I want a 5E3 in Europe for less than 800€, can I have it?

[xjazzy]

In the first place I want to make clear I don't want to build a kit. I might die while I'm at it and I want a good, reliable amp. I know I can't do such thing.

So, it leaves me with the custom builders option.
For the price and quality, the best option is Lil' Dawg but I really want a standard tweed cab and Jim would not ship to Portugal. It leaves me with the TAD cab option. With shipping and speaker it goes for around 1000€.

Another option would be the Tweedsound 15 but it will be a 1000€ plus when including shipping expenses.

I've emailed to the guys at Roswell amps in the UK and I'm waiting to see how much will it be for a 5E3 repro.

I've read around here about a guy in Germany by the name Klone Valve amps that has a great price and great options but the images on the site...


there's too much mess around there!

Ceriatone would be another option but they don't offer the tweed cab option and in the end it would cost as much as a Lil' Dawg that I think as a bit more quality.

So, what do you guys say?
I really want a combo and not the head+cab option...

[Jeru]

http://www.ceriatone.com/

They go from kits to ready to rock amps.

[Ron Garson]

You could try Torres UK. They appear to have one for sale for £620 which is around 675 Euros, but you'll still have shipping on top, and maybe customs charges in your country, so whether you would get under 800 Euros is debatable.

Anyway, here's the page to look at. You need to scroll down.

http://www.torresamps.com/Amp%20gallery.htm

[Jelle]

The Klon looks horrible, although it may sound great. I think a Ceriatone amp with TAD cab gets you there ($445 + $71 shipping (+Portugese taxes?) + €302 (incl. shipping) = €653, so €150 left for a nice speaker (Jensens go for about €85) and taxes.

[Steve G]

Torres no 183 looks good for £620, what can i sell??

[varakeef]

Originally Posted by Ron Garson

You could try Torres UK. T...and maybe customs charges in your country...
http://www.torresamps.com/Amp%20gallery.htm

No customs what so ever. Both UK and Portugal are within EU, common market.

[xjazzy]

Ron, thanks for the link.
Steve, please don't do it...

Jelle, including taxes the Ceriatone would be the most affordable option but the difference for the Lil' Dawg is a bit short and I think the Dawg deserves the extra money. I was really looking to buy everything together so I could save some money on shipping and taxes.
But thanks for the heads up

[Feargal]

The torres might just do it with sterling being cheap right now.

[Stuco]

I think you should go with the lil dawg 5E3. I've owned one and I don't think there is a better quality for your money 5E3 out there. Jim will build it exactly how you want it and he is the only one that works on these amps so that ups the quality and consistency level in my opinion. He also will send you updates on the build which helps cure your gas pains while he builds it.

[xjazzy]

Stuco, if I could not find a better option I'll go with the Dawg. Jim has been a great person and I think he makes a great work.

[xjazzy]

So, the Torres UK is the best price I can get. The only one under 800€ with the complete amp. Cheaper only the Sowatt from Weber.
What do you guys have to say about Torres UK amps?

[leebman]

There is a review here.
http://www.performing-musician.com/p...orrestweed.htm

[xjazzy]

Well, I have pics of the one up for sale now and the wires are shorter, no orange drop caps...
Well, I'm confused.

[Gee]

Not exactly a Tweed Deluxe but very similar in many ways. This is unbelievable value from one of the regular contributors at 18 Watt:

An 18 Watt head with VVR for £300 - handbuilt.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...STRK:MESELX:IT

[xjazzy]

So, thanks to all for helping me, speacially Ron for pointing me the Torres site. I just ordered #183.
Let's see if I get lucky and don't have the bad experience like the guy who made the review linked above.

I'll give more details when it gets here

[Bensen]

Originally Posted by xjazzy

I've read around here about a guy in Germany by the name Klone Valve amps that has a great price and great options but the images on the site...

I think I'm too late, but I bought an amp frome Friedhelm (thats the name of the klone-valveamp guy). He buildt me a deluxe reverb clon, but with only one channel Vol Tre Bas Rev (No tremolo), for 560 Euros!!!
it's the best sounding fenderish amp I've ever play. Love it a lot + He answered about 1000 emails I wrote. Really helpfull, totaly recommend him if you should ever look for another amp.

[Gee]

This looks excellent.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-57-twee...d=p3286.c0.m14

[xjazzy]

Bensen, I don't have a doubt that the amps from this guy can sound good but that mess inside makes me wonder if anything goes wrong. It'll not be easy to repair.

Gee, that amp suffers the same problem: to much wire flying around!

[Gee]

Originally Posted by xjazzy

Gee, that amp suffers the same problem: to much wire flying around!

Whoever buys that is going to get one hell of a great amp and a bargain I suspect. Check out original Tweed Deluxes to see too much wiring.

[xjazzy]

I don't understand a thing about that, but I've always read that it's not good to avoid noise.
This is an original Tweed Deluxe:

I notice a big difference!
Soundwise it probably doesn't make so much difference but since I'm not able to try it first I have to check that little details.

This is an image of the inards of the Torres I bought. It maybe not be a garanty of a good amp but it does looks a lot better than those two I've pointed. At least it will be easier to repair if anything goes bad.

[Gee]

Some Fender Deluxes have neat looking wiring but others don't. It all depended on who made them that day. I have seen inside a RI 5E3 and it looked very messy but sounded fine. Sometimes by making an amp's wiring look very neat more problems can be caused such as running some wires next to each other.

Anyway, that doesn't matter you have a 5E3 so I hope you enjoy it.

[xjazzy]

Yeah, I understand what you say

I'll give an update and it gets here.

[Ron Garson]

Yes, let us know how it is when you get it!

[xjazzy]

It's here:


It sounds great.
I hadn't had too much time to play it but I really likd what I heard.
Some cab or tube rattle. have to take some time to find the problem but it's not a major issue.

[Ron Garson]

That's great!