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So, my new amp's kit arrived here at the hotel in Sunnyvale, California. Business trip was less interesting I can tell you.



Its a Trinity Tweed 5E3 kit, even comes with instructions so this one should be a good bit easier to put together than my 18 watt (it's also a lot simpler). Naturally I'm installing VVR in this one too. I think I'll get the Weber 12A125A speaker, unless something else suitable pops up before then. I'm on holiday too so things are looking up a lot ?
    Damn... that looks nice!! This'll be a nice project! My vote goes to the Weber!

    Good luck slogging all of that back to SA! ?
      Nice one EZ :yup:

      It would be interesting to hear what you think of the difference between the 18 watter and the 5E3. Success with the build.
        Karel wrote: Nice one EZ :yup:

        It would be interesting to hear what you think of the difference between the 18 watter and the 5E3. Success with the build.
        +1 That'll be cool to hear.
        Smart looking kit that... Enjoy
          Enjoy the build. Looking forward to seeing your progress.
            Rikus wrote: Good luck slogging all of that back to SA! ?
            That and the Tolex and the grill cloth and some other choice bits for another secret project project. Beats a bajillion rands worth of shipping though.
            Karel wrote: Nice one EZ :yup:

            It would be interesting to hear what you think of the difference between the 18 watter and the 5E3. Success with the build.
            Funnily enough, I'm not expecting the two amps to be day and night really. From what I hear and read on the interwebs they are similiar in that they break up at lowish volumes and have lots of drive when you wind them up (and I do, because I can). This kit is supposed to have very decent transformers and it seems like good quality parts otherwise so I'm sure it will come out great.

            Some of the work is done for me already, the board already has its eyelets installed and the VVR is a printed circuitboard that just needs to be populated. It does however scale the entire amp, which may mean it won't be super awesome at very low volumes, but then again, no amp is awesome at super low volumes so thats prob ok in the greater scheme of things. This amp should be straightforward to build, however, I'm going to build a cabinet and cover it too (It is going to be RED). Maybe one day I'll do everything myself.

            I'm selling my HT5 to fund some of this stuff, I wanted a vintage style single channel dirty amp, that I can carry in one hand but that is loud enough to play unmic'd gigs.

            I've had some suggestions from Makepeace about mods, however, I'm going to build it stock to start with (besides for the VVR) and see if I can live with the loose bass I'll surely get with my LP. If not I'll tweak some coupling caps to cure that a bit (but not too much, a Tweed is mos a bit flubby ne?)







              a month later
              OK so I've started building ? Yay!

              Pics!

              Populated the board. Nothing is soldered yet.



              Installed most of the hardware to the chassis





              My speaker has shipped too. I'm getting a Weber 12A125A, 8ohm, 30watt, light dope (apparently that's the correct config for a 5E3
                That's looking great so far!

                The Weber is a great choice, BTW - sounds like a good, old Jensen and the light doping means it'll break in quickly.
                  Awesome build bud. Must have a listen some time ?
                    Nicholas L wrote: Awesome build bud. Must have a listen some time ?
                    I'll post clips when its all done ?
                      Ooh yeah... That reminds me I need to get to someone so I can do a bit of recording with the 5W ... seeing as I now have EL84 and 6V6 in.
                        Nicholas L wrote: Ooh yeah... That reminds me I need to get to someone so I can do a bit of recording with the 5W ... seeing as I now have EL84 and 6V6 in.
                        Can help you there if you need ?
                          Is this build also getting the VVR?
                            Norman86 wrote: Is this build also getting the VVR?

                            Naturally :goodtimes:
                              Ah okay! Wasnt sure as the face doesnt show place for the VVR?!
                              Or are you still working on that?
                                Norman86 wrote: Ah okay! Wasnt sure as the face doesnt show place for the VVR?!
                                Or are you still working on that?
                                That pot is a switched 1M pot that goes where the power button would have been. Makes sense to me as the knob controls the power of the amp ?
                                  Ah ha! i thought i missed something!
                                  as you were ?