So I want to make a 5E3....where should I get a kit?

[dartanion]

Speakers are a very personal thing, kind of like tube preferences. I would say get the AlNiCo, however I am not a huge fan of the new Jensens. They're not bad mind you, I just prefer other speakers. I've got an old P12R that I have used with mine, and sounds great. The RI P12R just doesn't sound right to me. However, mine is also about 50 years old, so I would guess that's one big reason the RI doesn't sound the same. They may well perform exactly like an original did when new, but there is no way I'll ever know that.

[Alexo]

A lot of folks seem to like the tweed-style Weber speakers a lot.

[thousandshirts]

For Canadians Trinity Amps in the Toronto area is probably a better choice because of no taxes or duties at the border, and a smaller overall shipping charge. All reports on their products are very positive. I've had a bit of correspondence with Stephen at Trinity and he's great.

http://www.trinityamps.com/

Stephen also hand builds the cabinets there. The 5E3 cabs are superbly done. I think the vintage shellac on tweed is standard. Not that I can't order a 5E3 cab from Mojo, and shellac it myself, or build one from scratch, but I can't do it for the price ( +/- time) that Trinity can.

Absolutely no knocks on the other alternatives posted, I know that all of the options for a 5E3 in the DIY vein are capable of producing killer jobs. As Casey Jones points out, even the cheaper Weber PT does a fantastic job of hitting the mark set by original 5E3s (Leo was frugal too). But for Canadians, Trinity is a great consideration.

[CaseyJones]

You may find a 300 ohm cathode resistor, as opposed to the stock 250, might keep your tubes in a happier state.

Like I wuz sayin'... use the Weber PT, save some bucks and get vintage correct voltages all in one deal. My only slight snivel with the Weber PT is that it has all those extra leads. There's a tap on the primary, tapped HV secondary which amounts to dual secondaries plus a bias tap. It adds up to a slob-o installation with all those extra wires unless you pull the bell of, amputate the extras and button it back up. I don't sleep well with cut off wires inside the bell, though. I could see creating a short circuit in there that will have another tech tearin' 'iz hair out iffen he don't know what's up.

305 to 325 on the plates means the 250 ohm bias resistor works just fine.

[dartanion]

I get my own wound for me in the US and can have them tweaked to taste. However a true vintage spec 5E3 wouldn't have a 120V transformer, that's why the voltages are off. It's not the transformer, it's that the standard AC voltage increased.

[CaseyJones]

I get my own wound for me in the US and can have them tweaked to taste. However a true vintage spec 5E3 wouldn't have a 120V transformer, that's why the voltages are off. It's not the transformer, it's that the standard AC voltage increased.

MM FTDP: 380-0-380 (way too high!) @$77.50.

MM FTDP-350: 350-0-350 (still high) @$93.75

MM FTDP-M: 290-0-290. That's more like it! $93.75

Then there's the FTDP-MM with 335-0-335 for those who like to split hairs.

The lowly W-025130 has 270-0-270 on the low voltage taps. The price was just increased to $50.00.

I can't find inexpensive shoes made in the U.S. anymore, either.

[ScottW]

I've had my Mission 5E3 for several years now, still love it. Bruce is the best.

Tips: for sure get a NOS 12AY7 and a NOS RCA 5Y3. I also bought two mods from Bruce. He has a humbucker mod which adds a filter (switchable) so a Les Paul sounds great and not over the top with crappy distortion. Like I say, it's switchable and indispensable. I also bought his volume/tone mod, which is cool because it makes the normal channel sound like a bright channel 5E3; and makes the bright channel sound like a 6G3. Now I can switch between a tweed deluxe and the slightly more rock sound of the brown deluxe.

Finally, I had a 12" Weber Blue Dog in there and liked it, but tried a G12H30 and the Celestion is staying, for now.

The Mission is a really fun amp, everytime I turn it on, I find myself playing Tush and LaGrange. Ah Haw Haw Haw!

[Cygnus X1]

I rolled my own chassis.
I bought all of the parts from Ted Weber, great service, and no problem filling orders! More than I can say for some.
I used the Weber trannies, and love this amp.
I spent only 200 (give or take), using my own tubes. NOS 5Y3, but I stuck with 12ax7's for more gain. I played with V1 quite a bit...and never dime it, so it works well for me.
I put it into an unused old Sunn Alpha 112 cab, but I'll be building a proper cab for it out of pine. Running a Weber Signature Series in it.
Really, it needs just a tad overdrive, which I provide with an EQ.
Do it!
The Missions are great, also...and check out Ceriatone too. STF Electronics has some kits, but I haven't dealt with him.
I just ordered some Hammond trannies and chassis for an SEL from STF today.

[Tubetwang]

i've had fun with those and de-farting caps mod...

http://store.triodestore.com/deluxerebuild.html

[Bear]

I've heard of problems with some of Triode Electronics' guitar amp transformers. I think it was the Champ outputs, but just a heads up in case it effects the ones in that kit.

Bear

[Cygnus X1]

I've heard of problems with some of Triode Electronics' guitar amp transformers. I think it was the Champ outputs, but just a heads up in case it effects the ones in that kit.

Bear

I hope not!
I out one of those in a friend's amp (clear across the country) a couple of months ago. No problems reported yet...

[Tubetwang]

I've heard of problems with some of Triode Electronics' guitar amp transformers. I think it was the Champ outputs, but just a heads up in case it effects the ones in that kit.

Bear

I've had nothing but good deals with them in the past 8 years or so...

Dynaco clones and little tweed champs and Deluxe trannies...

FWIW

[billyz]

I have had problems with several of Triodes OT transformers and they were not very responsive about taking care it either. I used to be a big fan of Ned and Triode. I am very cautious about them now. I used them for years and they were always great, but something has changed. Maybe they have grown too successful.

[Tubetwang]

I have had problems with several of Triodes OT transformers and they were not very responsive about taking care it either. I used to be a big fan of Ned and Triode. I am very cautious about them now. I used them for years and they were always great, but something has changed. Maybe they have grown too successful.

For the record, Uncle Ned left Triode a few years ago to start his own biz.

[billyz]

That would explain it. Ned was great, I spoke to him many times over the years. he was a pioneer in opening up the world of vintage tube gear and parts, schematics etc.

BTW the trannies I had problems with were a couple of Vibrolux Reverb OT's and a Deluxe Reverb OT. I still have one of the Vibroluxes they refused to take back. Anyone need a paper weight?

To be fare I had good success with the same models previously.