$99 5W Stage Right Amp vs Vintage Silverface Champ.....Fair Match or Slaughter ??
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- Опубликовано: 15 окт 2024
- There's been a lot of interest lately in extremely inexpensive "Champ-like" tube amplifiers currently appearing on the market. In this video, we'll take a closeup look at a $99 5W Stage Right amp from Monoprice.com. Every detail of its construction will be discussed and then its performance will be compared to a vintage Silverface Fender Champ amplifier, which shares a similar circuit. Regardless of your expectations, I think you'll be surprised and entertained by the outcome.
NOTE: In the next week or so, I'll draw a name from my list of Patreon patrons and send them this brand new Stage Right amp absolutely free. If you would like to become a Patreon patron and help to support our advertising-free channel, please go to this site: / uncledougsvintageamps or make a PayPal donation to dldcam@aol.com. Thanks for watching and subscribing !!
After being advised by a viewer, I checked for a small bar code tag on the perimeter of the speaker magnet.....and found, in microscopic print, "Made in China". Apparently, the "Ipswich, England" on the large, Celestion sticker refers only to the location of the headquarters of the company. A bit misleading, but not misrepresentation.
Deliberate misrepresentation. I like your channel. Perhaps expanding into mods as well as builds. Carvin Champ 12, Blues Senior. From SoCal, Thanks
Try using a better tuner. Champ wins.
Same as my MIC Strauss amps. Strauss' headquarters are in Melbourne, Australia, distributed by Jade inc.
Strauss are inconsistent, but if you find a good one - amazing value for money.
Thanks, Smoggy :)
I'n not certain about all Celestion's being made in China, Patrick.
I've had a Silver face Princeton since I was 12, I'm 55 now. Thanks Dad. I never had a need or a want for a Champ. But in my opinion, what ever that's worth, the Champ obliterates the $99 amp. But you know somebody will buy the $99 amp and be real happy with it, and at the end of the day that's all that really matters. I started playing guitar in 6th grade, 1975. That Christmas my Dad bought me a Blonde Tele with a maple neck a MXR Distortion plus and a Univox amp. My Dad was a guitar player too. I'll never forget when he asked if I liked the new stuff I told him the Tele was amazing and I love the distortion plus. But the Univox sounds like crap! He laughed out loud. A month later I got A Princeton Reverb. R.I.P Dad, thanks for everything.
It sounds like you had a very nice and supportive father, Joe. You're a lucky guy.
@@UncleDoug Yeah, he was a great guy. I was very fortunate. Even when I was a kid I knew he was great guy. R.I.P. Dad
Reading this comment made my day. My dad and I have become closer than ever by his interest and involvement in my music “career”. I’m 35 years old and have been gigging for 10+ years and 3 years ago or so he started coming to shows and helping us lug gear and he went from not knowing how to wrap a mic cord then to being our unofficial 5th member and running our FOH sound at every single show. He is more of a gear-nerd now than I ever was! We have so much fun doing this stuff every weekend and he’s actually become a pretty damn respectable sound guy! Anyway, thanks for sharing this. It reminds me not to take even a minute of this stuff for granted. God bless.
Kali Southpaw I’ll give you 1200 for that Princeton today kali lol
Bless you and your father!!!
"Impress your girlfriend. When she visits you... in your doorm room". I died.
It used to happen back in the old days.....we'd sneak them up the fire escape :)
@@UncleDoug I had a 64 Blackface Twin in my dorm room at my university that taught me all lies.
@@jeffbeck6501.....and it probably taught all the other guys in the dorm how to avoid sleep.
This is for Wembley Stadium 🤣
@@UncleDoug Why would you have to sneak up your amplifier? Was it underage?
The folks at Memphis Amps took the Stage Right amp, rewired it, installed 6V6 power and 12AY7 preamp tubes, a Weber Signature speaker, and sell them as the "Stage 5" amp. They are customized for the Harmonica's tonal range, and they get some fat, seriously great tone. And the little monster is loud enough to cut thru a band. I've never had to turn it up past halfway. They've also added a line out in the back. Best Harp amp I've ever owned.
That sounds like some great modifications, Mitchel. Thanks for letting us know about this.
Do you play the guitar with it or a harmonica?
So they saved the chassis and remade everything else? That’s one helluva mod.
Yes those two innocuous words "rewired it", could mean PtoP wired. It's a whole other beast at the end of the day.
The commentary is the best part of this video. It's classic Uncle Doug.
Thanks, Fred......glad you enjoyed it :)
I definitely agree :)
I would like to hear the Stage Right amp through the Fender speaker in the Fender enclosure. I'll bet the size of the box and the speaker would make a big difference. The Stage Right just sounds harsh and tinny to my ears.
That's an interesting idea, MW.
I'm an interesting fella...
I would also like to hear the Stage Right through the vintage Fender speaker. The SR Celestion is obviously not broken in and may well be a cause of the harshness, The SR sounded fuller through your shop speaker. The Champ's separate bass and treble controls (in comparison to the SR's single tone control) may also contribute. I'd love to see you mod the SR to have the the same tone stack. For $99, this could be a good mod test bed, and add an effects loop for good measure.
I agree. Hearing the bigger enclosure more than anything else . . . maybe the speaker loosened up a bit too . . . I have the Stage Right 5W, but use it clean.
I'd like to hear how it sounds through a speaker in a closed-back cabinet.
When you plugged the little MonoPrice amp into the 12” speaker it sounded great! Lots of personality and character.
Larger speakers really make a difference, Kevin.
@@SteveRyan1965 Never argue with a woman, Steve.
Doug, the Champ is clearly the champ. Much fuller tone.
Thanks, Glenn. I tend to agree.
I have the Stage Right. Boy... they really are quite different... I don't think I can get over this. I was looking forward to that surprisingly meaty bottom end too. The Champ sounds really good.
I wonder if those transformers are salvageable....
I found the Champ more pleasant to listen to. Maybe StageRight2 might fill out the tone? But for the price, I imagine a few will buy SR1. The 5W Wembley/1W boudoir option is nice, as is the external speaker outlet.
The fuller tone also has to do with the size of the baffle.
It sounds more Fendery to my ears.
I got the 15w version for $157 shipped. It was slightly fizzy for my tastes & different tubes didn't fix it. The circuit is basically a Marshall JCM preamp, so it shouldn't be fizzy. I removed the bypass cap on the cold clipper first & added a bias switch for 10k, 5k, or 3k... It's amazing! Swapped the seventy80 for an Eminence Legend and it's got some of the sweetetest Marshally drive to stunning cleans. The bias mod gives it tons of headroom if needed, but overdrives to Fenderish crunch when pushed. All traces of fizz are gone and it's crunchy as kittly litter now.
Yes, U have bern told that removing caps on the fender champion 600 does wonders as well..
Check that...I have been told..
Cool thanks for your tip on the mod to the 15w!
can you elaborate on which parts to change out for the cap and bias mod stuff? ... I am dying to do that mod
D'Lynn H. R27 is the 10k cathode bias resistor for the second gain stage. You can simply solder a wire with a resistor from the cathode socket pad to a switch to put it in parallel to R27. Other terminal on swutch goes to ground. The stock bypass cap is the lone black wire on plug HD3. Simply clip it to remove. I used a 5k resistor in parallel with the stock 10k for a 3.3k bias.
I have the 15watt version 12" Celestion. There was a noticeable difference in speaker response after a couple weeks 20+ hrs playing time. More bass, less mids.
I would guess that the speaker cone was finally broken in and had enough excursion to properly portray bass frequencies.
I am the viewer that sent the amp to UD, i bought the 15-watt version after this and was WAY more impressed! I had a nearly new Fender Blues Jr at the time and I must say the SR amp actually sounded better to my ears.
@@jackallen6261 How many hours on the 5-watt? Some say the speaker needs 20 hr run-in time.... I don't know.
@@tompolk7588 On the 5 watt I only unboxed it and gave it a quick run-through., I would suspect about the same and I would have to agree with Clarence on the around 20-hour figure.
@@jackallen6261 I only see good reactions about this amp, in Europe you can buy the same amp under the name Harley Benton TUBE15.
Just got a Mono Price Gibson lp copy w/hsc 200.00, set neck cherry sunburst only thing I changed was the pups to 80's Dimarzio's I had kept for years. Better than any copy I'v ever had. I'm 60 btw.
I have the 15 watt version of this amp, which I had been running in stereo with a Fender Frontman 212R. I just ordered a second one to replace the Fender, which recently died. I love that amp. These are an absolutely ridiculous value.
The champ is a much better sounding amp. however, it also has a much bigger cabinet which also helps out a lot.
Loved the flight and the music. Something beautiful about simple amps, simple guitars and nice people.
Thanks so much, Lazoma. We're glad you enjoyed it :)
Considering the cost and what it is usually used for; there is no contest. The Champ sounded better in every instance but costs x6 as much. The used Champ 600 reissue is x3 more expensive on Reverb. For that kind of money I’m going bigger.
Wow that champ looks absolutely mint. That was the clear winner in every test, by a lot.
The comparison would have been more fair with a Stage Right with at least 10 hours of speaker training ....
Anyway the old Fender champ is a champ , the Stage Right doesn't need any 12" cab , it sounds even better by itself ...But not right of the box , once it opens up it's a different story ...
Its big brother , the 15 watts one , is a Fender blues jr killer ( with the same tubes , EL84 , marshallish ) , and the Blues Jr isn't a bad amp , not at all ..
You can find some comparisons between them here , Stage Right = Monoprice = Harley Benton = i don't remember that one , in Australia i guess ....
I have a Epiphone 15watt with a 8" Bose and it sounds better than either...But it is not even stock. For personal or home bedroom Rocking,,
I like both.
I agree, Dave.
I've got its big brother the 15 watt with a 12 inch speaker and it sounds great. It was $199
Hi Don, meaning the chinese amps big bro? The model? Thanks.
@@JuusoHoo Yes Stage Right also makes a 15W amp with 12 in Celestion, spring reverb tank and an FX loop.Cosmetics ate similar, and it's regarded as an excellent pedal platform.
@@m0j0b0ne , does it have a real spring tank inside?
Some great videos on it too
Yes it does have a legit spring tank for a great reverb compared to a $800 blue x style tube amp with spring reverb
Great for lugging around because it is super light I use it often for going to a friend’s house in the world of social distancing and no more playing in clubs
I believe they ship tube amps upside down to prevent the tubes from falling out during shipping and also put the heaviest part of the amp nearest to the ground so it will be harder to tip over than if it is top heavy. Thanks for the great review.
They can pack them any way they want, John, but you know the box doesn't remain in that position during transport. You're welcome :)
Champ wins hands down but that $99.00 price tag is hard to beat. For the cheaper price you could mod the Stage Right tone stack.
Wow! That is the most thorough review EVER! Even taking it apart to compare the Amount innards and the speaker.
And thanks for playing simple guitar rhythms to demonstrate the sound comparisons.
Most excellent work Uncle Doug.
Thank you for addressing your excellent comments to the comparison itself, Kevin, instead of focusing on irrelevant side issues. We worked hard on this video and really appreciate your recognition of that effort.
I've got the most recent 15w 1x12" Stage Right combo amp from Monoprice that's a copy of the Laney Cub 12R. Monoprice is/started as an American-based company who sources their stuff from overseas. Based out of Cali. They're not like Wish or the other places as most people think they are.
For $219, it's absolutely INCREDIBLE! I'm glad they do the "box in a box" trick. It ensures that my amp is protected well and makes it to me unscathed.
Supposedly, Joe B likes to use the Celestion 70/80 speakers that are used in the 15w. That's the word around the internet. He likes stuff that's easy to source from anywhere. The 70/80 falls directly into that category.
Thanks for all the info, JC.
"Tuning up for your recording session at Daryl's place..." Love it! :-)
I'm glad someone caught on, Bert. Thanks :)
I have the 15 watt stage rite. It is very good at the price. I used it for a couple gigs where we had to pack less gear. Played a big club with it and it was plenty loud. I used a blues driver through it and a boost in the effects loop for solos.
*Right
At Thomann you can hear audio samples of the Harley Benton TUBE5 Celeston . It's the same amp.
Doug, I must comment on a very well intoned guitar. As a luthier I applaud anybody who takes the time to set a guitar up properly before an amp demo. It really makes a difference!
Good grief !!! Finally, someone has something nice to say about my guitar tuning and intonation. Thanks SO much.....I really appreciate your kind words :)
@@UncleDoug So many people who do sonic demonstrations forget to tune the instrument but even less take the time to intonate it so it performs as it should. A badly intonated instrument will make a Dumble sound bad and a well intonated instrument a monoprice sound amazing - as you did.
@@slapitman Thanks again, BD. We really appreciate your kind words.
Glad you took the time to check them both out I'm kind of partial to the fenders it was cleaner on the dirty side Fuller as well so that is my choice thank you
I love these kind of videos - checking out the insides of amps - keep them coming!!
Great comparison video Doug. It amazes me that they can make these amps with a celestion speaker for 100 bucks. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome, Ima. Thanks !!! Me too :)
Jack invariably imparts a sense of fairness and objectivity to these comparisons. Much appreciated.
He is known for his impartiality :)
The 5 watt is ok, but the 15 watt mono is awesome sauce.
Great video! I love how in depth you go in all of your reviews Doug. Thanks! I own the 15W Monoprice amp and love it. For under $100 this little 5w amp is a no brainer. I have a 75 SFVC but I paid 5 times as much for it than this! Thanks again for the great video.
Thanks so much, CG. I agree with you regarding the 5W and 15W Monoprice amps.
i just recently played through the 15 watter and was really impressed! Nice crunch tone.
Russian pole Dancers....I was fine till someone posted a link....took me a half hour to get back to this video....
Really good work Uncle Doug...
Thanks, Lee. I was wondering where you went.
I'm hearing this through the internet therefore to say this sounds better than the other is ridiculous, the size of the cabinet makes a noticeable difference.
Great video
Good point, Albert. Thanks !!!
I cant believe you didnt let Jack inspect the box !
Nice comparison video , Champ wins hands down.
The Silverface has a wider baffle which automatically gives a bit more low end (fuller sound) because of the baffle step.
Wow, a rather sophisticated observation, Piet. Thanks !!
Uncle Doug . It would be interesting to compare the same speaker in both cabinets.
Or . . . place the SR in a corner to open up the bass. It is open back . . . and that speaker needs some break-in time too.
Doug I had problems with my Monoprice Stage Right 15-watt amp. Tried replacing the preamp tubes but the problem persisted.
So when I crank it up I can hear not so 'Good Vibrations' thru the speakers or something else is vibrating.
I removed the back heat screen panel and played some bass notes and tried to locate the defect.
Turns out these amps have wire tube hold downs on all the tubes - 3 12ax7's and 2 EL34's.
The factory installed the hold downs with the metal wire in direct contact on the sides of the tubes.
When the right tones get going and the cab starts to vibrate the wire hold downs transfer their vibrations into the amps circuit.
So all i did was bend out the hold down connections at the tubes base so the hold downs do not contact the sides of the tubes.
Problem resolved no more not so 'Good Vibrations'
Excellent detective work and repair, James. Thanks for sharing this with us.
@@UncleDoug Dude has a demo of the amp.
He's using humbuckers; you should hear it with a single coil old school Tele style guitar.
ruclips.net/video/6sokYbprJ7c/видео.html
@@UncleDoug Also this dude replaces tubes in this video.
You ac clearing see the hold downs up against the tubes.
ruclips.net/video/CEylCAlxnfY/видео.html
I own one of these Celestion-equipped Stage Right amps and I'm really really impressed with how good it sounds. Granted, this is mainly a little practice amp to keep handy to bounce sounds out of, but this is a fine sounding tiny tube amp. Keep it in perspective when comparing it to a more expensive amp.
I have the 15 watt SR. Sounds better.
1:54 "... watch those old bats on The View..." LOL, oh tears. Russian pole dancers, what, wait...
From the ridiculous (old bats) to the sublime (Anastasia)......all in one sentence. You can't get this stuff on network TV :):)
I don't even like commercials about the view! Now the Russian pole dancers...hmmmm. May be interesting!😂
I'd never watch The View. I'd get banned if I said what I'm thinking about those bitches.
@@UncleDoug
Yea the bats ...very funny!
Glenn Martin Must see Skank viewing, lol.
I have one of those and it sounds great! Changed the preamp tube for a JJ and it sounds great!!! Break in the speaker and it is good for even gigs! Mic of course!!!
Thanks, Ruben. I believe you.
Just bought one of these, very cool. The fit and finish was perfect. Musta got a Monday amp vs. a Friday afternoon amp...😉
No such thing as a weekend at the factory these were made in.
It's called a Champ for a reason...... great video Uncle Doug, nice playing too!
Thanks, T73 :)
I tried one of these the other day and was blown away with the sound coming from it. Has to be the best deal on a tube combo you can get. The 15watter gets a lot of praise as well but I've not tried that one.
Thanks for your input, Strat :)
Thanks Doug for this great video. Initially I was going to buy the Monoprice amp, but after watching your review I decided I'm going to get a used Fender Champ.
I'm glad the video was helpful. If you can, get a Silverface Champ. They are identical to the Blackface circuit and cost a fraction of the price.
I have the monoprice SR tube amp. It is excellent. I owned the Fender Champ amp years ago, then a Princeton reverb later on. The Fender amps are superior. DUH! Have had it for a year now and it has very clean sounds. I use a distortion box for rock and other amp modifiers. I like the space saving size of the amp.
Thanks for your input, GM.
Fender currently does sell a Champ '57 Custom tweed for $999. It has marvelous clarity and warmth. I plugged a hollow body jazz guitar with P90 pickups into it and it was clearer and warmer than all the other amps in Guitar Center. They use a $55 Weber Signature 8" Alnico speaker in it. Maybe the same Weber speaker installed in the Monoprice could be substantial improvement. I think I might try it. What do you think?
Did we hear a clean tone in the video? At Vol 5 and Tone 5 it sounded over driven to me. I am curious how the Monopro sounds with Volume at 3 and Tone at 3?
The SR amp is quite capable of clean tones at lower volumes, A07. The Weber speaker in the Custom Champ would be an improvement over than the Chinese Celestion in the SR amp.
I just gained a deeper appreciation for the Champ amp. I wonder if Stage Right makes a Champ-style amp? Thanks Love your videos!!!
15w
It's about time someone made a comparison like this, good thing it's done by the best youtuber around. Btw this little amps are surprisingly good mod platforms and for the price it's not the end of the world if it gets damaged.
Thanks, Oleksii. I agree :)
Helps you work on your surface mount component soldering ;)
Uncle Doug, how hard would it be to mod a circuit board amp like that?
Brad the Guitoligist reworked an Epiphone Valve jr. in one of his videos and it was all PC board like this, it really helped it a bunch!
IAnd here ? ruclips.net/video/ae5XsV3qYIA/видео.html
Same tone as this though....oO
Thank you! I think it would be interesting to run the speaker out from the Monoprice into the Champ cab/speaker to see how much of a difference the larger cabinet and different speaker make
That would be an interesting experiment, Stephen.
BONUS POINTS FOR "OLD BATS ON THE VIEW." You are my kinda dude!
So agree!
I so agree!
I know Chinese workers get paid more than a bowl of rice each day but....the purchasing department must be a really sharp group of buyers on parts to offer this including freight to get this to market for $99.00(plus the governors tax)!!
I have the 15w MP amp, and have been very pleased. It also has the power selector (15w/1w), master volume, full tone stack, external speaker output, and, unusual at this price, an FX loop. Celestion 12 in. speaker, which I've swapped for an Emminence Cannabis Rex. Sounds kinda like a Blues Jr./AC15 hybrid. For $200 or under, (MP is almost constatntly offering 15-20% off) it's really a gem of an amp!
Stage Right also makes a 30 watt amp for 399$ that is INSANE for the price point. They also make a 10 watt amp too I think
didn't expect the comedy levels to be so high.
We strive to entertain our audience, K :)
4:10 - One advantage of the white covering: it will disguise the white ceiling-paint spots! ;)
Yes, indeed :)
I saw in the Fender catalog, that the Champs dimensions are 1 Jack wide, 1 Jack high and half a Jack deep.
Did they count the tail? :):)
Is that a 1/4 inch jack or a 2.5mm jack?
Yes :)
Its a Blackjack!
Where ???? I don't see him :)
This looks like an awesome little rig for the money, i think i'll get one on payday. There are a couple things that i dont think were covered. The champ's speaker is broke-in and the stage right is not. It is obvious to my ear, gig that cone a few times and the bass will come out more. I don't know how long that uncle doug preheaded the tubes, but i do know that my tube amp needs to be turned on for at least 30 min before the tubes get creamy. The things that I really want to know about this amp that were not covered in this video or the other two that i have watched. What does it sound like dimed? Does it catch fire and explode? Does it sound like like it does at 50%? (I bet it doesn't) Will it produce a good clean tone? Is the break-up knee gradual or abrupt? I like to play on the dynamic edge where i can control the tone and overdrive with my right hand's attack. Other than that great video keep'em coming!
You're right about the speaker not being broken in, Travis, and about it sounding at 10 pretty much like it sounds at 5, with the original tube set and no modifications. It can produce nice clean tones at lower volume, or with the 1W button pushed in. Thanks !!!
The white is actually a pretty good idea long-term. The paint splotches won't show as much, when we look at the amp in 20-30 years ;-)
Excellent point, Joachim. I wish I had thought of it :)
EXACTLY what I was thinking
That was going through my head, too. Hopefully, black won’t become a fashion colour for guitar playing home renovators, and the StageRight amp aesthetics will stay safe.
Amen, Cass. Black ceilings must be banned.
Ohh, man. I was given an early 70's Acoustic Amplified Parts model 150. The owner, who does not play guitar, bought it new but never played it. He also bought a Fender Tele with it. He wants to sell them now after hauling them around with him all these years. He asked me if I could do it for him. Man, talk about paint splatter! It took me about two weeks to scrub that tolex clean. I had to pull the chassis out of the head cab to clean that. Plus a 4x12 rolling cab and the guitars original HSC. I used Murphy's oil soap and an assortment of cleaning brushes. Section by section. Then toothpicks to dig the last flakes out. Two friggin' weeks!
It took less than two hours to re-string, set up and polish the guitar.
Im betting the stage right can match the Champ with NOS tubes, break in the speaker and roll off the treble a bit on the tone control. Great video. Something about an old 5f1 though that cant be beat.
I just purchased one of these L'il Beats for $111 delivered to my door. Do you think that replacing the tubes with Mullard tubes would make any discernible difference in the tone? Thanks for your work and review.
Viewers have made all sorts of recommendations for improvement of the tone, Michael. My advice is to listen to the amp, determine if any issues exist (in your personal opinion) and then address them. You may be quite happy with the amp as-is.
".....and Jack; playing the role of Schrödinger's Cat". As to the SR Amp... it's $100. I heard one driving 2-10" vintage Utah Alnico's & was quite impressed
Uncle Doug, you are Hilarious! Love your channel and all your guitar amp wisdom. Keep it going
Thanks, Scott. We will :)
I picked one up these up recently and felt it benefitted a lot from replacing the 12ax7 with a 12at7 to add more clean head more and a bit more low end over all. It really shines through a 12" cab though.
Thanks for the helpful input, Mike.
Pine jointed cabinet, jensen speaker matched for 5w makes Champ the champ
Thanks for your nice comparision! This was a eye opening experience . I think the speaker makes the biggest difference for the silverface to sound better to my ears, but for 99$ plus a extra speaker that would do nicely. I actually have a couple of old P12Q Jensens (25w) in a Bell&Howell case to which that amp unit would fix nicely! Wonder if I get that in Europe!
A speaker cabinet containing two 12" Jensen Alnico speakers would make just about any amp, including the Stage Right, sound great :)
@@UncleDoug well as a matter of a fact: I have three, one solo and two inone cab!!!
@@JuusoHoo Sounds like a win....win to me, JH.
I know nothing about amp construction - nor do I even really wish to learn - yet I'm sure I'm not alone in finding Uncle Doug's videos enormously entertaining.
Thank so much, CD.
For 200$ the 15W 12" SR combo is pretty sweet for the price point...
I would say that it was quite a bargain, John.
I'd love comparison where each amp was played through the same speaker. And I build amps myself, and there is no way in hell I could build a champ clone for $100 even using the cheapest parts. I'm thinking about getting one as a modding platform as I have some vintage Shoemacher output transformers I'd like to try out.
Amen, GR. The parts alone are worth more than $99.....especially the cabinet and speaker. It would be a great basis for modification.
Genius
There’s a boutique company in Colorado that take the StageRight, do some mods and rewiring, replace the tubes and the speaker with a Weber Signature, and sell it as a “Stage5”, an amp for Blues Harmonicists. They do charge more than $99 for their modded version, duh. And I have one. It is one badass toned, amazingly loud tiny amp. It is certainly the best amp for harmonica for under $300.
Thanks for the informative input, Mitchel.
Fun comparison. Surpeisingly good little amp. Really like those Fender tones though. Can't go wrong with a $99 tube amp whose speaker alone would set you back for more!
Thanks, David. I agree :)
The little amp sounds good to me but it is a little harsh...Still would like one for practice...The little Champ has a fuller tone
Always love your videos too....Miss seeing Rusty too...
Thanks, James. The tone can be adjusted and the harshness will subside after the speaker is broken in.
Well, as a drummer who has played behind many amps of varying vintage, but probably doesnt have the quite same ear for amp comparisons, as I do for the somewhat subtle variations in drums ... I was impressed by the little Stage Right, and by the thoroughness of your video.
A question occurs though (or perhaps more) ... why set the Stage Right volume at 5, and the Champ on 4?
And secondly, I would have been interested to hear the Stage Right at the 1Watt input setting, in comparison to the Champ ... as the Champ seemed brighter with more clarity with not so quick a break to distortion as the Stage Right at the 5Watt setting and was wondering if that change in input might have equalized their respective tone?
Thanks so much Ohm. As I recall, the settings were required to equalize the volume between the two amps. I should have included a demo of the 1W setting......although it really was considerably "weaker" than the 5W and probably would have simply given more people reason to insult the little guy.
I remember reading elsewhere that the 5W Stage Right is a clone of a 5W Laney Cub. Could that be the case?
Yes, several viewers have stated that it is.
Hands down, The Fender Champ all the way... Although, I'm probably biased (properly biased) as I've had a '67 blackfaced VibroChamp for 50 years, & a silverfaced Champ for 42 years... NOTHING is gonna replace Mr. Fender's little darling's... Great amps!
I replaced the Celestion with a Jenson and that got it a bit closer to sounding like a tweed Champ. It takes pedals well and for playing quietly in a practice situation it is a really decent little amp.
Thank you for your input, Stephanie.
I've got the larger amp. The 15watt 112. It's a little beast. Got online at Walmart for $165.
Uncle Doug could you do a review on one of these?
I may, if I ever get my hands on one, Donald.
Uncle Doug i had one of the 15 watters too. Sounded just great for the $150 i paid - when it worked - random pops now and then, and twice crapped out into a loud buzz before working fine days later.
@@sc3ku I guess bargains can get a little temperamental from time to time, JM.
Uncle Doug please try some name brand tubes in the Stage Right the Chinese no name tubes sound micro-phonic to me. That's how Stage Right may have cheapened out the cost.
It's the same exact tubes that's in my 15 watt version and I assure you they're not microphonic you can tap on the tube with a pencil and there is no noise whatsoever. The amps from Monoprice actually sound a lot better in person versus over RUclips with all the compression not to mention Uncle Doug is just recording with the camcorder microphone
You have bad hearing and can't hear the high frequency noise it's there on both models. The 15 watt has EL84 power tubes
@@jamesschroeder3313 do you own both amps? I do and there is nothing noisy about them granted maybe the one that Uncle Doug has has one bad tube but as a whole for Chinese tubes they actually work quite well I did not insult you no reason for you to say I have bad hearing good day sir
Yes I have the 15 watt model. Yes I'm referring to Doug's unit
A Tung Sol and JJ would do it wonders. Hell! You could even go on the cheap and toss some Sovtek/Ehx's in it and I'm sure it would be better. I threw some Sovteks in my Peavey Ranger combo, and it was a vast improvement over the shit Ruby's it came with. I'm betting those SR tubes are from the Ruby factory.
So, I being retired and on a very tight budget I can only afford cash for Chinese items, exactly as I had predicted. I just received this same Monoprice Stage Right 5 watt amp x 8" speaker yesterday and I like it a lot. I paid only $119 + Tax for it new from Monoprice! It has a kind of tremolo sound too it. Also I can run it through the same (2) Marshall 412 16ohm speaker cabs as the 15 watt version which I paid only $129 for in the Fall of 2017. A Full Stack Total 8 ohms. I now have a living room filled with nice tube amp tones for $119 plus tax for the 5 watt version.
At age 71 I have discovered that I prefer 5 watt tube amps over all else. I now have 5 of them from different Mfr's.
I will say that the Monoprice Stage Right 5watt x 8" speaker is a nice small tube amp to set up at night in our bedroom and hear natural tube tone as I play. Then in the morning I can carry it out and set it up in my living room /studio and hear tube tones all day long. I have come to respect and appreciate these small tube amps. The Monoprice Stage Right 15 watt x 12" speaker at $129 + tax in 2017 was and is by far the best deal in tube amps in my entire life!
Thanks for sharing this with us, PD.
@@UncleDoug Uncle Doug, Someone yesterday-somewhere on RUclips said you maybe having health issues. I am hoping that he was mistaken. I see that you are still teaching here on the RUclips so that is a sign that all is well. As is the fact that you responded to the post that I made yesterday. You are more of a "motorhead than I am. I do like motors, especially motorcycle motors, but I'm best at racing illegally on the street in a Grand Pre -Road race kind of style using off the shelf American made cars such as the Ford Mustang GT. 145 mph is enough to get the job done against anything from anywhere else. Good enough handling and good enough breaking also contributes. I'm 71 now and no longer street race at all. I loved racing my motorcycle against every motorcycle in the world on the streets of Long Island on my 1976 T140V Triumph Bonneville. Handling allowed her to win every race from 1977 until retired at 1992. Having 744 cc's and twin carbs with short factory velocity stack put her in the game. The factory BSA designed 4020 chromoly frame contributed to a stiff chassis and 397 stock weight w/o fuel but all other fluids (@365 lbs. without the huge exhaust cannisters) really helped the handling. As did a 56" wheelbase and a 29Deg rake on the front forks. Nimble like a small machine, powerful like a big machine and that's the path to winning. She never blew up and she never lost. She was still winning in 1992 against 1100cc fuel injected transvers 4 cylinder machines and that was really a vindication for her design. By that time she was clapped out but still handled well so the races all went in her favor. She sits outside even now under a canopy waiting for me to kick her over.
P.S. I enjoyed racing more than engineering, and I enjoyed engineering/designing more than I do painting and playing violin and electric guitars and tube amps. Anyway UD I am hoping that you are well and healthy! - Sincerely PeterDaddy60 / PD
@@PeterDad60 It's strange how these rumors persist.....maybe they're just wishful thinking from the slimeballs who give my videos a thumbs down ;)
@@UncleDoug Thanks for clearing that up! I respect you and we share many hobbies. BTW, 12/31/21 New years Eve I ordered my second Stage Right 5 watt x 8" speaker for $119.99 + Tax. They are good amps and are very affordable. Now I can run each amp at 16 ohms separately into my two Marshall Origin 412Aand 412B 16 ohm cabs. So mow I can run 5 watts at 8ohms and 2 x 5 watts at 16 ohms each = 10 watts of 6V6 power tubes through this Full Stack.
BTW I purchased a new $1,000 Fender EC Vibro-Champ 6V6 with tube tremolo, 12AX7 Preamp tube and a tube Rectifier in December 2017 as well as an "8 Weber speaker and the Stage Right sounds just as good and is so much easier to connect an external speaker cab too!
Your break down and informed, educated analysis is what convinced me to purchase the Monoprice Stage Right tube amps in the first place. You convinced me that they are indeed quality tube amplifiers. At these prices I could not resist over indulging myself as I love tube amps.
Do I feel guilty about funding the Chinese CCCP? Yes? I shall endeavor to never spend any more of my money in any of their products as in my heart I am convinced that the Chinese people are believing that they are the only pure humans on the planet and that it's their right to rule over the rest of us human beings. I don't wish that on my children. - Peter age 71
P.S. Happy New year Doug and many, many more! - Peter
@@PeterDad60 Thanks, PD. Happy New Year to you all.
Is that you playing in the drone video? I love it! It has a curious, almost west African vibe. And tone to die for.
Wow.....thanks so much, AO. Yes, it's me playing a tune that I made up while listening to the backing track. So glad you liked it :)
As far as what I hear in this video goes, to me the Champ doesn't sound better so much as different. If they were channels on an amp I'd like them both, but I also can't help but think that in person, the Champ would sound way better.
Good video. I would change the tubes to NOS, like GE. Those Chinese tubes are worth about 2¢. Ratty, thin sounding. With good tubes and speaker break in, would probably have a much better sound. How do I know this? 😊.
I agree, Peter, there are all sorts of mods that can improve the SR amp......but that's up to the owner. I chose to report on the amp as-sold.
How would the Stage Right amp sound through a 12" speaker cabinet? Great video Doug!
Much better I would wager. Thanks !!!!
I came to this video as a modern tech snob thinking the new amp would totally outclass the vintage one.. holy crap my mind is changed the fender sounded 1000 times better in my opinion. So much more bottom end. I also didn’t like how out of control the stage rights break up was.
My uncle's name was Doug also. From my altec Lansing speakers the champ sounds fuller but for the cost it sounds good enough for practicing with.
I agree, Matthew. The Stage Right amp definitely has a valid purpose for those with limited funds
Yes, the Champ won hands down! 😊 Appreciated!
If you like harsh brittle and nasty then the cheap Chinese amp wins. The champ is legendary for a reason. Steve.
Got mine for 20% off! With speaker out and 5or1W, I love it. Just right for my dorm room.
That's good to hear, JD. I hope you continue to enjoy it.
Absolutely the Champ is much better sound 🤘
Not a bad little amp. No It's not a fender, But it never was to begin with :-) Fender is a one-of-a-kind sound that cannot be duplicated 100%!
06.00 I think you are right about the price. I bought a Harley-Benton GA5 on the Thomann website and I'm convinced I could not have sourced the components for the price, let alone pay someone to build it and then ship it half-way round the world. GA5 is like an Epiphone Valve Junior, it has the same valves ECC83 and EL84, but it also has some kind of tone control. I've been told the Epi VJ doesn't have a -ve feedback loop but the GA5 does, which is where the tone control sits. Some people say the 8" speaker is boxy on both but I like the way these amplifiers make you sound like the guys on old style electric blues records. My amps are also made in China. I concluded that the lower echelons of Chinese society must be paying their employers to let them work in the factories. You are also right about Celestion: the company does its R&D near Ipswich, but mass production is done in China. Best Regards, Phil
Thanks so much for your informative input, Phil.
The Champ is the clear winner but having said that the SR sounded much better through the shop speaker so.. also I have the 15 watt version of this amp and at first it was pretty toppy as well but the more you play it the more it mellows out I don't know maybe the tubes or the speaker breaking in? But yes the Champ wins although the weak bottom end could be in the tone stack as well, a couple of component changes and it might just wake right up! For 99$ if you wanted to do a scratch build it would be almost worth it to gut the PC board and start over. The case and speaker and various components are worth that.
Great value for $99 but The Champ sounds SO much better.
That Hum adjust little pot in there... I guess it adjust something if the amp hums too much? How to safely adjust it? I never opened an amp before. And would not without making sure it is safe. Also, is there a way to make the tone remove more of the high end? On a guitar an easy tone cap change... But on this amp? Thanks Uncle Doug!
You simply adjust the pot to the point where hum is minimized.....very carefully. The simplest way to reduce treble would be with the tone control knob(s) on the amp.
Thank you
Fender just sounds so rich by comparison, but buyer will make up their own mind
Mr E I don't think it sounds richer it sounded muddled, stageright is a bit on the Brightside if they turn the tone control further down would have been better and giving it more of a warmer feeling I think there was some microphonics from the tubes as well
Thanks for your input, fellows :)
the bats from The View...I laughed and laughed...
What a lovely group they are ;)
Well done . What’s your opinion on the Supro delta king 10 . I’m stuck on that amp or the Vox ac10 .
If it's one of the new Supro's, I have no experience with it, T......but I'll bet that it's a wonderful amp.
Nice in-depth review Uncle Doug - thanks! I am quite sure that the SR will sound quite different after some hours of playing on that driver.
Also - Monoprice has long been is one of my favorite suppliers for hi-fi and instrument and speaker cables, etc., and I am very pleased to see their new hardware done to the same high quality.
They can offer such quality at a great price because THEY are the manufacturer, selling direct. No additional importer, distributor or retailer. And they are doing a great job!
Thanks for your nice comments and info, Jon :)
Of course the champ sounds way way way better but i didnt expect any less
How does the Blackface Twin Reverb reissue tube amp with the printed board, stack up against the original Blackface. ...you thoughts?🤷💰
I have no idea. Ben, I avoid modern reissue amps, with PCB's and SS components, like the plague.
Fender champ sounds musical but the SR amp sounds nasty
no comprison, champ ten times better...
Thanks, Tony.
yep
Brake in the stage right speaker first or use external cab to be fair, I have this SR amp and it comes alive when hooked to a 112 cab, I have the 15W stage right also and I love it
Tim Russell but do you have a Champ ?
@@josephtomasello3112 I don't have a champ, my other amps are Marshall dsl40, line6 and crate acoustic amp
UD, I have been thinking for awhile about how much speaker parameters affect volume. Sure, we know some speakers just sound bad by design, size, etc. but how do these things affect the volume? Your 2-3 watt amp designs sound fairly loud. I don't suppose they could really stand up to a Fender Super Reverb's 180 watts but how far off are some of these designs by dB rating?
Speakers have strict power limitations, William. Generally you will want a speaker with at least double the power rating of the amp driving it. Failure to observe the limitations of the speaker will result in destruction of the voice coil. As far as loudness, the more air you can move, the better, so 4 x 10" speakers will portray more volume and absorb more power than a single 12" speaker.
Must...resist...urge...to buy one.
And then, shotgun the PCB and wire it PTP. 😁
Lol exactly!! Looks like a nice project amp.
Make a video of the shotgunning, Dan, like my sledgehammer job on the Motorola modem. I agree, it could be a great beginning for a real nice amp.
Uncle Doug, thats sounds like a plan!
Oh, any idea on the V+ on these plates? It kinda sounded crispy to me, like it was starved for voltage...could of been the tubes as well I guess. BTW, your Champ is fantastic.
It uses the same mains transformer as the Cub 10, a Ventech 6094, so the 6V6 will be seeing around 300V.Some of the crispiness is the speaker being a rigid thing that needs ragging for a few hours ( all Chinese Celestions are the same in my experience )Some will be down to the 12AX7 used. Those Shuguang always sound brittle to me and a JJ/Tung-Sol/Sovtek/E-H calms things down.Some will be down to the tonestack. The Cub ( donor amp ) was a bright, almost harsh thing until the tone was wound down to around 10'O'Clock on the dial.It also has a 12AX7 in V1. A 12AY7 or 5751 warms up a Champ-a-like no end.
VintageSG Thanks for the info.