Which Tweed?

[Weathered]

So, I posted a few weeks back about building a brown Fender, but I've since decided that I want to start with a tweed - I find myself longing for something with a bit more grit. Since I'm a home player currently, I don't really need a 5F6, so I'm torn in two directions:

5F4 Super
5E7 Bandmaster

I want something a little bigger than a 5E3 (for some reason, I'm drawn to multi-speaker setups, so the 2x10 or 3x10 setup appeals to me more than a 1x12 5E3, or I might get a 2x12 baffle for the 5E7), and something that gets a bit hairy on the occasions where I get to actually turn the amp past '2'.

Anyone got any comparisons between the Super and Bandmaster? Suggestions? I'm probably going to buy a kit to save on the hassle of sourcing parts....

[Cliff Schecht]

Schematically the amps are nearly identical. The tweed Twin (low power 5E8A), Super, Pro, Bandmaster and maybe others share the same topology. So sonically these amps are all nearly identical ignoring speaker choice.

I'd probably go for a 2x10 over the 3x10 just to save on size. But I don't like combos so much anyways and have a bad back so I always take the lighter road if possible .

[10thTx]

IF you're wanting something with some grit and you're a home player, then I think you might have to turn a Super or Bandmaster up really really loud to get the tone you want.

Those are pretty loud amps.

You can always consider building something like an 5E3 (OR one of the other less wattage tweed amps) and simply use multiple speakers. That way, you might get a more practical home use volume level grit.

Just a thought.

With respect, 10thtx

[spiralstairs]

I agree

The thing is, you're building the amp yourself so you are not limited to Fender's choice of circuit + speaker combo

If 5e3 is too small for you, do a 2x6L6 or 4x6v6 5e3 with 2x10" - would sound great
The 5e3 circuit will break up easier than the others.

Of course, a normal 5e3 is plenty loud with choices of speaker cabs, so I think 10thTx's suggestion is good as-is

[selloutrr]

build the Tweed Deluxe and have the "IT" tweed amp. amazing blues and studio amp. great break up. Make sure you use a vintage jensen speaker and Vintage tubes. Sozo, jupitor caps will give you a smooth tone.

[Gibsonman63]

Or build it as a head so you can mix and match speakers.

[skeezbo]

Mojo makes a 5f4 super kit. If you want 2x10" like the brown super you won't go wrong building one of those. You'll get a little more headroom compared to the 5e3, but probably more "grit" that the brown super.
Every amp I have heard that was built from a mojo kit sounded great, but I'm no cork sniffer.... If you want to try to replicate true vintage tone you may have to source the parts yourself.
Skeezbop

[Cliff Schecht]

Don't go ripping out your hair chasing down vintage correct parts though! I use 'em when I have 'em but I've never had a super high dollar cap make an amp go from good to great. A lot of the Fender sound comes from the circuit topology and speaker configuration, these will have a much more drastic effect on tone than any high dollar capacitor. I do find well placed carbon comps do also have an audible effect on the sound but IMO this sort of subtly is lost amongst a live audience who doesn't know any better!

IME the cheapo Mallory and Xicon metallized polyester caps sound fine and dandy for our lo-fi amplification needs. The only reason I don't use them is because I have a lifetime supply of PIO and polystyrene caps that I scored for super cheap. If you can find a good deal on fleabay or at a swap meet/flea market then go for it, or you can salvage caps from old defunct equipment. My favorite scrounging is from old test equipment where you'll find the highest quality parts used.

[Luthierwnc]

The 5E4,5,6,7's are my all-time favorite amps. It is very hard to make them sound bad and they work with any guitar. My current version is going from a 5E5-A combo to a head so I can put it over a couple P12Ns I got on Ebay from a guy parting-out an organ. One needed some Elmer's/tea bag patches for radial cone rips but they sound and work great.

I've also got a 4X10 in the works. That was inspired by working on a friend's 1955 5E6-A Bassman. 4 P10Rs. This amp doesn't get the attention of the next version or the Bandmaster and Super of the same era but it was absolutely killer.

One mod I've put on the several I've made is switchable fixed/cathode bias. It doesn't work well on all amps but was made for this one. You can take it back a couple model years and get break-up on one less number of the volume knob really easily. Another variation from the true faith is that I've always used four-bolt output iron. One school of thought is that the lighter-duty OTs saturate more sweetly but I'd rather have the bottom. YMMV. No matter how you do it, that circuit is an indispensable member of any collection. Skip

[tubeswell]

I want something a little bigger than a 5E3 (for some reason, I'm drawn to multi-speaker setups, so the 2x10 or 3x10 setup appeals to me more than a 1x12 5E3, or I might get a 2x12 baffle for the 5E7), and something that gets a bit hairy on the occasions where I get to actually turn the amp past '2'.

5E4A is a low-powered tweed super, with the same pre as the higher power 5F4, but just using 6V6s

I personally love the 5G9 as it is quite a bit cleaner than a 5E3 but still growls at full vol, and has quite hypnotic trem to boot. The end-of-era tweed circuit with the LTP inverter and fixed bias gives it more bite than a 5E3 and it takes all sorts of pedals up-front extremely well, and is superb with a stand-alone reverb unit in front.