Thinking Mission 5E3

[teal379]

I'm thinking I will build a Mission 5E3 (unless someone can convince me to look elsewhere and from what I hear, the Mission kit has good directions/support).

This is what he offers as available upgrades - anything here you'd just have to have? Those whom have built 5e3 amps - what would you do differently?

Guitar is a tele-partscaster. Fralin Blues specials. Music is blues and some classic country.


* 6L6 RC MOD KIT (With Out TUBES) +$10.00
* MISSION/Heyboer +30W Output Tranny, 4/8 OHM +$72.00
* Russian GZ30/5V4, high output 5Y3GT, +$14.99
* CARBON COMP RESISTOR KIT +$12.00
* CHOKE WITH MATCHING RESISTOR KIT +$32.99
* TONE-VOLUME MOD +$24.99
* HUMBUCKER I & II with PHASE INVERTER KIT +$27.99
* STK POLYPROPYLENE COUPLING CAPS +$6.00
* SPRAGUE [email protected] ATOM CAPACITORS +$29.00
* JJ/TESLA-6V6 Matched/Select +$28.00
* NOS, Hand Selected and tested, USA MADE 12AY7 +$34.00
* NOS, Hand Selected and tested, USA MADE 5Y3GT +$25.00
* Stainless Steel, HD "L" bracket chassis support kit + $17.99

 

[Trout]

I'm thinking I will build a Mission 5E3 (unless someone can convince me to look elsewhere and from what I hear, the Mission kit has good directions/support).

This is what he offers as available upgrades - anything here you'd just have to have? Those whom have built 5e3 amps - what would you do differently?

Guitar is a tele-partscaster. Fralin Blues specials. Music is blues and some classic country.


* 6L6 RC MOD KIT (With Out TUBES) +$10.00
* MISSION/Heyboer +30W Output Tranny, 4/8 OHM +$72.00
* Russian GZ30/5V4, high output 5Y3GT, +$14.99
* CARBON COMP RESISTOR KIT +$12.00
* CHOKE WITH MATCHING RESISTOR KIT +$32.99
* TONE-VOLUME MOD +$24.99
* HUMBUCKER I & II with PHASE INVERTER KIT +$27.99
* STK POLYPROPYLENE COUPLING CAPS +$6.00
* SPRAGUE [email protected] ATOM CAPACITORS +$29.00
* JJ/TESLA-6V6 Matched/Select +$28.00
* NOS, Hand Selected and tested, USA MADE 12AY7 +$34.00
* NOS, Hand Selected and tested, USA MADE 5Y3GT +$25.00
* Stainless Steel, HD "L" bracket chassis support kit + $17.99

You really made a great choice for a kit, there are others but Mission is TOP NOTCH! Excellent instructions as well.

Edit, If I were to not change something, it would be the tone mod, been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and hated it.

 

[teal379]

Thanks - I've never built one and "don't know what I don't know" when it comes to the options.

Everyone else here is so far and away more advanced than I when it comes to this - figured I'd ask.

 

[Bobbyoso]

I built one about 7-8 years ago, so some of the things like cabinet sourcing might have changed, but most of those options were not available or at least as visible. Went with std. trannys, cloth wire might have been the only a la carte addition, even got the std. Jensen RI C12 he recommended as a base speaker choice. It was fine, I probably would have been fine with the ceramic speaker, sounded great.

But for whatever reason, I determined I needed to put a Weber 12A125 in it, and it sounds great as well. I've left it in because it scratches my period-correct itch, to whatever degree.

Great amp. I don't play loud any more, even live, and tho I'm sure it won't work for most folks, it even gets a great (tweed) clean tone at sufficient volume for me onstage, with JJ 6V6s and a good 12ay7 in v1.

It's light, reliable, doesn't make a bad sound no matter how it's set, and has the response of a thousand-dollar fly rod.

Oh, I did the Zinsser (sp) 50/50 amber shellac thing on the cab, and it's beautiful. I've got one or two other amps I like as much, but they're masters of different domains; this thing rules at its game as well as anything out there.

 

[big mike]

I wouldn't bother with the sprauge upgrade...I used Tad's and they're fine.

Probably would go NOS 5y3 and stick with 6v6...they're loud as hell without the 6l6's.


But.

It's all good.

 

[StanG]

When I built mine, in 2002 or 2003?, Bruce recommended going with the stock out put tranny, but if you intend to use 6L6's that is a different story.

 

[teal379]

Thanks guys - appreciate it. Looks like I'm going to order the "base model" so to speak.

 

[ReginaldBisquet]

Good choice on the Mission kit. I recently finished a Weber 5F1 kit and it was nothing short of a disappointment with the less than adequate parts they included. The photos and testimonials I have read indicate the Mission kit has better quality components and instructions.

Also - keep in mind that building an amp like the 5F1 or the 5E3 is like building a ship in a bottle. Very tiny chassis and lots of little pieces.

The reward at the end is well worth it.

 

[DrewB]

I have a Mission 5E3 I built in 2004 using his stock transformers and everything. I don't see anything on that list that I would be interested in, other than maybe the 5Y3 rectifier - they were NOS when I ordered my kit, anyway.