What tweed do I build.

[tele_savales]

I'm so stoked on my little 5E3 point to point build that I'm a convert. I know I'm going to build another tweed at some point, but I'm undecided as to whether it should be a 5e8-a, 5f8-a, or a 5f6-a.
I know the 5e8-a is fundamentally different because it doesn't have a LTP. Any reason to even consider it as a contender? Does anyone still build these with 2 rectifier tubes?
The schematics for the high power Twin and Bassman are so close- is it mostly the cab size and speaker layout, (other than the output section) that makes such a big difference? Has anyone here built a 5f8-a with 2 output tubes?
I know @Wally would vote for a 5e7... I've listened to Joe B demo 4 of them and I think the HP Twin is cooler.
Has anyone here experimented with the sort of JTM45 mods on one channel of a high power Twin?
I know the real answer is to build 'em all... I just dont have to scratch for the that at the moment.

 

[pinchegil]

Keep it simple, build em all

 

[tele_savales]

Totally.

 

[doof]

After I built my 5E3 I felt the same need to build more tweed models. I have since built a 5F1 and I'm having a very hard time deciding between doing a 50 watt 5f6a head next, or a 6g3 combo. If I were you I'd choose the 5f6a!

 

[Wally]

I'm so stoked on my little 5E3 point to point build that I'm a convert. I know I'm going to build another tweed at some point, but I'm undecided as to whether it should be a 5e8-a, 5f8-a, or a 5f6-a.
I know the 5e8-a is fundamentally different because it doesn't have a LTP. Any reason to even consider it as a contender? Does anyone still build these with 2 rectifier tubes?
The schematics for the high power Twin and Bassman are so close- is it mostly the cab size and speaker layout, (other than the output section) that makes such a big difference? Has anyone here built a 5f8-a with 2 output tubes?
I know @Wally would vote for a 5e7... I've listened to Joe B demo 4 of them and I think the HP Twin is cooler.
Has anyone here experimented with the sort of JTM45 mods on one channel of a high power Twin?
I know the real answer is to build 'em all... I just dont have to scratch for the that at the moment.

I say build what you want. One thing about building the 5E8A with two rectifiers is that you can switch one of them out and have an amp that is more akin to the 5E7/5E5A/5F4 amps. Having two rectifiers yields a slightly stiffer low end…more articulate and later to break up.

 

[dunner84]

My vote would be for the Twin or Vibrolux... Although, my 5f2a with EL34 is my fav.

 

[clydethecat]

How 'bout a 5G9 Tremolux? It'll fit in a Pro/Super chassis.

 

[Phrygian77]

If you want a 5F8A half power, build it like a 5F6A in a 5F6A chassis. Use an OT that has a 4 ohm tap, and use a 56k NFB resistor. Get the 5F8A cab made with a 5F6A size cutout. Or, I believe you could just use a 5E8A cabinet since the cutout is the same, but then it's not the same cabinet dimensions.

Don't forget also that there were changes early on to those circuits that are not on the schematics and layouts.

5F6A Mods

5F6A Bassman Amplifier Modifications

robrobinette.com

 

[loopfinding]

Personally I would just build the 5E4/5E5A/5E7 into a head and stick a multi tap OT on it. I don’t think anyone needs more power than that these days. And you might find that it does a better job keeping up with a drummer, so if you really wanted, you could add cathode bias on a switch and get some “good enough” 5E3 squish/knock it down to about 20 something watts.

That’s supposing what you really like about the 5E3 is some of the split load ratiness. Maybe it’s too much overlap with the 5E3.

 

[Uncle Daddy]

The 210 Super will shake your acorns off the tree. Doesn't grind like a 5e3, but nothing else does either, but it will give you a swirly full sound at less volume than a Bassman. And it's lighter.

 

[Wyatt]

I'll throw a vote in for the Fender 5B6 octal-premap Bassman.

 

[Phrygian77]

I'll throw a vote in for the Fender 5B6 octal-premap Bassman.

It could be built with a pair of 5751s also.

 

[cgharrison]

I’m a big believer in the idea that the phase inverter has a lot to do with the character of an amp, especially if you’re gonna crank it up. Cathodyne (deluxe, pro/bandmaster/super) is loose and saggy and sorta lo-fi when it gets pushed, and long tail pair (bassman, hp twin) is much more tight, together and detailed as it distorts. My 2 cents.

PS: That 5B6 circuit has a paraphase inverter if I remember correctly. That is hands down my favorite pi of all time - so sweet and musical. I don’t understand why it’s so overlooked.

 

[tele_savales]

You know my therapist asked me if I had trouble making decisions. I told him "No. Kind of. Sometimes"

 

[gabasa]

If you want something very different than your 5E3, yet still representative of tweed amps, I'd say build a 5E1 Champ or a 5F6A Bassman. If the Bassman is too large for you as a 4x10, I agree with @Phrygian77 that a 4 Ohm output transformer into a 2x10 is a great idea.

Fwiw, the Champ has no tone controls, while the Bassman has a TMB tone stack and a presence control. On that alone, both amps would be vastly different than the 5E3 ... more so than the other amps in the tweed lines, IMO.

Yet another possibility would be to build a 5D3 Deluxe into a 5E3 chassis. They are very different sounding Deluxes.

 

[gabasa]

Don't forget also that there were changes early on to those circuits that are not on the schematics and layouts.

Yes, this is very important! If you build a Bassman, know the circuit that was in the amps vs. the circuit on the schematic, because there were a number of differences!

 

[Huddy]

PS: That 5B6 circuit has a paraphase inverter if I remember correctly. That is hands down my favorite pi of all time - so sweet and musical. I don’t understand why it’s so overlooked.

I second this... 5B6 bassman or a 5b5 pro are essentially the same-ish amp with different coupling caps values I think and some other semi-small things. I think all the 5Bx amps have paraphase. Might be a good option to get something different to check out.

 

[Junior Little]

You know my therapist asked me if I had trouble making decisions. I told him "No. Kind of. Sometimes"

This guy definitely had decision issues...

 

[Powdog]

If you’re on a tweed trip don’t overlook the smaller 5F2a Princeton. Not as powerful as the above referenced amps, but being a single ended Class A amp it will have a different harmonic content than any of them. In a big cab with a 12” speaker, it’s a beautiful amp with a circuit that lends itself to many little tweaks and mods. You can stuff the circuit into a 5F1 chassis using a dual concentric Vol/Tone pot.

 

[Wobbles]

I'm so stoked on my little 5E3 point to point build that I'm a convert. I know I'm going to build another tweed at some point, but I'm undecided as to whether it should be a 5e8-a, 5f8-a, or a 5f6-a.
I know the 5e8-a is fundamentally different because it doesn't have a LTP. Any reason to even consider it as a contender? Does anyone still build these with 2 rectifier tubes?
The schematics for the high power Twin and Bassman are so close- is it mostly the cab size and speaker layout, (other than the output section) that makes such a big difference? Has anyone here built a 5f8-a with 2 output tubes?
I know @Wally would vote for a 5e7... I've listened to Joe B demo 4 of them and I think the HP Twin is cooler.
Has anyone here experimented with the sort of JTM45 mods on one channel of a high power Twin?
I know the real answer is to build 'em all... I just dont have to scratch for the that at the moment.

Build a champ, SE is the way to go.