Seeking current suggestions for 5E3 Amp kits / cabs / speakers

Cabinet - Mather

I believe Stew Mac has the most comprehensive instructions which you can download without buying their kit

 

Check out Trinity. I have an amp that they built, but everything I've read has been positive regarding quality and support.

I received excellent customer service as I was in the process of deciding what to purchase.

They have a 5e3 kit.

 

I've been really happy with my Weber kit. Going strong for ten + years.

 

I’ve done kits by Trinity, Weber, Boothill, and did my own piece-meal builds. All 5E3. For a first build, quality, I’d say Trinity. Weber 12A125 30W speaker.
Weber 5E3 kits? Meh....Some low quality parts in there.

These home build amps sound amazing.

Or you can pay $5000 US for a new, dumb Fender Custom Shop relic’d 5E3 built out of reclaimed barn wood.

 

I did a Weber kit, I found it to pretty nice, but to be honest it cost me far more than expected going in. Unless you are experienced with such building, you might be better off "buying off the rack" from a good builder. Lord knows there are thousands of builders out there and they almost all have a 5E3 build available.

 

I'd also suggest Trinity Amps. High quality everything -> parts, documentation, customer service.
http://www.trinityamps.com/product/tweed/

 

I did the mojotone kit and really love it. They had great documentation. The only regret I have is the transformer is not the vintage (it has a higher B+). If I were to do it again, with better components, I would probably use boothill amps. I would also recommend reading RobRob's useful website. I used his grounding scheme for my build and I used a few of his modifications.

https://robrobinette.com/How_The_5E3_Deluxe_Works.htm
https://robrobinette.com/5e3_Modifications.htm

 

Tube Depot makes a quality kit with good instructions. Good, as in both complete and no obvious mistakes such as improper power wiring that a beginner wouldn't catch.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

I recently built the Weber kit. I bought my own transformers, capacitors and tubes.

I bought Tone Clone transformers, Sozo blues coupling caps, F&T electrolytics, I had NOS USA made tubes

I liked the Weber kit. I have built amps from scratch (before there were kits available) and didn’t need a lot of instructions. I can read schematics but I found the Weber Layout was easy to follow but this may not be the case for everyone.

I wanted the best components I could find which is why I sourced the parts I did. And I am wanted the Weber speaker which was the main reason I bought the Weber kit.

Whatever you decide it all takes time. If you have patience and preserve you will get there.

Make sure you have a good voltmeter.....

 

I built a Trinity 5E3 and it turned out great. Stephen at Trinity was very helpful with questions. Highly recommended. I even made a video:

 

I built two Allen Amplification kits last year. The Encore kit had extremely detailed documentation with step by step instructions and detailed photo layouts. Stainless steel chassis and very high quality components . Lot of nice addoons like reverb tone control and a RAW control.

http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Allen Encore Guitar Amp/Allen Encore Guitar Amp.html

http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Allen Chihuahua Amp/Allen Chihuahua Amp.html

 

Mojotone kits with Stewmac instructions.

https://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Onli...Wiring/59_Tweed_15W_Amp_Kit_Instructions.html

In terms of advice/suggestions, I'd ask where you intend to play the 5e3. They are pretty loud for home use as they go from zero to angry wife with little in between.

 

Any kit that has Classictone transformers and decent filter and tone caps would be a good choice. As far Speakers go the Weber Signature Alnico 12 for $80 is amazing! Gets you authentic ‘50s tweed tones. I haven’t felt the need to try any other speaker on my Tweed Deluxe, it fits it perfectly. As far as cabs, Mojotone cabs are very good and usually they have sales on them.

 

I would have to say the 5E3 kit from mojotone is a great way to go. it was my first kit I built. the layout that was supplied was excellent, the Heyborer transformers sound very good, I did make my own cabinet, but their cabinets are excellent. The best speaker is the alnico 12A125A from weber. it’s a fantastic amplifier. After you get it working, perhaps some RobRob mods can tweak it to your satisfaction.

 

I don't suggest building a kit until you have some fairly solid experience servicing tube amps - meaning you also have a good understanding of at least "basic" and " general tube amplifier" electronics.

No offense - but if you are unfamiliar with safety rules, the different parts of a circuit, can't point out the high voltage wires and signal wires on a schematic, recognize which parts are which, their values and what they do in a particular position my feeling is a kit is "above your pay grade" . You wouldn't be "building a kit" - which is really just an easy way of buying all the parts - you'd be assembling an electronic version of a plastic model - except one that can kill you, even when it's not plugged in!

I think your intent is actually very good, because you WANT instruction to be included.

But sadly, most kits are sold with parts, schematic and a layout. Sometimes instructions that tell you what to solder where - but that's not "instruction", those are "directions". And many clearly state that they sell kits intended for buyers who "bring the electronics knowledge with them. A few throw in some really basic testing - but most don't. We regularly ask new builders to post their "voltage charts" - essentially a required part of the building/testing process to verify parts are simply soldered in the right place - and they don't have one, never heard of one, and there's nothing in the "manual".

Back in the 60's & 70's some of us cut our teeth on things like Heathkit and Eico kits, which included logical, phased construction with testing after every section was built. Those were "educational kits" that resulted in high quality components.

But nobody does that today. The *closest* I have found is a company in England producing kits of their own design plus some Marshall-like kits, and have fairly extensive documentation in pdf's and in their online forum.

http://www.ampmaker.com/store/

There may be others - but this is the minimum amount of instructional information I would suggest at based on your current experience level. With the common Mojo, Weber and other kits you may "assemble" an amp - but chances are you won't understand it.

The biggest problem in "newbie" amp construction is not inexperience - it's impatience. The desire to get it done asap. And that leads to many problematic amps, while a years' study and progressively more complicated tech work leads to well built amps nd a clear understanding of why it works.

I'm not trying to discourage you at all - I just want to encourage you to understand what you are getting into and (ideally) having the ability to take the parts for a f5F1 Champ, a schematic - NO layout - and build a working amp.

Good luck.