5E3 tactical setback

[Randall]

I am building my third and fourth 5E3 builds. The first two were on black fiber board, which I have swore off, and these are on turret boards. Ran out of internal star washers for the jacks and pots, so I pre-wired four pairs and set them aside. Got amp number 3 almost all done, except for jacks and pots. Everything else works and measures out nice. Today I finally get a box of star washers, and when I go to install the jacks, oh no!

The bottom ones are bumping right up against turrets. Ordinarily, jacks are one of the first things I would have installed, so had I not had to wait for washers, I would have seen this problem early on and planned around it. That board is all wired and screwed down, with everything nice and tight and neat. The idea of disturbing all that nice work is painful. however, when I have a fresh head, I will try to see if moving the standoff holes about 3/8" is possible without disturbing the wiring too much.

But here's what I don't get... this is a chassis kit from a known vendor, and it came with the standoff holes pre-drilled in the chassis. I don't see how it could work with the holes being where they are, wouldn't they know this?

Another thing, the tip of the input jack is closest to the turret that connects the .1 mF cap with volume pot wire in both cases. Is this an issue?

[M Fowler]

Close is okay touching is a problem. The 5E3 is a tight chassis no matter how you plan.

I would enlarge the board mounting holes not move the chassis holes.

Are you sure you can't just rotate those jacks?

[Randall]

Yep, The board gots to be moved.

[Guus]

Hi Randall,

One thing is clear. You're building up experience.
These things happen. Join the club.
That's why professionals alway's make a prototype of a new amp before building a serie.
Even so when components change, they sometimes have to modify the board to make it fit.
So, if possible, mount the board closer to the tubes or modify the board by replacing some turrets.

Guss

[tubeswell]

What I have sometimes done in the past when this happens in prototypes is to 'shave off' some of the board (if there is spare space on the board to do this) so that the input jack tip switches can function properly. Otherwise, when I am wanting a tidy job, I would move the board.

[M Fowler]

Also, this where I mix up the board between eyelets, short turrets or double turrets. Eyelets may be needed near the input jacks.

[ToneMerc]

Hi Randall,

One thing is clear. You're building up experience.
These things happen. Join the club.
That's why professionals alway's make a prototype of a new amp before building a serie.
Even so when components change, they sometimes have to modify the board to make it fit.
So, if possible, mount the board closer to the tubes or modify the board by replacing some turrets.

Guss

Thats the difference between someone who is just a soldering iron assembler and a builder! I learned a long time ago, mock parts up and check fitment first.

TM

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Would shorter standoffs get you through this?

[Gaz]

Good idea about shorter stand offs if there's room under the board. My only other idea would be to cut off the tops of the offending turrets, essentially turning them into eyelets.

[Randall]

I re-drilled the chassis and moved the board 1/4" and all is well. I am, however surprised that his came from a kit vendor like this. Seems like it would have been a problem before now.

[Smokebreak]

I re-drilled the chassis and moved the board 1/4" and all is well. I am, however surprised that his came from a kit vendor like this. Seems like it would have been a problem before now.

I hear ya on that. I've had a few "WHY?!?!" moments with kits. Problem solving is the joy though. It takes way more energy to be upset with something someone else has botched rather than just make it right
It surely wouldn't hurt to let them know about it though. Glad you got it sorted. That's my favorite lil tweed!

[Randall]

Tech support emailed me that "you should be able to flip the lower input jacks around so they don't come in contact with the turrets". While that may be technically true, the plugs still stick out far enough to make contact, or in one case are just too close for my comfort. I like the take a 1/4" step back idea a lot more.

[M Fowler]

I knew you didn't rotate those jacks and test with plug. Admit it

[Randall]

C'mon. Are you talking to me or the kit supplier?

[ampmike]

I feel your frustration,it happened to me,turrets suck in the 5e3.Mine hit the input jack too.i took it off the stands and screwed it tight to the chassis with some board in between so nothin would short out.i couldn't believe after all thirs time I had into it the board install was a problem.mikey