Latest 5E8-A build and a cool simple mod for it

[JimmyR]

This post is mainly for me to vent on how happy I am with my latest build! Just built my second lo-power tweed Twin and it sounds way cool. I've been playing my 335 through it and getting great Freddie King tones, etc. It sounds a bit like a big Deluxe, which is kinda what I was chasing. Except the low-end is as tight as a good Marshall, which I love. It's not deafening, but it is pretty loud by the time you get the grind happening!

I built it pretty much to stock spec with Mojo Cab and trannies, Weber chassis and Sozo caps. I deviated from "stock" by using F+T 22uF filters instead of 16uF and a 25uF V1 bypass cap instead of 250, but nothing too major. I guess the speakers aren't the obvious choice - I have one Celestion gold with a Celestion G12H30 but they sound great! I have tried a few combinations but that's my pick right now.

The mod is something that I did by accident when I built my first 5E8. I put in a .1uF cap on the treble pot instead of a .01 and found I like the tone better! It just seems to fill out the tone better - it's kinda fatter and smoother and helps it sound more like a 5E3. If I could post clips I would but I can't - sorry!

Anyway I feel better now that I've vented!

[hasserl]

I put in a .1uF cap on the treble pot instead of a .01 and found I like the tone better! It just seems to fill out the tone better - it's kinda fatter and smoother

Yikes! That mod is dumping all the highs off to ground. If you like it, that's all that matters, but it doesn't seem like such a good idea to me.

[JimmyR]

Well that's the wierd thing. You would think that would happen but it doesn't. Even with a 335, with the treble pot on halfway, bass on halfway and presence on zero it's still plenty bright. I sometimes have to dial out a bit more treble with the tone pot on the guitar (bridge pickup only).

I have already removed the bright cap on the bright channel so I can use it with a different tube as a gainier channel - with the bright cap it was too bright. It's interesting because this is the second 5E8-A I have built and I like exactly the same mod even though the amps did sound quite different because of different trannies, caps and filtering.

My goal with all my tweed builds is to get the great tweed OD without any fluff. The PaulC PS mod helps, as does slightly increased filtering. And this treble cap mod helps remove some of that un-musical top-end crap you often get with tweed breakup.

I hear you Hasserl! I was horrified when I originally discovered my mistake on my first build but when I returned the amp to stock values I found I prefered the mistake! As always, YMMV!

[hasserl]

I was horrified when I originally discovered my mistake on my first build but when I returned the amp to stock values I found I prefered the mistake!

Aren't many great discoveries done on accident? LOL! Like I said, if you like it that's what really matters. I sometimes feel like I can't get enough high end out of my 5E5A, which has a similar preamp, though the input is different.

[redtoploader]

Thanks for the idea Jimmy. I may be doing a lo-po twin build in a little while, and may try that. I like that circuit alot, love cranking up the treble for more gain, but it can become a bit bright for my taste, espcially with a bandmaster or super.

[JimmyR]

Yeah it's interesting how the amp really starts to come to life once you get treble over halfway. Redtoploader let us know if you try this "mod" - I'd be interested to know if I'm mad.

Hasserl - I recently tried an original 5E5 while on holiday in the US and it was cool. It may be my next project. I am finding it difficult to decide between a 5E5 and a 5E5-A. The 5E5 should sound like a cross between my Twin and a Deluxe I guess - that could be cool!