If I’ve learned anything over the years of dealing with guitars, it’s that amps are heavy and can sometimes be difficult to use. Not all of the controls are very easy to figure out, after all. That’s where the Monoprice 611705 Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier comes in. As far as small, easy-to-carry, and easy-to-use amps go, this is one of the best practice amps out there. Of course, you’ll need to make sure that your combo amp helps your guitar sound great too.
With the crisp Celestion Super 8 speaker and the low input features, you’ll be able to use a wide range of settings with this combo amp. Any musician would be glad to have the balanced sound that comes out of this tube amp, especially since the tube amp is so small and easy to transport.
Let’s go into more detail about what makes this Monoprice worth getting.
Features of the Monoprice 611705 Combo Amp
What can you expect when you get the Monoprice? First off, it includes an all-tube 5-watt tube amplifier which will provide you with some of those old-school tones that are deep and rich, considering the size of this tube amp.
Not to mention that you also have an 8-inch Celestion speaker Super 8 tube, something which you would normally find only in more expensive amps.
All of this basically means that you’re getting a real bang for your buck when you pick out this speaker, and makes this a great speaker for both experts and beginners to learn on. Of course, if you’re doing some traveling or you just don’t have a lot of space to keep a larger tube amp, this is also a great option to pick up.
Controls
The controls on the Monoprice 611705 guitar amplifier are easy to use, partially because you don’t have a lot of controls to mess with. You only have two knobs that will let you adjust the volume and tone, a power switch, and a 50% input button that will let you adjust for high and low inputs like you would be able to do on bigger tube amps. This is all you need though to get a good vintage experience in the sound.
You also have the option to use a standard input and an attenuated input, so it’s possible to handle multiple instruments or guitars that have hot pickups. You can use this amp at frequencies between 80Hz and 10kHz without a lot of noise.
Specifications
When it comes to the Monoprice 611705, these are the specifications you can expect:
- Celestion Super 8 speaker
- 12AX7 preamp tube
- 6V6GT power tube
- Low and high input signals
- Dimensions of 12 by 12.2 by 8.3 inches
- Rates in at 5-watt tube
- Includes volume, voice, power, and high/low input controls
- Weight of 18.92 pounds
Appearance
The look of your amp might not matter much to you. But if you have it set around in your house, you might like it to match your décor.
This amp features a cabinet with an open back, along with a leather handle that should be easy for you to hold onto when you move it. In terms of coloring, its cream-colored textured synthetic leather with chrome corner guards is extremely stylish. You’ll also notice a cloth speaker grill.
Why Buy the Monoprice Tube Amp?
Price
The Monoprice is generally an affordable amp, which makes it a great option for any guitar player. It’s actually one of the cheapest tube amps that you can buy on the market.
Size
The size of this 5-watt tube amp is one of the most noticeable features. It’s fairly small, making it easy to carry around, and at only a little under 20 pounds, it shouldn’t be an issue for most people to move.
Controls
Ultimately, this 5-watt tube amp is easy to use, making it a great option for those of you who just want to play your music and not deal with bunches of switches and levers. You only have two control knobs, a power switch, and a switch for the input—that’s it. Once you get the hang of it, there’s nothing to it.
Sound Quality
It’s impossible not to notice the sound quality of the Monoprice once you have it plugged in—and this is something most people are surprised about when they start using it. The tone is rich and works well for practice, and it can be cranked up convincingly. It really has a sound to it that makes the sound feel old-school without getting too vintage, making it quite versatile overall.
What are the problems?
Durability
There are issues with any product, and the Monoprice is so exception. One of the biggest issues is the durability. Now, this isn’t to say that this amp isn’t strong or that it won’t work, but that the build isn’t really as solid as you might expect out of a product like this—especially since it’s made to be light and easy to carry around.
In reality, you’ll need to be careful when you’re carrying this amp around, which you may not be surprised by if you know anything about tube amps in general.
Size
The size is probably one of the biggest selling points of this tube amp, but it also is too small for you to use for any actual gigs. It’s not powerful enough to hold up with a drummer and a bassist too, but you can still use it for practice. That makes this one of the best amps out there for at-home practice.
General Impressions
When we tested this tube amp, we loved its smooth sound that makes it perfect for a vintage or blues sound. Some customer reviews do point out that it’s not the most durable, nor does it always keep working for the long run, but most people don’t find this to be a big problem.
We found it easy to set up, and it has enough power to support practice when you’re trying to play with the band. The knobs work well and were easy to use, and easy to figure out for the beginner.
Best For
This Monoprice amp is best for people who want something simple to use for practice and who need something that will be easy to learn and carry around. Beginners especially love this amp, but experts can get something out of the light weight too. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to use this amp for anything other than practice, but it still has a good sound that everyone from beginners to experts can make use of.
Conclusion
You have a lot of options when it comes to your amp, but you’ll want to make sure that you get an amp that can give you the sound quality that you need to improve your music. That’s where the Monoprice 611705 comes in handy. It’s a small, handy little amp that is made to be easy to use and to support your music. As long as you’re a little careful when you’re carrying it around, since it is still a power tube amp, you might notice that this is a great option for you.
