Fender 5E3 Deluxe Build

makepeace · 2010-08-23T19:51:36+00:00

Hi guys ? Within the next few months I'm going to be building a tube amp based on the 5E3 circuit and layout, with a couple of mods. The pre-amps, phase inverter and power stage will be stock (with a 12AY7 and a 12AX7 in the pre-amp unlike the two 12AX7 in fenders '57 reissue). My aim is to substitute the single control Fender tone-stack with a two control James stack, and to use a 5Z4 rectifier to start off with (its a cheaper 5Y3 workalike). Due to the James stack, it will probably have a single channel. James Stack: For the speaker I plan to use a Celestion G12-K80 (glowing reviews from Alan and Karel) to start off with, with the prospect of upgrading to a Greenback in the future when the budget is bigger ?. I will be getting the components and speaker from Karel, who has been excellent so far with helping me out (thanks Karel ?). The cabinet I will be building myself out of laminated meranti or pine plywood board with joists on the insides of the corners (can't be assed with finger jointing..). I'm thinking about a TV/Narrow Panel cross. It'll have the TV front, but with the Narrow Panel width and height and the angled front. Either that or it'll end up as a Narrow Panel. I quite like the aesthetic of the TV, but the functionality of the Narrow Panel (angled speaker does wonders for tone) is tops. I'm afraid that an angled TV might look funny ?. Also thought about a normal TV with an angled speaker board.. Opinions on TV vs Narrow Panel vs TV Panel vs TV angled speaker board? ? I'm still debating in my mind whether to cover it in Tweed or with one of these nice imitation leather fabrics: http://www.ugfabrics.co.za/swatchBooks/hides/Default.html. I quite like that white alligator pleather :-[. I would like your guys opinions regarding the traditional tweed vs pleather. I'm quite a purist, and would never.. retro-cover, if you will - an old amp, but seeing as this is my own build, I think it could be a cool touch ? Grill cloth will be either Mojotone's Gold Striped Oxblood: or the old brown cloth (used on the TV): This will depend on what looks good with the ultimatum of the covering material story. Ok, now for my first objective question ?. Does anybody happen to know, or would anyone be able to measure for me, the inclination of the front of a Fender combo? First prize would be the '57 Deluxe (but I'm sure any angled Fender combo will do). I'm just looking for a rough measurement so I can get designing the cabinet. Cheers, Jono

singemonkey

makepeace wrote Thanks guys ?

Wizard wrote You're clearly quite skilled in the "I-can-get-it-done" department ?
I've been doing renovations to my parents house this year which has taught me quite a lot in that department ?

Judging by the way the rosewood finish on the inside is coming out, I'm toying with the idea of finishing the outside like that, and not covering it.

Something like this:

Looks very cool.

Go for it. That looks great. I think it'll look very swish. You're going to get requests soon. If I ever get this Egnater head, I'm going to need a 1X12 cabinet... ?

makepeace

singemonkey wrote
makepeace wrote Thanks guys ?

Wizard wrote You're clearly quite skilled in the "I-can-get-it-done" department ?
I've been doing renovations to my parents house this year which has taught me quite a lot in that department ?

Judging by the way the rosewood finish on the inside is coming out, I'm toying with the idea of finishing the outside like that, and not covering it.

Something like this:

Looks very cool.
Go for it. That looks great. I think it'll look very swish. You're going to get requests soon. If I ever get this Egnater head, I'm going to need a 1X12 cabinet... ?

Haha, I'm at a stage in my life where I'll likely be inclined to do this for a living.. don't tempt me ?

I think I'm going to do it. First though, a question, if anyone can help:

Does cold glue stick to polyurathane varnish? And if not, which types of glue do? Just in case its a cock up..

TomCat

When I did my head and cab I used Alcolin "High Tac" carpet and vinyl glue.

http://www.alcolin.com/diy-products/wall-and-floor/hi-tack

Gives you a lot of working time while positioning and bonding the tolex to the cabinet, is water based so really easy to clean and you can use it indoors without going on a trip as there are no solvents. It allows you to lift and reposition the tolex if you got it skew.

It also applies easily with a brush and should work with about any surface type.

nick

makepeace wrote We have baffle.

Used the hair-dryer technique for stretching. It didn't do too much, but I did manage to get it quite tight to start off with. ?

That looks very smart! I will be asking for some tips when I get around to mine ?

makepeace

Thanks TC, looks solid. ?

Don't stress nick, its pretty straight forward. Will get that cloth posted off asap. Let me know when you start ?

Mocked up again.. Sorry, can't help myself :-[

makepeace

Speaker is in SA! ? Going to finish the cab this week, had a bit of a rof weekend.. Will hopefully start with the innards this weekend.

makepeace

Finished cab:

Quick update:
Still haven't received the speaker. Should arrive at the post office this week. Re the electronics, Tubedepot marked the wrong value on the package so it has been confiscated by customs. They were unwilling to pay the fine awarded to them by our friends at SARS, so they have offered a full refund or to resend the items. Should hopefully have them next week :?. Now we wait :-\

guidothepimmp

cab looks good man..

Dinosaur-Snr

makepeace wrote Finished cab:

Quick update:
Still haven't received the speaker. Should arrive at the post office this week. Re the electronics, Tubedepot marked the wrong value on the package so it has been confiscated by customs. They were unwilling to pay the fine awarded to them by our friends at SARS, so they have offered a full refund or to resend the items. Should hopefully have them next week :?. Now we wait :-\

Makepeace, it looks absolutely amazing!! I think it looks sexy without the tolex etc. brilliant. I'll be sure to pop by and plug in if im in the area ?

singemonkey

The cab looks amazing. The staining or whatever, combined with the finger joints, makes it look a very classy piece. Well done mate. Post the final pic with the speaker in there.

Wizard

Looks stunning !! ?

rikus

Wow, you must be super pleased with the result! That looks awesome.

Congrats man, job well done thus far!

makepeace

Thanks guys. Really happy with how it came out ? As an aside, does anyone know where I could find feet/glides in the Cape? Have looked all around Hermanus and can't find what I'm looking for :-\

rikus

I don't know how picky you are, but I used small rubber doorstops like the white ones in this picture:

You get them in black also. Worked great for me!

makepeace

Thanks rikus. I also thought of something like that but unfortunately I am picky :-\ i'm looking for something like these:

or these

You gotta love Customs.. I found out yesterday evening that my speaker has been sitting in Cape Town since the 1st. It was already cleared in JHB on the 30th and expedited to CT, but when I phoned WC Customs this morning they said that the package is still waiting to be assessed. Apparently that will happen "this afternoon" :-\

AlanRatcliffe

The Fender glides (bottom pic) should be available from Fender SA, so your local shop should be able to order. I picked up some locally for my Twin a couple of months back.

Is it SARS customs or is it the "customs clearing" at someone like FedEx (which is all done in JHB AFAIK)? FedEx CT are notorious for hanging on to parcels for the "out-of-the way" areas (i.e. anything not in the Peninsula or N suburbs) until they have a truckload full to send (and then making weak excuses). You have to keep an eye on the tracking and if it doesn't ship to you within a day of getting to CT, call them and play merry hell.

makepeace

Alan Ratcliffe wrote The Fender glides (bottom pic) should be available from Fender SA, so your local shop should be able to order. I picked up some locally for my Twin a couple of months back.

Thanks Alan I'll try that.

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Is it SARS customs or is it the "customs clearing" at someone like FedEx (which is all done in JHB AFAIK)? FedEx CT are notorious for hanging on to parcels for the "out-of-the way" areas (i.e. anything not in the Peninsula or N suburbs) until they have a truckload full to send (and then making weak excuses). You have to keep an eye on the tracking and if it doesn't ship to you within a day of getting to CT, call them and play merry hell.

Weber sent it via USPS, so its SARS customs. It arrived in JHB, was cleared there and within a day it arrived in CT. Its been there for 6 days.. I don't understand why it has to be assessed in CT as well as JHB ??? I've harangued them a few times today and all they can tell me is that it is there, but they are very busy this time of year and it should be sent to Hermanus either tomorrow or on Thursday :/

makepeace

Something exciting came today. I'll let the pictures do the talking;

Things ARE getting there, albeit slowly :-[

FatBoy

This is looking so hot dude, if it sounds anything as good as it looks you are going to have a real gem there!

nick

Coming together nicely! 8)

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