It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:39 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 3:06 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:42 am
Posts: 61
Location: Illinois
This amp I just got over the summer at the Platinum Room at Guitar Center in Nashville.

It's an absolute killer amp and it produces some of the best tones I've heard.

I started playing guitar because of Joe Walsh and Don Felder in the Eagles because of their playing on the song "Hotel California". Hearing those solos made me want to play and that was the rig for both of them on that track (Don with a Les Paul, Joe with a Telecaster) and it certainly reproduces that sound. I was in an Eagles tribute for 4 years and I certainly wish I could have used it on that gig.

Right now it's a home/studio amp because most of the time it's not loud enough and I'm still babying it in the sense I don't want anything to happen to it.

The SN dates it to late '55 and one of the earliest 5E3s. It has a Jensen Alnico and the GE tubes. Only the handle has been changed to my knowledge.

Image

Sorry I don't have a pic at the moment with just the 5E3 (also pictured is a Twin Reverb '65 reissue, '68 Drip Edge AB763 Super Reverb, and 65amps Ventura head).

Just thought I'd share my dream amp with everyone. It certainly is perfect for me being a huge Eagles fan and the fact that model amp was all over not just that song but that record.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 5:22 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2012 6:38 am
Posts: 593
Nice find. Have you taken a look-see inside yet?

_________________
...I for one, sure would appreciate the return of intelligent conversation, spirit of assistance and the simple yet effective ignoring of those who can't seem to hang with that...
Best regards,
rob


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 6:13 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:10 pm
Posts: 5646
Location: Gateway to the West
FF1988...Thanks for the amp porn. Nice looking collection, would love to see more photos of both that 5E3 and SFSR. As for Don Felder, now that was a fine guitar player, I saw him last year at Corvette Funfest and he played a smoking set. Always liked his playing, kind of sad that the eagles kicked him out.

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 6:31 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:08 am
Posts: 9034
Location: Louisiana
That is a great amp. I looked at one similar to it when I got my 5E8A 57 Twin Tweed RI. I probably would have been better of because most of my playing time is in a living room, bedroom, carport,etc.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 6:41 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:42 am
Posts: 61
Location: Illinois
Thanks everyone!

Pics at request of T2!

5E3 (SN D00928):

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Notes: Handle changed, GE Black Ring tubes that say GE Electronic and have clear glass and grey insides for the power tubes. Not sure about preamp tubes. Death cap removed and modern cord installed. Everything but handle is stock AFAIK.

SFSR (SN A27750):

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Notes: Missing tube chart, dead black footswitch (got rid of it), JJ preamp tubes and SED Winged C power tubes (my tech did that), everything else stock to my knowledge other than death cap removal and a modern power cord.

The SFSR was a great deal - got it locally at an auction for $500 because no one was around that was interested! The 5E3 not so much. :lol:

No gut shots - I'm not ballsy enough to open them up. The A27750 code on the SFSR was on the back of the chassis in the right corner. The D00928 on the 5E3 came off of the tube chart.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 7:14 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:10 pm
Posts: 5646
Location: Gateway to the West
FF1988...Thanks for the Amp Porn! The 5E3 looks fantastic and digging the Jensen Concert Series speaker! Do you ever wonder what idiot thought it would be "Cool" to paint the lower back panel? :lol:

The SFSR looksd to be from around March of 68 with those 7th week of 67 CTS Alnicos! Which by the way are great sounding speakers in a SFSR! I just let my 72 SFSR w/ those CTS Alincos go, but only because I found a nearly all original BFSR from 65! You got a couple of real winners there!

Thanks again for the pics

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 7:26 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:42 am
Posts: 61
Location: Illinois
T2Stratman wrote:
FF1988...Thanks for the Amp Porn! The 5E3 looks fantastic and digging the Jensen Concert Series speaker! Do you ever wonder what idiot thought it would be "Cool" to paint the lower back panel? :lol:

The SFSR looksd to be from around March of 68 with those 7th week of 67 CTS Alnicos! Which by the way are great sounding speakers in a SFSR! I just let my 72 SFSR w/ those CTS Alincos go, but only because I found a nearly all original BFSR from 65! You got a couple of real winners there!

Thanks again for the pics

T2


Thanks for the info! I also forgot to mention that when my tech was in there on the SFSR (he hasn't seen the 5E3 yet) he said the transformer code were from late '67 as well but the chassis code '68. AFAIK it's got the Blackface circuit - just the silver cosmetics. It's got the black lines and drip edge too (as you can see).

I've gigged the Super quite a bit since getting it last year. I didn't get it in time for the Eagles tribute so for that gig I just used the Twin reissue you can see in my OP. Good amp for what I needed to do since I mainly used overdrive/boost pedals so breakup wasn't an issue for me.

I'm going to see Kenny Wayne Shepherd next Saturday in concert and I know he's a Fender amp guy too. I'm somewhat of a Fender amp snob. :lol: Even my 65 Ventura is very much in the Tweed voice - which is my main stage amp these days. On the 29th I'll be using both the Super and the Ventura and maybe even the 5E3 at my big Ausfest festival I do every year on my parents huge farm. We built a stage out in the middle of it and we do our own modern day version of Woodstock! LOL. We crank to ear-bleeding levels there and I love running multiple amps when I can. The Blackface/Tweed mixture should go great. Most of the time though for most gigs I just use the 65 Ventura and the pedalboard you can see in the OP. We do everything from blues to rock to country (old and new) and just about anything you can think of but modern rock. The combo works well. And I still use the Twin in big places but where I won't be pairing amps up. The 5E3 though generally never goes anywhere. I'm a bit nervous about gigging it.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 7:47 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
Sweet. Great find. :wink:

_________________
Bill

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 8:07 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:10 pm
Posts: 5646
Location: Gateway to the West
Quote:
The 5E3 though generally never goes anywhere. I'm a bit nervous about gigging it.


I wouldn't gig with it either, especially since you have the SFSR. Enjoy the KWS show in Springfield. We aren't too far from eachother PM if you want to get together and JAM sometime.

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 9:16 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:42 am
Posts: 61
Location: Illinois
T2Stratman wrote:
Quote:
The 5E3 though generally never goes anywhere. I'm a bit nervous about gigging it.


I wouldn't gig with it either, especially since you have the SFSR. Enjoy the KWS show in Springfield. We aren't too far from eachother PM if you want to get together and JAM sometime.

T2


Thanks!

Yes I'm about an hour and a half from Springfield - live in Central Illinois real close to Macomb or Canton, just in opposite directions. I'd love to jam sometime. This summer has been very busy but next year hopefully quieter. With health stuff going on, gigs, etc it's seemed like a very long summer.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:01 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
T2Stratman wrote:
Enjoy the KWS show in Springfield. We aren't too far from eachother PM if you want to get together and JAM sometime.


Hey Tony, take him for a tour of East St. Louis......show him how the other half lives.

(might not be a bad idea to dig your kevlar out of the duffel bag and wear it)

:mrgreen:

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:21 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:42 am
Posts: 61
Location: Illinois
Retroverbial wrote:
T2Stratman wrote:
Enjoy the KWS show in Springfield. We aren't too far from eachother PM if you want to get together and JAM sometime.


Hey Tony, take him for a tour of East St. Louis......show him how the other half lives.

(might not be a bad idea to dig your kevlar out of the duffel bag and wear it)

:mrgreen:

Arjay


:shock: :lol:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 5:41 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:07 pm
Posts: 427
Man that's sweet!
I'm a big Eagles fan myself. I'm a guitar tone snob myself and for my tastes the tones on almost all the Eagles albums is supurb (and not always the same).
A Gibson guitar into a Fender amp is my favorite combo.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:00 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
eddie_bowers wrote:
A Gibson guitar into a Fender amp is my favorite combo.


+1

I played that combo onstage for decades......

Image

Rawk on!

8)

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: My "Holy Grail" (5E3 '55 Tweed Deluxe)
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 8:02 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:42 am
Posts: 61
Location: Illinois
That's also my favorite combo. I'm a Les Paul guy true and true although I am awful fond of Blackguard 3-saddle Telecasters too. But a Les Paul is like coming home to me. My PRS gets quite a bit of action though live because I can take less guitars and pull of humbucker and single coil type tones from one guitar.

My dream rig for me is half complete. I have the amps (Super Reverb and Tweed Deluxe) but still need the '59 Les Paul. :lol:

My #1 guitar (LP) I've had for years now. It's just about the best thing since sliced bread for me.

I need to upload a video sometime I did of last years Ausfest jam of me with my LP into my Super Reverb. We did the Georgia Satellites "Keep Your Hands To Yourself" and I used that combo with a Fulltone PlimSoul on the solo and got some of the best tone I ever had. I played all of the middle solos and it was really fun. On that gig I used both my '68 SR and my TRRI but on that particular song I had a slide player sit in who didn't have an amp so I unplugged my TRRI from the A/B box and let him use that amp so for that one song I used just the SR. But generally at a bigger festival/event like that I prefer to run two amps. Not that I use stereo effects, I just like to move more air so to speak. :D


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: