Mission Amps?

NathanCahill

NathanCahill

New member
I just found this site tahnks to a link posted by Scott_F IIRC. 2 major question. Keep in mind that I know verry little about amp construction. I have been looking at the scholar kit.

1. The over drive stage specs are listed as ; Triode/Solid State. Is this an chose one option, or is it solid state only?

2. Would it be possible to get one that runs a single EL34 or 6L6.

I know i bigger transformer would be needed.

Can it be done?
 
Re: Mission Amps?

NathanCahill said:
I just found this site tahnks to a link posted by Scott_F IIRC. 2 major question. Keep in mind that I know verry little about amp construction. I have been looking at the scholar kit.

1. The over drive stage specs are listed as ; Triode/Solid State. Is this an chose one option, or is it solid state only?

2. Would it be possible to get one that runs a single EL34 or 6L6.

I know i bigger transformer would be needed.

Can it be done?
Click to expand...

Bruce is my brother! You should just email him directly. His contact info is at http://www.missionamps.com or call him at 303-423-4103.

Bruce also hangs out on the Ampage website and answers technical questions. You might get the fastest response by going to Ampage and posting your question there addressed directly to Bruce Collins/Mission Amps.

I've tried to get him to post here and he is registered here. But he likes answering the more technical guitar amp questions that come up on Ampage.

Lew
 
Re: Mission Amps?

5E3 Tweed Builders Website

http://www.firebottle.com/fireforum/fireBB.cgi?cfg=dlx&enter=go

Depending on what you are after, I highly recomomend either the 5E3 or his newer 5F4/5E5A kit. First time build, 5E3 and you'll end up with an amp you'll own forever.

I'm not sure what the scholar brings to the table, except for maybe that low volume tube distortion thing. If it comes from Mission, it'll sound good. That's a given. I'm just not sure that building such a low wattage thing is something that will keep in use over the years. That's only a question you can answer.

The only reason I'd build another guy's kit would be if Bruce didn't offer that model!

You take a look at these new Weber kits. They come with very little phone support (allegedly), you have to punch out some holes on the chassis and a few other things that help them get down to that price point. Spending an extra few bucks and getting the kit and support that first timers or second timers need, is worth the price.
 
Re: Mission Amps?

Just got a message back from bruce at mission amps. He's a great guy, he fielded my simple questions with out getting anoyed. The OD on the scholar kit has a neat option. You just choose which way you want it to work when you build it. As far as running a single EL34 , well the kit is just not setup for that and I can't get any more watts running that kit.

Scott can you describe the 5E3 kits overall sound and power, Tube config? I'm having a little trouble finding that on the misssion amps site.
 
Re: Mission Amps?

I can tell you a little about Bruce's 5E3 kit as it is based on my own two late 50's Fender 5E3 tweed Deluxes that I gave to Bruce to tweak and reverse engineer. First of all, it sounds almost identical to my two oldies. With my Teles or my Strats, at about volume 3 or 4 it starts to break up a little and develop a killer midrangey plucky growl that makes getting a great soloing tone a snap! I think they sound best with a Celestion Alnico Blue 12" speaker. A 5E3 sounds best with a very efficient speaker that has plenty of bass and plenty of treble. I use mid 60's Celestion alnico G12's in mine and it gives the 5E3 a bit of the tone of a Vox AC-30...you know that violin like tone Brian May gets? It'll get some of that with the amp cranked up a bit.

The other speaker that sound really good in Bruce's 5E3 is Ted Weber's P12B...it's a copy of the Celestion Alnico Blue but not quite the equal. It's a great speaker, but not quite as bright and lively. It's tone has a little more "thumb" to it than the Celestion.

And then, if you're on a budget, the #3 choice, IMO, would be the Jensen P12Q reissue.

Lew
 
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Re: Mission Amps?

These amps look really awesome, I am curious about the 18 watt rating however. Having always used an amp with at least 50+ watts, can you play a small club with an 18 watt amp?
Loudriver
 
Re: Mission Amps?

Thanks for the info Lew. I think at this point I'm going to go with the Scholar kit and if that turns out alright work my way up.
 
Re: Mission Amps?

loudriver23 said:
These amps look really awesome, I am curious about the 18 watt rating however. Having always used an amp with at least 50+ watts, can you play a small club with an 18 watt amp?
Loudriver
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With a great speaker in there, like the Celestion G12 Alnico Blue...maybe.

My idea in encouraging Bruce to do these kits was that a guy could afford to build two and then own TWO 5E3's, like I do. Set them up on a milk crate or get them off of the floor about 15" or more and spread them about 3 or 4 feet apart.

Then plug the guitar into a A/B/Y box or Boss Delay or Reverb with stereo outs and play your guitar in stereo.

You'll get an awesome tone and the volume will be giggable but reasonable and less ear damaging.

My ears are shot from all those years of playing to loud through cranked Marshalls and Fender Twin Reverbs.

We conceived of using two 5E3's as a means of helping save our younger brothers in the music biz's hearing.

Lew
 
Re: Mission Amps?

The best non $200 speaker I've used is an Eminence Red Fang. It's a knock off of the Celestion Blue that Lew is gushing about.

The 5E3 can go from the bedroom to the small club stage. There is not a *ton* of headroom in it, but it's okay. It runs on two 6V6 power tubes and two 12A_7 preamp tubes. You can mix and match different preamp tubes for different amounts of gain and a slight adjustment in headroom. Some guys mod this amp to run hotter 6L6 power tubes.

If you're going to do that, then just get the next step up. If you choose a 2x10, it's the 5F4 circuit, if it's a 1x15, then it's the 5E5A circuit. Same circuit almost with the exception of one resistor swap. It'll do just fine. Again, you can swap out rectifier tubes and power tubes and get more balls or more sag. It's the latest one I did.

If you are building the Scholar just because it's the most basic and you consider it the "beginner" and you have no confidence, just skip it and go to the 5E3. It's not that hard. There's tons of support. Curly and I have both built them. I'd consider it a beginner build, mostly because of all the pictures you can reference on Bruce's private website. Pics of all different stages of the build.

The 5E5A/5F4 was a kit that myself and another guy helped Bruce by being the "beta testers." I got outstanding results. I didn't care for hte 2x10, but really am starting to dig the 1x15 now that my speaker is breaking in.

It's cool stuff. That 5E3 is the perfect grab and go amp. Not a 50 watt Marshall, but plenty to go jam with the fellas and a small gig. Lew is right about having two of them.

Bruce helped design a "double deluxe" kit. 2x5E3 in the same chassis. I think it's selling on Webers page, but I'd guess that Bruce can put a kit together for you as well.
 
Re: Mission Amps?

Nathan,
don't build a Mission Amps kit!!!
you will become a DIY addict, like me and Scott, and you won't be able to help yourself.

hahaha ... just kidding of course ...

an excellent post by Scott, lots of good advice there ...
I have a '56 tweed Deluxe that I love, and that's one reason I built the Mission "tweedy" 5E3 - they are really one of the classic amps. I do see people who often say they want to get more clean headroom out of these amps, and I always tell them, that's not what a tweed Deluxe is all about. Those who are used to other amps are also a little surprised to find that past halfway, the amp doesn't get louder, but rather adds gain. Also, the two channel volumes are interactive, and affect the volume and gain stucture.

I don't know how many kits Bruce has sold by now, probably hundreds, so there is a good community of helpful, knowledgeable 5E3 builders out there, and as Scott mentioned, plenty of pics, documentation, and support from Bruce.

just be prepared for that addiction part :D
 
Re: Mission Amps?

The 5E5A/5F4 was a kit that myself and another guy helped Bruce by being the "beta testers." I got outstanding results. I didn't care for hte 2x10, but really am starting to dig the 1x15 now that my speaker is breaking in.
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Maybe I'm overlooking something, but I can't seem to find information on the 5E5A/5F4 kits anywhere. Anyone have a link?
 
Re: Mission Amps?

At 18 watts it sounds like the 5E3 may be what I am looking for. I would like to build my own amp so as I feel more confident modding it for more crunch etc. As stated in another thread I would like to make my own "micro stack" w/ 2 ,1- 12 cabs. That way I can have the two different speakers for recording. A mix and match type deal. Scott if you say I can build a 5E3 I'll probably go for it. It just looked a lot more complicated from your pics.
 
Re: Mission Amps?

loudriver23 said:
Maybe I'm overlooking something, but I can't seem to find information on the 5E5A/5F4 kits anywhere. Anyone have a link?
Click to expand...
try Weber VST's site

NathanCahill said:
At 18 watts it sounds like the 5E3 may be what I am looking for.
Click to expand...
FYI, the 5E3 is more like 12-13 watts
 
Re: Mission Amps?

loudriver23 said:
Maybe I'm overlooking something, but I can't seem to find information on the 5E5A/5F4 kits anywhere. Anyone have a link?
Click to expand...


you'll need to email Bruce for details. his amps are great, his website blows.
 
Re: Mission Amps?

NathanCahill said:
At 18 watts it sounds like the 5E3 may be what I am looking for. I would like to build my own amp so as I feel more confident modding it for more crunch etc. As stated in another thread I would like to make my own "micro stack" w/ 2 ,1- 12 cabs. That way I can have the two different speakers for recording. A mix and match type deal. Scott if you say I can build a 5E3 I'll probably go for it. It just looked a lot more complicated from your pics.
Click to expand...


I'm wondering if you were looking at the 5F4, which is a bit more complicated.

Here's the essential layout. Bruce changes a few things up, but not much.

http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/schem/deluxe_5e3_layout.gif

Does this look hard?
 
Re: Mission Amps?

NathanCahill said:
At 18 watts it sounds like the 5E3 may be what I am looking for. I would like to build my own amp so as I feel more confident modding it for more crunch etc. As stated in another thread I would like to make my own "micro stack" w/ 2 ,1- 12 cabs. That way I can have the two different speakers for recording. A mix and match type deal. Scott if you say I can build a 5E3 I'll probably go for it. It just looked a lot more complicated from your pics.
Click to expand...

Can you solder? It is not very hard. Just let the solder joint cool naturally, don't blow on it to speed it up.

Can you put together a complicated kids toy, like some kind of Barbie house with the directions written in chinese? If so, this will be a piece of cake.

The thing I like about bruce's kits is that they're complete and easy on things like attaching the tube sockets and have everything already drilled out. Some of hte cheapo kits don't do this.

For the extra 300, you can get his cab and a Red Fang and you are set. So, the amp will run you about 650 plus shipping, right?

Best part, you'll have made it yourself. To buy this amp, fully made by a company like Victoria, you're looking at 1200 or so.
 
Re: Mission Amps?

i dream of one day doing one (i was kinda hoping to do it this spring as a sort of senoir project to keep myself busy) but currently a bass rig is more neccessary, also, i may do a pedal or two to see if im cut out for this at all...
 
Re: Mission Amps?

BluesNRock87 said:
i dream of one day doing one (i was kinda hoping to do it this spring as a sort of senoir project to keep myself busy) but currently a bass rig is more neccessary, also, i may do a pedal or two to see if im cut out for this at all...
Click to expand...

I think the key is having the right personality. Can you work on your car? Can you work on anything and do a neat job? You have to be the type of personality that will take the time to do a neat and careful and not sloppy job. If that's your pattern, then you can do it. Because it's not really hard at all!

Lew
 
Re: Mission Amps?

I have a buddy of mine that plays harmonica and he's trying to decide whether he wants me to build him a 5E3 or a 5E5A. He played my guitar through them on Sunday and he's going to bring over his mic and briefcase full of harmonicas this weekend.

He's going to help me clear my land where I'm going to build my next house with his tractor. I told him I'd build it for free if he bought the parts. I'm getting the better end of the deal cuz I'd build it for him for free anyway. Then again, he'd probably clear my dirt for free as well!

I wish I could make a living doing this. I really do enjoy the building. I've just run out of room for amps. Just not possible to find a spot for another.

If anyone wants me to build them a kit, let me know. It might take me a month to get it done, but I work slow and I travel a lot as well.
 
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