Hey I got my Tweed clone from Eric!! WOW,,such an awesome tone, all I can say is that it is HIGH QUALITY, PURE TUBE TONES, and the cleans,,man I have been dreaming of these Fender Tweed type of cleans, but with a slightly more 'Hiwatt' sense of presence and balls! wow,,,what a great investment. I am making a tolex look alike housing for it! Eric is a great amp builder and the model I got has a Triode/Pentode mode switch, hi and low gain inputs, etc...wonderful amp!!
Yes, they are lovely amps. I use mine every day and it is one of my all time favourites - and at less than 1/10th of the cost of my next favourite amp. Get a Jensen C12N for it and you'll really be in tone heaven. EH and Golden Dragon 6V6s seem to work best with them; JJs are too bright. I use EH or JJ 12AX7s in mine, which also has an octal 6X4 rectifier, not the 5Y3 that I think yours has. The 5Y3 would be a better choice I think, but mine was the first of the 5F1s, so a bit of a prototype.
Thanks Naylaird! You've been great and I have starting researchng and learning tube amps! I got this awesome product off Ebay called 'Glow Baby' which is an attenuator. It allows you to really crank your tubes up and volume but at playable levels in the bedroom, My Bugera V55HD came alive!! Wow,,I can't believe the difference and once I change the cheapo harsh tubes, I should be quite a happy dude!! Thanks heaps !!
Never heard of the brand - is it a real attenuator or one of those things that plug into the effects loop? I use a THD Hotplate on the big amps - it's the red/purple thing sitting on top of the Bluesbreaker in the videos. Makes life bearable as you set the master volume in the amp sweet spot and use the attenuator to set the room sound level. Expensive, but essential equipment for small venues.
Ah - it's not letting me put up URLs which is why several of my replies aren't there. For useful general tube amp info do a web search for Justin Holton HRD, Eurotubes Bugera and Tube Amp FAQ. For Jensen speakers search for Electric Room Speakers.
Out of curiousity V1 is the preamp stage (I have 3 12AX7) and Power Stage is seperate (Dual 6L6). Just getting into valve amps and am addicted already, keen to learn more! Thanks for your help mate!! really appreciate it
Another reply which seems to have disappeared. In general terms V1 is the first pre-amp stage, V2 controls gain stages and V3 is the phase inverter. 12AX7s are triode tubes and often share functions or are also used do other things as well so the above is a guide only.
Ok, will look into the tubes. Bugera has Dual 6L6 valves in the Power Stage, and 3 12AX7 tubes in the Preamp! So I will look very seriously as the Bugera has a lot of potential for the price, just needs fattening up and reducing the harshness! Heres the Ebay item no for the 18/5w model he's doing for me; 120488449437. Nice guy too
Naylaird, again great comments and useful info! Thanks heaps! By the way I have a Bugera V55HD (55watt Vintage style Head) that is overall really nice. However it can get really harsh on upper mids/mids in general and was wondering what you'd recommend to improve the tone (even a bit of improvement). I want to smooth out the harsh mids
Change the tubes. V1 will affect the clean sparkle and overdrive tone, esp. preamp gain, whereas the power tubes give the general amp tone (dark/warm/bright). In general - TADs are warm and smooth, Winged C crisp, EH are dark, slightly ragged in OD, JJS are bright, smooth OD. Try a JJ in V1 and JJ 6L6s. It probably has rebadged Sovtek 5881s in it like the Hot Rods and they are a harsh tube.
Ted Weber (from Weber speakers) claims that "It is better to use a quality ceramic for low wattage low volumes and an alnico for higher volume situations..." or something like that. Alnicos may sound better pushed harder. What a fascinating thing amps and speakers are!
Makes sense as the Alnicos need a fair bit of volume to really sound good - Celestion Blues in the AC30 for eg. Ceramics will give a crisper sound at lowish volumes whereas Alnicos tend to sound darker. Not driving the speaker properly is one reason so many people are disappointed with their speakers or amps - or not allowing them to break in. I don't like Vintage 30s because I don't play at the volumes where they come into their own, hence they just sound dead.
So just to get it straight! For this clone of an 18/5 watt that Eric (top bloke too) is doing for me, would you recommend a single 12" or 2 by 12" (for fatter sound). If Single, perhaps an alnico (i picked up a vintage CTS alnico in good nick) a Jensen C12N?? As for 2 by 12 I was going to use the CTS alnico combined with something else such as a Lorantz 50w Greenback, or a Jensen c12n etc!! Ahh gets so confusing! I am more interested in the C12N Jensens now that you like them.
Nice choice. Been thinking of getting Eric to make me one as well. See if he can do the original four input system for bridging - the schematic for the 5E3 is on Ceriatone's website and Eric can probably copy it. Personally I'd go for a 2x12 C12N with a 5E3. Heavy, and the speakers will cost around $200 each but the sound is warm, crisp and very chimey. I was amazed at the difference when I swapped the P12Ns out for the C12Ns. 2x12s are not so much a fatter sound but a broader, airier tone.
For a great sound cheap, get 2 of the Fender standard Hot Rod or BJ speakers from eBay. They work very well with Tweeds and I have one in my goto amp. Not quite as brilliant as the C12N but very nice and around 1/3 the price. P12Ns are up around $500 now - more than a pair of C12Ns. I'd avoid Greenbacks (G12H 30w ~$350) as they are too dark for 6V6 tubes. Work well with EL84, EL34 and 6L6 but they don't capture the sparkle of a 6V6.
Naylaird, awesome answers that shows the complexity of guitars, amps and speakers! At the end of the day, I use only Strats (occasional Tele) into a clean low end with tight mid, smooth highs type of vintage tone! Mcchanson is doing a Fender 5E3 clone, slightly more expensive 18w/5w (Tweed clone) and I have asked him for 2 inputs! I can't wait. I will post more comments after mate!!
I'm not sure what tubes Eric is using in his, but if it is a straight 5E3 clone, get hold of an EH12AY7 for V1, an EH12AX7 for V2, RCA clone or EH6V6GT for the power section with a NOS 5Y3 rectifier. The Sovtek 5Y3 isn't a 'real' 5Y3 and doesn't have the sag - but handy to have one around so you can sharpen things up when needed. I keep a big box of tubes and swap them in and out for particular tones as they make a significant difference in vintage amps.
By the way, Vic at the Tube Amp Shop (vicmazz64 on eBay) is your man for tubes. Good gear, fast shipping and cheapest I've found in Australia. Used to import mine from the US but I get them all from Vic now.
Bluepin - see if you can find one of those Epi Valve Junior cabs cheap, put in a C12N and route the top to fit Eric's chassis - bolt it to the rear panel of the cab with the controls on top like a Blues Junior. That's what I did with mine and it is perfect; great tone and very portable. When I get some time free I'll be putting up some Laney Lionheart clips and I'll do a couple with the 5F1 in the Epi cab as well.
I can't put up clips of the 5E3 with the twin C12Ns as I sold that amp a while ago - at 35kg it was just too heavy to lug around easily. Beautiful sound though, especially with the inputs bridged. That's where 5E3s come into their own; simply sublime tone bridged.
One more thing Naylaird, why did you choose Alnico Jensens, as opposed to say Vintage 30s or a Greenback? Would a nice Jensen P12Q or N help for my vintage clean (Fenderish) 'quest' ?? Great talking to you!
Got some cheap and had them spare. I hate Vintage 30s - lifeless things. Greenbacks are great - the proper UK very expensive ones. The best things for vintage Fender sounds I've found are the Ceramic 50w Jensen C12Ns; truly lovely speakers for Fenders. The standard 50w Eminence Legend derivative that comes in the Blues Junior, Hot Rod Deluxe and other Fender amps is also excellent despite what many people say about it.
This character limit is a pain. Have a listen to my 5F1 clip with the Epi Goldtop for the Tweed Alnico sound; it's not that chimey Fender sound which the C12N will give you. I used a 2x12 C12N combo with my 5E3 mounted in that Bluesbreaker cab in the end and it was far better than the twin P12Ns in that clip. I tried the genuine UK Greenback in my Laney Lionheart with the 5F1 and it didn't match at all.
Thanks Naylaird. I am on an intense search for pure tube tone, with vibrant rich cleans. This looks fantastic. I am pretty sure to get one but just working out any mods or features to make it better. Any recommendations mate as I notice your one has modified with 2 inputs, tone control and 6X4 rectifier tube?
Get the two inputs; one has a 6db less gain on it and is useful for humbuckers or nice cleans. I removed the tone control in the end as it isn't needed, and Eric uses 6X4 rectifiers instead of 5Y3s and similar in his normal builds. I got him to make up the first 5F1 clone as a special build and he decided to add them as part of his line. The other thing is to get nice tubes. Eric ships them with good 1950's ones, but EH or the Golden Dragon Chinese RCA black knockoffs are excellent.
Eric is based in Sydney Australia. Do a search for the ebay user ID mcchanson and you'll find him. It really is a lovely amp and I've owned some beauties in my time. Fully point-to-point wiring too, not turret board. Eric will do mods and special builds as well, and the amps are not expensive.
It's very good, like all the reissue Jensens. They do take quite a while to break in though, so bear with it if you're not happy with the sound at present; it will free up and give you a very nice wide range of classic 50's/60's tones. They can get flabby if you have the amp up high with a lot of bass.
*short comment*
mattisjordan 2 years ago
Hey I got my Tweed clone from Eric!! WOW,,such an awesome tone, all I can say is that it is HIGH QUALITY, PURE TUBE TONES, and the cleans,,man I have been dreaming of these Fender Tweed type of cleans, but with a slightly more 'Hiwatt' sense of presence and balls! wow,,,what a great investment. I am making a tolex look alike housing for it! Eric is a great amp builder and the model I got has a Triode/Pentode mode switch, hi and low gain inputs, etc...wonderful amp!!
BluePin75 2 years ago
Yes, they are lovely amps. I use mine every day and it is one of my all time favourites - and at less than 1/10th of the cost of my next favourite amp. Get a Jensen C12N for it and you'll really be in tone heaven. EH and Golden Dragon 6V6s seem to work best with them; JJs are too bright. I use EH or JJ 12AX7s in mine, which also has an octal 6X4 rectifier, not the 5Y3 that I think yours has. The 5Y3 would be a better choice I think, but mine was the first of the 5F1s, so a bit of a prototype.
naylaird 2 years ago
Thanks Naylaird! You've been great and I have starting researchng and learning tube amps! I got this awesome product off Ebay called 'Glow Baby' which is an attenuator. It allows you to really crank your tubes up and volume but at playable levels in the bedroom, My Bugera V55HD came alive!! Wow,,I can't believe the difference and once I change the cheapo harsh tubes, I should be quite a happy dude!! Thanks heaps !!
BluePin75 2 years ago
Never heard of the brand - is it a real attenuator or one of those things that plug into the effects loop? I use a THD Hotplate on the big amps - it's the red/purple thing sitting on top of the Bluesbreaker in the videos. Makes life bearable as you set the master volume in the amp sweet spot and use the attenuator to set the room sound level. Expensive, but essential equipment for small venues.
naylaird 2 years ago
Ah - it's not letting me put up URLs which is why several of my replies aren't there. For useful general tube amp info do a web search for Justin Holton HRD, Eurotubes Bugera and Tube Amp FAQ. For Jensen speakers search for Electric Room Speakers.
naylaird 2 years ago
Out of curiousity V1 is the preamp stage (I have 3 12AX7) and Power Stage is seperate (Dual 6L6). Just getting into valve amps and am addicted already, keen to learn more! Thanks for your help mate!! really appreciate it
BluePin75 2 years ago
Another reply which seems to have disappeared. In general terms V1 is the first pre-amp stage, V2 controls gain stages and V3 is the phase inverter. 12AX7s are triode tubes and often share functions or are also used do other things as well so the above is a guide only.
naylaird 2 years ago
Ok, will look into the tubes. Bugera has Dual 6L6 valves in the Power Stage, and 3 12AX7 tubes in the Preamp! So I will look very seriously as the Bugera has a lot of potential for the price, just needs fattening up and reducing the harshness! Heres the Ebay item no for the 18/5w model he's doing for me; 120488449437. Nice guy too
BluePin75 2 years ago
Naylaird, again great comments and useful info! Thanks heaps! By the way I have a Bugera V55HD (55watt Vintage style Head) that is overall really nice. However it can get really harsh on upper mids/mids in general and was wondering what you'd recommend to improve the tone (even a bit of improvement). I want to smooth out the harsh mids
BluePin75 2 years ago
Change the tubes. V1 will affect the clean sparkle and overdrive tone, esp. preamp gain, whereas the power tubes give the general amp tone (dark/warm/bright). In general - TADs are warm and smooth, Winged C crisp, EH are dark, slightly ragged in OD, JJS are bright, smooth OD. Try a JJ in V1 and JJ 6L6s. It probably has rebadged Sovtek 5881s in it like the Hot Rods and they are a harsh tube.
naylaird 2 years ago
Ted Weber (from Weber speakers) claims that "It is better to use a quality ceramic for low wattage low volumes and an alnico for higher volume situations..." or something like that. Alnicos may sound better pushed harder. What a fascinating thing amps and speakers are!
BluePin75 2 years ago
Makes sense as the Alnicos need a fair bit of volume to really sound good - Celestion Blues in the AC30 for eg. Ceramics will give a crisper sound at lowish volumes whereas Alnicos tend to sound darker. Not driving the speaker properly is one reason so many people are disappointed with their speakers or amps - or not allowing them to break in. I don't like Vintage 30s because I don't play at the volumes where they come into their own, hence they just sound dead.
naylaird 2 years ago
So just to get it straight! For this clone of an 18/5 watt that Eric (top bloke too) is doing for me, would you recommend a single 12" or 2 by 12" (for fatter sound). If Single, perhaps an alnico (i picked up a vintage CTS alnico in good nick) a Jensen C12N?? As for 2 by 12 I was going to use the CTS alnico combined with something else such as a Lorantz 50w Greenback, or a Jensen c12n etc!! Ahh gets so confusing! I am more interested in the C12N Jensens now that you like them.
BluePin75 2 years ago
Nice choice. Been thinking of getting Eric to make me one as well. See if he can do the original four input system for bridging - the schematic for the 5E3 is on Ceriatone's website and Eric can probably copy it. Personally I'd go for a 2x12 C12N with a 5E3. Heavy, and the speakers will cost around $200 each but the sound is warm, crisp and very chimey. I was amazed at the difference when I swapped the P12Ns out for the C12Ns. 2x12s are not so much a fatter sound but a broader, airier tone.
naylaird 2 years ago
For a great sound cheap, get 2 of the Fender standard Hot Rod or BJ speakers from eBay. They work very well with Tweeds and I have one in my goto amp. Not quite as brilliant as the C12N but very nice and around 1/3 the price. P12Ns are up around $500 now - more than a pair of C12Ns. I'd avoid Greenbacks (G12H 30w ~$350) as they are too dark for 6V6 tubes. Work well with EL84, EL34 and 6L6 but they don't capture the sparkle of a 6V6.
naylaird 2 years ago
Naylaird, awesome answers that shows the complexity of guitars, amps and speakers! At the end of the day, I use only Strats (occasional Tele) into a clean low end with tight mid, smooth highs type of vintage tone! Mcchanson is doing a Fender 5E3 clone, slightly more expensive 18w/5w (Tweed clone) and I have asked him for 2 inputs! I can't wait. I will post more comments after mate!!
BluePin75 2 years ago
I'm not sure what tubes Eric is using in his, but if it is a straight 5E3 clone, get hold of an EH12AY7 for V1, an EH12AX7 for V2, RCA clone or EH6V6GT for the power section with a NOS 5Y3 rectifier. The Sovtek 5Y3 isn't a 'real' 5Y3 and doesn't have the sag - but handy to have one around so you can sharpen things up when needed. I keep a big box of tubes and swap them in and out for particular tones as they make a significant difference in vintage amps.
naylaird 2 years ago
By the way, Vic at the Tube Amp Shop (vicmazz64 on eBay) is your man for tubes. Good gear, fast shipping and cheapest I've found in Australia. Used to import mine from the US but I get them all from Vic now.
naylaird 2 years ago
Bluepin - see if you can find one of those Epi Valve Junior cabs cheap, put in a C12N and route the top to fit Eric's chassis - bolt it to the rear panel of the cab with the controls on top like a Blues Junior. That's what I did with mine and it is perfect; great tone and very portable. When I get some time free I'll be putting up some Laney Lionheart clips and I'll do a couple with the 5F1 in the Epi cab as well.
naylaird 2 years ago
I can't put up clips of the 5E3 with the twin C12Ns as I sold that amp a while ago - at 35kg it was just too heavy to lug around easily. Beautiful sound though, especially with the inputs bridged. That's where 5E3s come into their own; simply sublime tone bridged.
naylaird 2 years ago
One more thing Naylaird, why did you choose Alnico Jensens, as opposed to say Vintage 30s or a Greenback? Would a nice Jensen P12Q or N help for my vintage clean (Fenderish) 'quest' ?? Great talking to you!
BluePin75 2 years ago
Got some cheap and had them spare. I hate Vintage 30s - lifeless things. Greenbacks are great - the proper UK very expensive ones. The best things for vintage Fender sounds I've found are the Ceramic 50w Jensen C12Ns; truly lovely speakers for Fenders. The standard 50w Eminence Legend derivative that comes in the Blues Junior, Hot Rod Deluxe and other Fender amps is also excellent despite what many people say about it.
naylaird 2 years ago
This character limit is a pain. Have a listen to my 5F1 clip with the Epi Goldtop for the Tweed Alnico sound; it's not that chimey Fender sound which the C12N will give you. I used a 2x12 C12N combo with my 5E3 mounted in that Bluesbreaker cab in the end and it was far better than the twin P12Ns in that clip. I tried the genuine UK Greenback in my Laney Lionheart with the 5F1 and it didn't match at all.
naylaird 2 years ago
Thanks Naylaird. I am on an intense search for pure tube tone, with vibrant rich cleans. This looks fantastic. I am pretty sure to get one but just working out any mods or features to make it better. Any recommendations mate as I notice your one has modified with 2 inputs, tone control and 6X4 rectifier tube?
BluePin75 2 years ago
Get the two inputs; one has a 6db less gain on it and is useful for humbuckers or nice cleans. I removed the tone control in the end as it isn't needed, and Eric uses 6X4 rectifiers instead of 5Y3s and similar in his normal builds. I got him to make up the first 5F1 clone as a special build and he decided to add them as part of his line. The other thing is to get nice tubes. Eric ships them with good 1950's ones, but EH or the Golden Dragon Chinese RCA black knockoffs are excellent.
naylaird 2 years ago
Goodness, pure simply tube tone..ok I am interested!!
BluePin75 2 years ago
Eric is based in Sydney Australia. Do a search for the ebay user ID mcchanson and you'll find him. It really is a lovely amp and I've owned some beauties in my time. Fully point-to-point wiring too, not turret board. Eric will do mods and special builds as well, and the amps are not expensive.
naylaird 2 years ago
Oh, and check the other videos I put up of it to get a better idea of the tone.
naylaird 2 years ago
It's very good, like all the reissue Jensens. They do take quite a while to break in though, so bear with it if you're not happy with the sound at present; it will free up and give you a very nice wide range of classic 50's/60's tones. They can get flabby if you have the amp up high with a lot of bass.
naylaird 2 years ago
what do you think of this speaker.... i just bought one.
AmpdUP11 2 years ago