Saint's 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Build

[Modern Saint]

After building my Weber 5E7M last year I still need a combo amp as I don't own one. Well I kind of do - Mesa Boogie MKII - but I have retired it as 1) it is heavy 2) very loud and 3) my collectors item - besides I am the original owner.

For those who never saw my 5E7M build - here it is:

http://markweinguitarlessons.com/for...ht=weber+build

After a long internal debate of what to do for my next build I have settled in on 5E3 Tweed Deluxe Clone. Unlike the 5E7M which entirely a kit 'cept tubes, this one consists of parts from different manufacturers so parts orders will be placed in a timely manner.

Well the first of my parts came in. The parts and chassis are from Mojotone which uses high quality components and this stuff is prime. Along with my purchase came a gift from Mojo, a T-Shirt.





Here is the Mojo Amp Parts Kit



The box has been opened - OOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooo



I borrowed Prages idea of sorting parts on a sheet but Mojo made it even easier. All the parts are bagged individually and tagged. Here is what came in the magic box.

Resistor Packages -



Cap Packages -



Hardward Packages



Chassis Parts



Cloth Wire



Boards



I had to buy the Chassis separately and boy, this is a beautiful chassis.









I didn't take a pic of the power cord just incase Weiner's were wondering.

Anyway I got a chance to install the hardware into the chassis

Front Panel



Rear Panel



The next step will be to begin work on the board. I will also order the OT and PS Transformers soon from Triode. I will be using ClassicTone Transformers by Magnetics Corporation

[Mark Wein]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tig]

Cool!

BYOC is about to release their first amp kit...
Amp Kit U.S. Release Date Is Set!

BYOC is proud to announce that on December 1, 2011, it will finally be releasing its first amp kit - The Champlifier. Corny name? Perhaps. The finest DIY amp kit based on the sweetest 6 watts of tube amplified tone ever created? Definitely.

Retail for the complete amp kit will be $349.99. This is for the amp only. This does not include speaker(s) or cabinet. We will also be offering The Champlifier without tubes and/or transformers.

[Modern Saint]

I won't be getting one of those though Tig. I have a SF Vibro Champ that will get recapped and upgraded in the near future.

[Modern Saint]

One of the really cool things that the Mojo small parts kit offers are great components (Carbon comp resistors, Orange Drop Caps and TAD Electrolytic Caps) - Woo Hoo!
Saves on having to individually order parts. For those who do not know about the component dissertation, major discussions have been debated on the effect of sound, tone, and clarity of electronic components.

*Modern Saint's building disclosure: That will not be discussed here as 1) that is not the purpose of the thread and 2) there are many other forums where this type of discussion can be done.

Here is a pic of the assembled board. Wiring still needs to be done.



The Classic Tone Transformers were ordered on Friday so I should see them later this week. I still need to wire the board up and wire up the chassis. Stay tuned to the same Saint channel if you are following this thread.

[Chad]

again, very cool Saint. I only wish I was out in Cali to hear it in person when it is done.

[Modern Saint]

again, very cool Saint. I only wish I was out in Cali to hear it in person when it is done.

Thanks bro! Maybe one day you will make your way out here. Got two more to build on the back burner - getting build GAS. Gotta say one at a time Saint, one at a time. Cheaper than buying I tell ya

[ellengtrgrl]

It sounds like fun! Good luck!

[BoomBoomBigelow]

Looks juicy! Apt to sound juicy, too!

[dodgechargerfan]

Nice!

I'm starting to get an itch to build another amp...

[Tig]

12 is the new 11

[Modern Saint]

12 is the new 11

The Tweeds go to 12!

Prages and I can vouch for that.

[Prages]

Very cool. I'm gonna have to build another at some point myself. Right now I'm gassing more for electronic drums though.

[Modern Saint]

Got the Tranny's today - Woo Hoo!!!

Classic Tone's!



The Tranny's are installed - Yes



Test fitting the Board



More wiring to do.

Three more items needed to purchase.

1 - Cabinet
2 - P12Q Jensen Speaker (Alnico) - like the original, was gonna do a Hellatone but I change my mind - builders perogative.
3 - Tube set.

[wahcat]

This is the kit I was wanting you to build for me bro. I'm still up for it if you are after you finish the first one.

[Wyatt]

Three more items needed to purchase.

1 - Cabinet
2 - P12Q Jensen Speaker (Alnico) - like the original, was gonna do a Hellatone but I change my mind - builders perogative.
3 - Tube set.

Weber 12A125A

Or better yet...

Weber 30-watt Alnico Bluedog or Scumback 30-watt Scumnico. I ran a real '60's Vox Alnico in my 1960 Tweed Deluxe for a dozen years and it was a match made in heaven.

Also, what size are the octal the socket holes in the Mojo chassis? I ask because I like to use old/NOS tube sockets, people can debate caps and resistors all they want, it's the mechanical parts I have preferences for and sockets are the one thing I don't like any modern option for.

I never knew about the Mojo small parts kits, that's a swell idea.

[Modern Saint]

Weber 12A125A

Or better yet...

Weber 30-watt Alnico Bluedog or Scumback 30-watt Scumnico. I ran a real '60's Vox Alnico in my 1960 Tweed Deluxe for a dozen years and it was a match made in heaven.

When I was going through the process to build this amp, I thought about the Weber's (both 12A125A and the Bluedog) and considered. Decided to go with the Jensen instead - primarily because of the recent quality issues that Weber has had this past year - board gossip, also I know what the Jensen's sound like. Only heard of the Scumback's but don't know much about them as I have been primarily a Celestion user.

Also, what size are the octal the socket holes in the Mojo chassis? I ask because I like to use old/NOS tube sockets, people can debate caps and resistors all they want, it's the mechanical parts I have preferences for and sockets are the one thing I don't like any modern option for.

I never knew about the Mojo small parts kits, that's a swell idea.

The octal hole size is 1 5/32" Hole Size. I do agree with you about the mechanical parts as well.

[Modern Saint]

To keep consistant with the narrow chassis (Mojo), I just ordered the cabinet from Mojo.



I am going to shellac this one too just like my Weber build to age this baby.



http://markweinguitarlessons.com/for...ighlight=weber

Slowly but surely this amp is coming together. Still finishing up the wiring of the unit. I will show pics as progress on the wiring comes to a close.

All that is left to order is the speaker and tubes. Technically all I need is a rectifier tube but I do need some backup 12AY7's and I would rather use Tung Sol 6V6's rather than the JJ's I have.

[Modern Saint]

Haven't done much lately but the tubes have been ordered. I also got my Jensen P12Q yesterday so all items have been ordered. Still waiting on the cabinet as it was a minimum two week waiting period. I double checked today for an ETA on the cabinet. It is 1/5/12 - so cool as it gives me time to finish so I will be able to plug and play soon. Just in time for a small pickup blues Happy Hour gig on the 1/6/12.

The Box



Jensen P12 Front



Jensen P12Q Back

[Chad]

i haz jealous.

[Modern Saint]

My Cabinet just came yesterday - Woo Hoo!

Just simply a beautiful piece of work. Unfortunately I can't work on anything 'til I get back from the East Coast but all that is missing know are the output tubes (6V6's) and the rectifier tube (NOS 5Y3GT).

The Box



Front Shot



Top Shot



Rear Shot



This cabinet too will get aged with shellac like the Bandmaster Tweed! I am really looking forward to that.

As for current progress on the chassis, I have wired up the two volume and tone controls along with the heater wires for the tubes but it does not yet warrant a pic.

I am quite excited to get this done now as firing this up is right around the corner of late January/early February.

[Denverdave]

That is going to be one sweet looking amp....

[jaxn slim]

That is going to be one sweet looking amp....

+1

[Chad]

you really should consider building amps for others as a small side income. You do really good work and it looks like you enjoy it.

[Modern Saint]

you really should consider building amps for others as a small side income. You do really good work and it looks like you enjoy it.

Thanks bro! I may do it one day but for now I just do it for myself. Gives me a chance to experiment with what I want and not be dependant on the manufacturers anymore. On a side note, I still use my Jet City amp, well one of them. May flip the other one in the future as I won't be needing two anymore with all of my builds.

[telecaster911]

Awesome

[BoomBoomBigelow]

Man, that looks like a big pile of fun and goodness! Yum!

[sunvalleylaw]

i haz jealous.

Me too. That looks awesome!

[Modern Saint]

Been busy so I haven't been able to work on my yesterday and this morning. Got a chance to wire up the heater feeders and the some of the Power Supply transformer connections. After seeing some other builders builds, I wanted to try and improve my wiring by placing the AC heater lines as close the chassis lip as I could. You will notice in the pics that I have succeeded. I still need to possibly drill two holes in the chassis so I can mount the fiberboard like I did in the Weber. I already have the necessary spacers to do it. Here are some updated pics of last night and todays progress.

Right View



Center View



Left View



Chassis Top Shot



The weather out here in SoCal is warm so I put away the soldering iron and now it is time to work on the cabinet. Gonna spray some clear Shellac on the cab to seal the material like I did on the Weber build. Next week pending weather, I will apply coats of amber shellac to age the cab - fun times lie ahead.

[Modern Saint]

Abnormal weather in SoCal as temps hit the upper mid 70's. Some would say lucky but I have allergies and when we get this type of weather, my sinuses are hit bad - hence runny nose and dry throat = blowing the nose and sneezing all day. Well in-between the torture. I got work on the cabinet as mentioned in the prior post. Two coats of clear shellac were shot with ample drying time in-between coats.

Here is the back of the cabinet pre-clear shellac (all hardware removed)



Back Plates - Preclear



Back Plates - Post two coats



Cabinet Pre-Disassembly



Cabinet Disassembled



Shellac'd



Top Shot



Time to let it all dry and cure. Hopefully I will find extra time later in the to begin applying the amber shellac. As for next week, it'll be tough as I am busy on both days.

Stay Tuned to the Same Saint Channel

[Modern Saint]

Since I was off, I got a chance to work on the cab so more. Today I applied the Amber Shellac.

Here are the pics for the aging the cab!

Rear Plates



Left Side


Right Side



Rear Shot



Front Shot



Angled Top Shot



Top Half-Shot



I will observe the appearance tomorrow or the day after and review if another coat is needed. If it is good, I will let it dry for the rest of the week and then reassemble the speaker baffle, speaker, handle, install large feet - I don't like the button feet, I want the amp to sit still and prepare to install the chassis.

[voodoothatido13]

That looks awesome! Love it!

[paulskirocks]

Nice work!

[Chad]

I will be the first to place an order from Saint Amplification whenever you finally decide to quit your day job

[Modern Saint]

Thanks Guys!

I will be the first to place an order from Saint Amplification whenever you finally decide to quit your day job

You are going to have to stand in line - lol. Wahcat asked me a long time ago.

[Modern Saint]

Here are two pics from today.

The Front Grille was reattached as well as the handle.



The Jensen P12Q also installed



Oooohhh this is getting exciting as I am hoping to finish by this weekend so I can use it at the LA Blues Society Jam.....Who Haa!

[sunvalleylaw]

Nice!! LIke Chad, I haz jealous!

[irishstu]

Wow, how did I miss this?

GREAT job, MS.

[Chad]

Thanks Guys!



You are going to have to stand in line - lol. Wahcat asked me a long time ago.

I asked on your first build thread, so if I am not first, I better be second

[Modern Saint]

I asked on your first build thread, so if I am not first, I better be second

Okay

I brought Wahcat over from another forum that we both belong too.

[Modern Saint]

Unlike the Weber build where the holes are predrilled on the circuit board, I had to drill the holes on the circuit board as well as the chassis.



I had to drill to mounting holes into the cabinet for the chassis did a test check.



The board is installed. I still need to do the final wiring from the board to the pots, transformer and in/out jacks.



Full Rear Shot



Back Plate Installed



Top Shot - Sorry for all the fingerprints



Front Shot of the Amp



The only things left to complete the amp is:

1 - The Final Wiring
2 - Install Tubes
3 - Smoke Test

After that, it time to jam!

[Chad]

I'll PM you my address so you know where to send it

[Modern Saint]

Putting the final touches on the 5E3 build.

On Monday I wired up the V1 and half of V2. Last night (Tuesday), I wired in up V3 and V4, Volume and Tone Controls, Board Grounds and the Input Jacks. All that is left to do is to wire up the rest of the PS and OT and I am done with soldering. Then follow with tube install and then the smoke tests. All this will be followed by voltage measurements and Output tube bias verification. Should be done tonight if all goes well and ready for Friday's gig.

Anyway on Monday I got a few more parts like tube shields and a cover for this. I like having covers to protect my gear. Dang MojoTone makes some great stuff!

Top Cover Shot



Front Cover Shot



I will put up final pics of my chassis work when I am done. Also hope to have Tommy Harkenrider check it out on Saturday for my son's blues class and record some video to post up as well.

[Modern Saint]

The amp is done folks and it sounds sweet. Will be giving it the test run at this evenings blues gig. Here are the final pics of the build. I may shorten a few leads which I left longer just in case.

The board is wired up and complete



Board side wiring



Transformer side wiring



Rear Shot with Tubes - bought gold anodized preamp tube covers



Final Top Shot



No new front shot as nothing has changed. Considering ordering some Tweed type name plates for this build as well as future builds of this type. I have one more plate from Tele911 but that doesn't work with this type of amp.

Clips to come as I am want to video Tommy H playing through it. Hope to do this tomorrow but will all depend on Saint Jr. He is ill and unless his fever breaks, we may not be at Premier tomorrow.