Re: Vintage 5e3 component values Phsyco,
you are right on. The carbon comps and their drift in value is what we are talking about. All of my 5E3 builds have utilized carbon comps where appropriate for this reason. MM OTs are my choice as well. I use the Jensen reissue P12Q speakers and the feedback I get from the players that own one of these 5E3's is phenomenal. I would like to get component values from an actual sweet sounding vintage unit though. FYI, some vintage amps sound great and some not so hot depending which way their components have gone. Fender utilized a particular 65 super reverb which belongs to a local player in SoCal when they made their reissue to acertain its componet values. Too bad they pc boarded it though.
phsyconoodler
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 29
(4/9/04 6:25 pm)
Re: Vintage 5e3 component values bnwitt,
With your experience in building 5e3's,do you use carbon comps throughout or do you use metal film for the power coupling? I have done it the latter way and it seems like it is working really well and should be 'safe' in the event of a short.I also noticed that carbon comp resistors don't have as close a tollerance to spec as metal films do.that might have something to do with the"drift" idea?Also,do you stick to vintage design when you build your 5e3's or do you think mods are ok too? I can't imagine my 5e3 sounding any better right now! Phsyconoodler
bnwitt
Senior tube assistant
Posts: 326
(4/9/04 6:49 pm)
Re: Vintage 5e3 component values Psyco,
I use carbon comps everywhere but the power resistors (5k 5watt, 22k 3 watt, 470ohm 3 watt, and 56k 1/2 watt), power tube screen resistors(1.5k 1/2 watt), the 6V6's cathode resistor(250 ohm 5 watt), and the input jack resistors(1meg and 68k). I am not hung up on the vintage no mod thing and have been a modding fool more than once.
As far as tolerance on the CC's, the new ones I buy are within the percent rating but definitely over time they do drift dramatically and I have seen alot of this in my service work. I'm with you on the 5E3 circuit and the great tone of the clone. I have only kept a few models of the different clones that I make for my personal collection, and the 5E3 is the one I play the most. I also like the Marshall 18 watt and play that often. I love the 4X10 Tweed Bassman but they are just too loud for playing in the house at volume levels where the tone is best and the same goes for the jtm45 and 50 watt plexi. I am building an Iso booth in my studio, so I might be able to use those higher powered amps when it is done.
phsyconoodler
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 30
(4/13/04 2:05 pm)
Re: Vintage 5e3 component values Very interesting!
One other thing that drives me bananas is speakers!I recently bought a new celestion heritage 30 watt 12" and it sounded good in my champ,but had too much bass in the deluxe.It had no blues vibe to it at all.I don't want to pitch it,but I think if i change a few things on the amp,it might come to life.What are some opinions on that?I have a vintage RCA alnico magnet speaker in the deluxe that sounds absolutely divine!But it sounds ho-hum in the champ.What gives?Does the speaker impedence make that much difference?Also,has anyone heard of combining all the impedence taps of an output tranny together,so all the windings are used?I heard a rumour that this would add some mojo-tone.This stuff is cool! So much tone,so little time!
Phsyco
JTM
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 95
(4/13/04 4:11 pm)
5E3 This has been a cool thread to follow.
The 5E3 is my favorite project so far. I play it more than any of the other amps I've built. It's the only one I can turn up and not have things fall off the walls in the house.
I used a 12 inch Celestion Vintage 30 in mine.
After hearing Barry's clip I would love to try a P12Q in mine.
Great tone Barry.:beerchug
Edited by: JTM at: 4/13/04 4:13 pm
bnwitt
Senior tube assistant
Posts: 329
(4/13/04 4:36 pm)
Re: 5E3 JTM,
thanks for the tone comment. I'm not much of a player, but I do think the P12Q makes a big difference in the 5E3's sound. Every amp I have sold with the P12Q has had great reviews from the players. They don't cost that much either.
Edited by: bnwitt at: 4/13/04 4:39 pm
phsyconoodler
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 33
(4/17/04 5:47 pm)
5e3 problems bnwitt
Have you noticed that a 12au7 in the phase spiltter socket is far more musical than the original 12at7?I think the 12at7 is too hard and harsh sounding.The 12au7 is sweet to my ears and the volume control has a much wider sweep.The tone control seems to have more effect to me as well.Has anyone tried a celestion 25watt greenback in a deluxe? Is that a good choice for this amp?
Thanks!
Phsyco
zachsdad
Posts: 14
(4/17/04 6:49 pm)
5e3 problems I agree with you. Thats the way I like it also.
Voxbox
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 69
(4/19/04 10:00 am)
5e3 problems Hi Barry,
What difference did you find with the P12Q over the P12R?
I have got a P12R in mine and compared it to a Vox Blue and a Celestion G12H. The jensen was the best for that Fender tone. No surprises there...
The P12Q costs around the equivalent of $140 here in the UK, and that aint cheap!
Cheers, Voxbox
bnwitt
Senior tube assistant
Posts: 337
(4/19/04 1:02 pm)
Re: 5e3 problems Voxbox,
to my ears the P12Q produces better lows and mids than the P12R. Deluxe really improves with that speaker. I got my hands on a couple of Reverend Alltone 1250 speakers a while back and am going to try those in a Deluxe to see how they sound. I'll let you know.
bnwitt
Senior tube assistant
Posts: 338
(4/19/04 1:22 pm)
Re: 5e3 problems Psycho,
I have not tried a 12AU7 in the V2 position per se, but, I have put in a 12DW7 in that socket which is one half 12AX7 and one half 12AU7. Don't forget that tube performs the second stage amplification function for the amp as well as the cathode follower PI function. With a lower amplification factor in both of those circuit positions I would think it would change the tone dramatically. The 12AU7 has much lower plate resistance and therefore pulls more Plate current than the 12AX7. My tests with the 12DW7 produced some god-awefull squeal though.
phsyconoodler
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 36
(4/24/04 1:58 am)
Re: 5e3 problems Hey there!
I tried a celestion vintage 30 in the deluxe,and wow!
The overall volume increased dramatically and the bottom end is enough to knock pictures off the walls!I will need to change some caps to get less bass though.It has that bluesy vibe that i crave.It is good choice for this amp.I am getting a weber12F150 soon for another comparison test and wiil post some results.
T.T.F.N.
phsyc
Topic: 5e3 problems (Read 31174 times)