Latest Project...1950's Tweed Deluxe 5C3 Build

[TubeGeek]

I just finished building this amp recently and wanted to share.  

Circuit: Fender 5C3

Goal: To have an octal preamp deluxe to experiment with.  To hear what grid leak biasing sounds like.  To hear what paraphase PI's sound like...

This project all began because I had an old 5e3 style cabinet sitting empty for years in my shop.  I figured someday I would put it to use and build an octal preamp deluxe.  I finally got around to the project.

Details:

Weber pine cabinet from 2008
Chassis is also Weber's 5C3
Power transformer is Weber W025130
Output Transformer is Weber W041318
Orange Drop caps
Nichicon Electrolytic's
Metal film resistors (two 4.7M carbon comp's)
Speaker is a Jensen P12Q from my other 5E3 amp, that amp now has a Weber in it.
Cloth wire for filaments
Teflon solid-core wire for all other connections

Tubes:

Preamp: Tung-sol 6SL7 (new production)

Power:  Sylvania 6EY6  NOS (supposed to be like a 6V6 with 6L6 characteristics)

Rectifier:  RCA 5Y3

It sounds freaking cool.  I love the sound of this circuit.  Real nice breakup with a tele and strat.  Over the top distortion on tap with the Les Paul and SG.  I like the thick creamy overdrive one can get from these circuits.  Pure tube tone.  Very touch responsive. Perfect for blues styling.  Compared to my 5E3 this amp really puts that to shame.  So much so that I was flabbergasted and decided it was time to rebuild my own 5E3 because I have improved my wiring and construction skills since I built that amp.  I took it all apart and rebuilt everything.  It turns out it still doesn't sound as good to me.  I am preferring the 5C3 right now.  I am going to be experimenting with both of these amps for the next while when I'm inspired to do so.  They both sound real good and I think will be useful in recordings when I have bands come in to record at my place.  Overall I am very happy with this project.  Next will be to continue experimenting with more octal preamp tubes and make some recordings of the 5c3 vs 5e3.  

[stratele52]

Nice , congrat.

[smackoj]

nice looking rig senor Geek.....you got the 'touch'

[sluckey]

Very nice James. What's your opinion of the Tung Sol 6SL7s?

[SILVERGUN]

I was wondering what you were up to Brother Geek,,,
Thanks for the description,,,you're enthusiasm just makes me want to build THAT amp now.....so let me see here's my to do list now: 5C3, 18 watt, AB763, D'Mars, TOS,

This place is dangerous!!......the problem is that my to do list is soo much different than my wife's

I'm sure we'd all love to hear a clip if you get a chance, and thanks again for sharing.....by the way, the website looks cool too!

Did you follow the stock 5C3 schemo to the letter?

[TubeGeek]

Very nice James. What's your opinion of the Tung Sol 6SL7s?

I really like them.  More than all the others I have for testing/listening so far.

This weekend I have been going between a pair of Raytheon 6SL7GT's and the Tung-sols.  The Raytheon's low end sounds more mushy, compressed and loose to my ears, also a little less high end clarity.  This is not necessarily bad but when I switch over to the Tung-sol's I have more high end, the bottom end tightens up and they just plain sound more useable.  If I had to pick I'd choose the Tung-sols for those reasons and they aren't microphonic.  The Raytheon's sing/howl after I finish playing for a minute or two before they settle down.  The gain between them is pretty close.

[TubeGeek]

I was wondering what you were up to Brother Geek,,,
Thanks for the description,,,you're enthusiasm just makes me want to build THAT amp now.....so let me see here's my to do list now: 5C3, 18 watt, AB763, D'Mars, TOS,

This place is dangerous!!......the problem is that my to do list is soo much different than my wife's

I'm sure we'd all love to hear a clip if you get a chance, and thanks again for sharing.....by the way, the website looks cool too!

Did you follow the stock 5C3 schemo to the letter?

Thanks SG! Man I have been busy lately.  Amps coming and going and trying to manage buying a house and work a regular day gig, the girlfriend moved in with me blah blah blah! Crazy.

I'll work on getting clips recorded as soon as I can, probably going to be down the road though.  I have a recording session booked in my recording studio this week, there is a chance the player may want to use this amp.  If he does then I'll have some clips to share.  I'm still trying to figure out why my 5e3 sounds like poop compared to this 5c3.

So far I have followed the fender schematic as is.  I don't see any need for modding but that could change as I learn the amp nuances over the next while.