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What amp shall I build next?
Poll ended at Sat May 03, 2014 3:18 pm
Fender 5E3 Deluxe 38%  38%  [ 8 ]
Fender 5E8A Twin 10%  10%  [ 2 ]
Marshall Bluesbreaker 43%  43%  [ 9 ]
Marshall JTM45/JMP50 Head 10%  10%  [ 2 ]
Total votes : 21
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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 1:22 pm
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upnorth wrote:
Okay, here's one for you. With your background in EE and your knowledge of tube amps, why aren't you designing your own? All the good tube amps haven't already been made. People just don't go outside the box.


Future plans. Right now I have a full time job and am traveling quite a bit. I hope to retire in 5 or 6 years and am considering doing repairs and designing my own. I have been studying amp design for the past couple of years (I earned my EE degree in 1976 when tubes were still being taught). All of the amps I build and modify have my own little tweaks that make them mine own.

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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 4:18 pm
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Hmmm. 5E3 Deluxe and Bluesbreaker are tied at 5 votes each. 5E8A Twin and JTM45/JMP50 are tied at 1 each.

Any other thoughts?

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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 4:47 pm
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Bill, do you want more or less power than the Bassman or doesn't it matter? The 5e3 would be an easy build for you. I've been looking at some 18 watt Marshall's and they look a little complex for me at this point. And I never looked at how more complex a thirty watter is, but the Marshall might be right up your alley. The Blues Breaker is a fine amp. You have the Tweed covered. Why not move to Marshall? You would be covering some serious sonic territory with a Marshall in the mix.

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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 4:55 pm
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63supro wrote:
Bill, do you want more or less power than the Bassman or doesn't it matter? The 5e3 would be an easy build for you. I've been looking at some 18 watt Marshall's and they look a little complex for me at this point. And I never looked at how more complex a thirty watter is, but the Marshall might be right up your alley. The Blues Breaker is a fine amp. You have the Tweed covered. Why not move to Marshall? You would be covering some serious sonic territory with a Marshall in the mix.


I'm really having a hard time deciding, that's why I posted the poll.

Power is irrelevant. Just a home player in a single family home. I play as loud as I like when I can, quieter when necessary.

Other than my modded Champion 600, I don't have a 6V6 amp (tried them in my BDRI, didn't like them). I have two 6L6GC amps (5F6A and BDRI), but the Tweed Twin is different sounding than either. Its also at the top of my budget. A Marshall would be cool, but it would have to be KT66s (My Wrecking Ball (Express clone) uses E34Ls). A Bluesbreaker is also at my budget limit. :cry:

So many amps, so little time, even less money. :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 5:44 pm
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Some additional information that may aid is selecting an amp: The guitars I play.

1. MIM Finder Strat with SCN pickups
2. AVRI 52 Telecaster with Seymour Duncan Vintage Stack noiseless pickups
3. 50th Anniversary Epiphone 1960 Les Paul Standard Version 1 with Gibson Burstbucker 1 and 2 pickups
4. Epiphone Les Paul Jr with Seymour Duncan Phat Cat (P-90 in a humbucker case. Just installed. Wicked sound!)
5. Squier Esquire (My own creation based on a Squier Affinity Tele) with a Dimarzio Area "T" DP418 noiseless pickup (Favorite switch position includes the "Eldred Mod")
6. Ibanez GIO with GFS Nashville Vintage Recotrons (Filtertron type pickup).

Also, I have given up pedals except for a Boss TU3 tuner and Radial Bones Twin City ABY switcher (with built in buffer). I basically plug straight into the amp and get my overdrive totally from the amp. I also like to play two amps at once and have the volume controls on each amp set (by ear) for equal volume levels. It do get loud sometimes. :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 6:22 pm
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Bill I'm all for the blues breaker. I'm kinda on a Marshall kick right now but I have always been a fan of the blues breaker. I think it would suit your playing.


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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 8:08 pm
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Bluesky,

I don't think you'd be dissapointed in a nice DIY Bluesbreaker (JTM-45). One point though. Built to original specs, these are LOUD amps. Legend as it, when EC showed up in the studio with a BB amp for the "Beano" album --- the engineers nearly boycotted the session. They couldn't get the amp's tone onto the board without overload. I believe some aftermarket rheostats or some such devices were needed.

That album demostrates the glory of the BB amp.

A good KT-66 makes a wonderful tone. Maybe, a DIY single-ended KT-66? That would be about 15-watts max, Class "A." Maybe a nice "in-between amp." Between the Champion 600 and a push-pull 6V6GT.

Good luck with the project!


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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 9:39 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Bluesky,

I don't think you'd be dissapointed in a nice DIY Bluesbreaker (JTM-45). One point though. Built to original specs, these are LOUD amps. Legend as it, when EC showed up in the studio with a BB amp for the "Beano" album --- the engineers nearly boycotted the session. They couldn't get the amp's tone onto the board without overload. I believe some aftermarket rheostats or some such devices were needed.

That album demostrates the glory of the BB amp.

A good KT-66 makes a wonderful tone. Maybe, a DIY single-ended KT-66? That would be about 15-watts max, Class "A." Maybe a nice "in-between amp." Between the Champion 600 and a push-pull 6V6GT.

Good luck with the project!


I'm currently reading "The History of Marshall: The First 50 Years". According to it, and other things I've read, Clapton's amp was not modded in any way. He played with both the amp and guitar volume controls wide open. The mic was placed several feet away from the amp and the recording engineer was told to just deal with it. :shock:

Keep in mind that the Bluesbreakers were basically 5F6A Bassmans with 12AX7s in V1 and a few other minor component changes (mostly the difference between American and British parts). The originals even used 5881s before morphing to KT66s and then EL34s in the JTM/JMP amps.

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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 9:43 pm
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tbazzone wrote:
Bill I'm all for the blues breaker. I'm kinda on a Marshall kick right now but I have always been a fan of the blues breaker. I think it would suit your playing.


So its a crappy amp? Cuz that's what my playing is like. I play only slightly better than Leo Fender did. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Right now both the 5E8A Tweed Twin and Bluesbreaker combo are at the outer edge of my budget. If I go with a Marshall, it will probably be a head with KT66s, run though my existing 4x12 cab.

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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 9:49 pm
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Bluesbreaker combo:

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JTM/JMP head:

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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 10:34 pm
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I picked the 5E3 because samples I have heard were exceptional. I also want to build this amp for myself. Whether I do this first or a champ has not been decided yet. My ears have directed me to build and play with a simple classic design. I really like the ability to jumper the channels and blend the volumes with a master tone. I was impressed with the tonal subtlety of this design.

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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 11:08 pm
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modwiz wrote:
I picked the 5E3 because samples I have heard were exceptional. I also want to build this amp for myself. Whether I do this first or a champ has not been decided yet. My ears have directed me to build and play with a simple classic design. I really like the ability to jumper the channels and blend the volumes with a master tone. I was impressed with the tonal subtlety of this design.


Actually, all four amps can be jumpered. 8)

I play my 5F6A jumpered all the time. :D

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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 3:38 am
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Here's a link to a KT-88 single-ended guitar amp. Which may make an interesting amp.

http://www.ax84.com/sel/AX84_SEL_101004.pdf

From this site. See sound clips at the bottom of page.

http://www.ax84.com/sel.html


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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:48 am
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Bill, are you sourcing all your parts or going for a kit?
BYOC has a real interesting kit that involves a 5e3, a Harvard, and a 5f1 all in one head. Seems like you can switch out the tone stack as well as adjust the negative feedback. Seems really interesting. I'm considering building one. It's between that and a Supro Model 24. The only thing holding me back from the Supro is the availability of real 6973 power tubes.

You've got some tough choices my friend. The 5e3 is an outstanding amp. I have a lot of fun with mine and get a lot of compliments on how it sounds.

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Post subject: Re: What amp shall I build next?
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 2:18 pm
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63supro wrote:
Bill, are you sourcing all your parts or going for a kit?
BYOC has a real interesting kit that involves a 5e3, a Harvard, and a 5f1 all in one head. Seems like you can switch out the tone stack as well as adjust the negative feedback. Seems really interesting. I'm considering building one. It's between that and a Supro Model 24. The only thing holding me back from the Supro is the availability of real 6973 power tubes.

You've got some tough choices my friend. The 5e3 is an outstanding amp. I have a lot of fun with mine and get a lot of compliments on how it sounds.


It will most likely be a Weber kit with some mods/additions of my own. I don't have time to hunt down parts. Heck, I don't have time to build anything right now, but I will make time. :D

I'm not a fan of amps that claim to mimic two or three different amps. Something usually gets lost in the translation. I'd rather build a really good single type amp. 8)

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