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Post subject: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 11:54 am
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Well, I've finally decided to make my debut in amp building with the 5E3 Deluxe (as most people seem to do). I've seen a lot of people make threads on their builds so I decided to do so myself. I hope I can get a few experienced builders to give me some advice and answer some questions I may have along the way. Thanks for viewing!

Here's some pictures of all my parts:
Image

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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:10 pm
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Ditch those IC electrolytics and supplant them with F&T's or Spragues. Everything else looks pretty righteous. I'd recommend that you modify the circuit to include a standby switch (install it in the panel using the hole designated for a ground switch). This will save wear and tear on your power tubes and extend their service life.

Rawk on!

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:45 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Ditch those IC electrolytics and supplant them with F&T's or Spragues. Everything else looks pretty righteous. I'd recommend that you modify the circuit to include a standby switch (install it in the panel using the hole designated for a ground switch). This will save wear and tear on your power tubes and extend their service life.

Rawk on!

8)

Arjay

Hey, thanks! I'll probably have to keep the IC electrolytics, but I'll definitely use F&T on future builds. Also, I'll definitely do the standby switch mod, especially since the ground switch isn't even needed with a 3-prong power cord.


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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:51 pm
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Drew, looks like the one I built but mine had a PCB. Really nice quality. The Tube Depot kits do use the ground as a standby. Drew was the turret board an option?

I also put a Weber 12A125a 30 watt light dope speaker. I corresponded with Rob Hull at Tube Depot and he told me this version puts out close to 20 watts. I agree. The amp can get really loud for it's size.

I think you'll like the Classic Tone trannies. Very old school build on them. I also upgraded to an Ohmite Brown Devil 8 watt wire wound resistor to replace the stock 5 watt.

Enjoy!

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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 2:13 pm
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63supro wrote:
Drew, looks like the one I built but mine had a PCB. Really nice quality. The Tube Depot kits do use the ground as a standby. Drew was the turret board an option?

I also put a Weber 12A125a 30 watt light dope speaker. I corresponded with Rob Hull at Tube Depot and he told me this version puts out close to 20 watts. I agree. The amp can get really loud for it's size.

I think you'll like the Classic Tone trannies. Very old school build on them. I also upgraded to an Ohmite Brown Devil 8 watt wire wound resistor to replace the stock 5 watt.

Enjoy!

Thanks for commenting! Actually, I didn't buy the kit, I just bought all the parts individually so I could pick my own brands and values and such. I wanted to go totally old school so I bought my own board material and some eyelets (which haven't come in yet) and I'm going to make my own board. I've heard Tube Depot's pcb is really good, though, and I'm interested to try one eventually. Also, glad to hear about the Classis Tone transformers. I bought them based off a suggestion in another forum, but I was a bit skeptical due to the price. They seem really well built, though, and definitely seem to have a very vintage feel.


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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 3:17 pm
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Classic Tone trannies are made by Magnetic Components, a company that's been around since 1943 and supplied all kinds of guitar amp manufacturers. They're out of Chicago. Don't let the price fool you. They tested them against Mercury Mags and people actually liked them better.
Yeah that PC board is really nice and I was told it's Mil Spec. Thick, double sided with plated through holes. Way better than what was in my HRDlx. These amps sound great too. Even the cabinet was really nicely made.

I built a five watt amp true point to point no turret or PCB just a few terminal strips. Just terminal strips. I was challenging, but the amp sounds great. I really just wanted a reliable grab and go amp when I built the 5e3 and got way more than I bargained for, a great sounding well built amp. I've been hammering it for over a month with not a single hiccup so now it's going out on a maiden gig. I fully confident I'll have no problems at all.

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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:22 pm
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+1 on Classic Tone Xfmrs!

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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:47 pm
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63supro wrote:
Classic Tone trannies are made by Magnetic Components, a company that's been around since 1943 and supplied all kinds of guitar amp manufacturers. They're out of Chicago. Don't let the price fool you. They tested them against Mercury Mags and people actually liked them better.


+1

Easily the equal of Heyboer or Merc-Mag. I doubt that they'll disappoint.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:04 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
63supro wrote:
Classic Tone trannies are made by Magnetic Components, a company that's been around since 1943 and supplied all kinds of guitar amp manufacturers. They're out of Chicago. Don't let the price fool you. They tested them against Mercury Mags and people actually liked them better.


+1

Easily the equal of Heyboer or Merc-Mag. I doubt that they'll disappoint.

Arjay

So then why would anyone pay all the extra money for Mercury magnetics?


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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:58 pm
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Merc-Mag offers some additional specific services besides direct-replacement trannies (such as rewinding a piece of OEM iron to keep an otherwise original amp all-original). They do have a good rep and to a certain extant, that regard does translate to a premium surcharge on their prices.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:57 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Merc-Mag offers some additional specific services besides direct-replacement trannies (such as rewinding a piece of OEM iron to keep an otherwise original amp all-original). They do have a good rep and to a certain extant, that regard does translate to a premium surcharge on their prices.

Arjay

Ah, so, to a degree, you're really just paying for a name? Also, I finally get my eyelets in today so I can put my board together and start wiring everything up, but I had a question. What would be the best way to hold components to the board while soldering them? I was thinking of just using masking tape.


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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 12:15 pm
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Also, before I start wiring in the capacitors wrong, I've read that orange drops have no polarity so you don't have to worry about wiring them in the correct direction. Is this true?


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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 12:25 pm
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That's correct. You only need to watch the polarity on the electrolytic caps. Your Orange Drops are fine. I make the resistors etc. face the same direction. I kind of anal like that. I keep the value side up on the electrolytic's too. It just make servicing the amp easier. Just keep the wiring neat and triple check every step then do a final check of everything. I used the smoke test on both my builds. When I tested mine for the first time, I had it hooked up to a power strip just in case something did go wrong, I could just flip the switch and not risk touching the amp or fumble around trying to pull the plug. It's just a safer approach.

Take your time and all will be good with the world. I had roughly 12-15 hrs build time in mine. I spent a lot of time triple checking everything.

If you get stuck, there's a lot of good people here to help you out. :wink: By the way, I have the same soldering iron. :lol: I have a nice pointy conical tip for it.

Just one more tip, when you solder the grounds to the back of the pots, hit them with a little emery cloth first so the solder sticks.

Good luck with the build and keep us posted.

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Last edited by 63supro on Thu Mar 14, 2013 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 12:43 pm
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63supro wrote:
That's correct. You need to watch the polarity on the electrolytic caps.

Alright, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: (First) 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 1:00 pm
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What value do you place on what it takes to develop a "name"?

"Fender" is a name (as an example).

"First Act", by comparison, is a joke.

Therein lies the difference.

Arjay

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