5E3 with trem and 4x 6V6's ?

Post by **Colossal** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 10:32 pm

David Root wrote:I built a 5E3x2 a few years ago in a Weber '57 Twin chassis & cabinet. Sold it a few months ago, was arguably the best sounding amp I have built.

David, funny you say that. I recently finished a modded 5E3 (modded to not sh*t the bed with humbuckers, added choke, etc). Pine tweed cab with an 8R Celestion Blue. NOS 5Y3GT, 6V6GTYs, and 12AT7 (12AX7 was new). The tone blew me away.

lumox0013 · Post by **lumox0013** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 2:00 am

dave could you elaborate on what changes did you make to get a more humbucker freindly amp , and david that amp is dead sexy!! stellar work

Post by **Colossal** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 1:36 pm

lumox0013 wrote:dave could you elaborate on what changes did you make to get a more humbucker freindly amp , and david that amp is dead sexy!! stellar work

Lumox,

5E3 Mods are as follows:

OT and Screen caps increased to 22uF
Choke added in series with 4k7 screen resistor
Large grid resistor at entrance to cathodyne PI
1MA for grid leak on PI (cathodyne master volume mounted in second speaker jack)
Output coupling caps reduced to 47n (100n stock)
Preamp coupling caps reduced to 22n (100n stock)
3-way gain switch on V2a (stock 1k5||22uF, 1k5 only, 1k5 + NFB)
Extra stage of filtering added to decouple V1ab

I think that's it. Very, very 3D with the Celestion Blue. Bass is full and stays tight. Amp is dead quiet at idle. Mercury iron.

lumox0013 · Post by **lumox0013** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 3:02 pm

thanxx for the run down I may have to try another 5e3 build I did several when I first started building but I only use humbuckers and the always sounded like mush, maybee I will try the 5e3x2 in the spirit of this thread.

Post by **Colossal** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 3:12 pm

lumox0013 wrote:thanxx for the run down I may have to try another 5e3 build I did several when I first started building but I only use humbuckers and the always sounded like mush, maybee I will try the 5e3x2 in the spirit of this thread.

They are great little amps with a LOT of tonal variety and perfect volume. I think a 5E3 x 2 would be incredible.

dorrisant · Post by **dorrisant** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 4:05 pm

Yes, thanks for the rundown, Dave. Did you have a relay in there for the gain switching, NFB?

The 4 hole 5E3 I'm building is for a harp player so some of the original values will be changed. The main reservoir cap is gonna be bigger and it will be SS rectified (customer doesn't want it to sag as much). Funny thing is when he demoed my all-octal two hole 5E3 he said it was the only amp he has played on that had enough bottom end... So those original coupling cap values will probably remain.

Post by **Colossal** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 4:58 pm

dorrisant wrote:Yes, thanks for the rundown, Dave. Did you have a relay in there for the gain switching, NFB?

Nope, just a three way switch. It is mounted between V2 and the master (which is occupying the extra speaker jack).

randalp3000 · Post by **randalp3000** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 3:48 pm

dorrisant wrote:Just wondering if you ever got this thing sorted out?
I am beginning to build a 4 x 6v6 5E3 and I have been doing some research...
Bruce from mission amps suggested separate cathode 225R resistors for the push pull pairs. Don't know if that would make a big difference or not.

sorry for the delay, haven't been able to get on this site since getting a new phone.

I did get it working, it seemed to break up about the same or earlier than 2 6v6's so I set it aside.

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5E3 with trem and 4x 6V6's ?

Re: 5E3 with trem and 4x 6V6's ?

what changes

Re: what changes

thanxx

Re: thanxx

Re: 5E3 with trem and 4x 6V6's ?

Re: 5E3 with trem and 4x 6V6's ?

Re: 5E3 with trem and 4x 6V6's ?