5E3 Build

[Guitarslinger1]

This is a 5E3 build I did for a customer. Simple, factory spec (less is more mindset), with Mercury iron, and a Weber 12A125A speaker. This is one of those that's hard to put down. It's gonna be hard to let it go!

[petebradt]

Nice. Needs shellac.

[Guitarslinger1]

Originally Posted by petebradt

Nice. Needs shellac.

Thanks.

Lighting with tweed pics is often deceiving.

It is finished in nitrocellulose.

No offense intended to anyone, but I don't care for the amber shellac that some guys use. To my eyes, it's a peculiar shade of brown, that does not look like any vintage tweed I've ever seen.

I use a clear shellac for a base coat, and un-tinted nitro after that. Looks close to how the originals did new, and ages naturally.

[BrianF]

Originally Posted by specialty guitars

Thanks.

Lighting with tweed pics is often deceiving.

It is finished in nitrocellulose.

No offense intended to anyone, but I don't care for the amber shellac that some guys use. To my eyes, it's a peculiar shade of brown, that does not look like any vintage tweed I've ever seen.

I use a clear shellac for a base coat, and un-tinted nitro after that. Looks close to how the originals did new, and ages naturally.

I agree with you Specialty...amber shellac (even mixed 50-50) will make the amp look like a pumpkin. Nitro or tinted nitro is the way to go and more authentic...

Additionally...if you look carefully at the tweed of real vintage fender's the dark thread is a different color that the modern tweed that often is used... The vintage one is more of a bronze color thread and the new ones are more of a khaki or dark brown. When I did mine I took the dark brown thread tweed and bleached it a little to make it look more aged before adding the nitro.

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by specialty guitars

No offense intended to anyone, but I don't care for the amber shellac that some guys use. To my eyes, it's a peculiar shade of brown, that does not look like any vintage tweed I've ever seen.

"No offense" interesting choice of words.

Don't be afraid to say your opinions - I think it looks great, shellac or otherwise. "For all you know," those Mercury Mag "trannies could be as close to a 5E3 as they are to a 1950s-era FAA radar unit."

Unless you have original '50s NOS, some things will never be "OK" and will be viewed as mundane trash to some folks.

Friendly to zero in 5.2 seconds.

Why you should even worry about offending someone with something as trivial as lacquer bums me out.

It looks great to me.

[Lance]

Nice lead dressing! ....and cloth covered wires :-)

[milocj]

That looks great! I just built my first one, too, and I love it.

I used a chassis and turret board from SDG Vintage, a Mercury power tranny, and I had a Kendrick OT. I think the Kendrick transformer might be a touch heavier iron than an original Deluxe because this amp seems to put out just a touch more than the Fender 57 and a Victoria that I played locally. My cabinet came from Clark.

It was a lot of fun and now I'm already considering building another one that uses an original style tag board like yours,

http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...t=DSC01865.jpg

[Guitarslinger1]

Johnny,

I wasn't worried that anyone would be offended on here in particular, it's just that years of posting on message boards has taught me that some folks feel so strongly about certain techniques or product brands, that they can get riled, and take it personal if someone posts about different techniques or product brands. Just trying to defuse the small possibility of a heated thread before it happens. This comes also from reading things like the "Heavy Amp troll post" thread. I missed whatever that was about, but understand that it got heated.

I've been very impressed with many of the Mercury transformers that I have used, as have my customers, which is the most important. I also use Allen and Kendrick transformers for some amps.

I have a "recipe" if you will, for 5E3s that has proven to be a real winner. I have found this combination of MM transformers, and the 12A125A speaker to be really tasty, and deliver the tone I'm looking for. But that's not to say that there aren't other fantastic combinations with different brands of parts.

Thanks Lance. Yeah, I'm a sucker for cloth wire, where possible, and the old fiber-boards.

Milocj, that build looks tasty. Is that a Blue Dog speaker?

Brian, yep, cutting the amber shellac with alcohol only makes it thinner, it does not lighten the color. I could see a mix of several parts blond shellac to 1 part of the amber, to put some "color in its cheeks", possibly being a nice combination.

[milocj]

Yep, it's the 30W Alnico Blue Dog. I was thinking about a Celestion Blue because a friend has them in some original Deluxes and swears by them but the local dealer had the Weber in stock and I would have had to order a Blue. I've got a 12A125A in my brown Deluxe so I may try swapping the speaker plugs to see how much difference there is.

My cabinet is supposed to be tinted Nitro, and not shellac, but I have no proof. It smelled like a nitro guitar when I unpacked it.

[Guitarslinger1]

Originally Posted by milocj

Yep, it's the 30W Alnico Blue Dog. I was thinking about a Celestion Blue because a friend has them in some original Deluxes and swears by them but the local dealer had the Weber in stock and I would have had to order a Blue. I've got a 12A125A in my brown Deluxe so I may try swapping the speaker plugs to see how much difference there is.

My cabinet is supposed to be tinted Nitro, and not shellac, but I have no proof. It smelled like a nitro guitar when I unpacked it.

Let me know what you think of the 12A125A. I was thinking a 12A150 in a 5E3 might be a great setup for Telecasters. I had one in my stash, and tried it, only to find it was blown! So I'll have to wait for the recone before I can check that out in this amp. I can't imagine what I did to blow it, because it's the 50 watt version...who knows. I must have tried that combo in the past, but just don't remember.

If it smells like nitro, I'm sure it is.

[petebradt]

I like the brown of shellac and I like different speakers, but that's a fine lookin' amp.

Darn nice.

[Guitarslinger1]

Thanks Pete.

That's the beauty of it. We have so many choices these days, that you can zero in on the look and tone that you desire.

I had a fellow complain to me that Weber had too many speakers to choose from. I understand what he means. We have so much to choose from that it's overwhelming sometimes. But it's sure better than the alternative: "Sure, you can choose. You can have Coke or Pepsi..."

[chabby]

I almost ordered a Jensen or Weber for this cab and Jim talked me out of it telling me I should see how this Eminence Lady Luck sounded first.
Guys, believe me when I say it's the best sounding amp I have ever played. I can't get enough and have been playing all Morning - just sounds better and better all the time and so do I. At least my Dog thinks so, and the neighbours aren't banging on my door (always a good sign).

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by specialty guitars

Johnny,

I wasn't worried that anyone would be offended on here in particular, it's just that years of posting on message boards has taught me that some folks feel so strongly about certain techniques or product brands, that they can get riled, and take it personal if someone posts about different techniques or product brands. Just trying to defuse the small possibility of a heated thread before it happens. This comes also from reading things like the "Heavy Amp troll post" thread. I missed whatever that was about, but understand that it got heated.

Worried about heat... I understand.

My comment was directed at Pete for this very issue.

Him and Fezz apparently hate my guts for trivial amp preferences they feel strongly about (or perhaps something else?). Opinions can go awry I guess and gossip apparently too - that's why I'm taking my opinions elsewhere.

[petebradt]

What are you talking about? We want to support you by going to your gigs.

[petebradt]

Originally Posted by specialty guitars

Thanks Pete.

That's the beauty of it. We have so many choices these days, that you can zero in on the look and tone that you desire.

I had a fellow complain to me that Weber had too many speakers to choose from. I understand what he means. We have so much to choose from that it's overwhelming sometimes. But it's sure better than the alternative: "Sure, you can choose. You can have Coke or Pepsi..."

Y'know what's a drag? MY favorite 5E3 speaker is no longer made. I've got a spare in my closet so it's OK for me, but I don't know what to suggest, because in truth, there isn't a current-manufacture speaker I'd put in a 5E3 except maybe a Tone Tubby, which sounds as good as a Legend 122P but at the better part of $300, I'd be hard pressed to part with that kind of cash. Kind of squeezes the "bargain" out of building your own. I haven't heard the RI Jensen 12s but if it's like the 8 or 10-inch speakers, I'd have to save for the TT.

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by petebradt

What are you talking about? We want to support you by going to your gigs.

Nice.

What do you think you know about me?

[amp boy]

guys, i 've been going through it and i got to pull the trigger on a speaker for my 5E3 build. I'll have to order it as well. I'm thinking Weber 12A150T, Tone Tubby Alnico, or Celestion Gold.
If you have any thoughts i would appreciate them.
pm me if possible.
thanks.

[tele-martini]

Originally Posted by BrianF

I agree with you Specialty...amber shellac (even mixed 50-50) will make the amp look like a pumpkin. Nitro or tinted nitro is the way to go and more authentic...

Additionally...if you look carefully at the tweed of real vintage fender's the dark thread is a different color that the modern tweed that often is used... The vintage one is more of a bronze color thread and the new ones are more of a khaki or dark brown. When I did mine I took the dark brown thread tweed and bleached it a little to make it look more aged before adding the nitro.

I did my 5F1 Tweed Champ Clone cab in clear shellac but did my 5E3 Tweed clone cab w/amber shellac. I was worried the later would look too orange but I'm happy with the final results. Never thought of using Nitro but whats done is done and the results weren't that bad.

[Guitarslinger1]

Originally Posted by petebradt

Y'know what's a drag? MY favorite 5E3 speaker is no longer made. I've got a spare in my closet so it's OK for me, but I don't know what to suggest, because in truth, there isn't a current-manufacture speaker I'd put in a 5E3 except maybe a Tone Tubby, which sounds as good as a Legend 122P but at the better part of $300, I'd be hard pressed to part with that kind of cash. Kind of squeezes the "bargain" out of building your own. I haven't heard the RI Jensen 12s but if it's like the 8 or 10-inch speakers, I'd have to save for the TT.

Yeah, those Tone Tubbies are expensive, but everyone raves about them. I have yet to break down and buy one, but have been told I should.

[petebradt]

Originally Posted by specialty guitars

Yeah, those Tone Tubbies are expensive, but everyone raves about them. I have yet to break down and buy one, but have been told I should.

I doubt I ever will because it seems I'm not going to blow up the Emi in my 5E3, much less the other one. I just don't push them that hard.

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by specialty guitars

This is a 5E3 build I did for a customer. Simple, factory spec (less is more mindset), with Mercury iron, and a Weber 12A125A speaker. This is one of those that's hard to put down. It's gonna be hard to let it go!

Wow. I wish my wiring looked like that.

You know you're an amp geek when you get more excited about gut shots than any other pix...

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCrash

that's why I'm taking my opinions elsewhere.

Johnny, I hope that's not true. I would never have built an amp without you, and I would never have gotten the one I built working either.

Don't let a few closed minds get you down. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds".

I for one hope you continue to let your freak flag fly here at TDPRI, and if you don't, tell me where you go, cuz I need my dose of Johnny Crash every now n then.

[Guitarslinger1]