5E3 kit arrived today. First build.

camari · March 7th, 2008, 02:48 PM

I bought a Mission 5E3 standard chassis kit, got it today. Boy , does Bruce pack things extremely well. I have been trying to read all I can on amp building, but you know, until you do it, thats when you really learn. Its gonna be an "after hours" build on the kitchen table. (afterhours= after kids go to bed)

The cab, I will build myself, just ordered the MLCS half dovetail template/jig set. I love natural wood, so it'll be a natural piney box, hopefull match my first Southern Piney build tele I made. I have yet to post some pics of the finished Piney tele, but still need to set up string height,intonation,etc.. The flu bug really kicked my butt three weeks ago. I bruised my ribs coughing so hard and the ribs still hurt bad.

I blame TDPRI for giving me so much GAS, Piney tele and 5E3 build and another tele in the works. Never knew GAS could be so much fun.

ce24 · March 7th, 2008, 03:12 PM

Hey Camari,

Just got my kit 2 days ago and it's fun. I've got the board populated and will be laying out the jumper wires on the back side this weekend. Amazing what questions come to mind when you get started..good luck. I'm having a cabinet maker friend build an Oak cab for me and I have Oxblood cloth coming. with a cherry stain it should look real nice. Not completely settled on the cherry stain yet tho. can't wait to post pics in a few weeks.\

Cheers
ce24

ramblinmike · March 7th, 2008, 03:16 PM

Congrats! Keep us informed. I'm tossing around the idea of either a tweed champ or the Mission 5e3 for my first build. I've gotta get a little better with a soldering iron first...

bgood · March 7th, 2008, 03:19 PM

Congrats guys - you are about 1 month ahead of me. My 5E3 will be my second build, when I do it. I plan on a Mission or Marsh kit.

I can't wait to get my kit and get started. I have never played a Deluxe and have been trying to find a RI locally so I can at least hear it but I know enough about what to expect to know I will dig the sounds.

Just finished a Gilmore Jr from Guytronix. That was a fun project and resulted in a very nice usable practice amp. That project taught me some good lessons too.

Keep us posted on progress. Have fun.

JohnnyCrash · March 7th, 2008, 03:33 PM

I too have my parts right here (scratch parts from CEDist, chassis from Mojo).

I'm also gonna try to build my own cab, my woodworking isn't so good (I've been practising), so maybe you can give me tips along the cab process camari :)

I just got a new Porter Cable dovetail/finger jig... the plastic Craftsman jig sucked! Even with the new jig I expect my clumsy skills to require lotsa putty in the crooked gaps :)

camari · March 7th, 2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramblinmike

I've gotta get a little better with a soldering iron first...

I got Terry Downs soldering dvd. I believe after having watching it twice, my soldering will be much better.

morroben · March 7th, 2008, 04:02 PM

Well guys, I finished mine a few weeks ago and couldn't be happier. I had some help with the electrical side of things from a friend, and I threw the cab together in about 45 minutes out of spare pine that was laying around. I pinned it together with 3/8 dowel since I didn't have a dovetail jig handy. I plan to build a proper cabinet at a later time.
Best sounding amp I've ever played...even edges out my friend's 5E3. Of course, his help is the reason mine sounds so good.
Good luck guys! You're in for a real treat when you're finished.

chabby · March 7th, 2008, 04:19 PM

You sure are - you just won't believe it when you plug in and start playing. Sure, we are building these cuz we know they are great amps, but even as you are building it, the beautiful sound these make when its all said and done exceeds all your expectations. I say that with 150% confidence.

In my mind its gotta be in the top 5 circuits ever made.

camari · March 7th, 2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyCrash

I'm also gonna try to build my own cab, my woodworking isn't so good (I've been practising), so maybe you can give me tips along the cab process .

I have done a lot of woodworking, but never dovetails or fingerjoints. I will do some practice routes first. I like tight joints. Due to the fact I make wooden NA style flutes. Can't have air leaks there.

Quote:

guys, I finished mine a few weeks ago and couldn't be happier

Nice job morroben.

Did I tell you guys, I have never heard a Tweed Deluxe, or the Champ or GA5 in my life. (not knowingly). This is all new to me. My amps are the Vox 15R and the Blackheart Lil Giant that I just bought.

bgood · March 7th, 2008, 05:24 PM

How tough is it to work in that little chassis? Particularly wiring the pots and sockets. When I did my Gilmore I trimmed the wires that came off the board to the right length and soldered the pot connections with the board uninstalled and then put the pots and board into the chassis at the same time. Then I wired up the sockets from the board connections (heaters etc were already on them.

Do you guys do the 5E3 like that or do you just put the pots on the chassis, screw in the board, shorten the leads and solder everything with it all in place?

ce24 · March 7th, 2008, 05:33 PM

Morroben I like the cherry stain! that makes me closer to deciding on it...thanks for the pics

ce24

JohnnyCrash · March 7th, 2008, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgood

How tough is it to work in that little chassis? Particularly wiring the pots and sockets. When I did my Gilmore I trimmed the wires that came off the board to the right length and soldered the pot connections with the board uninstalled and then put the pots and board into the chassis at the same time. Then I wired up the sockets from the board connections (heaters etc were already on them.

Do you guys do the 5E3 like that or do you just put the pots on the chassis, screw in the board, shorten the leads and solder everything with it all in place?

The Tube Reverb unit is in a similar size chassis. It's not bad at all if you do things in parts.

It's easiest for me to put the standoff screws in and set the board into the chassis, then mark and cut each wire to length as I go. Then I strip and pre-tin all of the leads and solder the board up.

Then I put the board in and solder it to the pots/tube sockets.

Before all of this I wire up the tube heaters, PT, and Power switches and check for where the quietest place to place the OT is with the headphone trick.

jh45gun · March 7th, 2008, 08:38 PM

Johnny a good router and jig should make good joints with out any slop.

DrewB · March 7th, 2008, 10:04 PM

True, but getting the cut depths (vertical and horizontal) set just right is extremely important. I practice on scrap to ensure I have everything set up properly before I start in on my actual cabinet sides.

TeeBird · March 7th, 2008, 10:12 PM

Those look great!

I find amp wiring a lot easier than soldering on a tight circuit board.

Larry F · March 7th, 2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyCrash

Before all of this I wire up the tube heaters, PT, and Power switches and check for where the quietest place to place the OT is with the headphone trick.

Spill it, O Master. The headphone trick is...?

jh45gun · March 8th, 2008, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrewB

True, but getting the cut depths (vertical and horizontal) set just right is extremely important. I practice on scrap to ensure I have everything set up properly before I start in on my actual cabinet sides.

Yea I just figured most when setting up the jig would do that to get it set up right. One it is how ever it should make perfect fitting cuts.

DrewB · March 8th, 2008, 09:32 AM

My problem is that I don't make cabinets too often, so I put the router away when I'm done and the dovetail jig sits for a long time between uses. If I was doing finger joints with it, I'm sure it would be a lot easier, but half-blind dovetails are a more-complex joint. They's sure purty, though!

Ricky D. · March 8th, 2008, 09:40 AM

Use the brass plate as a prefab fixture for the input jacks and the tone and volume pots. Mount the components on the plate just finger tight and wire'em up.

Johnny C. has the right idea about doing as much power supply and tube socket wiring as possible before the board goes in.

camari · March 8th, 2008, 11:03 AM

I really appreciate the input. With the chassis kit, it did not tell me where to start. I know I can figure things out, but if there is a sequence to building that makes things easier, then I would love to know it.

I am the type that builds a project in my mind over and over til the bugs are worked out. I ordered Tonnes of Tone book , should be here today.

DrewB · March 8th, 2008, 11:34 AM

The "perfect world" build:

1. Install the tube sockets, output jacks, fuse holder, switches, pilot and output transformer
2. Install the power transformer and AC cord
3. Wire the mains connection to the fuse holder and switches
4. Wire the heater supply for the rectifier, pilot, power and preamp tubes
5. Install the pots
6. Wire the input jacks (with them installed backwards for ease and correct spacing) and install them
7. Install the pots
8. Populate/wire the board, under-board wiring and leads to sockets, pots, etc. Recheck all connections to layout!
9. Install the board and wire everything up
10. Recheck all connections
11. Connect to a speaker, power up, plug in and enjoy

dunworl · March 8th, 2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry F

Spill it, O Master. The headphone trick is...?

See Item 14:

http://ax84.rru.com/FAQs/general.html

JohnnyCrash · March 8th, 2008, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry F

Spill it, O Master. The headphone trick is...?

Wire up the PT.

Turn it on but do not let juice go through rectified (standby off type scenario).

Wire your OT to a jack with the ground (black) and your highest impedance tap secondary.

Plug a set of headphones into the jack.

Power up the PT and sit the OT on the chassis. You will hear hum when the OT is parallel to the PT and closer to it. Move and angle the OT to a spot on the chassis where you hear the least amount of noise from the headphones.

Mark the drill/mounting holes, unsolder OT from jack and mount the OT there.

THis gives you the least magnetic field interference and reduces hum from the trannies into the circuit.

telest · March 9th, 2008, 02:03 PM

Very cool. I've been wanting to build a kit amp for a long time...just can't decide what I want. In the mean time I spend my budget on factory built amps.

Good luck and watch out for high voltage.

Steve

camari · March 11th, 2008, 01:37 PM

Thanks for pointers on where to start on chassis. I worked on installing PT ,power cord, fuse, switches , tube sockets and cutting wire. Started soldering. Some darn tight places for soldering in around the PT. Having a ball!! This is fun.

sjhusting · March 11th, 2008, 02:27 PM

I get it far enough along so the heaters are wired up, then I do the first power on to make sure they're ok before doing anymore. Wiring up heaters on noval sockets is such a pain, I don't like doing it when there are other wires around. Measure Vf without, then with tubes. Should be high with no load (say 6.7v) but spot on with. I do this before I hook up the HV secondary - I tape off the HV leads, and tape them to the chassis so they don't move or touch anything else.

Before you fire it up with HV the first time, please do the following. This is a short version, there is really more than this to completely measure the amp.

Check the resistance read by your meter by touching the leads to each other. Remember this value.

Check the resistance between the ground of the power plug and the ground of the input jacks. It should be very close to the previous number. If it's not you

March 7th, 2008, 02:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
camari Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Age: 50 Posts: 102	5E3 kit arrived today. First build. I bought a Mission 5E3 standard chassis kit, got it today. Boy , does Bruce pack things extremely well. I have been trying to read all I can on amp building, but you know, until you do it, thats when you really learn. Its gonna be an "after hours" build on the kitchen table. (afterhours= after kids go to bed) The cab, I will build myself, just ordered the MLCS half dovetail template/jig set. I love natural wood, so it'll be a natural piney box, hopefull match my first Southern Piney build tele I made. I have yet to post some pics of the finished Piney tele, but still need to set up string height,intonation,etc.. The flu bug really kicked my butt three weeks ago. I bruised my ribs coughing so hard and the ribs still hurt bad. I blame TDPRI for giving me so much GAS, Piney tele and 5E3 build and another tele in the works. Never knew GAS could be so much fun. __________________ Remember to listen.

March 7th, 2008, 03:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
ce24 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Idaho Age: 58 Posts: 449	Hey Camari, Just got my kit 2 days ago and it's fun. I've got the board populated and will be laying out the jumper wires on the back side this weekend. Amazing what questions come to mind when you get started..good luck. I'm having a cabinet maker friend build an Oak cab for me and I have Oxblood cloth coming. with a cherry stain it should look real nice. Not completely settled on the cherry stain yet tho. can't wait to post pics in a few weeks.\ Cheers ce24 __________________ www.motagator.net/slackwater "you can be happy or you can be miserable..the amount of work is the same"

March 7th, 2008, 03:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
bgood Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Emerson, NJ Posts: 173	Good Luck Congrats guys - you are about 1 month ahead of me. My 5E3 will be my second build, when I do it. I plan on a Mission or Marsh kit. I can't wait to get my kit and get started. I have never played a Deluxe and have been trying to find a RI locally so I can at least hear it but I know enough about what to expect to know I will dig the sounds. Just finished a Gilmore Jr from Guytronix. That was a fun project and resulted in a very nice usable practice amp. That project taught me some good lessons too. Keep us posted on progress. Have fun. __________________ Bob

March 7th, 2008, 05:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
bgood Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Emerson, NJ Posts: 173	How tough is it to work in that little chassis? Particularly wiring the pots and sockets. When I did my Gilmore I trimmed the wires that came off the board to the right length and soldered the pot connections with the board uninstalled and then put the pots and board into the chassis at the same time. Then I wired up the sockets from the board connections (heaters etc were already on them. Do you guys do the 5E3 like that or do you just put the pots on the chassis, screw in the board, shorten the leads and solder everything with it all in place? __________________ Bob

March 7th, 2008, 05:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
ce24 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Idaho Age: 58 Posts: 449	Morroben I like the cherry stain! that makes me closer to deciding on it...thanks for the pics ce24 __________________ www.motagator.net/slackwater "you can be happy or you can be miserable..the amount of work is the same"

March 7th, 2008, 03:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
ramblinmike Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Long Island NY Age: 23 Posts: 924	Congrats! Keep us informed. I'm tossing around the idea of either a tweed champ or the Mission 5e3 for my first build. I've gotta get a little better with a soldering iron first...

March 7th, 2008, 03:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,128	I too have my parts right here (scratch parts from CEDist, chassis from Mojo). I'm also gonna try to build my own cab, my woodworking isn't so good (I've been practising), so maybe you can give me tips along the cab process camari :) I just got a new Porter Cable dovetail/finger jig... the plastic Craftsman jig sucked! Even with the new jig I expect my clumsy skills to require lotsa putty in the crooked gaps :)

March 7th, 2008, 04:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
morroben Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: california Age: 32 Posts: 1,829 18 Photos	Well guys, I finished mine a few weeks ago and couldn't be happier. I had some help with the electrical side of things from a friend, and I threw the cab together in about 45 minutes out of spare pine that was laying around. I pinned it together with 3/8 dowel since I didn't have a dovetail jig handy. I plan to build a proper cabinet at a later time. Best sounding amp I've ever played...even edges out my friend's 5E3. Of course, his help is the reason mine sounds so good. Good luck guys! You're in for a real treat when you're finished.

March 7th, 2008, 04:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
chabby Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,261	You sure are - you just won't believe it when you plug in and start playing. Sure, we are building these cuz we know they are great amps, but even as you are building it, the beautiful sound these make when its all said and done exceeds all your expectations. I say that with 150% confidence. In my mind its gotta be in the top 5 circuits ever made.

March 7th, 2008, 08:38 PM	#13 (permalink)
jh45gun Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,010	Johnny a good router and jig should make good joints with out any slop.

March 7th, 2008, 10:04 PM	#14 (permalink)
DrewB Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Independence, MO Posts: 1,079	True, but getting the cut depths (vertical and horizontal) set just right is extremely important. I practice on scrap to ensure I have everything set up properly before I start in on my actual cabinet sides. __________________ There is no substitute for Sound Pressure Level

March 7th, 2008, 10:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
TeeBird Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sebastian, FL Age: 46 Posts: 328	Those look great! I find amp wiring a lot easier than soldering on a tight circuit board. __________________ Kawanga!

March 8th, 2008, 09:32 AM	#18 (permalink)
DrewB Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Independence, MO Posts: 1,079	My problem is that I don't make cabinets too often, so I put the router away when I'm done and the dovetail jig sits for a long time between uses. If I was doing finger joints with it, I'm sure it would be a lot easier, but half-blind dovetails are a more-complex joint. They's sure purty, though! __________________ There is no substitute for Sound Pressure Level

March 8th, 2008, 09:40 AM	#19 (permalink)
Ricky D. Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Age: 57 Posts: 869	Use the brass plate as a prefab fixture for the input jacks and the tone and volume pots. Mount the components on the plate just finger tight and wire'em up. Johnny C. has the right idea about doing as much power supply and tube socket wiring as possible before the board goes in.

March 8th, 2008, 11:03 AM	#20 (permalink)
camari Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Age: 50 Posts: 102	I really appreciate the input. With the chassis kit, it did not tell me where to start. I know I can figure things out, but if there is a sequence to building that makes things easier, then I would love to know it. I am the type that builds a project in my mind over and over til the bugs are worked out. I ordered Tonnes of Tone book , should be here today. __________________ Remember to listen. Last edited by camari; March 8th, 2008 at 11:12 AM. Reason: add to

March 8th, 2008, 11:34 AM	#21 (permalink)
DrewB Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Independence, MO Posts: 1,079	The "perfect world" build: 1. Install the tube sockets, output jacks, fuse holder, switches, pilot and output transformer 2. Install the power transformer and AC cord 3. Wire the mains connection to the fuse holder and switches 4. Wire the heater supply for the rectifier, pilot, power and preamp tubes 5. Install the pots 6. Wire the input jacks (with them installed backwards for ease and correct spacing) and install them 7. Install the pots 8. Populate/wire the board, under-board wiring and leads to sockets, pots, etc. Recheck all connections to layout! 9. Install the board and wire everything up 10. Recheck all connections 11. Connect to a speaker, power up, plug in and enjoy __________________ There is no substitute for Sound Pressure Level

March 9th, 2008, 02:03 PM	#24 (permalink)
telest TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 99	Very cool. I've been wanting to build a kit amp for a long time...just can't decide what I want. In the mean time I spend my budget on factory built amps. Good luck and watch out for high voltage. Steve

March 11th, 2008, 01:37 PM	#25 (permalink)
camari Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Age: 50 Posts: 102	Thanks for pointers on where to start on chassis. I worked on installing PT ,power cord, fuse, switches , tube sockets and cutting wire. Started soldering. Some darn tight places for soldering in around the PT. Having a ball!! This is fun. __________________ Remember to listen.