Andy40's 5E3 Scratch Build

[Andy40]

The Cabinet
Here are the plans that I used:- http://thebluesalligators.narod.ru/olderfiles/1/5E3_DELUXE_STYLE_CABINET_3.pdf

I used premium pine from Bunnings for the cabinet and 7mm ply for the Speaker Baffle and Upper and Lower Panels.

Chassis, Tubes and Electrical Parts

All sourced from Evatco. I was impressed with the quality of the parts.

Speaker

WGS G12Q 12" https://thespeakerfactory.com.au/collections/wgs/products/american-vintage-12-g12q-20-watts

Guide
I have found that the stewmac guide is a bit better than the Mojotone guilde

Stewmac https://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_Electronics/Amp_Kits_and_Parts/Amplifier_Kits/59_Tweed_15W_Amp_Kit.html
Mojotone https://system.na3.netsuite.com/core/media/media.nl?id=3424346&c=923962&h=7f63feabe4e71e3943bc&_xt=.pdf&vid=t5TR0XqMAi8mBhD-&chrole=17&ck=WlAYRm-uAt5wMItb&cktime=175773&cart=1195845&promocode=&promocodeaction=overwrite&shipmeth=11&sj=mjIPqSEKP5BNNVheHTULEhcKs%3B1587012741%3B900163 000&gc=clear

[jugglindan]

Fetch the popcorn!

[Andy40]

The woodpile then cut to size with my table saw. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/95b665db8d1a0d62b949793fca9433db.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/f98c311c8362e11c06ef22acff431a4e.jpg

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[Andy40]

For the finger joints I made this jig for my router. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to use onehttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/7318891b88ec20cc5f0a672f6111e21c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/faa78c5088b0e4c2babdb3cb180c7b1a.jpg

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[Andy40]

Test fit. Snug as a bug.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/28a5bdc81babb3edf53a5aa677605af0.jpg

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[Andy40]

A bit rough but not bad.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/0f0b421f0c7a4037781cb6d4438edf52.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/5830f33a1c25f83828235bd3d7ac1ea2.jpg

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[Andy40]

I used the router table method to cut the baffle. (Note this is the tweed champ baffle I made but the method was the same). The 5e3 is here sprayed in black.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/834dfce1c54c3790a57fe079da4838ba.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/e6a8c813384f8e574388bf21dd9af0f2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/0c7c48a8560d5b96307fc3102f9ccead.jpg

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[Andy40]

Okay didn't get some photos of a few steps here but in summary
Glued and clamped cabinet
Used my mates belt sander to sand down the cab face to 86 deg. (In hindsight I would have cut the angles on the side pieces before glueing)
Used a straight router bit to cut the seat for front panels. Then glued in place.
Used a 1/2 inch rounded router but to rout all edges.
Timbermated all joins in the cabinet then sanded
Sanding sealer then sanded.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/05773bf907c622a2285fe20e3e79d303.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/d4d3b5aba41a62a222eba34056927777.jpg

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[Andy40]

This is where I am currently up to on the cabhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/24a1f5cc901412c8acb200d1e81a52f1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/be4b1500fc6a6bbb681034f063e5a7d7.jpg

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[jugglindan]

Looking good! I think I just drooled a little...

[jugglindan]

I have wanted a valve amp again ever since I sold my Peavey Classic 50. That was a lovely amp but the exact opposite of late-night-at-home-friendly.

[Andy40]

A good friend of mine has a Peavey Classic 30. nice amp too

[McCreed]

Very cool Andy! And, nice build diary too.

The Instructions page of the Modulus document is worth reading...

"For wood you MUST use “void free” wood, Solid wood is preferable for authenticity...

If you choose to ignore this and use industrial/building grade ply you will experience a
buzzy sound that would get you kicked out of most heavy metal bands…"

"Dimensions have been (mostly) shown in millimetres and inches, Normally I find cabs
built with the millimetres dimensions are clearer and less confusing. But I think that has
to do with my metric approach to tonality. For truly authentic tone use the Inch
dimensions."

"I will not be held responsibly for loss of limbs cause by cheap/faulty equipment or the
wrong use of cheap/faulty equipment. …and don’t kill yourself."

:o

[Simon Barden]

Nice. Going for a varnished wood look, or tweed fabric covering?

[Bakersdozen]

Looking great. Following with interest [emoji16]

[Cliff Rogers]

Following. :)

[Andy40]

Ahhh yes Simon I was originally going for in untolexed cab but muffed it up too much. I have since purchased some "bitchin wares" to cover said cabinet.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/d72001250e515682bbf4d5bbe01861a2.jpg

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[McCreed]

Wow! I like that covering!

I never would have thought of that, but it works really well with that grill cloth.
Keep the posts coming.

[Woltz]

The Cabinet
Stewmac https://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_Electronics/Amp_Kits_and_Parts/Amplifier_Kits/59_Tweed_15W_Amp_Kit.html


I really like the Stewmac guide, even a beginner can follow it.


For the finger joints I made this jig for my router. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to use onehttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/7318891b88ec20cc5f0a672f6111e21c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200416/faa78c5088b0e4c2babdb3cb180c7b1a.jpg

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Nice jig and good results from it.

[Andy40]

Thanks Woltz. You are absolutely right, the Stewmac guide is almost idiot proof.

The wiring was slightly different to the Mojotone Guide but either way is find (as long as you do not connect the ground switch).

I did not like the process they used to check the voltages though as they gave false readings because the tubes were not installed (which is what they recommended).

[Andy40]

Snagged me some time this arvo to finish up the raw cab drilled, fitted and measured for tolex and grill cloth. Some very amatuer woodworking skills on display but it's good for tolex!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200421/29f6e5ca37dcf6fc60acbb251a51c492.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200421/707bf745352d346190c49363f7927f07.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200421/f0aef06b84324d621582cf5542f5ded6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200421/101411d5bf67f9034d2be5a6f3842fe3.jpg

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[Simon Barden]

What went wrong with those top finger joints? You had the jig all set up nicely it seemed.

[Simon Barden]

And why does it say 2 amp fuse when the fuse is only serving one amp? ;)

[Andy40]

Boom Tish ha ha nice simon. Lockdown hasn't dampened your humour

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[Simon Barden]

I'm afraid it's terrible all the time.

[Andy40]

Time to tolex! Wish me luck.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200424/8b31cd06950863c67114edb3eef9057d.jpg

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[jugglindan]

Time to tolex! Wish me luck.

Good luck!

[Andy40]

Going to do the baffle as wellhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200425/3277954ca9c7561e880e451666e4dba0.jpg

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[jugglindan]

Going to do the baffle as wellhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200425/3277954ca9c7561e880e451666e4dba0.jpg

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Good luck with that as well. When refurbing my celestion hi-fi speakers many years back, I struggled to get the cloth to a good tension and wrinkle free. I will be interested to see how you do it because I can smell the faint whiff of an amp build coming my way. Or is that the aroma of lamingtons baking in the oven?

[McCreed]

When refurbing my celestion hi-fi speakers many years back, I struggled to get the cloth to a good tension and wrinkle free.

A good little trick when doing grill cloth, is get it neatly around the frame just shy of the tension you want/need then hit it with a heat gun around the edges.

You want a medium heat and not too close to the cloth. I recommend experimenting on some offcuts of cloth to find the right combination of heat & distance. IT WILL MELT if too hot, too close. You just want to "shrink" it a bit to impart tension.
Work the four edges first, then methodically work you r way into the middle.

By doing the heat gun trick you don't have to fight with the cloth so hard with trying simultaneously stretch it, hold it and staple it.

[jugglindan]

A good little trick when doing grill cloth, is get it neatly around the frame just shy of the tension you want/need then hit it with a heat gun around the edges.

You want a medium heat and not too close to the cloth. I recommend experimenting on some offcuts of cloth to find the right combination of heat & distance. IT WILL MELT if too hot, too close. You just want to "shrink" it a bit to impart tension.
Work the four edges first, then methodically work you r way into the middle.

By doing the heat gun trick you don't have to fight with the cloth so hard with trying simultaneously stretch it, hold it and staple it.

Nice tip, thanks.

[Andy40]

Thanks for the tip mccreed. I didn't have a heat gun but used the wife's hairdryer...shhh. I think I did okayhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200425/d20ed633a64e292911a02f63af55287f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200425/76f602167d3d32cb87ea51a6ad2776c8.jpg

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[Andy40]

Upholstering the tolex went okayish. I think I did pretty good for my first time. Couple of spots I need to fix with supergluehttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200425/3977543ca2443753db4db71c4fbfb6d7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200425/51106be6579b2b6a7703c267dec4838f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200425/bbc0dd14339aa05ebe8c775102861e74.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200425/825aa661b018276e7230b1b1a766fd60.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200425/83a3a13d3763a3ff402f152a351067b8.jpg

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[jugglindan]

Looking good. I love the texture on the tolex, gives it a lush sort of feel.

[Bakersdozen]

Looking great mate.

[Sonic Mountain]

Looks rad, reminds me of a very rare option on Valiant Hardtops to have paisley vinyl roof.

[McCreed]

Thanks for the tip mccreed. I didn't have a heat gun but used the wife's hairdryer...shhh.

Hah! I think I did the same thing first time I built a baffle board! Your secret's safe with me!

Oh, and the cabinet looks great! Nice work.

[Andy40]

Thanks guys! I couldn't help but mock build it last night. I gotta say I'm pretty proud of my fist effort! I've only got a little patching up to do where some bits didn't stick the best.
Not bad for a bit of Bunnings pine and ply, tolex and grill cloth
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200426/a0a73a419fb7d3c1d002964b2d58a354.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200426/cb74486a408f957e7bee713a9bd51ca5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200426/981def3f9a1e0e429a006767f7a83ea3.jpg

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[king casey]

That looks great!
I didn't know Bunnings sell tolex and grill cloth.

cheers, Mark.

[Andy40]

boom tish!

[jugglindan]

Fantastic! Can't wait to see the rest of the build.

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[Andy40]

First mods. 5e3 chassis drilled to accommodate the turret board with 6mm stand off screwshttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200427/5a11744eae2fb2183940d9535e96b0da.jpg

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[Andy40]

For anyone interested, Mojotone have put up a step by step guide to building the 5E3.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL71jpCjfqa-otDBtLdn214Nvb0PnZ-u4M

Most of the videos appear to be public

[Woltz]

For anyone interested, Mojotone have put up a step by step guide to building the 5E3.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL71jpCjfqa-otDBtLdn214Nvb0PnZ-u4M

Most of the videos appear to be public

Good find. I'll have a look at that soon. I'm still toying with the idea of an amp build but another project has piqued my interest as well.

[Andy40]

Nothing wrong with that Woltz....nothing wrong with that:cool:

[Andy40]

I was Ill prepared for the size of the magnet on this one! Wholly Moley. Good this this one says 8ohmhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200505/cda8cf8867badd2d2ad4ef937ae57482.jpg

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[McCreed]

It will fit though, right?

[FrankenWashie]

I was Ill prepared for the size of the magnet on this one! Wholly Moley. Good this this one says 8ohmhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200505/cda8cf8867badd2d2ad4ef937ae57482.jpg

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That’s a mother! For use in quiet, gentle folk music of course!

[jugglindan]

Mmm, that speaker does look tasty

[Andy40]

This is the board soldered up. After some chin scratching I decided to change the cathode resistor to 10w and snuggled the bleeder resistor 220k 1w from the first filter cap's + to ground. I made sure that all resistors are about 1-2mm off the board. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200514/6ce6f5d77f8c434f1afc9ed2aba91bdd.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200514/9cdee7d9cf824428a3e4b81ce8403066.jpg

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[jugglindan]

That's some tidy point to point wiring. Nice!

[Bakersdozen]

Looking schmick

[Woltz]

Nice job mate.

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[Andy40]

Thanks guys. Nearly ready for voltage testing!!! Excitedhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200516/396e342fe863643c2e937c8f28287a82.jpg

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[jugglindan]

Very exciting!
/me discretely wipes away some drool

[Bakersdozen]

Very exciting!
/me discretely wipes away some droolThere's nothing discreet dude, I can see your drool puddle from here [emoji2957]

Very tidy work @Andy40 .. hope it fires up according to plan

[DrNomis_44]

@ Andy40 Looks great, nice wiring job, should sound really good.

[McCreed]

Very cool Andy!

So is this 18w like a deluxe?

[Simon Barden]

It's a 5E3 copy, so yes, a 50s tweed deluxe!

[Andy40]

Voltage and sound test worked great guys! Thanks for the positive thoughts! Good to see your back doc!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200517/09893ff47f075dbed8287987a44aecf8.jpg

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[DrNomis_44]

@ Andy40 It's good to be back, you can thank our forum mate, Frankenwashie, for that.

[Andy40]

Cool I will. I have a question that you may be able to help with. I'll look into it thus week

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[Simon Barden]

Great news! Are you pleased with the way it sounds?

[Simon Barden]

And what do the neighbours think? ;)

[Andy40]

Ha ha. I like on a pretty large block and choose my times carefully. No one complains about my bad playing. Maybe they are just embarrassed for me or think I need the practice.

[Simon Barden]

They may even like it!

[Andy40]

So. Experiment time. I swapped out the 8ohm WGS greenberet with the 16ohm WGS G12Q and I gotta say it breathed new life into the amp.

Done get me wrong. The green beret is an awesome speaker. Very powerful mids with a tighter bottom end. If I were gigging that would be my choice for this amp.

But. I was a little sick for getting my ears belted with those mids at home.

The 16 ohm WGS G12Q attenuates quieter and is a bit squishier and dirties up quite nicely for at home playing.

Anyway. It's a temporary solution until I get a multitap output transformer.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200620/25781763bacf91f67b9bd4bffab50b77.jpg

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[Rodc]

I love what you've done Andy.! Very impressive! And those corner joints...some work in those..
I bought a Vox AC30 to replace my old Marshall 8080 earlier this year. I love the sound of full valve. The guitarist in my sons band uses it (14 yrs olds) and they love it.

[Andy40]

Thanks for the kind comments rod. What's the ac30 like? They are pretty reasonably priced aren't they?

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[Rodc]

They sound really nice Andy. They have that true valve sound but to get a heavier distorted sound you need a pedal. Even if you swap the lead over to either Top Boost channels. I bought a Soul Food pedal for it, that gets it cranking. I paid a bit over $1,300 for the amp. Guitar World Nerang had them on special. They are 1439 now. A lot of amp for the money with the dual Celestions.
There's a couple of vids of the boys playing here on their FB page. https://www.facebook.com/theoffbeatsofficialpage/ my young bloke plays drums.

[Andy40]

Very cool, they sound a bit like the Chats that sunny coast band. What a cool rehearsal space.

[Rodc]

Very cool, they sound a bit like the Chats that sunny coast band. What a cool rehearsal space.

Thanks mate. It's a 20 x 30ft shed on a normal size block behind our house. Just half the shed. Sound proofed it with that wool stuff from bunnings and plastered it. Does the job..

Wouldn't mind getting myself some woodworking gear like yours but I'd only get myself more strife then I usually do building something.. ;)

[DrNomis_44]

I love what you've done Andy.! Very impressive! And those corner joints...some work in those..
I bought a Vox AC30 to replace my old Marshall 8080 earlier this year. I love the sound of full valve. The guitarist in my sons band uses it (14 yrs olds) and they love it.

I second that, there's nothing like the sound of an all valve guitar amplifier, my 180 Watts RMS Fender Super Twin still sounds great, and that's 180 Watts RMS of clean valve power, it takes pedals pretty well too, still can't believe I scored it for only Au$300.00, it was a case of being at the right place, at the right time, my Marshall MA100C amp is all valve too, I love both of those two amps to bits.

To my ears, an all valve amp sounds more dynamic, that is, it seems to respond better to your picking, pick softly and it responds likewise, but as you pick harder it gets noticeably louder.

[McCreed]

I like your amp, but I’m almost more impressed that there are still 14 year olds that think ZZ Top is cool!

[DrNomis_44]

I love the tolex that's on the amp Andy40, definitely gives it a cool vibe, I'm seriously thinking of putting some tolex on my 50 Watt Soldano amp head build, it's got some green pool table felt on it at the moment, but it's getting a bit tatty and it's a bit of an eye sore, it also needs some new chrome corner protectors as well, I've had to put my money towards a few other things so I haven't had much of a chance to do any more work on it.

[dave.king1]

https://www.facebook.com/theoffbeatsofficialpage/ my young bloke plays drums.

Nice, good to see kids playing real instruments.

( Ray Hoff seems to have found the fountain of youth ;) :cool: )

[Rodc]

Nice, good to see kids playing real instruments.


( Ray Hoff seems to have found the fountain of youth ;) :cool: )
Funny you should say that Dave. Someone mentioned Ray on Facebook yesterday when they saw The Offbeats name. We had never heard of him before that.
Jack named the band (my son on drums) so it was related to The Easybeats. Snowy Fleet the drummer from The Easybeats has been a online type mentor for Jack. He’s giving Jack great support and helped him with decisions with getting the band together ect. Sno and Maureen have been fantastic!

[jugglindan]

That's a serious pedigree for a musical mentor!

[dave.king1]

Wasn't having a go, just figured there'd be enough Aussie old farts on here to remember the band. (Yeah I guess I'm getting effing old)

Having Snowy Fleet as a mentor is a gift a young drummer could hardly dream of.

I love seeing kids getting into making music, gives us all hope for the future

[Rodc]

Wasn't having a go, just figured there'd be enough Aussie old farts on here to remember the band. (Yeah I guess I'm getting effing old)

Having Snowy Fleet as a mentor is a gift a young drummer could hardly dream of.

I love seeing kids getting into making music, gives us all hope for the future

Thanks Dave, I had a look Ray Hoffs history. He was a pioneer of Aussie music in his own way. I must get the young bloke to ask Snowy if he remembered hearing about Ray next time he’s chatting to him online.
Thanks guys. Meanwhile back to Andy’s amp..😉