multiple choice question - which build

[motor_city_tele]

I think I am pretty much recovered from the 2012 challenge and have been accumulating assorted tubes, sockets, switches, caps, resisters, OTs, PTs, wire, pinewood and eyelets. I mean there is alot of stuff in those little amps.

I just need to make a decision as to which of those tweed gems I would like to build. The plan will be to build my own board out of garolite, bend and drill my own chassis out of what I can find laying around the barn. The cab will start out as pine lumber and will have to be cut, joined and finished. I toyed with the idea of winding my own OT but quickly put the Kybosh on that.

So help me decide which shall it be?

a) 5C1 octal champ
b) 5F1 9-pin champ
c) 5C3 octal deluxe
d) 5E3 9-pin deluxe
e) all of the above

[charisjapan]

That's easy. If you have the space to listen to 12W cranked, the 5E3. I went through all the online diagrams, and read history blurbs, studied parts availability and tweakability. I don't even really have enough room to crank it properly, but 10 o'clock volume and 12 o'clock tone, and I don't need chorus, distortion, reverb or tremolo... it's in there!

And I haven't even started messing with the 'other' volume or a patch cable.

[telex76]

I agree with building the 5E3.

[Che_Guitarra]

I'll fly the 5F1 flag... just coz I just made one... but I have spent lots of time playing 5E3s.

Minimalism is what you want if you want a head turner. Opt for one input, one overall control - nothing more needed as it sounds effing brilliant. If you have guitarist friends whose rigs have 1000 dials between themselves and their final sound it will just boggle them if you only have one single knob in your whole rig, yet you sound like god. My 5F1 is effing loud too (regardless of the fact it's only a 5 watter), and can be uprated to 15W @ triode store... that'd definitely be ear bleed territory.

Ultimately it depends what you expect out of an amp - 5E3's have range and versatility and have definitely got mojo and street cred - 5F1's are more of a one trick pony... but it's the best trick going.

[tubeswell]

Build them all

[big-daddy-59]

If you've got enough 9 pin sockets, I'd say build them all except the 5c1. Instead build a 5f2a Princeton.

[dlaroe]

5c3, because I've got a bunch of octal sockets and want to follow in your footsteps.
Selfish, I know...

-Dale

[printer2]

Originally Posted by tubeswell

Build them all

Coming from you, that is not a surprise.




I think, c) 5C3 octal deluxe, would be interesting. Mind you I plan on having a 5E3 and have a Champ type build already.

[charisjapan]

Well, I coulda told ya that most folks will advise you to build the all!

But just one (a 5e3!) will suffice, as long as you post a bunch of build pics. As much as the model, I'm interested to hear what you plan for the cabinet... after seeing your Challenge build and others, I would like to see some inlay work or something.

I live about a two-hour drive from Hakone, home of the famous "Yosegi Zaiku" patterened wood veneers and inlay. I might try to rustle up some of this for a cabinet someday. Several artists also make inlay pictures of incredible intricacy. I have a couple small ones, but the master artisans are adying breed.

Hakone Yosegi Zaiku

Looking foreward to your build(s)!

[strat56]

I voted 5C3 because I've been intrigued by octal preamp tubes and the description of the sounds they produce in the 5C amps. I've been considering building a 5C5 1X15 Weber kit for about a year will probably build one this winter.

[Keyser Soze]

Feel like spending a few extra dollars on a dedicated 12 volt transformer?

Build one of the octal builds, but use 12sl7s. They can easily be had for about 1/4th the price of 6sl7s.

In fact, the money saved on tubes will more than cover the cost of a dedicated filament transformer.

[printer2]

Originally Posted by Keyser Soze

Feel like spending a few extra dollars on a dedicated 12 volt transformer?

Build one of the octal builds, but use 12sl7s. They can easily be had for about 1/4th the price of 6sl7s.

In fact, the money saved on tubes will more than cover the cost of a dedicated filament transformer.

That's what I have been doing.