From: Bdale Garbee Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2015 16:38:13 +0000 (-0700) Subject: document thoughts about an amplfier project X-Git-Url: https://git.gag.com/?p=web%2Fgag.com;a=commitdiff_plain;h=ef7ef5935a78fd70075bd104de2f951ca8d6e89b document thoughts about an amplfier project --- diff --git a/music/guitars/amp-5E3/index.mdwn b/music/guitars/amp-5E3/index.mdwn new file mode 100644 index 0000000..de56dbe --- /dev/null +++ b/music/guitars/amp-5E3/index.mdwn @@ -0,0 +1,58 @@ +# Bdale's Custom Build of a Fender 5E3 "Tweed Deluxe" Tube Amplifier Clone # + +Once I started working on my [first guitar](../bdale-1), I started to think +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 + [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! + +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 +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. + +The things that appeal to me about this amplifier are: + +* It's a very simple design with lots of potential for experimentation +* The tones you can get with a strat clone into it direct with no pedals are + pretty amazing, and please my ear. +* The combination of modest power and a single 12" driver should make it a + good fit for our basement rec room environment. +* The kit price is reasonable, and subtantially less than a good vintage + example of this amplifier on eBay / Craigslist. + +The only "downside" to this amp is the lack of reverb, but to be honest, the +tones available are so good I'm not sure how big a deal that will be. And if +as my son says it's something we really want/need, the +[Reverb 2](http://buildyourownclone.com/products/reverb2) +looks like it could be a completely plausible addition to the mix at some +point. + +Lots of reading and web investigation led me to the +[full kit from Tube Depot](https://tubedepot.com/products/tweed-5e3-vacuum-tube-amp-kit) +as a good starting point for a custom build of this amp. + +## Modifications ## + +I plan to start out with the amp fully stock and see how it plays. But there +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 + +Not sure exactly when I'll start this project .. stay tuned! diff --git a/music/guitars/bdale-1/index.mdwn b/music/guitars/bdale-1/index.mdwn index afd9129..757f6d0 100644 --- a/music/guitars/bdale-1/index.mdwn +++ b/music/guitars/bdale-1/index.mdwn @@ -90,13 +90,22 @@ Erasmus is available on [GrabCAD](https://grabcad.com/library/62-strat-asm) and it appears at least one person has actually built a guitar using these files. -To build the guitar body I want, the existing body design file needs to be +To build the guitar body I want, the existing body design file was modified to eliminate the tremolo cut-out and rear cavity, to add screw holes for the hard-tail bridge, and to shift the electronics cavity from being front-open to being rear-accessible with the front just having 3 holes for the volume and tone control shafts and the slot and mounting screw holes needed for the pickup selector switch. +The first attempt to cut the body on our CNC router failed, because a large +delivery of building materials happened in the middle of the roughing pass, +and I naively thought the router would be ok cutting for a while without +me. Apparently, swarf jammed the bit up enough to cause the machine to lose +steps and shut itself down. Unfortunately, when I attempted to restart the +cut, something went horribly wrong and the roughing cutter put a deep gouge +through much of the body of the guitar. I decided to call this attempt a +bust, and look for more wood to start over with. + ## Wiring ## A standard strat has a volume control, 2 tone controls, and a 5-way pickup diff --git a/music/guitars/index.mdwn b/music/guitars/index.mdwn index ac27ced..9fd10c4 100644 --- a/music/guitars/index.mdwn +++ b/music/guitars/index.mdwn @@ -1,4 +1,5 @@ # Guitars # * [Bdale's Custom "Strat" Clone](bdale-1/) +* [Bdale's Tube Amp Project](amp-5E3/)