Dave Zielinski
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 9 Apr 2007 1:01 pm |
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I finished another one... This time its a 5E3 tweed style amp. I changed it from the original by using a center-tapped power transformer, using a twisted pair filament circuit. It runs ultra quiet- no hum. I used the "weber vst" "chocolate" chassis, as the chrome ones are always out of stock, and I think the brown looks nicely against the tweed/lacquered cabinet. Not to mention the white lettering stands out way better on brown than on chrome. I built the cabinet to original specs, covered it and "aged" it with deft lacquer and a coat of shellac. I even made my own tube chart for the inside. The entire project cost me $488 and about 10.5 hours time. I used mallory 150 caps, carbon comp resistors, Sprague atoms, good switches and jacks, and the output transformer is a Mercury Magnetics. the power transformer is a Mag electronics from triode electronics in Chicago. im pretty pleased with the way it turned out, and there is nothing like powering it up for the first time. The first signal this thing had through it was a 47 Rick. Sounds great with my tele, vega archtop , strat and all the steels too.
I've found that the lead dress on this particular amp is particularily important. I could get this thing to hum alot or hum a little by where the wires went. I've got it nailed pretty good and very quiet. I used a single point ground and that makes a difference.
The speaker is the ribbed cone Weber sig 12s. the only bummer is that the magnet cover doesn't fit on it in the amp. If I would have shifted the speaker right one more inch it would fit...I'll make anew baffle in time...
I took it over to my friends house- he owns a real 59 deluxe..... we both concluded that the $488 amp is just as good, if not better-its a little louder and cleaner longer. Thats pretty nice in a deluxe.
but man do these things run hot.
Oh, and the baffle is REAL 5/16" marine fir plywood that I laminated myself for these baffles. Just like the real thing. Just ignore my shotty grill cloth job.
The next amp will be a 5E5 pro- cathode biased version with 5881s, however I may put the 5F6-a preamp section in front of it..... and a higher powered 15" speaker...So many ideas, so little $$$$$$ I want them all...
Enjoy, |
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