5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

SirJackdeFuzz

SirJackdeFuzz

New member
As some of you might know, my next amp is a 5E3 clone.

I have been looking into the 5E3 design since November last year.
I thought i wanted a Nick Greer Underdog Mod1, and could only find ONE visual clip of this amp.

Although it sounds GREAT, i am not sure i want that "hot rodded" apprough angle on the 5E3 design. (too smooth sounding, i think)

What i really like is something like this :

a Nasty, GRITTY, in yer face break up (no need for head room)





BUT, the options is just becomming overwhelming :(

Valve Train
Weber
Ceriatone
Nick Greer
Collins
Little Dawg
Frenzel
Sligo

Thank God Victoria is out of my price range.

Guys, is there any way i can narrow all of this down ?
Or worst . . . is there any other brand(s) you can point me too ?

Budget : +/- $1000.00 but might be able to go to 1500.00 for the Holy Grail.

So 5E3 owners and lovers, talk to me !
PLEASE !

;)
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

jeremy said:
mission amps. http://www.missionamps.com/

old tubes + a good speaker = TONE!
Click to expand...

"old tubes" = NOS tubes ?

Or do you mean really old used up valves ?

On the topic of a "GOOD" speaker.
I know good tone is in the eye of the bear holder, but is there a logical way to even try and get a grip on the mass of Weber speaker options ?
I know Emi drivers pretty well, and is starting to understand most of the Jensen and Celstion ones, but Weber has what feels like hundreds of drivers.
Where do you even start to try and learn more about what they have to offer ?

Ahhh yes, i fotgot to mention Mission, thanx ;)


drpietrzak said:
Sara Richter
Click to expand...

Thanx, will look into them.
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

First, the Greer Underdog only looks like a 5E3...it is a HIGHLY modded 5E3 that no longer sounds, feels or reacts like a 5E3, not in any way...trust me I've used one and was really un-happy with it in terms of sounding like a great tweed Deluxe.

The best tweed Deluxe I ever heard belonged to a buddy of my dads and was an original 57 5E3 wioht an original 57 P12R Jensen...next best was a Kendrick 2012 from a limited run made with almost all NOS parts, NOS Tubes an original P12Q and a cab made from 125 year old pine.

Next best is a Mission Amps...the Mission is killer. Have Bruce build it for you (unless you want a kit) and have him use all the killer parts...fancy caps, carbon comp resisters, etc. Spring for some NOS tubes and at the very least get a Weber 12A125A for it...if budget allows get an early 60's P12Q Jensen, an organ pull is a good choice and usally less than $150, if if you want it a little tighter a little louder and a little chimer on top get a Celestion Blue, yes they are $300 but they are good.

I'd stack a Bruce Collins built Mission 5E3 up agains ANY 5E3 out there and have no fear that it would hold it's own.
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

the guy who invented fire said:
First, the Greer Underdog only looks like a 5E3...it is a HIGHLY modded 5E3 that no longer sounds, feels or reacts like a 5E3, not in any way...trust me I've used one and was really un-happy with it in terms of sounding like a great tweed Deluxe.

The best tweed Deluxe I ever heard belonged to a buddy of my dads and was an original 57 5E3 wioht an original 57 P12R Jensen...next best was a Kendrick 2012 from a limited run made with almost all NOS parts, NOS Tubes an original P12Q and a cab made from 125 year old pine.

Next best is a Mission Amps...the Mission is killer. Have Bruce build it for you (unless you want a kit) and have him use all the killer parts...fancy caps, carbon comp resisters, etc. Spring for some NOS tubes and at the very least get a Weber 12A125A for it...if budget allows get an early 60's P12Q Jensen, an organ pull is a good choice and usally less than $150, if if you want it a little tighter a little louder and a little chimer on top get a Celestion Blue, yes they are $300 but they are good.

I'd stack a Bruce Collins built Mission 5E3 up agains ANY 5E3 out there and have no fear that it would hold it's own.
Click to expand...


WOW . . . again great info form you - many thanx ;)

I will again look into the Mission options.
Looks like you are a great fan of the brand.

So far, the Valve Train looks pretty sweet too, but have not seen any prices on their amps yet.

A good speaker . . . well there is one thing that i am willing to spend big money on.
Hell, the 5E3 amps are only a 1X12, so i only need to spend that 300.00, once.
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

Yeah, you could say I'm a fan of Bruce's work...

He rebuilt, refurbed and modded my Twin Reverb...
He overhauled my 1960 Ampeg Jet...
He refurbed my 62 Deluxe...
And he built this from scratch for me...and it's simply a jaw dropping amp!

A shot just before speakers and a Logo were added...



One after speakers and logo, sitting with that MIM Classic 50's Esquire you and I were talking about the other day!



And a gut shots because Bruce does KILLER work!



And a MASSIVE set of trannys!



Yeah, I like Mission amps and I like Bruce's tech work!

If I were gonna buy a 5E3 today I'd go Mission w/o a second thought. I think they smoke the Victoria stuff myself!
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

WOW . . . deff have to see what he can do foe me then ;)


Do you have a Mission 5E3 ?
If so, is this twin speaker amp a 5E3 ?
If not, do you think a Mission 5E3 can get dirty enough ?

Dirty = the same amount of gritty drive (or more), as in the very top Youtube clip.

PS : what trannys does he use ? Heyboer ? Mercury ?

After thought : does he have a "speaker out" jack for an ext cab ?


.......................o0o........................


Ever tested the Valve Train amps ?

Again, thank you very much for your feedback.
Truely appreciating your views on this.
 
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Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

i have a mission 5e3, i cant see the clip right now but ill check once im home and let you know about the gain.

it uses heyboer trannys and it does have a second speaker jack
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

No, my amp is a 5B4 Super Clone, 1950 circuit.

The Mission 5E3 has all the gain and harmonics of a vintage Fender 5E3...it's the same circuit built to the same specs and has just about the same tone.

Bruce is partial to Heybore trannys. Lots of guys use Heybore trannys, including Victoria and FWIW, some of the Mercury trannys are even made by Heybore. I got Heybore in my Super and they are really great.

I do think Bruce's Heybore output tranny does include provisions for an ext speaker...

Never tried the Valve Train...no need IMHO, if I ever wan a 5E3 I'll buy a Mission and be done with it.
 
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Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

I have no idea who built/where my 5e3 clone came from, but it definetely is one of the better ones I have heard and played. has a weber alnico blue dog, and 2nd speaker output. depending on my playing dynamic mine gets gritty with humbuckers at about 11 o clock, singles get it around 1 o clock. i cant speak too much for the many builders of these amp types, but I assure you that you will love it.
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

There are a number of great 5e3 builders around these days. any one of them will get you a great product.
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

drpietrzak said:
There are a number of great 5e3 builders around these days.
any one of them will get you a great product.
Click to expand...

So i've noticed . . . but finding that one special builder that has that unexplainable X-factor to it.

That one in a million - that is the one i am looking for ;)
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

SirJackdeFuzz said:
So i've noticed . . . but finding that one special builder that has that unexplainable X-factor to it.

That one in a million - that is the one i am looking for ;)
Click to expand...

I think the magic 5E3 is one of those Kendrick 2012's with the 125 year old piune cabs and old stock Jensen speakers but they are very few and far between and will run you near what an original 50's Fender will so for the most part and for most players they are out.

Next best thing I've ever tried is the Mission...so far Bruce's has smoked them all.
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

my Mission 5E3 is my main amp these days ... since I switched the speaker out for a Weber, it sounds better than my '56 Deluxe

personally, that clip is just OK, not great. Besides the distortion of the recording, which is no big deal to me, the clip is too short to show any dynamic range. As good as 5E3s sound when pushed, they do have a range of tones in the right hands.

again, I'll link Greg V's clip. Even though he's using a tweaked 5E3 circuit -- a Tungsten Crema Wheat -- it's still one of the best examples of what this type amp can do:

 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

Thats a great clip!

Thats one of the few higher wattage/headroom 5E3 based amps that seems to really keep the dymanics of a stock 5E3.

Very cool!
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

I had the chance to buy a very very nice replica of a tweed deluxe from a somewhat local guy who built them with NOS parts. The particular amp I was looking at had old tubes, old capacitors and I believe it had an old jensen in it, all enclosed in a finger jointed pine cab. It sounded very nice, and when I brought it back after my test run, one of the employees purchased it immediately.

Unfortunately, I heard that the guy got cancer a while back, and I haven't seen any of his amps around for a while.

Cinnamon Girl!
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

Thanks for the clip Curly.

Going there right away ;)

PS : you say it's a tweaked 5E3. Just how much of a tweak are we talkin about ?
 
Re: 5E3 research is getting too much . . . help needed.

SirJackdeFuzz said:
Thanks for the clip Curly.

Going there right away ;)

PS : you say it's a tweaked 5E3. Just how much of a tweak are we talkin about ?
Click to expand...

Looks like the main thing is higher headroom/more power...20 watts vs a stock 5E3's 12 (on a good day!).

The big thing about hot rodded 5E3 amps is the feel...many of them sond pretty good but don't have the same player interaction of a stock 5E3...
 
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