Latest 5e3 build

[jrgtwo]

I know, just what the world needs, another 5e3 clone!

Anyways this latest build came out looking great and I'm very happy with the sound of the amp. This was my first 5e3 build, had stayed away because of the amount of clones out there, but I understand the hype now

Hoping to get some feedback on the build as well as some ideas for what to do with the standby switch. Currently the standby isn't wired up

Mercury Magnetics transformers
Jupiter red astron and Cosmo caps
WGS Amperian VSOP 12" alnico speaker
Mojotone cabinet

[sluckey]

Hoping to get some feedback on the build as well as some ideas for what to do with the standby switch. Currently the standby isn't wired up

The amp looks great. I'd let the top panel label decide how to use the switch. If labeled "Standby", I'd wire it as a standby switch. If labeled "Ground", I'd wire it as a ground switch, just like the original, except use a "Class Y" cap.

[Willabe]

Very nice!   

I like Jupiter red astron caps and MM iron. I have a WGS 15" alnico speaker that I love the sound of.

Cosmo caps? Are these the B+ filter caps you used? Got a link for where you got them? I can't seem to find them online. 

[jrgtwo]

They are Jupiter cosmos electrolytics. I used them for the filter caps and bypass caps. Not sure they really affect the tone much, but I liked the all red cap layout

https://jupitercondenser.com/collections/audio-capacitors/products/cosmos-electrolytic-axial-leads

The red astrons on the other hand do sound great. I have been using Mallory 150s for most of my builds lately but there is something about these Jupiter caps that sounds really nice to me.

[Willabe]

They are Jupiter cosmos electrolytics. I used them for the filter caps and bypass caps. Not sure they really affect the tone much, but I liked the all red cap layout

Thanks for the link.

The red astrons on the other hand do sound great. I have been using Mallory 150s for most of my builds lately but there is something about these Jupiter caps that sounds really nice to me.

I've tested some different brands of coupling caps on my bread board. Those Red Astrons I thought sounded very good. Better to me the the Mallory 150's. The new Fender red and yellow caps sound very good to me too. I did not like the Fender blue caps. Those Astrons and red and yellow Fenders have a little grid/grit to them. I did not like the SoZo blues at all. Sounded dull, lifeless to me. 

Thread; Do capacitors sound different?

https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=19534.0

[Willabe]

Tweed 5E3 was my 1st build. It's worth trying 12AY7, 5751 and 12AX7 for the 1st preamp tube.

You do know about the interactive volume and tone controls and how to use them? 

[dwinstonwood]

Very nice! I could never wire filaments with that gauge wire, impressive.

But, what can you tell us about the Amperian speaker? Are they made by Warehouse? I love Warehouse speakers, but the Amperian line is not listed on their website. Thanks.

[jrgtwo]

WGS announced Amperian as a new line of speakers a few years ago but not sure what happened to them. You can still purchase the VSOP I have in this amp from Stew Mac and I think Milkman have them as an option for some of their amps

Benson amps also used to use them before they started using their newer custom ceramics from Weber

https://m.facebook.com/WGS.USA/posts/10156172091317817

[jrgtwo]

Tweed 5E3 was my 1st build. It's worth trying 12AY7, 5751 and 12AX7 for the 1st preamp tube.

You do know about the interactive volume and tone controls and how to use them?

My first build was a tweed Princeton and to be honest I didn't really like it. But I had only played 50 Watt 6l6 amps with tons of pedals before.

It's taken time to really appreciate the pure tones you get from these older circuits. Maybe I'll put a champ or Harvard together soon to see if I appreciate it more now.

The interactive volume stuff is fun but I have found that I like the quieter bright channel with volume around 3ish. Sounds like Motown or classic soul records to me. With my strat at about 7 the walls aren't shaking and the tone is still great

[Willabe]

The interactive volume stuff is fun but I have found that I like the quieter bright channel with volume around 3ish. Sounds like Motown or classic soul records to me. With my strat at about 7 the walls aren't shaking and the tone is still great

What are you using for the 1st preamp tube? Small amp, with only 2 volumes and 1 tone, trying different preamp tubes can be very helpful with this amp for different sounds.     

Not very loud with a 12AY7 (not bad either with 12AX7) and the controls set for max mid scoop, 1 vol. set at  12:00, the other set full up, dial in the tone control. Very clean but still warm. I'm not much on big distortion.

[Willabe]

My first build was a tweed Princeton and to be honest I didn't really like it. But I had only played 50 Watt 6l6 amps with tons of pedals before.

I have a tweed Princeton clone I built, Champ with a 1 knob tone control.

But I used a 15w OT and I have it in a cab with a 12" speaker. Also has a -FB control, so I can dial in a -FB or take it to no -FB, goes from very clean to distorted. Not much louder, but fuller and it's not pushing the OT into saturation. Although many guys like the sound of pushing the OT.

[labb]

I have built a couple of 5C3 and 5E3 Deluxe amps and they are for sure fun to play with. But, IMO, the very best Fender Deluxe amp was the AB763. There is a reason Leo use that preamp in almost all of his line of amps.

[jrgtwo]

What are you using for the 1st preamp tube? Small amp, with only 2 volumes and 1 tone, trying different preamp tubes can be very helpful with this amp for different sounds.     

I started with a 12ax7 but changed to a 12ay7, it was too loud for me, I'm not a big distortion user either.

I'll have to try a champ build with bigger OT, I recently built a double 6v6 SE amp that has a 10w transformer. Maybe I could repurpose that one to try!

I have built a couple of 5C3 and 5E3 Deluxe amps and they are for sure fun to play with. But, IMO, the very best Fender Deluxe amp was the AB763. There is a reason Leo use that preamp in almost all of his line of amps.

I don't have a deluxe reverb but I do have a Princeton reverb build, and I would agree that it's just a great sounding amp. It's the amp I don't usually tinker with 

[Willabe]

Not very loud with a 12AY7 (not bad either with 12AX7) and the controls set for max mid scoop, 1 vol. set at  12:00, the other set full up, dial in the tone control. Very clean but still warm. I'm not much on big distortion.

That setting gives max mids scoop, 5E3 sounds like a completely different amp set like that.   

Like a Fender black face amp with the 100K tone stack slope resistor.  That's why Fender scooped the mids on the BF amps, for cleaner sound.