5e3 problem - low output!

[ben85]

that's great martin,thank you!you may think my english is good,but i couldn't understand this sentence though haha

Sliding heat shrink or even 18 gauge wire jacket stripping over those resistors on the input jacks should be done.

rd jones,that's an optical illusion of the photo,they are not touching each other.thanks for mention it anyway!

[johnnyreece]

I'm a member at the Weber Forum but would rather answer question here Mark

I knew that was coming.

[rdjones]

rd jones,that's an optical illusion of the photo,they are not touching each other.thanks for mention it anyway!

Remember that when you plug in to that jack the tip contact will move toward the resistor's lead ...

rd

[ben85]

well,success at least!thank you guys,i would not have done it without your help!i resoldered and cleaned and i'm pretty sure i've done a good job now here.my amp plays loud and "clear" now!thank you all very much!!!just wanna ask two more questions.i suspect my normal channel pot is faulty or i broke it,it doesn't mater anyway.so, when i plug my guitar at bright channel,i have some volume when the bright channel pot is at 0.in addition,when i move normal channel pot the volume and sound doesn't change.when i plug her at normal channel and move the bright ch. pot it works perfectly.moreover,the sound at normal ch.is bad and distorted.so i think the normal channel pot is faulty,what do you think.also,could be the distorded sound because of the faulty tone or i have to look again the normal input section?there's distorded sound at both 1 & 2.
one more thing,even with no input plugged,when the volume or tone (or both) are higha high pitch noise is coming out(i don't know how to explain it in english)what could it be?
thank you again!!

[Firestorm]

And eventually you will forget how long your guitar cable is and the amp will fall over and everything inside will move. You want your wiring to be bulletproof.

[ben85]

haha,well if this happens,you will have me here asking silly questions again,so don't wish this!

[vibratoking]

well,success at least...

Congrats, you've come a long way with this. What changes have you made to cause the improvement?

You're getting closer, but I'm afraid you're not done yet. I am not sure what you mean by distorted, but the 5E3 is hard to get a clean sound from. You basically have to have both volumes set low to get anything close to a clean sound. Also, the 5E3 has a big interaction with the volume controls. The volume on the channel that you are NOT plugged into should have a very noticeable impact on the sound. From what I understand from your post, it seems to me that you have more than just a problem with your pot. Maybe post a clip so we can listen and give you some feedback? If you post a clip, tell us or show us with a pic what your volume settings are.

[ben85]

thanks!

hmm,it's difficult for me to explain..i don't mean crunchy by distorted.i mean bad quality sound

The volume on the channel that you are NOT plugged into should have a very noticeable impact on the sound.

that's what i'm trying to say, too.when i'm plugged at bright channel the normal pot doesn't do anything,while the cright ch pot does much when i'm plugged into normal channel

[Tillydog]

when i plug my guitar at bright channel,i have some volume when the bright channel pot is at 0

I've never built one of these amps, but I think that could be normal - some signal crosses from one channel to the other because of the shared cathode resistor on V1

in addition,when i move normal channel pot the volume and sound doesn't change.

when i plug her at normal channel and move the bright ch. pot it works perfectly.

moreover,the sound at normal ch.is bad and distorted

so i think the normal channel pot is faulty,what do you think.

I think that there is a poor ground connection to the normal pot. Did you re-make the pot connections last time? The connection to the back of the tone pot looks poor in the photos you posted above (also one or two of the lugs on the tone pot) - it is more difficult to solder to the backs of pots than to other components.

also,could be the distorded sound because of the faulty tone or i have to look again the normal input section?there's distorded sound at both 1 & 2.

Maybe, but fix the volume control first.

even with no input plugged,when the volume or tone (or both) are higha high pitch noise is coming out(i don't know how to explain it in english)what could it be?

From your description, it sounds like oscillation due to feedback within the amp. This might go away if you fix any ground problems, or it may be due to poor 'lead dress' - keeping the wiring neat, and keeping sufficient distance between signal wires (any of the connections that Martin highlighted in his drawing above). Try to stick closely to the Webber layout, and be as neat as possible.

[ben85]

thanks tillydog!

ben85 wrote:

when i plug my guitar at bright channel,i have some volume when the bright channel pot is at 0



I've never built one of these amps, but I think that could be normal - some signal crosses from one channel to the other because of the shared cathode resistor on V1

edit:yes,but,i have some volume when i have both pots at 0.
i resoldered pots,too,i'll check them again though

[johnnyreece]

that's great martin,thank you!you may think my english is good,but i couldn't understand this sentence though haha

Sliding heat shrink or even 18 gauge wire jacket stripping over those resistors on the input jacks should be done.

rd jones,that's an optical illusion of the photo,they are not touching each other.thanks for mention it anyway!

You may want to shield it, anyhow. Just because they aren't touching doesn't mean it won't arc. Just ask my JTM-45 clone: Pins 2 and 3 of my power tube weren't touching, but that didnt' stop it from arcing! It may not be a problem today or tomorrow, but it could someday.

Edit - of course there's nowhere near the same voltage on this; just sayin'

[Tillydog]

i have some volume when i have both pots at 0

If there is a poor ground to one of the volume pots, as I suspect, then that will be the case.

[ben85]

ok,ii'll resolder the pots' grounds,thanks!

[NickC]

......

You may want to shield it, anyhow. Just because they aren't touching doesn't mean it won't arc. Just ask my JTM-45 clone: Pins 2 and 3 of my power tube weren't touching, but that didnt' stop it from arcing! It may not be a problem today or tomorrow, but it could someday.

Edit - of course there's nowhere near the same voltage on this; just sayin'

True enough ....... imagine the carnage if a wire carrying B+ came loose (from a questionable solder joint) and in contact with that exposed resistor lead near the input jack. It would be real bad.

Sure, it could just as easily contact the plug leaves ...... but the point is to insulate as much as possible, and mitigate the risk.

Make it bullet-proof, or not at all.