She Ain't Too Purty, But She Shore Gets Down!

getbent · November 6th, 2006, 05:36 PM

Well, its almost my birthday and I vowed that I'd have my first amp built before I was a year older. So I bought a Weber kit 5F2A. I took me a good portion of two days and I am forever in the debt of Johnny Crash for offering advice and guidance. I am seriously challenged on the electricity thing.... and I was able to build the kit with the drawing and schematic. I encourage anybody to try building an amp... Now I gotta get my tele finished! and I gave myself my birthday present (although again not possible without Johnny C and while Terry Downs may demand I send back his dvd on soldering it was hugely helpful as well.)

The best part is the amp sounds great! Perfect for the tv room and for small get togethers!

Pix!

I'd sure love to hear your feedback! Thanks to the TDPRI for being so encouraging!

Bob Arbogast · November 6th, 2006, 05:46 PM

That is sweet. Great choices on the cosmetics. Congratulations!

Bob Arbogast

ruger9 · November 6th, 2006, 05:59 PM

Very cool! Weber's 5F2A is what I'm looking to build... with a few circuit hot rods... that looks sweet! How's it sound? What do you think?

BTW- what speaker came with the Weber kit?

getbent · November 6th, 2006, 06:02 PM

Thanks Bob! I wanted something kinda funky... and I think green is my favorite color.

Oh, and here is the logo I had made for it by CJ at ted weber's... what a great guy to work with and I'm really happy with how it turned out too.

Veitchy · November 6th, 2006, 06:10 PM

Thats awesome. I realy want to study electronics so that I can learn to wire my own guitars, or even build something like this. Thats really cool, hope you enjoy.

morroben · November 6th, 2006, 06:24 PM

I'm about to order a 6A14HP kit from Weber. I have a buddy that can lend a hand if I get too confused. I hope it turns out as nice as yours. That things sweet.

getbent · November 6th, 2006, 06:26 PM

Ruger,
The speaker is AlNiCo Sig 10S... the amp sounds great, I'm still breaking it in but, it is really a cool amp.... I've got a really small room I"m playing in (corporate thing) sunday and I'm gonna use it (I gotta really test it to make sure I did everything right! but I think it will be fine)

I think lots of guys upgrade to spragues and higher quality input jacks etc, but I really wanted to reduce my variables on my first one... plus, my intention is to rip this thing open frequently and dink with it..

Veitchy, be not afraid! I am way more retarded than Johnny C and the light came on the first time---> Go figure! as they say in the really bad movie "waterboy" you can do it!

Tele295 · November 6th, 2006, 06:34 PM

I thought a 5F__ was a Bassman circuit, but the 5F2A looks more like a 1x10 tweed Harvard?

getbent · November 6th, 2006, 06:37 PM

Tele 295,
I think it is close to a tweed princeton. I don't claim to know definitively though, someone else, like tremo or dave barnett will probably know.

it is a single 6V6 and 1 X 10.

DrewB · November 6th, 2006, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbent

Tele 295,
I think it is close to a tweed princeton. I don't claim to know definitively though, someone else, like tremo or dave barnett will probably know.

it is a single 6V6 and 1 X 10.

Correct, a 5F2A is a tweed Princeton circuit. That's a really freakin' cool badge you had made up, too!

telel6s · November 6th, 2006, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tele295

I thought a 5F__ was a Bassman circuit, but the 5F2A looks more like a 1x10 tweed Harvard?

5 = Decade circuit was drawn
F = version of the circuit
2 = place in the Fender amp line

5F1 - the Tweed Champ that most people know
5F2 = Harvard
5E3 - Tweed Deluxe; earlier Deluxes are the 5C3
etc.

CancerLeoCam · November 6th, 2006, 07:41 PM

Nice job Randy!

getbent · November 6th, 2006, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CancerLeoCam

Nice job Randy!

Thanks bro! I am an amoeba compared to your amazing amps and your skills! I'm glad the real whiz kids are out there... All I can say is whatever you charge for your amps... it is worth it! There are a bunch of parts even in a simple amp like the 5F2A... I can only imagine with reverb etc! I have a new found and deep respect for the amp builders!

dean · November 6th, 2006, 08:12 PM

Beautiful! Very encouraging for those of us who intend on taking the plunge. So, what did you use for instructions?

Dean

getbent · November 6th, 2006, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dean

Beautiful! Very encouraging for those of us who intend on taking the plunge. So, what did you use for instructions?

Dean

You can dowload a schematic and picture that is a layout of how the amp should look. I used that and in a few places, Johnny Crash totally helped me out by either seeing a mistake or telling me what a symptom probably meant. The schematic has the voltages etc. and in a few cases it is different from the layout... thank god for Johnny giving me the scoop!

I was foolish enough after working very, very slowly and checking and double checking things and having Johnny and David Barnett look over the guts, I put the tubes in and fired it up.... and... the light came on and I got sound... Now when I put the correct speaker wire on it sounded awesome.

I'd be lying if I said I was totally up to speed in any way. I read a couple of books. I bought the Gerald Weber DVD, but there is so much to know I'll be learning forever to even be able to converse with Tremo, JC, David B etc... those guys know what is UP! My amp is only evidence that if you work slowly (and get Terry Downs DVD on soldering) and are determined to not have to take your kit to Uncle Spot to build for you... you can do it.

Now I am diving into the painting on my tele project and I need to hustle so I can drop it off with Brian F to get a bender!

You can do it if I can. Believe me.

BB · November 7th, 2006, 01:32 AM

Very cool and it sho nuff looks durn purdy to me! Congrats on having the gonads build one. Very inspiring indeed. Sounds like you put yourself together a winner. Happy birthday!

Jelly · November 7th, 2006, 02:45 AM

That looks rad! Can I be so bold as to ask what your bottom line ballpark price turned out to be?

collinsman · November 7th, 2006, 08:07 AM

Very sweet ! tell us about your guitar project...

getbent · November 7th, 2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jelly

That looks rad! Can I be so bold as to ask what your bottom line ballpark price turned out to be?

410.00 I think Ted is running a special right now that is even cheaper. Also, I built a BYOC pedal before buying the amp kit to see if I could hack it.... Those kits are cool I have 4 homemade pedals now and am starting to sell off the stuff that was store bought (which I use the proceeds for the next project.

Quote:

Originally Posted by collinsman

Very sweet ! tell us about your guitar project...

Jack Wells and Buckocaster and the Rices (and a bunch of other really talented people on the board0 are nothing short of an inspiration to me that even if I stink it up, it can be fixed and made okay.... (I already checked with a local guitar tech buddy to ask if he'd bail me out if I screwed up and he laughed and said "no problem" and I know why... after I'm done I'd never complain about a bill!)

My tele project is pretty simple. rosewood neck (I think it is a mighty mite, it looks and feels very nice.. I got it for 80 on the bay... I got a Ben Heffer body it is nice for 90... unkie al hooked me up with a cool logo file in illustrator so that is square, I'm gonna do some butterscotch goodness to the neck (back and headstock) I bought white, CAR, and a cool fender green (the name escapes me and I'm too lazy to go look) I bought a satellite car emblem, bushing adaptere, classic klusons, Bennie Trevillian pickups, mint pg, wilkinson bridge, electrosocket (although I'm toying with the classic setup too) and when I'm done I'm going to have Brian F put a PW long throw bender in it

Haven't decided on the paint scheme... toyed with calling it the buxican an doing a buck guitar with mexican flag colors (I"m 1/4 mexican and when I hear "Streets of Bakersfield" I think of the crap my grandfather got just for his nation of origin although he became a citizen etc) and mixing in some Clarence goodness.... I'm open to suggestions... I've also thought that it would be cool to paint the front and back green and do the thickness in white with green pinstripes on the white... maybe too ambitious... honestly if you have thoughts I'm open to them... I want this guitar to be the one I play the most when I leave the house.... and I have wanted a bender forever and just need to suck it up and get it done...

sorry for the ramble.

JohnnyCrash · November 7th, 2006, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbent

Veitchy, be not afraid! I am way more retarded than Johnny C and the light came on the first time

Don't ever underestimate my stupidity! HAHAHA

Nobody is as dumb as me :)

I was beaten by some no talent hack actor for the part of "Corky" on "Life Goes On"...

Ditto on what you said about CancerLeoCam... everytime I see those pictures of his amps sitting by the beach on his site... makes me wonder if I'll ever get better at building to be that good.

As far as my help goes... I'm still pretty new to building amps. Dave and Tremo (who seems to like putting me in my place as often as he can HAHAHA) actually understand what they're talking about!

getbent · November 7th, 2006, 08:21 PM

my money is on you JC! I never would have even tried without your encouragement and assistance!

Poppatwang · November 8th, 2006, 10:17 AM

Nice job. I ordered the T. Downs soldering video. Next up, a board kit
to convert an existing amp. Then, if that works out, a kit build. I've got
GAS for an 18 watt Marshall clone.

FiddlinJim · November 8th, 2006, 11:22 AM

Great job Mr. Bent!
I finished my Marsh kit 5F2A Princeton in the spring and I love it. Unfortunately for my wallet, I enjoyed making it so much that I had to then go out and gather parts to build a 5F4 Super, which I gigged for the first time this weekend. Great feeling of accomplishment for us electrical ignoramuses (ignoramusi?) to be able to build something that sounds sooo good.

BenderR · November 8th, 2006, 11:29 AM

It's ignorami

ig-nor-aim-eye

November 6th, 2006, 05:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Age: 48 Posts: 9,154 37 Photos	She Ain't Too Purty, But She Shore Gets Down! Well, its almost my birthday and I vowed that I'd have my first amp built before I was a year older. So I bought a Weber kit 5F2A. I took me a good portion of two days and I am forever in the debt of Johnny Crash for offering advice and guidance. I am seriously challenged on the electricity thing.... and I was able to build the kit with the drawing and schematic. I encourage anybody to try building an amp... Now I gotta get my tele finished! and I gave myself my birthday present (although again not possible without Johnny C and while Terry Downs may demand I send back his dvd on soldering it was hugely helpful as well.) The best part is the amp sounds great! Perfect for the tv room and for small get togethers! Pix! I'd sure love to hear your feedback! Thanks to the TDPRI for being so encouraging! __________________ Happiness makes up in height what it lacks in length.

November 6th, 2006, 05:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
ruger9 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hackettstown, NJ Posts: 1,595	Very cool! Weber's 5F2A is what I'm looking to build... with a few circuit hot rods... that looks sweet! How's it sound? What do you think? BTW- what speaker came with the Weber kit? __________________ "I've got callouses, from all those nights, spent playin' a Telecaster, 'till my fingers bled Bud Light" - Travis Tritt

November 6th, 2006, 06:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Age: 48 Posts: 9,154 37 Photos	Thanks Bob! I wanted something kinda funky... and I think green is my favorite color. Oh, and here is the logo I had made for it by CJ at ted weber's... what a great guy to work with and I'm really happy with how it turned out too. __________________ Happiness makes up in height what it lacks in length.

November 6th, 2006, 06:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Veitchy Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Age: 19 Posts: 855	Thats awesome. I realy want to study electronics so that I can learn to wire my own guitars, or even build something like this. Thats really cool, hope you enjoy. __________________ Livin' youre dreams, Woah you on top. My mind is aching, Lord it wont stop. Thats how it happens livin' life by the drop.

November 6th, 2006, 06:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Age: 48 Posts: 9,154 37 Photos	Ruger, The speaker is AlNiCo Sig 10S... the amp sounds great, I'm still breaking it in but, it is really a cool amp.... I've got a really small room I"m playing in (corporate thing) sunday and I'm gonna use it (I gotta really test it to make sure I did everything right! but I think it will be fine) I think lots of guys upgrade to spragues and higher quality input jacks etc, but I really wanted to reduce my variables on my first one... plus, my intention is to rip this thing open frequently and dink with it.. Veitchy, be not afraid! I am way more retarded than Johnny C and the light came on the first time---> Go figure! as they say in the really bad movie "waterboy" you can do it! __________________ Happiness makes up in height what it lacks in length.

November 6th, 2006, 05:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bob Arbogast Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA Age: 48 Posts: 478	That is sweet. Great choices on the cosmetics. Congratulations! Bob Arbogast

November 6th, 2006, 06:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
morroben Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: california Age: 32 Posts: 1,709 18 Photos	I'm about to order a 6A14HP kit from Weber. I have a buddy that can lend a hand if I get too confused. I hope it turns out as nice as yours. That things sweet.

November 6th, 2006, 06:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tele295 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tiger Town Posts: 3,235 14 Photos	I thought a 5F__ was a Bassman circuit, but the 5F2A looks more like a 1x10 tweed Harvard? __________________ "Turn it up and it doesn't need any reverb." - Danny Gatton www.dannygatton.info Tiger Town Aces - Music That Bites Back In Redd we trust! Free Bill Kirchen! If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

November 6th, 2006, 06:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Age: 48 Posts: 9,154 37 Photos	Tele 295, I think it is close to a tweed princeton. I don't claim to know definitively though, someone else, like tremo or dave barnett will probably know. it is a single 6V6 and 1 X 10. __________________ Happiness makes up in height what it lacks in length.

November 6th, 2006, 07:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
CancerLeoCam Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mule Deer-Mt. Lion Safari, CA Posts: 1,651 5 Photos	Nice job Randy! __________________ Everyone's your buddy when they want you or something from you. If you're not willing to work for free why should somebody else?

November 6th, 2006, 08:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
dean Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Age: 60 Posts: 1,978	Beautiful! Very encouraging for those of us who intend on taking the plunge. So, what did you use for instructions? Dean __________________ "I used to be clueless, but I've turned that situation around 360 degrees."

November 7th, 2006, 01:32 AM	#16 (permalink)
BB Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pacific NW Age: 53 Posts: 3,051	Very cool and it sho nuff looks durn purdy to me! Congrats on having the gonads build one. Very inspiring indeed. Sounds like you put yourself together a winner. Happy birthday!

November 7th, 2006, 02:45 AM	#17 (permalink)
Jelly Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 1,423 10 Photos	That looks rad! Can I be so bold as to ask what your bottom line ballpark price turned out to be? __________________ "I got on a bus and I went to Fresno because I thought Merle Haggard lived there."

November 7th, 2006, 08:07 AM	#18 (permalink)
collinsman Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2006 Location: " Land Of Ten Thousand Taxes" Posts: 1,106	Very sweet ! tell us about your guitar project... __________________ The Tele, my favorite axe and I love the Players - Albert Collins, Roy Buchanon, Robben Ford, Danny Gatton, Jerry Donohue, & many others.

November 7th, 2006, 08:21 PM	#21 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Age: 48 Posts: 9,154 37 Photos	my money is on you JC! I never would have even tried without your encouragement and assistance! __________________ Happiness makes up in height what it lacks in length.

November 8th, 2006, 10:17 AM	#22 (permalink)
Poppatwang Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 1,854 13 Photos	Nice job. I ordered the T. Downs soldering video. Next up, a board kit to convert an existing amp. Then, if that works out, a kit build. I've got GAS for an 18 watt Marshall clone. __________________ The Dieselfitters http://www.dieselfitters.com Roy Hubbs http://www.royhubbs.com

November 8th, 2006, 11:22 AM	#23 (permalink)
FiddlinJim Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Seattle, E-merica, Earth... Age: 49 Posts: 160	Great job Mr. Bent! I finished my Marsh kit 5F2A Princeton in the spring and I love it. Unfortunately for my wallet, I enjoyed making it so much that I had to then go out and gather parts to build a 5F4 Super, which I gigged for the first time this weekend. Great feeling of accomplishment for us electrical ignoramuses (ignoramusi?) to be able to build something that sounds sooo good. __________________ --- "Speak English Doc, we ain't scientists!" ---

November 8th, 2006, 11:29 AM	#24 (permalink)
BenderR Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Tucson, AZ. Age: 53 Posts: 293	It's ignorami ig-nor-aim-eye __________________ Bender R. "The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing; if you can fake that, you've got it made" -- Groucho Ma