5E3 cab question

EasilyAmused · April 9th, 2008, 03:06 PM

Hi Everyone,

I was looking at cabinets online and I noticed that the cabinet for a blues junior at one site was 16 x 20 x 9.5 - which is the same as their tweed deluxe cabinet.

Now I hear people complain about the size of the blues junior cabinet quite a bit commenting on how it really lacks bass because of that, so I'm wondering if those are the normal blues junior specs, or why it is that I don't hear people complaining about the small size of 5E3 cabs and their impact on tone (maybe people do and I just have missed all of that?)

Thanks a bunch!

Patrick

titus · April 9th, 2008, 03:42 PM

They're similar, but not exactly the same - from the Fender site:
Blues Jr. - Height: 16" (40.64 cm), Width: 18" (45.72 cm), Depth: 9.18" (23.31 cm). '57 Deluxe - Height: 16.75" (43 cm), Width: 20" (51 cm), Depth: 9.5" (24 cm). I found the size difference when looking for a black beater (vinyl lined) cover for the Deluxe. The Deluxe cover is a fairly thin brown denim like fabric. Anyway, as to your subject....if I were to guess, I would say the biggest tonal differences come not from the size (they're nearly the same), but from the construction. The Deluxe is solid pine with an alnico speaker...the BJ is plywood (or is it MFD - site doesn't say) and a ceramic speaker. I recall people discussing changing things on the BJ and being happier with the sound. I guess the same applies to the special tweed edition of the amp that came with an alnico speaker...lots of positives about that. Well, that's my take on it.\-T

chabby · April 9th, 2008, 04:54 PM

The tonal difference comes from the circuitry wouldnt you think?
I don't think you can put a 5E3 in a cab and have it sound bad.
I put mine in a 100 dollar Epiphone Valve Junior cab and it sounds stunning with the Epi's stock 16ohm 70 watt RMS Eminence Lady Luck.

titus · April 9th, 2008, 05:45 PM

Well, yeah....there's that...**.....(sound of me slapping my forehead).

But besides them being two completely different amps/circuits, the cabinet constuction and speakers are also quite different...too....does that make me sound like any less of an idiot? He asked about cabs and I didn't really think beyond that - oops.
I'm sure its' a point of dissagreement among some, but I'm convinced a quality cab can make a difference. To me, those lightweight solid pine tweed cabinets have a resonance much like an acoustic guitar.
-T

chabby · April 10th, 2008, 12:47 PM

There is no question that a well designed cab can make a difference to a point. Thats why there are so many different companys out there building amps and cabs nowadays.

Just as one of the many examples take Bogner for instance. They make innovative cabs such as in my Bogner Shiva 80 watt amp. There is really nothing like it anywhere. It's an 80 watt EL34 amp with a 1x12 closed back cab (also available open back) that sounds like a 4x12. Now thats kind of hard to do with a 1x12 wouldnt you think? Yet they have done it through engineering a cab design with chambering (I won't go into detail). But they put as much into the cab design as they do the circuitry and thats what sets them apart from many other boutique builders. Not that other boutique builders don't also make good cabs. But there are well built, high quality cabs and there are well built, well engineered high quality cabs too.

In other words, alot can go into the design as well as the construction, but there is a point of diminishing returns. Which is why the Epi cab I used sounds so good but only costs 100 bucks. The point is, the materials are good enough that when discussing a simple cab, that is a 4 walled basic cab there is only so much that can be done whereby the quality of the materials used is gonna matter. Some great feat of engineering not withstanding such as Bogner does with chambering etc., an Epi cab is (I declare) as good as can be had, sound wise, for a simple box cab design. I will stand it next to any of its type and allow to be proven wrong.

That isn't to say I don't appreciate the workmanship and strength gained from dovetail joints and neatly mitred work, but as I said, you may gain some strength but sound wise, well... you can't beat an EPi cab for value, strength and the ol "Easy Button".

April 9th, 2008, 03:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
EasilyAmused Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: London Age: 24 Posts: 246	5E3 cab question Hi Everyone, I was looking at cabinets online and I noticed that the cabinet for a blues junior at one site was 16 x 20 x 9.5 - which is the same as their tweed deluxe cabinet. Now I hear people complain about the size of the blues junior cabinet quite a bit commenting on how it really lacks bass because of that, so I'm wondering if those are the normal blues junior specs, or why it is that I don't hear people complaining about the small size of 5E3 cabs and their impact on tone (maybe people do and I just have missed all of that?) Thanks a bunch! Patrick __________________ Check out my bands' sites: Soul/Blues and Brit Pop and Rock

April 9th, 2008, 03:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
titus Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 145	They're similar, but not exactly the same - from the Fender site: Blues Jr. - Height: 16" (40.64 cm), Width: 18" (45.72 cm), Depth: 9.18" (23.31 cm). '57 Deluxe - Height: 16.75" (43 cm), Width: 20" (51 cm), Depth: 9.5" (24 cm). I found the size difference when looking for a black beater (vinyl lined) cover for the Deluxe. The Deluxe cover is a fairly thin brown denim like fabric. Anyway, as to your subject....if I were to guess, I would say the biggest tonal differences come not from the size (they're nearly the same), but from the construction. The Deluxe is solid pine with an alnico speaker...the BJ is plywood (or is it MFD - site doesn't say) and a ceramic speaker. I recall people discussing changing things on the BJ and being happier with the sound. I guess the same applies to the special tweed edition of the amp that came with an alnico speaker...lots of positives about that. Well, that's my take on it.\-T __________________ 52ri>57Deluxe-mmm!

April 9th, 2008, 05:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
titus Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 145	Well, yeah....there's that...**.....(sound of me slapping my forehead). But besides them being two completely different amps/circuits, the cabinet constuction and speakers are also quite different...too....does that make me sound like any less of an idiot? He asked about cabs and I didn't really think beyond that - oops. I'm sure its' a point of dissagreement among some, but I'm convinced a quality cab can make a difference. To me, those lightweight solid pine tweed cabinets have a resonance much like an acoustic guitar. -T __________________ 52ri>57Deluxe-mmm!

April 9th, 2008, 04:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
chabby Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,261	The tonal difference comes from the circuitry wouldnt you think? I don't think you can put a 5E3 in a cab and have it sound bad. I put mine in a 100 dollar Epiphone Valve Junior cab and it sounds stunning with the Epi's stock 16ohm 70 watt RMS Eminence Lady Luck.

April 10th, 2008, 12:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
chabby Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,261	There is no question that a well designed cab can make a difference to a point. Thats why there are so many different companys out there building amps and cabs nowadays. Just as one of the many examples take Bogner for instance. They make innovative cabs such as in my Bogner Shiva 80 watt amp. There is really nothing like it anywhere. It's an 80 watt EL34 amp with a 1x12 closed back cab (also available open back) that sounds like a 4x12. Now thats kind of hard to do with a 1x12 wouldnt you think? Yet they have done it through engineering a cab design with chambering (I won't go into detail). But they put as much into the cab design as they do the circuitry and thats what sets them apart from many other boutique builders. Not that other boutique builders don't also make good cabs. But there are well built, high quality cabs and there are well built, well engineered high quality cabs too. In other words, alot can go into the design as well as the construction, but there is a point of diminishing returns. Which is why the Epi cab I used sounds so good but only costs 100 bucks. The point is, the materials are good enough that when discussing a simple cab, that is a 4 walled basic cab there is only so much that can be done whereby the quality of the materials used is gonna matter. Some great feat of engineering not withstanding such as Bogner does with chambering etc., an Epi cab is (I declare) as good as can be had, sound wise, for a simple box cab design. I will stand it next to any of its type and allow to be proven wrong. That isn't to say I don't appreciate the workmanship and strength gained from dovetail joints and neatly mitred work, but as I said, you may gain some strength but sound wise, well... you can't beat an EPi cab for value, strength and the ol "Easy Button".