Advice sought: 5E7 vs. 5F4

Bob Arbogast · May 18th, 2007, 05:26 AM

1. I have a 5F4 Super that I built a number of years ago. It's fitted with Eminence Ragin Cajun and Copperhead speakers. It has a great voice.

2. For a long time I have been hankering to play a 5E7 Bandmaster. So I'm toying with the idea of getting a Bandmaster cabinet, loading it with 3 Weber Alnico Signature 10S speakers, and satisfying my curiosity.

3. This is not a cheap experiment; it will cost well over $300.

Any advice on advantages, surprises, frustrations, etc. of 5E7 (3x10) vs. 5F4 (2x10)?

If you want to comment on a 5E5-A (1x15) option, feel free.

By the way, I am not looking to make the amp louder.

Thanks, all.

Bob Arbogast

TexGoneNW · May 18th, 2007, 05:55 AM

You might check with TeleTubby. Send him e-mail, since he's not here much.

Hope he has something for you.

I've played through that Bandmaster/Deluxe combo he got from you, and that's a fine little unit!

mad dog · May 18th, 2007, 02:29 PM

Bob:

The super and bandmaster tweeds sound rather different to me. (I've only heard vintage supers, never played one ... own a Clark Tyger.) Both formats have their virtues. The super drives earlier. Similar voice, but a bit smaller in the Super, more overdrive lower on the dial.

The Bandmaster is somewhere between that and the bassman. My Tyger sounds so much like the 35 watt, 2 input tweed bassman (4x10) I couldn't afford to bring home. It puts a lot of sound on the stage ... an almost perfect compromise format in terms of gigworthiness, portability ... with this wonderful, singing voice. That said, I have long been tempted to swap out the baffle and make it into a tweed pro. I'd love to hear how this amp sounds with a really nice 15. The tweed pro type is turning into my favorite these days.

stantheman · May 18th, 2007, 03:01 PM

I've got a 5E7 and Bob I gotta say, Any Stage - Any Drummer.
Don't know nothin' about The Super but I have played Pros and
if You like that BIG TONE that Junior Watson gets on "Biscuits"
that's what they sound like.
I have no idea what Junior Watson plays with for an Amp but
that's "the tone" I can get from a Pro.
I could kick myself in the behind for all the Tweeds I passed on
in the late 80's that were going for peanuts especially the
Tremolux in Portland and the Pro in Newington.
Arghhhhhhh.
Both were $400 each

Big Steve · May 18th, 2007, 03:42 PM

Junior Watson plays a tweed pro.

I have a 5E7 that I have had for only a few months. I am still trying to dial it in. It sound really nice.

It is my understanding that the 3 speakers present about 3.2 ohms, whereas the Pro has an 8 ohm speaker. What are you planning to do with this impediance mismatch?

Bob Arbogast · June 8th, 2007, 07:33 AM

To all ships at sea:

I decided to stick with the 5F4 format vs. the 5E7. From various experiments and comparisons I have done, I am confident that, with the speakers it has on board, this 5F4 sounds every bit as big as a 5E7 with P10R-type speakers. Of course, I could be wrong. But that's okay.

Bob Arbogast

petebradt · June 8th, 2007, 12:01 PM

I think you made the right decision, Bob., Damn fine amp. I've got Mojo MP10Rs in mine and it sounds great!

Rick S · June 8th, 2007, 12:58 PM

Bob, you are correct about your 2x10" config being the "bigger" of the two.

The real difference in the 5E7 comes in the overdrive character. IF you have proper P10R type speakers in this amp, and IF you have a proper output transformer, and IF your voltages are correct, you have a configuration where everything falls about as perfectly in place as it gets, in terms of transformer saturation and speaker breakup all happening at the right point.

Your 5F4 with the speakers you have in it is a little more of a modern tone and it seems to be something that you are pleased with, so I think you have made the right decision. It really just depends on what characteristics are most important to you.

I also use a 5F4 myself, main reason being the 5E7 is darn near as big and heavy as a 5F6A and if I need an amp that big, I just use a 5F6A. Also, it's seldom I can leave a 5E7 cranked within the sweet spot when playing anyway.

JohnnyCrash · June 8th, 2007, 01:50 PM

I was wondering what you ended up doing :)

Damn, now you've got me wanting to build a 2x10" cab... I've got two 1x12" builds ahead of me already, might as well leave the router out a little longer ;)

Thanks Bob, now I'll never stop building stuff HAHAHAHA

maestrovert · June 8th, 2007, 02:07 PM

i seem to remember readin' somewhere that the 5F4 was Leo's favorite amp.....

May 18th, 2007, 05:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bob Arbogast Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA Age: 47 Posts: 473	Advice sought: 5E7 vs. 5F4 1. I have a 5F4 Super that I built a number of years ago. It's fitted with Eminence Ragin Cajun and Copperhead speakers. It has a great voice. 2. For a long time I have been hankering to play a 5E7 Bandmaster. So I'm toying with the idea of getting a Bandmaster cabinet, loading it with 3 Weber Alnico Signature 10S speakers, and satisfying my curiosity. 3. This is not a cheap experiment; it will cost well over $300. Any advice on advantages, surprises, frustrations, etc. of 5E7 (3x10) vs. 5F4 (2x10)? If you want to comment on a 5E5-A (1x15) option, feel free. By the way, I am not looking to make the amp louder. Thanks, all. Bob Arbogast

May 18th, 2007, 03:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
stantheman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 4,660	I've got a 5E7 and Bob I gotta say, Any Stage - Any Drummer. Don't know nothin' about The Super but I have played Pros and if You like that BIG TONE that Junior Watson gets on "Biscuits" that's what they sound like. I have no idea what Junior Watson plays with for an Amp but that's "the tone" I can get from a Pro. I could kick myself in the behind for all the Tweeds I passed on in the late 80's that were going for peanuts especially the Tremolux in Portland and the Pro in Newington. Arghhhhhhh. Both were $400 each __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

June 8th, 2007, 07:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
Bob Arbogast Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA Age: 47 Posts: 473	To all ships at sea: I decided to stick with the 5F4 format vs. the 5E7. From various experiments and comparisons I have done, I am confident that, with the speakers it has on board, this 5F4 sounds every bit as big as a 5E7 with P10R-type speakers. Of course, I could be wrong. But that's okay. Bob Arbogast __________________ "Wagner's music is better than it sounds." -- Mark Twain

June 8th, 2007, 01:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,134 39 Photos	I was wondering what you ended up doing :) Damn, now you've got me wanting to build a 2x10" cab... I've got two 1x12" builds ahead of me already, might as well leave the router out a little longer ;) Thanks Bob, now I'll never stop building stuff HAHAHAHA __________________ . Learn about safety before building/repairing/modding an amp. When in doubt, take it to a shop. Never drink yellow snow. Have fun.

June 8th, 2007, 02:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 5,835	i seem to remember readin' somewhere that the 5F4 was Leo's favorite amp..... __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

May 18th, 2007, 05:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
TexGoneNW Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Victoria, TX Age: 50 Posts: 904 4 Photos	You might check with TeleTubby. Send him e-mail, since he's not here much. Hope he has something for you. I've played through that Bandmaster/Deluxe combo he got from you, and that's a fine little unit!

May 18th, 2007, 02:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
mad dog Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 677	Bob: The super and bandmaster tweeds sound rather different to me. (I've only heard vintage supers, never played one ... own a Clark Tyger.) Both formats have their virtues. The super drives earlier. Similar voice, but a bit smaller in the Super, more overdrive lower on the dial. The Bandmaster is somewhere between that and the bassman. My Tyger sounds so much like the 35 watt, 2 input tweed bassman (4x10) I couldn't afford to bring home. It puts a lot of sound on the stage ... an almost perfect compromise format in terms of gigworthiness, portability ... with this wonderful, singing voice. That said, I have long been tempted to swap out the baffle and make it into a tweed pro. I'd love to hear how this amp sounds with a really nice 15. The tweed pro type is turning into my favorite these days.

May 18th, 2007, 03:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Big Steve Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 454	Junior Watson plays a tweed pro. I have a 5E7 that I have had for only a few months. I am still trying to dial it in. It sound really nice. It is my understanding that the 3 speakers present about 3.2 ohms, whereas the Pro has an 8 ohm speaker. What are you planning to do with this impediance mismatch?

June 8th, 2007, 12:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
petebradt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Niner Country Posts: 3,243 12 Photos	I think you made the right decision, Bob., Damn fine amp. I've got Mojo MP10Rs in mine and it sounds great!

June 8th, 2007, 12:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rick S Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 489	Bob, you are correct about your 2x10" config being the "bigger" of the two. The real difference in the 5E7 comes in the overdrive character. IF you have proper P10R type speakers in this amp, and IF you have a proper output transformer, and IF your voltages are correct, you have a configuration where everything falls about as perfectly in place as it gets, in terms of transformer saturation and speaker breakup all happening at the right point. Your 5F4 with the speakers you have in it is a little more of a modern tone and it seems to be something that you are pleased with, so I think you have made the right decision. It really just depends on what characteristics are most important to you. I also use a 5F4 myself, main reason being the 5E7 is darn near as big and heavy as a 5F6A and if I need an amp that big, I just use a 5F6A. Also, it's seldom I can leave a 5E7 cranked within the sweet spot when playing anyway.