Tweed Deluxe

[mcrracer]

I guess it goes to show you, if you research something enough on the net, you will eventually find negativity. One mans ultimate mojo machine is another mans hopeless distortion ridden science experiment. Your comments reassured my desire to build this circuit. Now to start locating the good stuff for this thing.
Thanks, Jim

Build it with the Mission Trannies if you go scratch, certainly the PT. He gets the voltages right, and his web posts regarding this are what steered me in this direction. I gutted and rebuilt mine to un-hifi it (I was once lost but now I'm found) then recapped with NOS, then mucked around some more, always a dog. I put a lower V PT and BINGO Killer Deluxe, finally. Also, NOS 5Y3, and keep the cathode r at 250, no more than 300. I used a custom heyboer but with the Mission PT that should happen, and will allow for a 5V4 and SS too.

Best advice: built it stock. test it with a proven good neutral broken-in speaker for it like a G12H30 Anni with and a single coil guitar - then tweak if not happy.

What were your tranny HT voltage and your B+V?

[Big Jim]

I appreciate all the advice from the folks here. Makes it way easier to figure things out. This forum is a great place for relatively new builders to learn and succeed with their projects.
Thanks, Jim

[rp]

What were your tranny HT voltage and your B+V?

Luckily, I've cleaned up my act and now take notes.

The PT was spec'd at 330V loaded. I was aiming for 350-360V plates, got ~345. Sounds so good so that's fine with me, and it's should be perfect for trying a 5V4 or SS without changing the CR. Had 395V with an old PT, 350V Hammond (+ typical PITA overvoltage from them) and amp always sounded like poop. I changed only the PT, and recapped the ps while in there and upped C1 to 22mF. I think I lowered the CR to 250, it was 300. I did play around w/ different tubes.

Oddest thing is the amp sounds much brighter, perfect bright in fact. One of the reasons it sucked before was that it was dark and muddy. I feared lowering plate V would make it darker and muddier but took a chance - go figure. I didn't notice much of a change in headroom, a bit less loud though. But the sound is now just what I want from a deluxe.

BTW mines all ptp - only wires are in the power string just a few inches , no shielded wire anywhere. I'm getting the feeling ptp makes amps brighter.

Tubes: V1 50s Tungsol 12AY7, V2 60s GE 12AX7, V3/4 60s GE 6V6

V1
3/8 - 1.1
1 - 200
6 - 180

V2
3 - 1.1
8 - 41.7
1 - 181
6 - 217
7 - 15.5

V3/4
3 - 342
4 - 323
8 - 20

V5
4/6 - 328

C1 - 350 C2 - 323 C3 - 261

CR should now be 250 ohms and I doubt I used tubes drawing less than 40mA. Probably closer to 50mA. No screen grid resistors.

[Vintage_Man]

You may find some helpful information in my project documentation at
http://www.brieskorn.de/int/Guitar___Am ... 3/5e3.html or just have a look to the link in my signature.
/Bernd

[M Fowler]

Bernd,

Not that I need your great information, built one already. But I will pass it on when someone asks, very good data on your build.

Mark

[Phil_S]

If you want to have some fun with a PCB build of this amp, here's a dirt cheap board that will make quick work of things. Just be aware that some of the stuff on that particular design isn't "original" but there is nothing about it stopping you from making it true to the original design.
http://www.tubedepot.com/pcb-5e3-err.html

...and FWIW, I am in full agreement with whoever said it is a perfect amp and the only thing wrong with it is a person's expectations.

If you have a problem with flabby low end or whatever else people commonly complain about, you can change some of the coupling caps or change the speaker, or both to get it in line with what you'd like to have. That's what homebrew is all about. I'd add, this amp is not the example of the fabled Fender clean people talk about, like you get from a Twin or its design cousins (Super, etc.).

[tubeswell]

I have built a 5E3 and can also vouch for the tonal qualities of the circuit. (FWIW I ended up putting .022uF coupling caps in V1).

[Big Jim]

You may find some helpful information in my project documentation at
http://www.brieskorn.de/int/Guitar___Am ... 3/5e3.html or just have a look to the link in my signature.
/Bernd

Thanks for sharing your info with me. I'm looking forward to this build.

[Vintage_Man]

Good luck! Although it has a very simple design it produces a great sound. And you may vary this sound a lot only by changing the speaker.
/Bernd