Monoprice Stage Right 5 Watt Tube Amp Review

This is an in depth review of the Monoprice Stage Right 5 Watt Tube amp. You can buy one (while they're still cheap!) here: amzn.to/2LmgXmA
#monoprice5watt #smalltubeamp #classicrock #tubeampreview

[@BRANDONMUNROMUSIC]

Just bought one and love it . Going to sell my blues junior now

[@rfdsrd]

The bad news = horrible shrill tone when fed with single coil Tele or Strat to my old ears, but the build quality was overall pretty good (bought 2023). The Celestion "Super 8" speaker is the prime culprit for crappy tone as it severely lacks in bass response and thus the tone control is exceedingly treble shrill unless turned off/down fully counter clockwise (killing some treble, but not enuf). The good news = replaced the speaker for a Celestion 8/15 ($45) and retubed with JJ 6V6 & 12AX7 ($26), swapped the 100uf/450v filter cap with a 22uf/450v cap for $3 (the cap change duplicates most Fender small single ended amps) and holy moly, single coil tone heaven! The difference with these mods is nothing short of *Amazing* - no BS, no hype, no shilling - promise!

[@DerpRulesAll]

This amp has a low frequency filter on the '5w' setting, so it wouldn't have a 'muddy' overdriven sound. I personally don't think that was a good idea.

[@t0dd707]

The 8" Celestion sounds horrid at first, but it starts sounding truly great with a minimal amount of speaker break-in. This circuit is a dead ringer for my old sliver faced champ.

[@dannops]

Upgraded to a Tung-Sol 6V6GT, JJ T-12AX7-S-JJ and a Jensen C8R8. I have no complaints. Can play at the highest volume with tone at 12 o'clock. In total, spent around $175.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@DarthEcoli]

Dan Smith I was looking for an affordable 5-15 watt amp and ended up with a Gretsch Electromatic G5222. Same thing as a Fender Champ 600 reissue, and pretty close to these monoprice 5 watt amps. I'd love to do the very same tube and speaker array you've done, and replace that hideously thick grill cloth.

[@dannops]

@@DarthEcoli Picked up an G5222 myself. Plan on putting in a Tung-Sol 6V6GT and 12AX7 along with an Eminence 620H speaker. Thanks for the advice. The Gretsch is the perfect bedroom amp:) Also plan on swapping the grill cloth with some Mojotone Fender Oxblood with Gold Stripe Grill Cloth. Total cost for everything was around $200.

[@craigparse1439]

I have one of these and it makes a GREAT bedroom / practice amp! You have to cut the tone to almost nothing... but when you do that, it sounds nice. It's worth the price.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Definitely worth the price! Thanks for watching!

[@popwarner1526]

@@ClassicGuitarRockJFL I just ordered one from Monoprice site. 114.00 Bucks

[@diordior5219]

@@popwarner1526 how is it so far?

[@davidlalremruata]

At last, a review without a mic in front. Thanks.

[@michelberube458]

Great Demo, Now I want one, I will do it today! Really Fenderish with a Reverb, Country Like without Reverb. I Love 6V6 too! Thank you!

[@Xxmeca421xX]

I had to return two of them straight from monoprice when they were 99 bucks. the third one came with a rattling pre amp tube so I put a JJ ecc83s and it finally sounds decent. The price went up about 30 bucks and I learned it just a Laney Cub clone.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Remi yep there are some quality issues occasionally.... but at less than half the price of the Laney Cub... still a good deal.

[@neilkorsgaard]

"Jessie is a friend ... Used to be a good friend of mine" 😆

[@ianmeadows956]

But lately something's changed it ain't hard to defind Jessie's got himself a girl and I wanna make her mine

[@wms7004]

I LOOOOOVE that youre showing people EXPENSIVE = ZERO!!! I play a 2013 squier bullet $99 (I did change the bridge, $29 bucks used) and a used $140 fender champ 600. 3 Behringer pedals...bought 3 for $40 (vintage tube overdrive, Reverb, and Distortion). $300 gets me better tone than $1,000 rig.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Bill Seling thats awesome! Us guitarists are lucky that there are decent playable guitars and amps around that don’t cost an atm and a leg! I have an entire pedal board filled with behringer pedals and they sound great! Thanks for watching!

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

no,$300 doesn't get you $1000 worth of "good" tone but if you keep telling yourself that it still will not be true. squier bullets sound like ABSOLUTE ASS unless you gut ALL the electronics out (so new pots,new switch,new pickups,new input jack), throw the tuners away (they are absolute fucking garbage)and get a better bridge and block,then dress the frets and while you are at it get a non-basswood body because the first time you tighten any stews they definitely WILL STRIP OUT. SO bullet strat $100 new tuners $80 new bridge $75 new electronics $150+ new body $100 you are over the price of a used classic vibe that's easily 5 times the guitar a bullet strat is, and after spending all this money you still have a shitty bullet with good parts. look up diminishing returns and grasp the concept ,its better to spend a little more to get A LOT MORE IN RETURN.......... bullet strats are $25-$50 in my area for good reason-they suck

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 yep you're right.... if you don't have thousands of dollars for gear you may as well give up.... it's hopeless..... lol - Obviously, you can spend more money and get better gear.... but it's absolutely false that you can't get a good sound with less expensive stuff....

[@witetylr]

@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 u mad?

[@dnipllr4057]

Thanks. A comparison with the joyo jta 05 sweet baby 5 watt would be great!

[@manuelturiel866]

I had both, although I currently have the Harley Benton version which is actually the same amp as the Monoprice and for me it is better than the Joyo, first reason. The Joyo only has volume control and the quality of the speaker is also better than the 5 from Harley Benton or Monoprice, and it also supports the pedals better than the Joyo and the construction is more robust. For me, that comparison is won by the Tube 5 from Harley Benton or Monoprice. It's my opinion and that's all I can tell you, I hope it helps you. All the best

[@truthfinder4973]

i got a Alamo 1960s amp free the other day it had only tone and Volume and tremolo channel i was like it be hard t get a dirty sound i was so wrong got 5 1/2 to 6 it start to kick in it also got 6v6 tubes it sounded nice

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Truth Finder I had an old Alamo head for $20 bucks at a yard sale about 20 years ago.... to be honest, it scared me... it made a lot of crackling and popping and I thought I was gonna get electrocuted! 😳🤣

[@truthfinder4973]

@@ClassicGuitarRockJFL lol it can shock .this one did pop sounds at first to!!!!!! but it just the amp pods need clean or change i got it home just tap by the tone where it made that pop sound it clear it. Butt im take it to the pros have them putt new tubes in and putt in all new pod,s and wire a up date Power Supply with 3 prongs, this only got 2 and the last part im see if a cpu fan can be add to it some how to keep it cool when on.

[@patrickrobinson2520]

I just ordered one today. I paid 134$ for it. That's very close to the going price about everywhere right now. That includes shipping. I didn't see that monoprice offered free shipping as it was 20$ cheaper there. Maybe you can tell me if shipping is free at monoprice. I really want to know how it sounds in 1 watt mode. Does is break up quickly? Or rather, how does it perform in 1 watt mode?

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

That's still a great deal! It sounds good in 1-watt mode. To be honest, the only thing I really notice is it's not as loud.

[@fredrodnick2881]

Sounds really decent. I like the sound better than the 15 watt one and I've seen several KZbin videos on them. The 15 watt one sounds too much like a marshall for me ,but you may like that better and disagree with me. The small one seems to have the old fashioned rock sound that I like.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

This amplifier is the old tweed fender 5F1 champ circuit. The bigger 15 watts brother has a Marshall jcm800 preamp with one small mod. So you’re correct in your assessment of it sounding like a Marshall.

[@michaeljustice124]

That thing would sound killer with some spring reverb. I might have to breakdown and get me one!

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

You know, for the price, you really can't beat it. Thanks for watching!

[@southernpride2003]

​@@ClassicGuitarRockJFL I'm 21 I play country rockabilly and bluegrass and blues Me and my grandpa Upgraded my amp we put a Silvertone 6v6 in and we put a Jensen P8R 25w 8 inch speaker in the amp sounds much better now I get no distortion at all which is great for me cause I prefer clean my amp now sounds like an actual 50s Fender tweed 2 knob amp

[@edrowley1]

Thanks for your review, I appreciate your thoughts. Never thought of adding a reverb pedal, but it does sound nice. I have one of these amps also, and I like it. It's fun, it has a jack for plugging into another cabinet (I've plugged into a single celestion 12" and it just gets better). King regards and Classic Guitar Rock ON!

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

edrowley1 thanks so much for watching! My brother borrowed this guy and I haven’t seen it for months! Lol

[@jefflarosa3023]

Hi there, thanks for the demo. How much headroom does this 5 W have ? Thanks

[@b.j.thomas3264]

what are your thoughts on this amp's possible longevity and reliability? i'm inept at anything past changing strings. also, my wife works from home and i'm restricted on volume most of the time. how hard and loud do you have to push this amp to get the tube growl? thanks! great video and love the picking! if it had a headphone jack I would have already ordered!

[@MattWhatsGoinOn]

Well done video - great job on the audio - simple amp, straightforward guitars, and it’s one of the best quality sounds I’ve heard on YT - and I’ve listened to a lot of the fancy-shmancy stuff.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Hi Matt! Thanks for watching! It really is a great little amp!

[@nicholasvitaris]

the triverb is awesome. I use it in my marshall's effects loop. always on.

[@DarthEcoli]

Glad you added a verb pedal to the mix. Was chomping to hear this thing with some reverb. It's killing me that at higher volumes it breaks up that much without boost or overdrive. Also, did you seriously go Bryan Adams on us? :P

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Well... I was trying to go Bryan Adams.... lol! Thanks for watching Paul!

[@tbone2451]

It’s a great little amp !!

[@southernpride2003]

Me and my grandpa Upgraded my amp we put a Silvertone 6v6 in and we put a Jensen P8R 25w 8 inch speaker in the amp sounds much better now I get no distortion at all which is great for me cause I prefer clean my amp now sounds like an actual 50s Fender tweed 2 knob amp

[@faunaflage]

Really good review.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Thanks for watching!

[@jimcatanzaro7808]

You can also get a adapter and put in a el84 in or 7189

[@mojoefelix]

How does it do “edge of breakup”?

[@tonyb.7158]

I knew that was Jesse's girl when you did the test at first lol. Great demo

[@bigdog3897]

Will you make a video of how it handles dirt?

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Christopher McCarthy absolutely I’m gonna post a few more. I plugged in my pedalboard today and LOVED it! Thanks for watching!

[@DarthEcoli]

Christopher McCarthy Check out Fluff's video for the cheapest monoprice amp with the cheapest everything turned all the way up. It's kind of unfair, but it's got dirt. LOL

[@juana1483]

Wow, I didn't mind a little glue missing At All. Just fix it quickly. I got my monoprice 5 watt on sale for $89. Who else in the world can offer you a deal ike this??? Every one says the best mod for a tube amp is to upgrade the speaker??? Would you change the speaker??? If so, to what???

[@stephenbunton2159]

I upgraded the speaker. I have a few different 8" speakers, I have vintage alnico speakers and a few ceramic ones and a Jensen c8r, I usually keep the Jensen or a cts alnico speaker in it, I also modified the negative feedback loop from a 33k resistor to a 50k pot and a 10k resistor inline so I can get more headroom with it turned all the way down or WAY more gain with it up, I have a 1958 sylvania smoke glass black plate 6v6gt which sounds the best to me out of all my vintage 6v6 tubes which include a rca smoke glass black plate 6v6gt and a 1959 sylvania long grey plate 12ax7 and it sounds awesome

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

I personally really like the Jensen Mod 8" and of course you can't go wrong with a Weber or WGS. But I'm happy with the little Chinese Celestion that's in it. Thanks for watching!

[@tatialo37]

I have one of these and I'm breaking in the celestion by turning up loud!!! I might put in a wgs to see how it sounds!!!

[@gmg_8666]

can a mesa rectifier tube be put in this?

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

hmmmm - that's a question for somebody smarter than me! LOL! Thanks for watching!

[@matthewfrance3173]

You cannot put a rectifier tube in an amp that has a solid state rectifier. This amp does not have a tube rectifier. A rectifier (tube or solid state) is part of the power supply, is not in the signal path and does not affect sound. From wiki: A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC), to direct current (DC).

[@johnp6269]

I have both, at price point it can't be beat both mine came with un marked tubes I don't think they are jjs I put it electro harmonix tubes in sounds great.

[@joewalsh8217]

Did you ever get around to plugging it into a 1-12 or 2-12 id love to hear how it sounds

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Hi Joe Walsh! I haven't yet. But I will! Thanks for watching!

[@joewalsh8217]

@@ClassicGuitarRockJFL after watching your video and some other demos I decided to get the amp also! Then browsing my local pawn shop I came across a 4-12 marshall cab in fully working order for $85 out the door! It really makes this amp sing! I look forward to hearing your upcoming demos!

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

@@joewalsh8217 Sweet! I bet this thing will sound massive.

[@ThisIsDavesGarage]

@@joewalsh8217 that sounds great. You should post a video of how it performs.

[@sonicliberation]

Can a 10" speaker fit in the cab?

[@indigos290]

Can someone please tell me why they didn't configure the Amp to play both the internal speaker and the ext cable out at the same time? Mine shuts of the internal speaker when connected. What's the harm in setting it up to do both?

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Indigo Serenade thats a common complaint... probably has something to do with the impedance changing when you run two speakers...

[@indigos290]

@@ClassicGuitarRockJFL okay. Yeah I've seen that. The speaker is 8 ohms.

[@JeffLearman]

That's nearly always how they work because if you plug two 8 ohm speakers in parallel you get 4 ohms and that can overload the amp by drawing too much current. If you put two 8-ohm speakers in series you get 16 ohms, which will sound anemic. Really the best choice is to disable the internal speaker.

[@indigos290]

My Hot Rod deluxe has extension out. So I can use both at the same time.

[@JeffLearman]

@@indigos290 Interesting. Neither my HDR nor my Blues Deluxe had that. I'm fairly sure about the HRD but certain about the BD because (before I learned it could be harmful) I often put an unconnected plug in the speaker out to silence it, while using the preamp out to my DAW. (Oddly you could still hear the sound but very faintly. I never figured out what that was about.) But those amps were from 20 years ago. It's a great feature!

[@brasilprasempre6898]

Is that squire bullet?

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Yep!

[@stephenbunton2159]

One thing that helps with break up is turning the tone all the way up and it just pushes it a little harder. I have both of these amps and love them. The only thing I did to the 15 watt is swap the tubes to mullard el84's and a sovtek long plate 12ax7 in v1 a jj 12at7 in v2 and mullard 12ax7 in v3. The 5 watt I have a Jensen c8r in it, 1958 sylvania smoke glass black plate 6v6gt and a 1959 sylvania long grey plate 12ax7 and I modified the negative feedback loop from a 33k resistor to a 50k pot and a 10k resistor inline and I can get more headroom if I turn it all the way down and get more gain with it all the way up. Awesome amps

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

I've heard swapping out for some better tubes will make a big difference - but to be honest I'm pretty happy with how it sounds. I'm sure I'll experiment down the road. Thanks for watching!

[@sboistan]

how do you like it compared to your champ??

[@notto86]

Thank you for the review. This is EXACTLY the kind of amplifier I'm looking for. Simple, no BS frills, small tube amp. (I don't need effects -- I've got effects pedals that sound better -- you know?) I've got Monoprice monitors for recording, and they're pretty damn good. So I trust Monoprice.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

I've been real happy with my two Monoprice amps! Thanks for watching Nick!

[@MartinBryan]

Bummer you had issues with it. Sounds great though and nice playing.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Hey Martin! Yep I’m gonna get a replacement but even with the rattle I talked about in the update video I still like it. It’s seriously a no brainer. Everyone should have one of these IMO!

[@MartinBryan]

Classic Guitar Rock 😀. Let me know if you’d ever be up for a collaboration/cross promotion!

[@minibikegarage1577]

@@MartinBryan remember me?

[@MartinBryan]

Jesse Mason email me...

[@Home-m3u]

2024 update?

[@w.c.fields7355]

CGR How did you add a little reverb ?

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

I'm using a Baby Boom reverb pedal - I know.... it's cheating LOL! Thanks for watching!

[@Jwstllc]

@@ClassicGuitarRockJFL I swear I thought i heard you say you were using the tri-verb but I dont think you did. It's what I use, I can hear it. Not a bad little pedal but it only sounds natural on the lowest settings.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

@@Jwstllc It's the Baby Boom Tri-Verb.... and in one of my vids I complain about it crapping out on me.... but I got a new power supply for my board and I don't have any problems any more! It really is a great little pedal.... now that I'm giving it good power!

[@russianbot2397]

The 15w is a blues junior clone. Same tubes, and same size speaker, and the 5w seems to be a fender champion 600 clone

[@VintageSG]

The 15W is a Laney Cub 12r with a spring unit in place of the Laney digital reverb. The 5W is the Laney Cub 8, which is basically a 5F1 Champ with a tone control ( sort of 5F2a ) crossed with a Champ 600 ( solid state rectifier ).The Laney and Monoprice both use identical Ventech transformers. The earlier 'TV' front models were, for all intents and purposes, the Laney with a different covering. The PCBs were identical down to component numbering.

[@russianbot2397]

@@VintageSG Thanks man. I wanted to get myself the 15w for Christmas but it's not happening. Not unless i overpay 50 dollars and get it off Amazon because as soon as they hit Monoprice, they're gone in minutes. They were expecting thrm in on 22/18/18, logged on to get it, now ETA is 22/23. I guess I'll have to wait until after Christmas. Merry Christmas btw. Edit: just logged on again, now the ETA is 12/26. I bet Amazon keeps buying them all.

[@rangerdoc1029]

Not even close. The preamp stages in the BluesJr are biased neutrally so it will give fairly symmetrical overdrive. The Monoprice is a copy of the JCM preamp with a cold clipper for asymmetrical distortion. Very different preamps.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

@@VintageSG Yep that's my understanding... Thanks for watching!

[@DarthEcoli]

@@russianbot2397 The 5 watt is pretty damned close to the Champ 600/Gretsch G5222. I have the latter and they sound pretty similar and same tube set up. Honestly, the Chinese Celestion is probably better than the speaker they put in the Champs and Gretschs though.

[@superweak]

Nice Bryan Adams riff

[@mitchelevans9914]

Bruce Collins and Rick Davis at Memphis Amps modded this amp, and call it a Stage5 amp. They replaced the tubes, circuitry and speaker, and created a Monster Amp out of the decent Stage Right.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

replacing the tubes, circuitry and speaker is quite a mod! But it is a great platform to begin with. Thanks for watching!

[@dustyandsneezing]

It has a nice tone for the price. Nice playing too man

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Hey Ocelot! Thanks for watching!

[@cigdamagelungs]

Sold!

[@sandyhodson4934]

Looking at $400 to Australia just for the 5watt so it's not 99

[@davidbarlow431]

I guess you could use some of that saved cash on some new strings! 😉

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

David Barlow Lol true!

[@robertkelly1434]

These Monoprice amps appear identical to the Harley Benton 5 and 15 Watt amps sold by Thomann... 🤔🤔🤔

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Probably exactly the same with a different brand slapped on.

[@lasvegasira]

Here's video on how to mod this amp to make it louder and have much better tone: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppqVeoKpq9Jni7c

[@lachimere1]

Good video, but it would be great if you miced it properly for audio.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

You’re right!

[@bobbysaldana1785]

My newest blues Junior(and I’ve had two of em) was 10 times worse. The cover was peeling on top and on the back. I have had nothing but trouble with both boo juniors I’ve had in the past. This amp is 1000 times better. Fender makes the best guitars but they suck balls in the amp department

[@dougmann66]

MAJORCOOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@iamroberty]

I think I painted my walls the same color. Heh.

[@cchan11cc]

Those pickups on that guitar suck but that amp makes them great.

[@renzozagni443]

The one that wins is the Yamaha THR10 on the back

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

LOL - I love that amp! I posted a crappy review of it awhile back - it really doesn't do it justice. I love that little guy! Thanks for watching!

[@renzozagni443]

Classic Guitar Rock great video BTW

[@lymariejohnson391]

And not 99 doll in Australia $300

[@gregshirley-jeffersonboule6258]

"Fendery"? Maybe a hint of tweed, but that's it.

[@ioodyssey3740]

geeeeez! the tolex isn't much worse than that of the Fender BluesJr! for the price - who cares?

[@Jwstllc]

like i needed an excuse to re-cover mine in fur but now i have one!

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

@@Jwstllc You can't beat a fur covered amp.... it makes the amp sound warmer too.... Thanks for watching!

[@bagsgroove21]

speaker is made in england...its clearly written on the magnet...

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

It says Celestion is in England..... but this is manufactured in China for Celestion.... but not a bad speaker.... Thanks for watcing

[@anthonyjames3074]

@@ClassicGuitarRockJFL I believe the corporate hq is in England, but it's mfg. in China.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

@@anthonyjames3074 Yes, that is my understanding. Thanks for watching!

[@edwinmartinez9787]

What you want for 99 bucks

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Right... I'm gonna buy a few more. Thanks for watching!

[@gregperkins7723]

Are you kidding me!? $99 tube amp (that sounds very favorably to a $1200 Champ) and you complain about glue marks??????????????????????

[@kaybhee6]

boxy

[@lymariejohnson391]

What do u expect its made in China. And I can bet your life it will break down in a very short period of time. Just like there great wall cars every thing

[@DougHinVA]

" I gotta say, just to be honest..' is a stupid way to start an amp review.... it sounds like a liar making excuses right at the start.

[@ClassicGuitarRockJFL]

Thanks for watching and thanks for the critique . Please post a link to your channel so I can pick up more pointers!

[@stephenmacdonald912]

Its more like 300 dollars here in canada