add a link to the fenderguru 5e3 page

[web/gag.com] / music / guitars / amp-5E3 / index.mdwn

diff --git a/music/guitars/amp-5E3/index.mdwn b/music/guitars/amp-5E3/index.mdwn
index de56dbe6fef8869d205eee7a5f38188c503412c9..71edd4f0e58ad05b3604b249c197c0a9ae043220 100644 (file)
--- a/music/guitars/amp-5E3/index.mdwn
+++ b/music/guitars/amp-5E3/index.mdwn
@@ -5,14 +5,15 @@ about what I wanted as an amp to plug it in to.  Of course, my son already
 has a couple amplifiers he's happy to let me use:
 
 * Silvertone "Smart II S" that came with his beginner's guitar kit
-* Fender "Mustang III" that some friends bought him after 
+* Fender "[Mustang III](http://www.fender.com/search?q=mustang%20iii)
+  that some friends bought him after 
   [the fire](http://gag.com/blackforestfire.html)
 
 Both of these are fine amps, particularly for just starting out.  The 
 Silvertone is very small, with simple controls.  The Fender is far more
 complicated as it has DSP innards that allow it to "fake" a bunch of different
 amplifier tone profiles.  But both are solid-state amps... and Robert and I
-both felt that adding a classic tube amplifer to the mix would be a great plan!
+both felt that adding a classic tube amplifer to the mix would be great fun!
 
 After a lot of reading and listening to various video clips and audio files,
 I started to narrow in on building a clone of the Fender "Tweed Deluxe", which
@@ -20,7 +21,8 @@ was an early very simple amplifier with two 12AX7 tubes for the preamp and
 tone stack, and a pair of 6V6 power tubes in push-pull configuration for
 about 12-15 watts output into a single 12" driver in a combo cabinet.  The
 schematics for this amplifier are on the web, and all the parts are widely 
-available at modest cost.
+available at modest cost.  A good page describing more about this amp is
+available on [fenderguru.com](http://fenderguru.com/amps/deluxe-5e3).
 
 The things that appeal to me about this amplifier are:
 
@@ -50,9 +52,19 @@ are a bunch of mods documented out there including a collection documented
 by [Rob Robinette](https://robrobinette.com/5e3_Modifications.htm).  Of those,
 the ones that stand out for me already are:
 
-* How to Lacquer a Tweed Cab
-* Add a Master Volume
-* Half Power Switch
-* Input Jack Jumper Switch
+* How to Lacquer a Tweed Cab, to protect it and help keep it clean
+* Add a Master Volume, rumored to make working with pedals easier
+* Half Power Switch, so we can get all the cool tones at lower volume
+* Input Jack Jumper Switch, simplify using the amp, free up space on the panel
+  for other hacks
+
+The other "mod" that a lot of folks suggest is to replace the first 12AX7 tube
+used as the preamp for a 12AY7.  That's apparently what the originals used.
+It has less gain, which means more useful "clean tone" range before the crunch
+kicks in.  Apparently, this really is as simple as just pulling out one tube
+and putting in the other, since several models of 12A tubes have the same 9-pin
+base and matching pinout, just different amplification characteristics.  I can
+easily add one to the amplifier kit order from Tube Depot, and the 12AX7 pulled
+can be a spare for the remaining one if I decide I like the results...
 
 Not sure exactly when I'll start this project .. stay tuned!