be interesting. As a player/builder playing mostly my own builds these days like you, I would maybe think of this amp as a gift for a buddy who is just beginning more than a keeper.
Nice review. I only own 2 tube amps; the Blackstar HT-1R combo and the VHT Special 6 Ultra which I like as a straight Class-A amp and power tubes are interchangeable without biasing. I have an EL34 in it now. Plus it is mod friendly having a point to point wired board. It’s a great pedal platform with both a clean and “ultra” input activating the other half of the preamp tube for added gain.
I had a VHT Special 6 a few years back and really enjoyed it. The build was much more serviceable and easier to modify.
Nice amp! I just picked up a Epiphone Valve jr for 40$. Repaired the fuse holder the previous owner had broke. Plays like a dream. May upgrade the speaker and do the tone mod you did. Keep up the great playing and videos brother!
Very cool! My very first amp project was to gut and rebuild an Epiphone Valve jr. Great amp!
broken
@@larryn2682 Tanks Grammer palice.....
I own the tiny 5 watt version and the bigger, 15 watt version. They are really great for the price!!!
The 5 watter would be a cool amp. I agree!
Sounds great for the price the tubes alone are worth close to that. That was some nice guitar work. I say open it up lets see the circuit. Id be curious to see 1W vs 15W.
Thanks! I got it on the bench tonight and will be working on it this week.
I saw a schematic. Forums indicate it is a clone of a Laney Cub 12, which would indicate the 1W setting is inserting a fixed post phase inverter master volume - which is kind of an interesting and weird choice!
Yep, excellent score for 140. I have a cub12r that I'm about to open for a service, it has terminal strips in it that get oxidised over time, but when it's healthy it's a great amp and sounds very similar if not identical to the monoprice.
Nice! I am eager to crack it open and see what circuit they're using inside.
I think a lot of the Tube 15s you'll see these days are the second generation, I've heard that they have different circuits but that's just internet rumours, I don't know for sure.
It would be interesting to find the tech that designed this amp and his or her history . Like was some guy contracted, did they put out memo we want an amp how it happened.
I'd realy interest in the designers career what else was developed from this person. Could have worked for Peavey or Crate many others some that are gone.
I've got one of happy also have a egnater rebel 20
Pair of JJs and 3 Tung definitely worked saw on another review
I'd like to see mods. I have one too. Fine amp as anything else with a brand name of similar build quality.
Similar to the the Wangs 15 and 30 watt head. They sound awesome for the money and that's coming from a vintage tube amp lover and hoarder.
Looking forward to you opening it up to see just how they did it. Crazy value! I’m surprised I haven’t seen you tackle a Filmosound…I recently picked one up for a song.
I got her on the bench tonight and have some fun ideas! I would love to get a Filmosound and rebuild it... Need to check eBay.
@@KleyDeJong I would love that too. Those filmosounds are jam packed but I’ve seen folks just plug and play with few mods in the rats nest. I was really hoping to score an EL84 Canadian version but it was nearly free. I just picked up a dead late 50’s Wurlitzer organ but it has great tubes and iron…a bit to big for a simple amp as it is powering 30-40 tubes. The output transformer looks awful nice though. You have some mad skills! And you can play; a rare combination of passions on display. I have always loved sounds, or have been annoyed by them. My sense are just too stimulated; taste, smell and hearing. Only age has taken the vision.
I thought you really walked through the Robinette mods well. Cheers and look forward to what you do with the mono price. I was a bit suspect but I’ve enjoyed all of the sounds I’ve heard. I’ve yet to see anyone throw a nice Greenback or Gold Celestion in a Monoprice or Harley Benton. That may be over the line…..but I’d like to hear it. I can already hear “But that’s heresy!” Sounds like a great platform with few downsides. You can’t buy the tubes for what they cost new.
Thank you sir for the video and I will say to you have really good guitar player I enjoyed listening to you yeah I have the same amp only I bought mine about three and a half years ago it's over 3 and 1/2 years now I've never had a problem with this and it's been in like really really dusty places and at one point pretty recently my landlord opened up a hole in my ceiling above the amp and just moved it so now it's also got a bunch of drywall dust and everything but I'm worried that the little girl fiddle overheating so I put a little fan behind it and when I'm using it but yeah I'd love to see modifications on that I really would if I was still able to see I would build a cabinet myself and I've been thinking of changing the speaker in there but also I said to myself you know a Harley Benton has a 2X 12 cabin it's horizontal and vertical I'm looking at the vertical one it's got the two vintage 30s in a vertical 2 * 12something like $250 and they also have a the same cabinet with I think it's a green back in it and they are like a little over 300 or maybe three and a half I'm not sure what to Celestia and greenbacks in it and I'm thinking I'll probably go that route because I'll be able to use it with the output speaker output right in the back of the amp and then my next stamp version will just be ahead I'm considering the offender supersonic 22 but I'm not sure yet again I hope to see the modifications I think that's a great thing I'd enjoy watching it I'm sure others would do and yeah and after listening to you and you know play through that amp I have my last guitar purchased sitting on my bed it's about a month old is the Epiphone 1958 Karina explorer the latest version and the yeah I think I'm just going to plug into that that's a really great guitar electronically it's a Gibson what is what I'm not at home with guy I believe that would does make a difference in the tone of the guitar but I don't think it's so much that is as much species oriented and it is density etcand the amount of difference in one piece of Karina would to another is probably negligible and my point is is that the guitar is basically now I know when I pick it up it's not I haven't played the version of it the Gibson makes because it's $10,000 or more for the custom shop but basically you know except for the you know that I guess the aesthetic qualities of the wood it's got all the you know things that you would want out of a Gibson in this guitar and I can't believe I'm saying that and I've been saying to myself sometimes should I should I maybe I can exchange the bridge and the tailpiece for a Gibson and I'm sure they'll conversions that could be done but you know what am I going to get out of that am I going to gain is going to sound a million times better I don't think it will and I'm happy with the way it sounds now so I'm basically just going to leave it I'm pretty sure I love the brass bucket stuff they're really cool pickups I have them also in the Epiphone 59 kit Les Paul I also own two Gibson's Iona a firebird 5 and I own a Gibson SG batwing style the Epiphone 59 Les Paul kit also is electronically all Gibson all the electronics sorry I went off on a tangent here on the guitars oh I really should have said is the first sentence which was this is your playing and and listening to the amp inspired me to after the text pick up the lights in my bed and plug it into the stage right lol all right again hope to see you soon LOL cuz I don't see much anymore if you do any modifications to it sincerely sincerely Bob the blind
I recently purchased a new version from monoprice with the controls on the front. I wonder if it's been improved since then. I love it I paid $250.00 . New
I do believe they made some quality of life improvements. Not sure if the circuit changed much if at all.
I bought the brand new Harley Benton version in Germany last year and it's fitted with JJ tubes.
Much better than Fender Blues Jr and cheaper!
Just add an graphic eq pedal in front or in the effects send and you've got most any tone you like- no need to swap out the speaker. I did swap the 3 12AX7's for 3 lower gain 5750s, much happier with a tamed overdrive. ruclips.net/user/neilslade