Best 5E3 kit for beginners?

I'm ready to take the plunge on a DIY 5E3 kit, but I want good instructions. Trinity advertises a 55 page manual. Is it good? I downloaded tube depots instructions, but I'm afraid I'll regret building a PCB amp. Anybody else make a kit with good instructions?

First amp build for me was the Trinity. The instructions were very good and I built a working amp.
Any q's I had, I posted on the Trinity internet forum. The owner and many others check the site
Regularly. Folks on here were also very helpful. I do not hesitate to recommend the Trinity 5E3 kit.

A well drawn layout is really all the instruction nessasary. It also offers more possibilites as to which kit you consider. Trinity is a great kit, but others are equally great and cost less.
The notion that Weber kits are inferior is a myth. There may have been some question about some components such as switches and jacks, but the front page of there webite clearly states that they supply Carling switches and Neutrik jacks with all kits.
On a layout if you see one points goes here and the other end goes there, is it nessasary to have it spelled out? If you have questions about anything, you can just ask. This forum has more collective brain power then will ever be needed to build a 5e3, and most are more than willing to help.
So points is, don't be locked into any one kit just because of instructions, just read and study the 5e3 layout and about everything you needs is right there.

It's like buyin' from Amazon... you check out the product at your local bricks 'n' mortar store then buy it from Amazon. :twisted:

Same deal here. Go with online instructions, look up the schematic and layout on Weber's site. Then buy the kit you prefer.

I've built kits from both Tube Depot and Trinity, they both have great kits. The Tube Depot kit builds into a great amp and I've built 2 of those, don't sweat it over the PCB, the one in that kit is nothing like a PCB you see in an amp at a store. It's designed and Made in the USA, very thick tracks/double sided with through-plated eyelets, Military spec. You can solder/change parts or do service work on it all day long without any issues, it only carries caps and resistors, so it's not a wafer-thin board carrying the tube sockets and pots, like you often see on store bought PCB amps. The Tube Depot also has put together a detailed Video with Rob Hull stepping through the build process.

You can't go wrong with either of the kits you mention, the Trinity kit is a more traditional build but if you feel more comfortable with great instructions/explanation for your first build then both those companies have put a lot of time/effort and detail into creating a package to full that need.

Snowy

For a first timer, I disagree that a well drawn layout is all you need. Ya they show you where one point goes, and the other, but there is more than that in the Trinity instruction kit. You could get all the answers you need here if you did all your research, but a central package from the maker is nice for a newbie. There is saying about "not knowing anything ,about what you don't know". A rookie may not even think about asking a question on something he knew nothing about, or never heard of before. If it's in the instructions, you'd be inclined to scratch your head and ask. We are talking about lethal voltages here. I think a manual with the basics is a good thing. After the first build is under your belt, yes I agree, a simple layout is enough to get it done.

Some cool things I liked in the Trinity instructions included:
- Break down of grounded switch jacks with close up of wiring.
- Included a proper schematic
- Amplifiers explained, including tone stack differences between Fender & Marshall
- Interactive Controls explained on the 5E3
- Vacuum tubes explained
- Where to start and suggested order of assy
- Close up photos of populated circuit board and tricky wiring
- Power Transformers explained
- Voltage Chart to check yours against
- Trouble Shooting
- Tube Substitutions
- How To Read Resistor Color Codes & Capacitor Codes
- First time start up and testing

Thanks, Keithb7. This is what I was looking for. I think Trinity will be getting my business.

For a first timer, I disagree that a well drawn layout is all you need. Ya they show you where one point goes, and the other, but there is more than that in the Trinity instruction kit. You could get all the answers you need here if you did all your research, but a central package from the maker is nice for a newbie. There is saying about "not knowing anything ,about what you don't know". A rookie may not even think about asking a question on something he knew nothing about, or never heard of before. If it's in the instructions, you'd be inclined to scratch your head and ask. We are talking about lethal voltages here. I think a manual with the basics is a good thing. After the first build is under your belt, yes I agree, a simple layout is enough to get it done.

Some cool things I liked in the Trinity instructions included:
- Break down of grounded switch jacks with close up of wiring.
- Included a proper schematic
- Amplifiers explained, including tone stack differences between Fender & Marshall
- Interactive Controls explained on the 5E3
- Vacuum tubes explained
- Where to start and suggested order of assy
- Close up photos of populated circuit board and tricky wiring
- Power Transformers explained
- Voltage Chart to check yours against
- Trouble Shooting
- Tube Substitutions
- How To Read Resistor Color Codes & Capacitor Codes
- First time start up and testing

Yep, good points Keith, I recall there's also warnings and info about working inside a tube amp, discharging caps etc. Nice to have this info all in a manual and at critical reminder points during the build.

Snowy

55 pages seems like a bit much, unless every component gets it's own page.
I wouldn't waste my time on a 5E3 with a PCB. As long as you are doing it, do it right and be proud of it.

I can't help but look at most things from the perspective of money.
If I'm going to pay a premium of 35% above what I could buy a comparable kit for then I would want more than an instruction booklet.
I'm old school enough that paying money for something I can do myself, feels wrong.
Knowledge I can find, money comes a little harder.
However if Trinity gives you the confidence to make the leap, then it is no doubt worth it.
They do make an excellent product and are entitled to profit from the effort in making a detailed set of instructions, and I would defiantly go that route instead of any PCB kit.

55 pages seems like a bit much, unless every component gets it's own page.
I wouldn't waste my time on a 5E3 with a PCB. As long as you are doing it, do it right and be proud of it.

Well I don't feel like I wasted my time, they are great amps. :confused:

picknpluck, here's a photo essay/build diary of my first build a couple of years ago, there may be useful pics in there for you, regardless of which kit you go with. The amp has a lot of hours on it now from my own playing, it's also been loaned out to friends for gigs and jams many times, lots of people comment on the tone, one of those people now owns it.

First Amp build (http://www.fender.com/community/forums/viewtopic.php?t=46716)

I'm in the beginning stages of putting together my boot hill 5e3 kit from hack worth. I'm sure I'll have some questions as I go along, but so far Ive been able to find every answer on line....

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

I'm in the beginning stages of putting together my boot hill 5e3 kit from hack worth. I'm sure I'll have some questions as I go along, but so far Ive been able to find every answer on line....

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

Not just online, but likely solely in the tdpri webisphere :)

I've gotta lol a little, my Father-in-law is building a Trinity 18watt and has probably called me a gagillion times already! I told him to stop harassing Trinity and call me :). (of course I'm glad to help and love the guy).
So @ the op, you'll probably need some help whether you get a great instruction book or not, but I think a manual would still be nice for a first build.
Maybe at this point don't fret and eany-meany-miney-moe it!! :).

got the kit from Bruce at Mission Amps--no 55 page booklet but various diagrams and outstanding email/phone support. I also built a 18w from Trinity and Stephen is also excellent in built support. FWIW, both of these builds were quite a few years ago as I'm now fully DIY.

picknpluck, congrats on wanting to build your first 5E3 because they are fantastic amps and the ywill blow you away when you give it life...for some extra insight from what I've experienced I felt the need to share with you,

I've bought 3 Trinity 5E3 within the last 6 months and you had better hope you're not in need of any further assistance once you start the build because the Trinity forum responses are Very Slow and many posters over there when they feel generous enough to respond, can make one feel like an idiot for not understanding electrical engineers terms, heaven forbid if you don't understand something the first time, and I pray you don't find out how some people can be with a super keen newbie, let me tell ya, it really takes the wind out of your sails...Regarding the quality of Stephen at Trinitys kits, yes they are a nice working amp, but so is everyone elses out there, they don't sell them not to be good and yes he does include a manual, schematic and layout, but I had kits show up with parts missing, secondary lead missing from an output transfomer, and then made feel guilty for troubling them or simply no email responses trying to let them know that your amp can't go together until you get the parts....Keep in mind, price and quality of parts, schematics, manual, and layout is only a part of the overall amp building experience , as all of that info is readily available on the internet.....but Especially for a first timer, you need support and want to feel good about asking questions, not dread thinking you're going to put down for posting Another question, thats something to seriously consider over everything else is Service no matter what we buy in life....but I can tell you, Hackworth who is a regular contributor on this site has as good of kit as anyone out there and the people on this site have been fantastic and will give you quick responses to any questions or concerns you may have as you stumble along the way which you indeed will..good luck in your decision

As long as TubeDepot's kit it a stock 5e3, their free instructions should apply pretty close to whatever stock 5e3 kit you choose. Just use a little common sense when comparing to the stock layout. The Weber forum has lots of info and build pics as well. I built my first kit-a Mojo 5e3- using just the schematic, lay-out, a couple of Gerald Weber's books, and some internet research; having never built an amp before and had no problems. Sometimes its better to learn and understand than to just connect the dots. YMMV.

ErnieR, sorry to hear you had a rough experience with the support from Trinity. I had a good experience overall. My kit had a small issue and they responded quickly and sent me the right part ASAP. I did post some questions on their forum and got what answers I needed, if I recall. Been a year now since I built my Trinity 5E3. I too have also dealt with Dave from Boothill and yes I also agree that he's been awesome to deal with. I bought my last kit from him. A few parts were missing from my Boothill kit, he handled it very professionally and sent me the missing parts ASAP. Both guys have been a positive experience for me.

My experience with Trinty was also a very good one, any questions I asked in the forums had an answer posted within a few hours, and all my emails to Stephen had a reply/answer in my inbox the next morning (I'm on the other side of the world!). So I can only say for me it was a positive experience all around.

Snowy

was it your first build as a greenhorn snowy...

Ernie, no I had built only 2 other amps, both were 5E3 kits from the Tube Depot with excellent instructions, and support, I linked to my first ever build earlier in this thread, I guess I must have learnt a thing or two building those and they weren't the waste of time PCB based amps were said to be earlier in this thread. ;)

Snowy