I'm having a hard time deciding on an amp build: 5E3x2 or 5E7 Bandmaster.
I do not have access to either amp. all that I can go by is YouTube videos.
I play Jump Blues, Rockabilly and Surf through an AB165 Bassman with Weber Blue & Silver combination, usually with a Tube Screamer.
I am looking to build a tweed due to their natural breakup and touch sensitivity. I am concerned that the 5E3x2 will go from zero to Neil Young too fast, and I am concerned that the Bandmaster will have to be god awful loud before I get the dirt. I am considering a Hall Amplification VVR for either one.
Any input/experience would be greatly appreciated.
5E3x2 or 5E7 Bandmaster?
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Stevem
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Re: 5E3x2 or 5E7 Bandmaster?
The best way to tame any amp of over 15 watts that may be too loud in certain places is with a good attenuator, as any dropping of the power supply voltage to the output stage will change the way the tubes respond and sound to a greater and greater degree as you drop the voltage, not to mention the need to drop the drive signal level to the outputs which makes for a change in feel in and of it self!
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Not screaming like the passengers in his car!
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Not screaming like the passengers in his car!
Cutting out a man's tongue does not mean he’s a liar, but it does show that you fear the truth he might speak about you!
Re: 5E3x2 or 5E7 Bandmaster?
I can speak for the 5E7 circuit... I have a hard time overdriving that amplifier with single coil pickups. The circuit design calls for 12AY7 in V1, and most sub an 12ax7... and I still have to crank it to ear blistering volumes to get less clean. Jumper cable between mic and inst input and blending those two volumes can help..
But I just resort to pedals for the grind...
I believe that there are some options to replace the rectifier tube with another tube GZ34 for 5AU4GB (going off memory here), to lower the clean headroom. I tried it in a bassman reissue I bought many years ago and was unsatisfied...
The 5E7 is still is a fantastic sounding circuit...
But I just resort to pedals for the grind...
I believe that there are some options to replace the rectifier tube with another tube GZ34 for 5AU4GB (going off memory here), to lower the clean headroom. I tried it in a bassman reissue I bought many years ago and was unsatisfied...
The 5E7 is still is a fantastic sounding circuit...
Re: 5E3x2 or 5E7 Bandmaster?
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Last edited by matt h on Fri Mar 27, 2015 4:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: 5E3x2 or 5E7 Bandmaster?
You could also go the other way for more dirt, 6V6s in the 5E7. A proper tweed should be around 400V IIRC.
A nice way to go is build your 5E7 to run at ~380V with a 5U4 then when you need some more jam use a 5AR4 or ss plug in thing and use 6L6GCs. An other thought is to do your 5E7 cathode biased, or best a switch for both - easy, useful and fun. One of the few bells & whistles multitasker options I like with moderate power 2X 6L6 tweeds. A .68 cap on a push pull pot for V2 a la Marshall is also a very fine bell/whistle here.
No experience with modern 6V6s but I'd go ANOS/NOS to try to keep it sweet. I'm suspicious the modern high voltage 6V6s like JJ might just be 6L6 variants. NOS 5881 distort quicker than 6L6GC types too and sound just lovely too.
A nice way to go is build your 5E7 to run at ~380V with a 5U4 then when you need some more jam use a 5AR4 or ss plug in thing and use 6L6GCs. An other thought is to do your 5E7 cathode biased, or best a switch for both - easy, useful and fun. One of the few bells & whistles multitasker options I like with moderate power 2X 6L6 tweeds. A .68 cap on a push pull pot for V2 a la Marshall is also a very fine bell/whistle here.
No experience with modern 6V6s but I'd go ANOS/NOS to try to keep it sweet. I'm suspicious the modern high voltage 6V6s like JJ might just be 6L6 variants. NOS 5881 distort quicker than 6L6GC types too and sound just lovely too.