How To Build A Tweed Deluxe Kit

Let Rob Hull guide you through the construction of a Tweed Deluxe amplifier using TubeDepot.com's down-loadable instruction manual (Copy and paste tubedepot.com/kit-tweeddeluxe.html to get the PDF).

The Deluxe Tweed is the go-to amp when looking for maximum portability and raw, uncompromising tone. With 6V6 tubes and a single 12" speaker, the tone of this amp is nothing short of amazing. Used by a "who's who" of musicians, this amp's tone can be found on records, in studios, and on stages around the globe.

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Tags:

• Tweed
• Deluxe
• amp
• amplifier
• kit
• TubeDepot
• guitar
• Steve
• Selvidge
• ZZ
• Top
• Billy
• Gibbons
• solder
• tube
• tubes
• vacuum

[TheOrderoftheOwl]

Hey Rob I really dig your videos man! Does your shirt say "Revolt against the Solid State?" That's awesome! Where can i get one?

[TubeDepotTV]

@TheOrderoftheOwl - Thanks for the great words, these t-shirts can be purchased from the TubeDepot website under the "apparel - tube t-shirts" tab.

[MrAnders1976]

Notice at 9.42, speaker magically changed to a jensen Neo 12-100, (98.4db vs 94.6db for the Jensen Mod 12-50) that should bump up output..

Wow nice build. That PT looks huge.. With the supplied GZ34 rectifier what voltages are you running the jj 6v6 at ?. I understand that the jj's can take huge plate voltages and run more current than any other 6v6.. ..I see in the manual that feedback is mentioned. Are you running the amp with a NFB from output back into PI ??

[TubeDepotTV]

@MrAnders1976 - yea, I installed the Jensen NEO for me. It is a great speaker and very light weight. The kit comes with the 12" MOD 50, which is also a great speaker but a bit heavier. The kit uses Deluxe Reverb transformers therefore the B+ is around +450. 5881 / 6L6 tubes will work great in this amp. I like run the amp with a 5R4 rectifier to get the B+ down to around +400V. With the PC board, the amp can be run with or without negative feedback.

[MrAnders1976]

Which of the channels of the 5e3 is more scooped ,, cleaner sounding,, headroom.

My thought was to build a single channel, high and low input , tone and volume, cathode bias , 25 watts (6l6), amp for a more clean platform, ..

I would lower the coupling cap value to lower excessive bass. DO you know how to make the volume taper more gradual.?? on old 5e3 it jump from nothing to max in an instant on the dial..

[TubeDepotTV]

@MrAnders1976 - The tweed deluxe design doesn't allow for clean headroom although this kit includes a negative feedback option if the builder wants to sacrifice gain for additional headroom. The volume jump can be tailored by using a 12AY7 as the first preamp tube, and removing C3 from the board. I recommend reducing the coupling cap values to 1/10th of the vintage values as a way to reduce the muddy bass when the amp is played at high gain settings.

[davidvazz]

Can you build a bomb?...just to hear how it sounds !!

[darkerthebetter]

why do americans pronounce solder as sodder ? it just older with an s infront ? odd

[TubeDepotTV]

@arethemad - the assembly of this amp isn't hard. Thankfully, the manual is step-by-step. So, if your soldering skills are good, this amp would go together in a couple of evenings. We all have to start somewhere, and this amp is a great beginning.

[TubeDepotTV]

@steve15668 - I had to look it up, and you are spot on ... the pronunciation (for Britain, Ireland, and other commonwealth countries) is "lef-ten-ənt". The rest of the world pronounces it as "lew-ten-ənt". Either way, it started life as a French description.

[steve15668]

@TubeDepotTV I think you mean Left-tenant! LOL

[arethemad]

I had absolutely no idea what was going on the entire time and I still watched the entire thing. I'm fascinated by your electronics ability. How long have you been tinkering with electronics and how much experience would I need to pull something like this off?