5F1 Head

[Telenut62]

Originally Posted by Che_Guitarra

The cost is a non issue to me - so lets move on from that. Seeing I plan to keep this amp forever I might as well get it right first time around, otherwise it'll forever be on the bench as I replace this, that and the other. Quite simply, no other 'new' 12" speaker gets the same universal praise in a tweed as the Weber 12A125A (apart from the louder Celestion Blue), so I went for it. If it doesn't work out, i'll wear it.

I hear yah, I wear the shipping cost as well as I buy almost all my major amp components from the US. For a 12" speaker the USPS priority rate is around $70, and most other speaker suppliers charge that, so Weber charges a bit more...fair enough. But no one has ever helped themselves to my credit card to top up a charge that I've already paid for, without even contacting me first...I think most folk would feel pissed off.

[Che_Guitarra]

This thread needs pics.

Bits from triode store:




And a couple of my guitars. The DIY tele sounds wonderful - it's turned out to be a real surprise - the synergy of great parts... I can't wait to hear it through the 5F1. The Jackson is my newest. The tone hasn't dropped my jaw yet, but I gotta learn it out a little more - it certainly offers it's own bag of tricks.

[tubeswell]

I have bought a bit of Weber stuff. The complete 6A14 combo kit was US190 freight to NZ

Last time I bought a couple of their 12" speakers it was US$60 freight for the pair.

They use FedEx to ship here. Just sayin'.

[Telenut62]

I bet the'll be nothing wrong with that OT...nudge nudge wink wink

[Che_Guitarra]

I was actually looking for Hammond trannies locally, but the suppliers I contacted never got back to me... so I popped these into the cart when I ordered my tubes @ Triode Store.

Hard to find a whole lot of info on this brand, but what I did find they seem to be reasonably reputable... transformers on the whole are pretty hard to A/B with reviews... nobody pays them any attention until something goes wrong.

[Telenut62]

I asked the dude at Triode if he's had any issues with the transformers and out of 500 he's sold....never had a prob.

[boredguy6060]

Classictone is a model made by Magnetic Components, they are as good as any trannies you could buy at any price. I have the OT that you have in the picture paired with a different PT.
I have not heard from anyone who ever had a problem with their product, Chad at Triode is a great guy to work with, he really knows the product and is well versed in tube talk. He like many gracious members here are happy to help with a question or problem solving.

[Lindsay]

CG, for Hammond in Australia and most other amp building supplies try EVATCO in Qld Mal and Carol provide fantastic old fashion customer service. A google search will bring up their website. I find most orders arrive within 2 days to eastern States.

[Che_Guitarra]

I went to Bunnings (aussie hardware chain), but they don't have the right router bit to suit my planned box jointing jig, so disappointingly today is a day of no progress. I'll have to go to a specialist trade supplier tomorrow, as being sunday they're closed for the day.

Anyway, no point wasting time - it's new string day around here. 5 down in record time.




Now my plan is to track down this material for the head, or something of very similar colour and style.



I may tweed and shellac my 1x12, but the head needs to be a bit more funky and interesting.

[Telenut62]

Cool collection, all bases covered there.

[Che_Guitarra]

Well, the postman dropped off a little bundle from Boothill just now.



After a quick poke through it all, I realise how much of a learning curve I have ahead of me

Before I do a mock up of the circuit - what would you suggest be the best method to accommodate both 4Ω and 8Ω speaker taps for my head setup?

[Che_Guitarra]

OK, mock population complete - can anyone see any stuff ups?



I have two questions at this stage - I have two 1.5K resistors, one brown, one blue - I think in the pic I have them in the wrong spots... can this be confirmed?

Also, there's two 22K resistors - one 2w and one 0.5w... are they in the right general locations in the pic?

[tubeswell]

Copy the 5F1 layout - its a proven layout

[MrSoul]

I have a 5F1 clone in Deluxe cabinet naturally with 12" speaker. At this side of the pond selection for 4 ohm drivers are limited. First I installed Fender (by Eminence) speaker. I liked the sound a lot. But as you know soon you are wondering if the grass is greener on the other side. I have an external 12" cabinet for my SCXD which has Eminence Texas Heat inside. I found a 4 ohm version of Texas Heat, so I tried it, but with 5F1 the original Fender sounded for some reason to my ears better.

But now when I read this tread more carefully I found out that you have more impedance choices with your OT.

[Che_Guitarra]

Originally Posted by tubeswell

Copy the 5F1 layout - its a proven layout

I have a Weber schematic printed off, as well the one you've posted above. I've copied it right as far as I know, but being my first amp build I don't quite trust myself just yet - i'd rather ask a dumb question and get it right than dismiss a concern and make a mistake

The larger capacitors in the kit have me scratching my head - they're all pretty much double what the original schematic calls for. Why is this?

Another question - why do people wrap around the turret rather than go through the eye?

[Telenut62]

Well your off and running, here are some pics to help....







To answer your questions, the OT 4 and 8 ohm output can be switchable, someone that's done it may show a pic of the wiring.
Maybe swap the 1.5K around, the blue one could be a higher watts, but it won't make any difference.
Wow that first filter cap is huge, gonna be fun squeezing that in...but don't solder in the middle cap till you've mounted the OT. The reason they are a larger value is to decrease 60Hz hum.
I prefer my component leads to go into the turrets but watch for multi point junctions, usually you can get three leads into the hole.

[dmondo]

Hey guys and Che Guitarra in particular ( I'm in Perth too ) I'm finding it very good for my self confidence to read this post as I also bought the 5F1 kit from Boothill Amps. I asked, before I purchased, to see the instructions for this project and was given a link, which seemed step by step and convinced me to go ahead ( even I could do that ).
After the kit arrived tho I realised I was supposed to know that the instructions which appeared in the link were not actually what was required and I became very dissapointed and frustrated at finding myself up the proverbial without a paddle ( components not as described, wires not the same colour code etc ).
I have found, now, someone who is helping me and we are making progress so I'm feeling your exasperation and experiencing a steep learning curve myself.
It seems that people who know what they are doing have very little concept of how confusing it is to be confronted with decisions when you have no idea of the implications, and how a simple 1. 2. 3. step plan might be more appropriate for novices so they don't have to try to sort through 5 different models to try to make sense of it.
I would've preferred that for my introduction to amp building anyway - and I would've had it finished by now!
Anyway "all well tat ends well" I suppose - good luck with it and maybe we can compare results one day.http://www.tdpri.com/forum/images/smilies/confused.gif

[Che_Guitarra]

Very pretty Telenut, I only hope mine will look that neat. I'm going to leave this for a night - i'd really like to see that 4/8Ω switch mod so I can plan the layout in advance.

[Che_Guitarra]

Dmondo, yeah it's got me thinking too - but I like a good sink or swim project, and DIY is so much more satisfying. Luckily there's forums like TDPRI - even better - people who are willing to help and want to see you succeed in your build.

What i'd really like to know is what each component does in reference to the final sound, but I guess that comes with experience.

[icy_wind500]

I kinda did mine by just reading through posts too,
people here are very helpful and if you just follow the instructions on tubesdeport as a rough guide and follow the layout very closely, you shouldnt have any problems