weber amp kits

[frank62]

anyone build one of these yet? am looking at the collins design 5e3x2 at 515 it seems like an incredible deal.

[hasserl]

Yes, I've built and am building one. They are a great deal, but I'd advise you plan or upgrading certain companents. Nothing major, just things like input jacks an tubes.

There is not a lot of support for these, if you haven't built amps before I suggest going with the simplest design, the 5F1 Champ circuit, to get yur feet wet. If you are totally discouraged when you're donw than you'll be hooked and then take on the more dificult projects. LOt's of folks have tackled the 5E3 to start with, but I don't recommend it.

JMO

[frank62]

never built an amp kit. the goal here is to get something in the ballpark of a vicky double deluxe without the huge expense. the money i would spend on a champ kit might be better used to have someone experienced do the job. what have you built so far and how do you like them? thanks.

[gkoelling]

Check out www.littledawgamps.com He offers a 2X12 5E3 style amp for $599 and he builds it for you.

[hasserl]

Originally Posted by frank62

never built an amp kit. the goal here is to get something in the ballpark of a vicky double deluxe without the huge expense. the money i would spend on a champ kit might be better used to have someone experienced do the job. what have you built so far and how do you like them? thanks.

I've built one 5E3, I've helped someone else build 5E3, I finished a 6M18TMB for a friend who thought it would be a cool project then got overwhelmed and had problems. And I am now doing a 5E5A.

Once completed they are terrific amps, they sound incredible, and built right they will last a lifetime, just like the originals did.

[frank62]

thanks guys. the lil dawg looks interesting, great price for sure. there are so many of these kit amps out there i don't know what to think. the last amp i owned was a 65 nonreverb deluxe. my next one would have to be at least on a par with it.

[Chrome Dinette]

My 6m36tmb head kit just arrived yesterday(in levant green). I have always wanted an EL84 head, so I am giving this a shot.

Of course, as soon as I had ordered this, I happened upon a 10 watt 2xEL84 Precision Electronics pa amp at a flea market for $2. I guess that will be more of a practice amp once I tweak it for guitar. It only has one preamp tube, but I am replacing the EZ80 with a Weber copper cap to make sure I get enough headroom on the heater winding to add another tube.

[Rod]

frank62...There's a guy I found on Ebay named Richard Scense..He is a "Tweed" builder, but goes beyond that...I bought from him an amp he calls The Last Frontier Whipporwill 15...It has all the BAD things fixed about the 5E3, and all the good things left alone...The amp is 2 6L6's, nice tight bottom end, more power, and the Jensen 15 he uses is Really very good sounding..Workmanship is impeccable....the cost was $800!!! I think that included shipping!!! amazing amps...you can find him on ebay under the last frontier....I have a Bad Cat, Zinky Supro Tremelectric, Rocky Top 45H, a VHT, ect...this is as good as any of my other amps...It has the Tweed growl....HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

[Chrome Dinette]

Originally Posted by Chrome Dinette

My 6m36tmb head kit just arrived yesterday(in levant green). I have always wanted an EL84 head, so I am giving this a shot.

Of course, as soon as I had ordered this, I happened upon a 10 watt 2xEL84 Precision Electronics pa amp at a flea market for $2. I guess that will be more of a practice amp once I tweak it for guitar. It only has one preamp tube, but I am replacing the EZ80 with a Weber copper cap to make sure I get enough headroom on the heater winding to add another tube.

Due to a snafu w/my chassis(currently being fixed by ted, great guy) I ended up working on my $2 flea market amp first. I actually followed a new schematic on the Weber site(Smokin' Joe 2). It is unusual in that it uses the first tube in cascode, not normal for a guitar amp. It sounds great, kind of Voxy but with lots of crunch available at lower volumes due to the post PI master volume.

[wilder]

Nice DIY pa conversion! I'm going to pick up an old 2-6v6 Dukane PA amp at lunch today. I might do something similar with it.

As far as the Weber amp kits, I felt it was a good value. I just finished a 6M18TMB, but I built it using the Trinity SIII layout. I replaced the input jacks, switches, and caps from the weber kit. I also had to replace one pot as it was just too shoddy to use. The chassis, head, box, and trannies are a good buy at his price even if you don't use any of the other components.

Chris

[Hacksaw]

my last build was a 6m45 model, came out great. I changed tubes , jacks, impendance selector. knobs. sounded really great when i got done. and looking to try one of weber smokin joe II when he gets them ready. I need another practice amp LOL

[Chrome Dinette]

I am nearing completion of my 6m36tmb and I am pretty happy with the kit. There are a couple things that could have been better, but I still think it is a good value. For example, the impedance selector switch that is supplied is almost impossible to mount without screwing up the wiring at the nearest tube socket. The solution is to buy a more appropriately sized switch, or just wire up multiple jacks for multiple impedances. Also, if the opt xfmr and tag board holes moved about 1/4" everything would fit much better(right now, the tag board is up against the input jacks and there is extra clearance on the tube socket side). I eliminated two of the input jacks. Who plugs four guitars in anyway?

There was a thread on here about unique circuits and non standard tubes, but I couldn't find it. Anyway, Ted has some neat designs in the works.

I built this one into the old pa head above:

https://weberspeakerscom.secure.poww...keII_schem.jpg

These all use the 807 for the power tube(s).

http://www.tedweber.com/schematics/willy_schem.jpg

http://www.tedweber.com/schematics/807_schem.jpg

https://weberspeakerscom.secure.poww...uren_schem.jpg

[Chrome Dinette]

Originally Posted by Hacksaw

my last build was a 6m45 model, came out great. I changed tubes , jacks, impendance selector. knobs. sounded really great when i got done. and looking to try one of weber smokin joe II when he gets them ready. I need another practice amp LOL

When he made the SJ2 schematic available, I built it into that old pa head. It really sounds great. It is definitely in the running for one of the best amps I have ever heard. I have since added a handle.

[Hacksaw]

I like the lettering for the controls, and the color! very cool. Just a thought, install a ma meter in the front in the hole or a volt meter ?? just like one of those old time radios :-)

Nice work!

[Old Tele man]

re: "...install a ma meter in the front..." = good place for a cathode current meter!