A "Deluxe" Project: 5E3 / 6G3 amp project
- Thread starter dr.barlo
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dr.barlo
New member
Re: A "Deluxe" Project: 5E3 / 6G3 amp project
Let me list the problematic issues with respect to the 5E3 side...
1. long tail pi structure (of the original 6G3 design) as opposed to the original design of split load pi of 5E3... A bit more clean headroom is no problem for me, but...
2. the trannies... I am gonna use two powerful ones. PT is Hammond 370HX (200mA 275-0-275V) ... powerful sucker! and Allen TO40 (Already have this OT...). It is the 4lbs version of their Vibro OT. So it is gonna be bigger than even the regular vibro OT. The saturation that glassman is talking about will definitely not be happening with this OT. And the PT is quite powerful, the power supply will not be limiting the power output... And this is sorta important issue...
(Glassman, thanks man. I completely missed this issue. Thanks for pointing it out.)
So...
What about giving up the 5E3 dream... and going for a Bassman 5F6-A design?
The pi is right. I would not need the cathode bias / fixed bias thing any more. GZ34 is sorta right (depending on the year of course). The trannies would be ok I suppose.
Or should I insist on getting the 5E3 side right (without sacrificing the 6G3 side)?
B
Let me list the problematic issues with respect to the 5E3 side...
1. long tail pi structure (of the original 6G3 design) as opposed to the original design of split load pi of 5E3... A bit more clean headroom is no problem for me, but...
2. the trannies... I am gonna use two powerful ones. PT is Hammond 370HX (200mA 275-0-275V) ... powerful sucker! and Allen TO40 (Already have this OT...). It is the 4lbs version of their Vibro OT. So it is gonna be bigger than even the regular vibro OT. The saturation that glassman is talking about will definitely not be happening with this OT. And the PT is quite powerful, the power supply will not be limiting the power output... And this is sorta important issue...
(Glassman, thanks man. I completely missed this issue. Thanks for pointing it out.)
So...
What about giving up the 5E3 dream... and going for a Bassman 5F6-A design?
The pi is right. I would not need the cathode bias / fixed bias thing any more. GZ34 is sorta right (depending on the year of course). The trannies would be ok I suppose.
Or should I insist on getting the 5E3 side right (without sacrificing the 6G3 side)?
B
Last edited:
Fresh_Start
New member
How about one set of inputs with the 6G3 circuit and single tone knob and the other set up like a Brown Vibroverb 6G16 with the oddball Treble pot? Skip the fixed/cathode bias switch and add bias vary tremolo - you'll like it!
I just don't think you're going to get close to a Tweed Deluxe vibe with that iron. If a 6g3 works for Billy Gibbons and Mark Knopfler sticks with the Vibrolux for decades, what's not to like? The circuits are close enough to share a poweramp but different enough to give you two distinct sounds.
Make sure that you can tweak voltages along the power rail and have separate nodes for each pair of triodes. That will give you more flexibility.
Chip
I just don't think you're going to get close to a Tweed Deluxe vibe with that iron. If a 6g3 works for Billy Gibbons and Mark Knopfler sticks with the Vibrolux for decades, what's not to like? The circuits are close enough to share a poweramp but different enough to give you two distinct sounds.
Make sure that you can tweak voltages along the power rail and have separate nodes for each pair of triodes. That will give you more flexibility.
Chip
dr.barlo
New member
Re: A "Deluxe" Project: 5E3 / 6G3 amp project
My original plan was a 6G3 / 6G11...
But then itching kicked in, you know... itching for a 5e3...
It looks like 5E3 is not gonna be happening and I will not be giving up the 6G3 side. However, bassman 5F6 is kinda doable. PI is right, plate voltages are sorta right, trannies are not that off... I'll have an additional preamp valve, and voila...
No?
B
PS. Thanks man! I appreciate all the help and suggestions...
My original plan was a 6G3 / 6G11...
But then itching kicked in, you know... itching for a 5e3...
It looks like 5E3 is not gonna be happening and I will not be giving up the 6G3 side. However, bassman 5F6 is kinda doable. PI is right, plate voltages are sorta right, trannies are not that off... I'll have an additional preamp valve, and voila...
No?
B
PS. Thanks man! I appreciate all the help and suggestions...
glassman
Electron Herder
Re: A "Deluxe" Project: 5E3 / 6G3 amp project
That sounds a lot more logical. The lower plate voltages will give it a ton of warmth. I like 5F6s but I'd bet that I'd like yours even better.
My original plan was a 6G3 / 6G11...
But then itching kicked in, you know... itching for a 5e3...
It looks like 5E3 is not gonna be happening and I will not be giving up the 6G3 side. However, bassman 5F6 is kinda doable. PI is right, plate voltages are sorta right, trannies are not that off... I'll have an additional preamp valve, and voila...
No?
B
PS. Thanks man! I appreciate all the help and suggestions...
That sounds a lot more logical. The lower plate voltages will give it a ton of warmth. I like 5F6s but I'd bet that I'd like yours even better.
Fresh_Start
New member
Re: A "Deluxe" Project: 5E3 / 6G3 amp project
+1 on that being entirely doable. Should sound sweet!
Chip
+1 on that being entirely doable. Should sound sweet!
Chip
Fresh_Start
New member
Re: A "Deluxe" Project: 5E3 / 6G3 amp project
One technical thing worth pointing out about the 6G3: The first tube triode in the preamp is biased differently from virtually every other Fender made. 100K plate resistor and 1.5K cathode resistor is virtually "standard" and not just for Fender. However, the first gain stage in the 6G3 has a 220K plate resistor and effectively a 3K cathode resistor.
Not necessarily "better" but certainly different and part of the 6G3's mojo.
Chip
One technical thing worth pointing out about the 6G3: The first tube triode in the preamp is biased differently from virtually every other Fender made. 100K plate resistor and 1.5K cathode resistor is virtually "standard" and not just for Fender. However, the first gain stage in the 6G3 has a 220K plate resistor and effectively a 3K cathode resistor.
Not necessarily "better" but certainly different and part of the 6G3's mojo.
Chip
