Completed: 50's Tweed Bandmaster 3x10 (5E7)
- Thread starter fdesalvo
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fdesalvo
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Yah, I've been running heads and cabs for the last 12 years or so. I'm looking forward to having the convenience of a more portable rig.
The 5E9-A is just a glorified Tweed Deluxe with some minor tweaks, but headroom is still limited. I'm going to slightly tweak the power supply, use a more efficient output trans, and use more efficient speakers to make it workable in a band scenario. I should still have access to the signature saturation and compression at a live able volume. That's the hope.
The 5E9-A is just a glorified Tweed Deluxe with some minor tweaks, but headroom is still limited. I'm going to slightly tweak the power supply, use a more efficient output trans, and use more efficient speakers to make it workable in a band scenario. I should still have access to the signature saturation and compression at a live able volume. That's the hope.
Kostas
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Α cool cab is a 2x10 + 1x12. I have seen that a couple times, you can make it or custom order it on a combo format. No personal experience but on paper it looks like you are getting the best of both worlds.
I agree about using alnico speakers on this build although the Red Fang is the only alnico speaker that did not impress me. The Jensen Blackbird and Celestion Blue are the other two alnicos I have tried and love them, both are pricy though and I'm referring to the 12'' versions. No experience with the 10's.
I agree about using alnico speakers on this build although the Red Fang is the only alnico speaker that did not impress me. The Jensen Blackbird and Celestion Blue are the other two alnicos I have tried and love them, both are pricy though and I'm referring to the 12'' versions. No experience with the 10's.
fdesalvo
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Here's an update. Just some of the mechanical aspects of the build for now. I will work on the circuit board this weekend. Had to order some new octal tube sockets and one additional 1M pot. Set my timeline back a few days. I have 3 eminence legend alnico 10s arriving today and my cab is not far behind.
Cagey
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fdesalvo said:
Hehe! No doubt. I sometimes wonder if I'd have the potty mouth I have today had I not built/repaired/modified guitar amps back in the '70s/'80s. Then I remember doing software development for Windows machines and realize it wouldn't have mattered :laughing7:
fdesalvo
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Alright. Made some great headway. This is the chassis about 6 hours into installing the circuit board.
To do:
1. Wire octal sockets
2. Wire Power and Output trannies
3. Wire rectifier circuit
4. Wire Power, Standby, and Fuse
5. Install power cord
6. Wire power amp and related grounds
7. Make up shielded cable for inputs
8. ??
To do:
1. Wire octal sockets
2. Wire Power and Output trannies
3. Wire rectifier circuit
4. Wire Power, Standby, and Fuse
5. Install power cord
6. Wire power amp and related grounds
7. Make up shielded cable for inputs
8. ??
fdesalvo
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One of the most enjoyable aspects to building is finding creative ways of overcoming obstacles. The Tweed chassis provide plenty of “opportunities” for this. Here’s a solution for my dirty grounds that also provides space for a pair of 1 Ohm and 100K Ohm resistors.
Out of impatience, I installed the main circuit board before completely wiring the chassis (octal sockets were en route at the time), so this one isn’t as neat as some of my prior builds and the level of frustration with certain aspects ran high a few times. Part of that was finding a place to install the bias pot. I repurposed the extension speaker jack for this, so I’m hoping there will be no issues. This is the first build I’ve started without having drawn a 1:1 layout plan in advance.
Out of impatience, I installed the main circuit board before completely wiring the chassis (octal sockets were en route at the time), so this one isn’t as neat as some of my prior builds and the level of frustration with certain aspects ran high a few times. Part of that was finding a place to install the bias pot. I repurposed the extension speaker jack for this, so I’m hoping there will be no issues. This is the first build I’ve started without having drawn a 1:1 layout plan in advance.
fdesalvo
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The build is chugging along!
Helping hands! Fabbing up a little bias/ground point combo board.
Heater wiring. I invert the preamp tube sockets to give me a clear path down the center for running the heaters. No noisy loop around the socket.
Input grid resistors. I run 'em right to the pin. You can see them under the heat shrink. Since I'm only using 2 inputs in this iteration, I need to halve the 68K resistance per grid. I'm fresh out of 34Ks, so I ran 2 68Ks in parallel to give me the resistance I need.
I have forgotten how fun eyelet boards are to stuff! So much more room than the little turrets I've been using for the last decade.
Helping hands! Fabbing up a little bias/ground point combo board.
Heater wiring. I invert the preamp tube sockets to give me a clear path down the center for running the heaters. No noisy loop around the socket.
Input grid resistors. I run 'em right to the pin. You can see them under the heat shrink. Since I'm only using 2 inputs in this iteration, I need to halve the 68K resistance per grid. I'm fresh out of 34Ks, so I ran 2 68Ks in parallel to give me the resistance I need.
I have forgotten how fun eyelet boards are to stuff! So much more room than the little turrets I've been using for the last decade.
DarkPenguin
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Looks lovely.
Did I read this correctly? You just got it all wired and working and then threw it all out and started over?
Is there a brand associated with those helping hands? They look like the deal.
Great work.
Did I read this correctly? You just got it all wired and working and then threw it all out and started over?
Is there a brand associated with those helping hands? They look like the deal.
Great work.
fdesalvo
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I'm afraid you are correct. The first build was meant to be a prototype and I didn't want the final piece to look like it. It's an old circuit and I want adjustable bias, provisions for a very low noise floor, and longer tube life - things the original 5E7 never had. I typically build the original circuit, then note changes I'd like to make and have at it again. It was my first go at this circuit, so I had no idea what to expect (or if I'd even like it hah).
These helping hands are the finest I've ever seen. They are strong enough to hold up this amp chassis (without the PT), but I have am chassis cradle for that.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GIKVP5K?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
Thanks for your kind words.
These helping hands are the finest I've ever seen. They are strong enough to hold up this amp chassis (without the PT), but I have am chassis cradle for that.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GIKVP5K?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
Thanks for your kind words.
