5E3 kit arrived today. First build.

[camari]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

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]

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]

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

ce24

[JohnnyCrash]

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]

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

[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.

[TeeBird]

Those look great!

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

[Larry F]

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]

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]

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.]

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]

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.