Yet Another...5F2A Tweed Princeton build

[keithb7]

My parts are starting to roll in for my 5F2A clone build. I sourced the parts from various suppliers. Here is how I did it this time:

5F2A guts from Boothill Amps (Hackworth1)
Tweed Cab from Bruce at Memphis Amps. Cut for 10" speaker
Weber Silver Bell 10" 8 ohm alinco speaker, used from a forum member
Chassis, PT and OT are Heyboer from Weber
Misc NOS Tubes

As of this writing the circuit board is populated. I am waiting for my trannies and chassis to show up from Weber. Here are a few shots of the cab. I sat it beside my deluxe for quick comparison. I now see that the tweed seems to darken up over time.









After some trial runs at cutting finger joints in to pine boards, I gave up. A wood worker I am not. Bruce does a great job on pine cabs. Both of mine were made by him. I can only image how frustrated I'd be, trying to get the tweed on there right.

More to come as the project progresses.

[GraspnAtStrings]

That's a nice looking cab you've got there. I thought about recovering my 5F1 with tweed, but I think I'll leave it to the professionals. I've got a 10" Weber Blue Dog in my amp. I'd like to hear your review of the Silver Bell with a 5f2.

[mattio]

Nice going Keithb7 that´s a nice looking cab you´ve got there. I will follow your thread with interest as the amp takes form. It´s good to see som 5F2A love, I´m enjoying my build tremedously Keep us posted.

[hackworth1]

Generally, the tweed currently used in the guitar amp market comes in two basic types. One type has a light olive green stripe, the other has a brown stripe.

The olive green stuff has had some poor runs lately with defects in the weave. The brown stripe has been consistently good.

The cabinet coloring can differ according to age, of course. It can also differ according to the shellac mix one uses at the get go. More dilute makes a yellow tone. More concentrate makes an orangey hue.

A clear lacquer top coat makes the finish more plastic-like and more stain resistant and durable.

Both of your cabs look very nice, BTW.

[andyfromdenver]

Awesome! Would love to hear your impressions of the speaker when it's fired up! What prompted the 10 instead of a 12? Variety?
I'm jealous, cause I don't have a 12" speaker amp...

And I hear you on cabinet building! I have tons of respect for the builders, but a) the sharp instruments freak me out, and b) yet another distraction (when also doing the circuit building) to keep from playing!

[keithb7]

Andy I went with the 10" speaker to fill a hole in my fleet of amps. I already owned a 1x8 SFVC, 1x12 tweed deluxe, and a 2x12 BF Bandmaster. Now I get a 10" too! I went with the Silver Bell just because I got a great deal on it. It was new in Nov and the guy barely used it. I am going to have to break it in. I was leaning toward the 10A100, but the Silver Bell deal was so attractive I thought, what the heck. Plus, I don't think I've bumped into anyone on here with a Silver Bell in a 5F2A, so it will be a fun experiment. I will post some clips when it is all done.

[gearjunkie]

Good to read you're doing another after finishing your Trinity..Keep us up to speed with your build again as you did on the first..thats always good to see..

Hack: Regarding the Green and Brown stripe within the tweed cloth.. I am getting ready to order some for my cab and had thought of using Mojotone.. Do you know what theirs might be?? Thank you...have fun Keith..

[firemedic]

Keith, I think half the forum must be waiting on Weber trannies at any given time. Right now they are holding up 2 of my builds. And I am not a fast builder.
But you can't beat the price with a stick!

[keithb7]

My Weber 10" Silver Bell 8 ohm 30W alnico speaker arrived today. I was anxious to try it out. Still waiting for my 5F2A transformers, I mounted it in it's new home. I built a hook up wire, a little extra long to plug it into my 5E3 amp, just to test it out. I was quite surprised at how different my 5E3 sounded with the 10" silver bell. It breaks up less than my '64 C12N 8 ohm 50W ceramic, I normally use in my 5E3. It seems to break up much later on the 5E3's volume knob. It handles the bass very very well. It sounds very good, just different. It certainly seems to put out less volume overall than the 12" C12N. It compressed nicely when the 5E3 volume was maxed. I am looking forward to getting this 5F2A together with the silver bell. I am wondering if a 15W will give me more break up earlier, vs this 30W I got? Hmm. I found another sweet deal on a 10A100 8 ohm 15W Weber. I think I'll grab it too, and pick my fav.

[hackworth1]

Mojo sells the dark stripe tweed. It has been consistent in quality.

[gearjunkie]

thanks Hackworth..

[andyfromdenver]

Originally Posted by keithb7

My Weber 10" Silver Bell 8 ohm 30W alnico speaker arrived today. I was anxious to try it out. Still waiting for my 5F2A transformers, I mounted it in it's new home. I built a hook up wire, a little extra long to plug it into my 5E3 amp, just to test it out. I was quite surprised at how different my 5E3 sounded with the 10" silver bell. It breaks up less than my '64 C12N 8 ohm 50W ceramic, I normally use in my 5E3. It seems to break up much later on the 5E3's volume knob. It handles the bass very very well. It sounds very good, just different. It certainly seems to put out less volume overall than the 12" C12N. It compressed nicely when the 5E3 volume was maxed. I am looking forward to getting this 5F2A together with the silver bell. I am wondering if a 15W will give me more break up earlier, vs this 30W I got? Hmm. I found another sweet deal on a 10A100 8 ohm 15W Weber. I think I'll grab it too, and pick my fav.

Thanks for the impression. Where are you finding all these sweet deals!?! :)

[keithb7]

Andy I probably spend too much time cruising forums like this one. I watch for good deals on parts I need like speakers, cabs, tubes etc. If you are not in a hurry good deals come up. You just have to keep checking in regularly in the classifieds sections, like several times a day. Not just Tdpri but a few other places too.

[andyfromdenver]

My Dr. said pics :)
nudge nudge.
Is that cab a special size for the 10" or just a diff. baffle? I like the size, wondering if one could squeeze a 12" in there along with an obnoxiously large OT.

[keithb7]

Andy no pics to share yet as there has been no progress. Still waiting on the Weber chassis and X-formers to arrive. I surely will post as things develop. I will measure the cab and follow up.

[keithb7]

I sourced 2 speaker options to try in my 5F2A build. An alnico Weber Silver 10. 8 ohm 30W, and an alnico Weber gold basket 10A100 8 ohm 15W. Here they are side by side. I am looking forward to swapping each one out in the 5F2A to compare.
I see the silver 10 has folds or rings in the cone, whatever they are called. The 10A100 does not. What is the main purpose for this? Later break up vs smooth cone? Also looks to me that the 10A100 has some light dope. No? I got both used from 2 different sellers. They cost me about $70 each delivered. Both fairly new. 1 built in March, other in Nov 2011.

Maybe when I am done, I can post a sound clip using each speaker. Maybe set up a poll and find a winner!

[keithb7]

Well my parts from Weber finally showed up today. Now problems are surfacing. I got the 5F2A chassis from Weber, as well as Heyboer transfromers. The power transformer HY022772 does not fit in the square cut into the Weber chassis. Any suggestions? I am thinking I may have to take it to someone with a tool that can resize the opening and drill new mounting holes. Hoping any chrome damage can be spared in the process.

HY022772 6 to 15W Power Transformer for Tweed Champ, Champ, Vibro Champ, Princeton, Princeton Reverb. 120 and 125 Volt input.

Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks,

Seen here:

[hackworth1]

I use that part number for Champ Power Transformers 022772, but I have not used the Heyboer PT for Champ. I've been using this one:

http://www.cedist.com/products/transformers_chokes

Third one down on the page.

It has 2 x 2.5 inch mounting centers. These fit the Champ Chassis I sell.

What have you got for mounting center measurements?

[keithb7]

My Weber chassis is drilled 2 x 2.5" centers. The Heyboer PT is 2 1/4" x 2 3/4" centers.

[andyfromdenver]

Crap! Thwarted.
You could maybe take the bell cover off and drill new holes? (grain of salt etc.)