New Deluxe 5E3 Tweddle Dee build

[Delmar Evans]

I finally finished my 5E3 Deluxe Tweddle Dee. Thank you Charlie and all for the information available that this forum has made available. I have one 5E3 that I use strictly for modifications, and was looking for a Tweed with just a little more headroom. Initial results. Man, large amounts of headroom! Very clean and loud up to about 10 on the volume. Yes, I am playing a Les Paul with PAF's. However , I am not running JJ 6V6 tubes with 14 watt dissipation. Using all RCA black plate, 12AY7 , 12AX7 6V6GC and 5Y3 I know that my dissipation is way up there. I have the JJ's on order, and was wondering what every one else was running for tubes, and will there be a large difference once I load it with JJ's? What would the best 12AX7 valve choice for V1 and V2 ? I have used Tungsol reissues and Mullard reissues in the past with good results. Also, my voltages are about 12-18 volts off from the original layout that Charlie did. Plate to cathode on V3 and V4 at 362 VDC. WIll play with it some more, and post more voltages. PT 330-0-330 Magnetic Component. OT Hammond 8K 15 watter. No overheating after 2 hours of play time. Speaker 12" out of my Blues Deluxe. Any thoughts or input appreciated

Regards,

Delmar

[hitchcaster]

+ 1 on the thank you's.....
I'm using Russian gold lion 6v6's.... they start to red plate with gz34 so I put stock 5y3 and that brings the voltages down so they are more happy.... tung sol russian are what I choose for pres... both 12ax7 so try that

[Structo]

Sounds good Delmar, got any photos to share?

[Delmar Evans]

Thanks for the input Hitchcaster ! I have rehearsal this evening , and will post some chassis shots Structo. Don't have a cabinet built yet. I'm using a single 12 closed back extension cabinet loaded with a ceramic Fender 12 from my blues deluxe. I agree with Charlie, It Does not seem to like My 1960 P12N.
Awaiting my JJ tubes. 5Y3 and 6V6's. From what was stated in many posts, it sounded like the GZ34 was too hot. I'd that the Rectifier that was originally used in this build ?

Mark

[Charlie Wilson]

Hello Delmar, yes the original Dumble Tweedle Dee had a GZ34 rectifier and it ran very hot. The JJ 6V6S does not sound like a classic 6v6(more like a 6L6) but it is a very durable tube. I think some of the guys have had good luck with using a small fan to cool the tubes a little. I was told that Dumble would either use that Rocket 50 speaker or a Greenback.
CW

[Delmar Evans]

Thanks for the update Charlie and all of your input to this forum on this topic. I'm new to amp building and have done several 5E3 builds. As a guitar player, I am a firm believer that 90 percent of your tone is in your hands. Finding the right tools, ie , amplifier and guitar , to bring forth your tone is the challenge. I think I have discovered the missing tool in with the deluxe. I'll post some pics if I can figure out how !

[Delmar Evans]

More pics!

[Delmar Evans]

Yet more pics

[M Fowler]

I had to replace the 4k7 dropping resistor to a 5k/5w as noted in my thread.

Running JJ 6V6's. https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... 8&start=45

[ToneMerc]

I'm running the GZ34 and JJ's at voltages spot on the original, but used a larger Tweed OT.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=25198

TM

[rogb]

As another Tweedle Dee'er, I have to admit I caved in and just this week converted the amp to 6L6/ 5U4GB with 207mA PT and 35w OT. It ran so hot, especially the PT, even with a fan system. I gigged it with an 8 piece band and after 3 hours on the PT was still almost too hot to touch when I got home!.

I swapped out the Rocket for a G1265H. I've got more headroom now with 411v on the plates and 190 on V1, seems better all round with tighter bass, I guess it is a 5E5 now. Anyway, I much prefer it this way.

That left the nice Classictone PT and OT spare, so.... I ordered a Modulus Amps (Scotland) 5E3 barebones head kit http://modulusamplification.com/Modulus ... 97343.aspx which I will build into a little black suede and Vox Baltic Birch head cab made with stuff left over and my NOS 6V6 and 5Y3 will be at home here too.

[bluesfendermanblues]

As yet another Tweedle Dee user, I run the amp pretty close to the original.

In terms of speaker I also use a 12G65, but the tone with a (ceramic) Celestion speaker is very with mid focused and not a very nice clean sound, which is why I put in a small t-stack to cut some mid for a nicer cleansound. However, a Jensen speaker would have the same effect on slimming the mids a little.

Also I really think this little amp would benefit from having an alnico lightly-doped speaker, if you want nice clean sound at lover volumes.

Mods:
One mod I can recommend is changing the tone pot to a Vox cut control (250k + 4,7n or 10n), this gives you tone control on both channels.

Another nice addition is a Dana VVR. I almost always have plenty of power running the VVR pot at half voltage. This also increases tube life.

[Delmar Evans]

Excellent replies by all, Thanks ! Anyone have any sound clips ? I would like to hear how mine sounds to everyone else's. I did s short you tube video for a friend of mine if anyone wants to give it a view

[Delmar Evans]

Well, I received all of my JJ's and installed them 5Y3, 6V6 matched , 12AX7 and 12AY7. Took some voltage readings. Not even close to the original, but not running a GZ34. Does not seem to be running hot. Amp sounds great !

Wall voltage 122.8

V1 pin 1 and 6 = 107 vdc
V2 Pin 1 = 183 vdc Pin 6 = 234 vdc
V3 Pin 3 = 373 vdc Pin 4 332 vdc Pin 8 21.70 vdc
V4 Pin 3 = 373 vdc Pin 4 333 vdc Pin 8 21.70
V5 Pin 2 = 380 vdc Pin 8 380 vdc Pin 4 = 350 vac Pin 6 = 350 vac

B+ 1 380 vdc B+ 2 332 vdc B+ 3 280 vdc

Pin 3 to 8 on both V3 and V4 = 352 vdc and 353 vdc

Actual current on Pin 3 of V3 = 38.2 ma Actual current on pin 3 of V4 = 41.2 ma

[Structo]

V1 voltages are way off.


Double check the tube and wiring.

Wait, you are using a 12AY7?

Is this in the PI spot, V2?