5x3 6L6 deluxe

[ampmike]

Anybody ever built that?Same layout as the 5e3just the output transformer is diff.Love to see some pics and feedback
if anyone has done one.Mikey

[rp]

Isn't that the Tungsten Cortez? He's getting a lot of mileage out of that, I'm sure there must be talk about it on the forums.

[ampmike]

Im not sure,I built a 5e3 way back and play it every week.I bought a blem 5e3 chassis from mojo and have started collecting parts.It needs a diff output tranny but most of it is the same.I would like to put the Blue Zoso"s in it and do a head cab version and later build a matching cab.I believe it will be about 40 watts.Neil Young apparently plays one on stage.Ill be posting some pics this weekend when I get the transformers.Im pretty physiqued about this amp.Hoping to get some old ZZ tones when cranked,Mikey

[mr_hankey]

Im not sure,I built a 5e3 way back and play it every week.I bought a blem 5e3 chassis from mojo and have started collecting parts.It needs a diff output tranny but most of it is the same.I would like to put the Blue Zoso"s in it and do a head cab version and later build a matching cab.I believe it will be about 40 watts.Neil Young apparently plays one on stage.Ill be posting some pics this weekend when I get the transformers.Im pretty physiqued about this amp.Hoping to get some old ZZ tones when cranked,Mikey

I've read that Neil Young uses 6L6s with a standard OT; using a whole bunch of fans to keep the thing from overheating. I don't remember the source, so don't take that as fact. His amp does sound like it's about to explode, at times.

[wyatt]

The Ceriatone 5X3 and the Weber 5E3P are both pretty much the same idea. They use Tweed Pro OT's to get the most out of the 6L6GC's while keeping the 5E3 preamp and PI completely intact. The differences between them are...

1. Weber uses their normal catch-all Deluxe PT but uses a GZ34 rectifier (well, a copper cap) for higher B+ and fixed-bias for higher headroom.

2. Ceriatone uses a Tweed Pro PT (and GZ34) for higher B+ to get more headroom out of the two cathode-biased 6L6GC's.

The Tungsten Cortez is a straight 5E3 which (like many boutique 5E3's these days) has bigger iron to allow using 6L6GC's as well. His Crema Wheat is the 6L6 model, but it uses different preamp, splitting the channels and wiring it more like a 6G3 preamp, not unlike the Mission Volume/Tone mod kit and the older S3 Amps modded Tweed Deluxe design.

[vibratoking]

You don't need the 6Ls to get the ZZ tone. In fact, it will move you away from that IMO. Mine with 6Vs keeps up with my heavy handed drummer no problem, especially with a 4x12. Mine doesn't sound like Neil's does, thank God.

[alvarezh]

I've got one in a headcab with 4 6V6's, cathode biased, with a Cannabis Rex speaker. LOUD!

Can take all the 6V6s out and place a pair of 6L6s, just needs a re-bias. Have not tested with 6L6 BTW, very happy as it is.

All the best.

[rp]

Mine doesn't sound like Neil's does, thank God.

Finally someone said it! I love Neil's tone but I'd just as soon leave it to him.

[ampmike]

Yea,Im not doing the amp for anything to do with N.Y.I just like my 5E3 and I might be wrong but Im hoping its just bigger sounding and I plan to do a head version for a nice 2x12 cab.Ill have some progress pics by Friday,Thank Boys,Mikey

[Zippy]

Bruce has an upgrade for his 5E3 kit to handle 6L6s.

http://missionamps.com/5E3kit.shtml

[ampmike]

Any thoughts on which capasitors to use for this amp.Ive got orange drops,Im checking out zoso"s.What caps are worth the money for a audible difference?I need to order them today if I go with the Zoso"s and I believe they are only 400 v??,Mikey

[wyatt]

Any thoughts on which capasitors to use for this amp.Ive got orange drops,Im checking out zoso"s.What caps are worth the money for a audible difference?I need to order them today if I go with the Zoso"s and I believe they are only 400 v??,Mikey

Whatever you like. If you have a preference for a particular coupling cap and Tone knob cap, almost any will work great. People seem to sway toward polyester caps on these, which is why the Mallory 150 is probably the most popular cap for 5E3's, it's a great polyester cap at a great price. But Orange Drops (both polyester and polypropylene), Mallory 150's, CDE, Sozo, Jupiter, PIO, etc.; any competent coupling cap seems to work just great in a 5E3 design. I won't argue there isn't a difference, but it's just that...different, not better or worse. And you need so few caps, you can splurge if you want to and true something new and "exotic."

[PaisleyTube]

I builded various 5E3 style amps for customers and they and me prefer TAD 6L6WGCs using stock MM "6V6-iron" with an 8 ohms Celestion Blue.

Only needed change (if using sturdy iron):
change the 5 Watt 250 ohms cathode-resistor to a 10 Watts type and be sure the bypass-cap on that resistor is moved away and 50 Volts rating.

[ampmike]

Thanks Guy ,Got some good stuff to go on.Would it be wrong to mount this amp in the head with the tubes laying parallel to the bottom of the chassis.They wont be hanging from the top of the amp.Any thoughts?I have a real nice head cab here and it got the traditional opening in the bottom of the head cab.

[billyz]

Side mounted power tubes are never a good idea. The elements can sag . If you do mount them sideways the plates should be perpendicular to horizontal.
Preamp tubes do not get hot enough to sag and can be mounted sideways.