Tube Amp Kits - Suggest One Please!

castpolymer · November 27th, 2009, 06:53 AM

I want to build my first tube amp. I am thinking an easy vintage ( no reverb or vibrato ) circuit with a 10" speaker. I would prefer a vintage tweed schematic ( as I do not own a Fender tweed amp ). I have wired up upwards of 20 guitars in the past couple of years ( so I think I have the tools and basic know - how ). I would like 2 instrument jacks, but if that is not available, then one is OK. I want to buy a kit so I am assured ( as much as is humanly possible ) that if I do the job right, the amp will work. Any input or suggestions is gladly accepted.

backalleyblues · November 27th, 2009, 08:51 AM

Sounds like a Princeton to me! Here's Weber's version, I'm sure a few others will chime in with their preferred builders...

https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_50a.htm#5F2A

As always, be REALLY careful inside an amp, as I'm sure you've read a bazillion times on this board...

Good Luck CP!

Franc Robert

castpolymer · November 27th, 2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backalleyblues

Sounds like a Princeton to me! Here's Weber's version, I'm sure a few others will chime in with their preferred builders...

https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_50a.htm#5F2A

As always, be REALLY careful inside an amp, as I'm sure you've read a bazillion times on this board...

Good Luck CP!

Franc Robert

Do you have any experience with these kits? I was kinda leaning toward Weber since I buy speakers from them.

fezz parka · November 27th, 2009, 06:47 PM

The 5f2a is a pretty easy build for a first timer, and you'll get a pretty decent amp in the process. With the Weber kits there's no instructions, but there's plenty of people around here ( and other places on the internets) who can help you out.

getbent · November 27th, 2009, 06:49 PM

I had a great time building the Weber 5f2a kit.

you can read about it.

Johnny Crash was a huge help!

Scott S · November 27th, 2009, 07:06 PM

Another vote for the Weber's 5F2A kit. It took me about three days, but that's because I'm

- Scott

T Prior · November 28th, 2009, 06:48 AM

Interesting read, I too have been considering a build and had been looking at the 5E3 kits, which I am understanding as being the early Deluxe style amps @15 watts while the 5F2A is the one of the early Princeton amps as 4.5 watts. For the money and the time I am thing the 5E3 would be a more useful project .

I have read that the Weber transformers ( some Asian brand) may be a bit on the lower end of the scale, any thoughts here ? I doubt I will ever gig with the amp I build but rather build it , play through it now and again and them let it just sit there with the rest of my stuff so maybe the Xformer thing is not that big of a deal.

So, 5E3 or 5F2A is the question , and is it worth going to a MOJO kit or a Marsh kit ?

Getbent, love the amp you build and that name tag is the best ! Tat green and sliver rules the day !

you should consider making them for " us" for a slight fee...

thanks

tp

PS; I am schooled Electronics Tech so I really don't care which kit is in front of me difficulty wise.

Ricky D. · November 28th, 2009, 07:14 AM

I built the Mission Amps 5E3 kit a few years ago. Totally satisfactory. First rate components. Detail photos on line lead you through the build. Unlimited phone support. Bruce Collins at Mission loves to talk about these and shares his knowledge freely. And if you screw it up beyond your ability to troubleshoot, ship it back to Bruce, and he will fix it for $75.00 (plus parts, I think, if something was destroyed along the way).

The Mission chassis is a work of art. Very precisely made, everything fits the way it should. Pressed-in threaded inserts for all the screws. Corners are welded and ground smooth.

muchxs · November 28th, 2009, 12:34 PM

Build 'em all!

Seriously, little SEs like the Champ or Princeton do their thing and that's the only way to get that exact tone.

The 5E3 (tweed Deluxe) does its thing and that's cool, too. The Deluxe is a little more flexible. Some musicians view them as a raging distortion amp. When you start to work with the controls on the amp and their interaction with the controls on your guitar it turns out there are a lot of tones in there. I use a CV with a four position switch with mine, I can get more tones than I'll ever need.

I'll never get every tone I want, that's another story..

David Barnett · November 28th, 2009, 12:37 PM

Mission 5E3 is an ideal first amp project.

http://www.missionamps.com/5E3kit.shtml

If it costs a little more than Ted Webers, well it's got better parts.

JCBurke59 · November 28th, 2009, 12:57 PM

I love my Mission 5E3.

SirJackdeFuzz · November 28th, 2009, 08:15 PM

Another massive vote for a 5E3 kit.

Utoob it and just hear all those 5E3 goodness . . .

DavidP · November 28th, 2009, 08:46 PM

My first build a few years ago now and it just keeps on sounding better (it does have an early 60s Jensen P10N pulled from an old Leslie unit) . I've A/B'd this against true 5E3s and like this better. I'd steer you towards Bruce for your first build.

November 27th, 2009, 06:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
castpolymer Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oklahoma - Home of the Sooners Age: 39 Posts: 3,553	Tube Amp Kits - Suggest One Please! I want to build my first tube amp. I am thinking an easy vintage ( no reverb or vibrato ) circuit with a 10" speaker. I would prefer a vintage tweed schematic ( as I do not own a Fender tweed amp ). I have wired up upwards of 20 guitars in the past couple of years ( so I think I have the tools and basic know - how ). I would like 2 instrument jacks, but if that is not available, then one is OK. I want to buy a kit so I am assured ( as much as is humanly possible ) that if I do the job right, the amp will work. Any input or suggestions is gladly accepted. __________________ " I think this has been a marvelous decade for civility and anyone who disagrees with me can gargle my man sac." Stephen Colbert

November 27th, 2009, 08:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
backalleyblues Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tampa Bay, FL, USA Age: 47 Posts: 1,298	Sounds like a Princeton to me! Here's Weber's version, I'm sure a few others will chime in with their preferred builders... https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_50a.htm#5F2A As always, be REALLY careful inside an amp, as I'm sure you've read a bazillion times on this board... Good Luck CP! Franc Robert __________________ When Will The Blues get YOU?!?!? www.francrobert.com The Delta Aces http://www.myspace.com/francrobert

November 27th, 2009, 07:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
Scott S Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW CR IA US NA PE Age: 29 Posts: 4,378	Another vote for the Weber's 5F2A kit. It took me about three days, but that's because I'm - Scott __________________ Wound thirds are my anti-wank.

November 28th, 2009, 06:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
T Prior Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 1,930	Interesting read, I too have been considering a build and had been looking at the 5E3 kits, which I am understanding as being the early Deluxe style amps @15 watts while the 5F2A is the one of the early Princeton amps as 4.5 watts. For the money and the time I am thing the 5E3 would be a more useful project . I have read that the Weber transformers ( some Asian brand) may be a bit on the lower end of the scale, any thoughts here ? I doubt I will ever gig with the amp I build but rather build it , play through it now and again and them let it just sit there with the rest of my stuff so maybe the Xformer thing is not that big of a deal. So, 5E3 or 5F2A is the question , and is it worth going to a MOJO kit or a Marsh kit ? Getbent, love the amp you build and that name tag is the best ! Tat green and sliver rules the day ! you should consider making them for " us" for a slight fee... thanks tp PS; I am schooled Electronics Tech so I really don't care which kit is in front of me difficulty wise. __________________ www.tprior.com

November 28th, 2009, 12:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
muchxs Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New England Posts: 2,063	Build 'em all! Seriously, little SEs like the Champ or Princeton do their thing and that's the only way to get that exact tone. The 5E3 (tweed Deluxe) does its thing and that's cool, too. The Deluxe is a little more flexible. Some musicians view them as a raging distortion amp. When you start to work with the controls on the amp and their interaction with the controls on your guitar it turns out there are a lot of tones in there. I use a CV with a four position switch with mine, I can get more tones than I'll ever need. I'll never get every tone I want, that's another story.. __________________ Take it to a tech.

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November 27th, 2009, 06:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
fezz parka VENDOR Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chasing Buddy's ghost in Clear Lake... Posts: 3,067 56 Photos	The 5f2a is a pretty easy build for a first timer, and you'll get a pretty decent amp in the process. With the Weber kits there's no instructions, but there's plenty of people around here ( and other places on the internets) who can help you out.

November 27th, 2009, 06:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Posts: 16,055 37 Photos	I had a great time building the Weber 5f2a kit. you can read about it. Johnny Crash was a huge help!

November 28th, 2009, 07:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
Ricky D. Friend of Leo's Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maryland Age: 59 Posts: 2,747	I built the Mission Amps 5E3 kit a few years ago. Totally satisfactory. First rate components. Detail photos on line lead you through the build. Unlimited phone support. Bruce Collins at Mission loves to talk about these and shares his knowledge freely. And if you screw it up beyond your ability to troubleshoot, ship it back to Bruce, and he will fix it for $75.00 (plus parts, I think, if something was destroyed along the way). The Mission chassis is a work of art. Very precisely made, everything fits the way it should. Pressed-in threaded inserts for all the screws. Corners are welded and ground smooth.

November 28th, 2009, 12:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
David Barnett Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Far-Flung Isles of Langerhans Age: 54 Posts: 6,277	Mission 5E3 is an ideal first amp project. http://www.missionamps.com/5E3kit.shtml If it costs a little more than Ted Webers, well it's got better parts. __________________ "Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand." -- H. Simpson

November 28th, 2009, 12:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
JCBurke59 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Long Island, NY Age: 51 Posts: 234	I love my Mission 5E3. __________________ all partscasters, all the time...

November 28th, 2009, 08:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
SirJackdeFuzz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: P.E. South Africa Age: 37 Posts: 1,089	Another massive vote for a 5E3 kit. Utoob it and just hear all those 5E3 goodness . . . __________________ Guitar -->Fuzz -->OD -->Trem -->Delay -->'66Bassman.

November 28th, 2009, 08:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
DavidP Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 780	Yet another +1 for the Mission 5E3!! My first build a few years ago now and it just keeps on sounding better (it does have an early 60s Jensen P10N pulled from an old Leslie unit) . I've A/B'd this against true 5E3s and like this better. I'd steer you towards Bruce for your first build. __________________ barely in tune and teetering on the brink of oblivion...

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