Weber kits - how are they?

appar111 · August 3rd, 2007, 06:47 AM

I'm looking for a good tweed amp, and I've come across a couple builders that have amps priced right for me: Marsh amplification and Electrosonic Amplifiers. Marsh looks like they might use higher quality parts.

Electrosonic is priced a little better and has more amp options (I'm looking at a 5C3), and they use Weber kits for their amps. I just want to make sure the quality of parts is good (I've heard some people say that the Weber kit parts aren't that great).

So how are the Weber kits, and more specifically, the ones built by Electronsonic?

Wayne Alexander · August 3rd, 2007, 10:41 AM

Can't tell you about Electrosonic, but I've got a lot of experience with Weber parts and kits. The Weber cabinets and speakers are first rate as long as you understand exactly what speaker model to order - they make hundreds and they do not sound the same. The Weber transformers are fine, though you'll get more complex tone from an upgrade to Heyboer or Mercury Magnetics at least for the output transformer. The pots, jacks, pilot light, switches in Weber kits are adequate, I'd upgrade them all to Switchcraft/Carling/Alpha if I were you, it only costs a few dollars. The eyelet boards and resistors and tone caps and electrolytics in Weber kits are good enough, you'd get some benefit from judicious use of carbon comp resistors in a couple spots, and in certain amp designs, Sozo caps will sound better than the Mallory 150 type ones that Weber supplies with most kits, but if you don't have lots of experience to base a selection on, forget that for now.

Markl8 · August 3rd, 2007, 10:57 AM

If your looking to build a 5E3 Bruce at Mission amps sells one of the best kits out there all parts are high quality out of the box.

appar111 · August 3rd, 2007, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markl8

If your looking to build a 5E3 Bruce at Mission amps sells one of the best kits out there all parts are high quality out of the box.

Yeah, but pre-built they're like $900. I think I'd like to stick around the $700-750 range max.

TelZilla · August 3rd, 2007, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by appar111

Yeah, but pre-built they're like $900. I think I'd like to stick around the $700-750 range max.

Yeah, I know what you're saying. In my experience, higher quality components + more support = more expensive kit (makes sense, eh?)

I predict this thread will get numerous "Allen Amp kits are the best" posts (for pushin a thousand bones for a single channel BFDR, they better be good)

In fact, search for a thread started by me called "weber amp kit- should I do it?" or some such. Lots of opinions there.

BTW, I haven't built anything yet, but when I do , it'll be a Weber. Cash is king, at least at my house.

EDIT: I just saw that you're buying, not building, but much of the same stuff applies.

getbent · August 3rd, 2007, 03:31 PM

I built a weber kit 5F2A. It works great. I didn't replace any parts. The 5E3's look great... at the price... it is a great value... iyam

angerboy · August 4th, 2007, 04:29 PM

I own a Marsh Champ. I'm very happy with it. It sounds great. Mike Marsh is super helpful. I would buy from him again.

Larry F · August 4th, 2007, 04:41 PM

I built a Marsh Champ. It was a great experience and I use it everyday. I bought a couple of Weber kits and am upgrading the parts. I'll post more info when I'm done.

WisconsinStrings · August 5th, 2007, 07:04 PM

I built the Weber 5F2A (with a lot of help from this forum) and I'm happy with it. I didn't change a part, but I am thinking of upgrading the speaker to a different Weber one.

migra dude · August 6th, 2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

I predict this thread will get numerous "Allen Amp kits are the best" posts (for pushin a thousand bones for a single channel BFDR, they better be good)

I've put together two Allen kits (Old Flame and V-18) and one Weber harp amp kit (an X-mas gift for my brother).

The Weber kit without a doubt came with a nice cab and speaker.

The Allen kits came with nice cabs and speakers, as well as much nicer chassis and components; superior eyelet board, pilot light, wire, jacks, pretty much everything. If you buy a kit with instructions, and follow them, it's like putting together a model airplane.

I actually used leftover wire from the Allen kits to put together the Weber.

My Weber build hummed. Not sure if that's a product of my work or just a product of the single ended design of that particular circuit. My brother received the amp and never used it due to a baby in the house, and I've never gotten it back from him to troubleshoot it, not that I could figure it out anyway.

My Allen amps are both darn near dead quiet. If I'm plugged straight in without a bunch of OD pedals and crap, it's hard to tell they're even on at lower volumes.

I'm not saying the Weber kit was bad. they are priced significantly lower and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. I believe since I've gone both routes, i'm qualified to voice my opinion as to the superiority of the Allen kits. Of course, Allen doesn't sell a 5C3 kit.

stantheman · August 6th, 2007, 07:58 PM

I dig my 5E7 Bandmaster - it's totally stock, no uber Transformers or any of that stuff. I had mine "built for me" because I'm electronically challenged and
have already gotten away once in life feeling my heart in my chest cavity.
Shipped to my door under 8 bills.
Everyday it gets sweeter - more broken in.
....now the trouble is I wanna have a Tweed Pro too.
Thing is; 2 Webers built for me for less than 1 "brand name" that's used on ebay, a no-brainer

August 3rd, 2007, 06:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
appar111 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 1,268	Weber kits - how are they? I'm looking for a good tweed amp, and I've come across a couple builders that have amps priced right for me: Marsh amplification and Electrosonic Amplifiers. Marsh looks like they might use higher quality parts. Electrosonic is priced a little better and has more amp options (I'm looking at a 5C3), and they use Weber kits for their amps. I just want to make sure the quality of parts is good (I've heard some people say that the Weber kit parts aren't that great). So how are the Weber kits, and more specifically, the ones built by Electronsonic?

August 4th, 2007, 04:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
Larry F Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Iowa City, IA Age: 55 Posts: 2,300	I built a Marsh Champ. It was a great experience and I use it everyday. I bought a couple of Weber kits and am upgrading the parts. I'll post more info when I'm done. __________________ larry

August 6th, 2007, 07:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
stantheman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 4,829	I dig my 5E7 Bandmaster - it's totally stock, no uber Transformers or any of that stuff. I had mine "built for me" because I'm electronically challenged and have already gotten away once in life feeling my heart in my chest cavity. Shipped to my door under 8 bills. Everyday it gets sweeter - more broken in. ....now the trouble is I wanna have a Tweed Pro too. Thing is; 2 Webers built for me for less than 1 "brand name" that's used on ebay, a no-brainer __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

August 3rd, 2007, 10:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
Wayne Alexander Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 997	Can't tell you about Electrosonic, but I've got a lot of experience with Weber parts and kits. The Weber cabinets and speakers are first rate as long as you understand exactly what speaker model to order - they make hundreds and they do not sound the same. The Weber transformers are fine, though you'll get more complex tone from an upgrade to Heyboer or Mercury Magnetics at least for the output transformer. The pots, jacks, pilot light, switches in Weber kits are adequate, I'd upgrade them all to Switchcraft/Carling/Alpha if I were you, it only costs a few dollars. The eyelet boards and resistors and tone caps and electrolytics in Weber kits are good enough, you'd get some benefit from judicious use of carbon comp resistors in a couple spots, and in certain amp designs, Sozo caps will sound better than the Mallory 150 type ones that Weber supplies with most kits, but if you don't have lots of experience to base a selection on, forget that for now.

August 3rd, 2007, 10:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
Markl8 Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SoCal Age: 53 Posts: 208	If your looking to build a 5E3 Bruce at Mission amps sells one of the best kits out there all parts are high quality out of the box.

August 3rd, 2007, 03:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Age: 48 Posts: 9,142 37 Photos	I built a weber kit 5F2A. It works great. I didn't replace any parts. The 5E3's look great... at the price... it is a great value... iyam

August 4th, 2007, 04:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
angerboy TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: California Posts: 31 1 Photos	I own a Marsh Champ. I'm very happy with it. It sounds great. Mike Marsh is super helpful. I would buy from him again.

August 5th, 2007, 07:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
WisconsinStrings Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arcadia, Wisconsin Age: 37 Posts: 640	I built the Weber 5F2A (with a lot of help from this forum) and I'm happy with it. I didn't change a part, but I am thinking of upgrading the speaker to a different Weber one.