1957 Frankentweed 5E3 PIX

chabby · February 28th, 2008, 10:15 PM

Well - I didnt have alot of time today so here are the best pix I could get (cell phone) of my good use of an Epiphone VJ Cabinet. The cool thing is it comes already loaded with what turned out to be an awesome sounding speaker for this 25 watt rendition of the 5E3 circuit as wired and bulit by Jim at Little Dawg Amps.

Cant say enough about Jim and how helpful he was and fun to deal with.
As a bonus he build the finest 5E3 Chassis I have ever heard - it just drips with soul, definition, sensitivity to the pick and warmth. Not to mention that those 25 watts are put to some real good use. This whole thing from the moment the chassis arrived didnt take more than an hour to put together.
Would have taken less but learned some things along the way.

For 579.00 total cost I now have an amp that some are willing to pay 1500-2,500 bucks for. Actually more than that when you consider this is a hand wired PTP build done by a master. The tone kills. Tore off the Epiphone logo as you cab see.

jh45gun · February 28th, 2008, 10:54 PM

Turn The Lights on LOL

chabby · February 28th, 2008, 10:58 PM

Just so you know this just kills the Fender 57 tweed by a substantial margin. And while those paying their hard earned cash may see it's looks as the down side, for me as its assembler, I feel very gratified as it's my personal statement too. And though I ripped everything off and really only put it all together, it feels very much like my very own build to me.

I am so glad I did it as my first ever amp project of my life. It's a great break-in for that as it combines a little of everything but not a whole lotta anything - if you get my drift.

pchilson · February 28th, 2008, 11:14 PM

What is it we are looking at here?

chabby · February 29th, 2008, 01:48 AM

An Ephiphone Valve Jumior Speaker Cabinet converted to a 5E3 combo amp.
Also it's a 25 watt version of the 5E3 circuit. SO I just used the VJ cab that came with the VJ head as my cab to install the Chassis in. It was simple and already came loaded with an Eminence Lady Luck 70 watt 16ohm speaker.

That's what youre looking at. So for any of you out there that were wondering if this could be done with the VJ cab, the anwer is yes and it was easy.

JimiBryant · February 29th, 2008, 01:51 AM

love the logo, Chabby!!

Gee · February 29th, 2008, 05:15 AM

Looks great. Nice job.

Those VJ cabs really are the way forward. I would consider myself to have decent woodworking skills but the level of skill that is required to build a decent looking cab is way beyond what I can do. Every attempt I have made turns into something I'm just not happy with. However, those relatively low cost cabs look like all the hard cosmetic work is already done.

One question. What is the internal width and depth of the cab?

pchilson · February 29th, 2008, 08:48 AM

Wow, That is a great idea! What are those speaker cabs made of?
Would be nice if we could see it. Can you post clearer pics?

chabby · February 29th, 2008, 02:23 PM

To answer questions: The cab is made of a wood kind of like plywood - but not. That is it's like a 5 or 6 ply laminant. The cab is plenty tough enough for this purpose - now would it be what I would choose to build a cab? no.
But, I didn't have to build a cab and this one sounds so good and is solidly enough built, that I doubt I will ever change anything. As Jim at Little Dawg amps said, every cab sounds a bit different and since this one sounds so good, why mess with it? The thing was a whopping 100 bucks loaded - and that's a beautiful thing. I don't hesitate to highly recommend this mod.

The internal width is 16 1/2" the depth is about 10 1/2". There was plenty of room for this mod in fact, it's just about perfect. All clearances seem just about what I would consider good design parameters. I will never look at speaker cabs the same way again. In fact, now I'm gonna be on the lookout for a cheap 2x whatever cab for my next project. Of course, since this chassis has another jack for an additional speaker, I could just go buy another Epiphone cab and have my 2x12 right there - hey I just talked myself into doing just that - gonna go buy one today and I will then have the flexibility of running it as a 2x12. What a great world this is.

chabby · February 29th, 2008, 04:00 PM

I bought a new computer a week or so ago and haven't got the software for my camera loaded on it yet - which is why the pix are of such low quality combined with the fact I've been too busy. At some point, I will get some better pix - actually I have the better pix, just haven't taken them off the digital camera yet - maybe today.

I have spent the first half of today playing this amp and it just knocks me out. I bought an AC15 on Tuesday, received my chassis on Wednesday and haven't touched any other amp since. My TVA30 and VoxAC15 will be sitting cold for quite some time I think. This amp just has so many of those classic rock, blues and country tones I've been chasing for years. It's gonna take me a long time to purge them all from my system.

Can ssomeone please tell me how to record clips for you guys?
I'm pretty sure I have the equipment since I've almost completed my home studio. Just don't know how to work all the stuff yet. I will figure it out soon though. That's the problem with all this technology, sure it's available and pretty cheap too, but it takes awhile to learn how to use it. Not like the old days when you just had everything analogue tape.

February 28th, 2008, 10:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
chabby Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,261	1957 Frankentweed 5E3 PIX Well - I didnt have alot of time today so here are the best pix I could get (cell phone) of my good use of an Epiphone VJ Cabinet. The cool thing is it comes already loaded with what turned out to be an awesome sounding speaker for this 25 watt rendition of the 5E3 circuit as wired and bulit by Jim at Little Dawg Amps. Cant say enough about Jim and how helpful he was and fun to deal with. As a bonus he build the finest 5E3 Chassis I have ever heard - it just drips with soul, definition, sensitivity to the pick and warmth. Not to mention that those 25 watts are put to some real good use. This whole thing from the moment the chassis arrived didnt take more than an hour to put together. Would have taken less but learned some things along the way. For 579.00 total cost I now have an amp that some are willing to pay 1500-2,500 bucks for. Actually more than that when you consider this is a hand wired PTP build done by a master. The tone kills. Tore off the Epiphone logo as you cab see.

February 29th, 2008, 01:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
JimiBryant Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicago Chicago that toddlin' town Age: 46 Posts: 1,842	love the logo, Chabby!! __________________ *we all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun.*

February 28th, 2008, 10:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
jh45gun Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,011	Turn The Lights on LOL

February 28th, 2008, 10:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
chabby Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,261	Just so you know this just kills the Fender 57 tweed by a substantial margin. And while those paying their hard earned cash may see it's looks as the down side, for me as its assembler, I feel very gratified as it's my personal statement too. And though I ripped everything off and really only put it all together, it feels very much like my very own build to me. I am so glad I did it as my first ever amp project of my life. It's a great break-in for that as it combines a little of everything but not a whole lotta anything - if you get my drift.

February 28th, 2008, 11:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
pchilson Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Loveland, Colorado Age: 50 Posts: 839	What is it we are looking at here?

February 29th, 2008, 01:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
chabby Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,261	An Ephiphone Valve Jumior Speaker Cabinet converted to a 5E3 combo amp. Also it's a 25 watt version of the 5E3 circuit. SO I just used the VJ cab that came with the VJ head as my cab to install the Chassis in. It was simple and already came loaded with an Eminence Lady Luck 70 watt 16ohm speaker. That's what youre looking at. So for any of you out there that were wondering if this could be done with the VJ cab, the anwer is yes and it was easy.

February 29th, 2008, 05:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
Gee Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 299	Looks great. Nice job. Those VJ cabs really are the way forward. I would consider myself to have decent woodworking skills but the level of skill that is required to build a decent looking cab is way beyond what I can do. Every attempt I have made turns into something I'm just not happy with. However, those relatively low cost cabs look like all the hard cosmetic work is already done. One question. What is the internal width and depth of the cab?

February 29th, 2008, 08:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
pchilson Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Loveland, Colorado Age: 50 Posts: 839	Wow, That is a great idea! What are those speaker cabs made of? Would be nice if we could see it. Can you post clearer pics?

February 29th, 2008, 02:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
chabby Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,261	To answer questions: The cab is made of a wood kind of like plywood - but not. That is it's like a 5 or 6 ply laminant. The cab is plenty tough enough for this purpose - now would it be what I would choose to build a cab? no. But, I didn't have to build a cab and this one sounds so good and is solidly enough built, that I doubt I will ever change anything. As Jim at Little Dawg amps said, every cab sounds a bit different and since this one sounds so good, why mess with it? The thing was a whopping 100 bucks loaded - and that's a beautiful thing. I don't hesitate to highly recommend this mod. The internal width is 16 1/2" the depth is about 10 1/2". There was plenty of room for this mod in fact, it's just about perfect. All clearances seem just about what I would consider good design parameters. I will never look at speaker cabs the same way again. In fact, now I'm gonna be on the lookout for a cheap 2x whatever cab for my next project. Of course, since this chassis has another jack for an additional speaker, I could just go buy another Epiphone cab and have my 2x12 right there - hey I just talked myself into doing just that - gonna go buy one today and I will then have the flexibility of running it as a 2x12. What a great world this is.

February 29th, 2008, 04:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
chabby Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,261	I bought a new computer a week or so ago and haven't got the software for my camera loaded on it yet - which is why the pix are of such low quality combined with the fact I've been too busy. At some point, I will get some better pix - actually I have the better pix, just haven't taken them off the digital camera yet - maybe today. I have spent the first half of today playing this amp and it just knocks me out. I bought an AC15 on Tuesday, received my chassis on Wednesday and haven't touched any other amp since. My TVA30 and VoxAC15 will be sitting cold for quite some time I think. This amp just has so many of those classic rock, blues and country tones I've been chasing for years. It's gonna take me a long time to purge them all from my system. Can ssomeone please tell me how to record clips for you guys? I'm pretty sure I have the equipment since I've almost completed my home studio. Just don't know how to work all the stuff yet. I will figure it out soon though. That's the problem with all this technology, sure it's available and pretty cheap too, but it takes awhile to learn how to use it. Not like the old days when you just had everything analogue tape.