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Tweed clone 5E3

Tubes 'n Wood

Active member
Joined
Nov 9, 2013
Messages
402
Just got around to putting my head version Mojotone 5E3 clone through its paces into a homemade 2x12" cab. First impressions... WOW!? Cleans on edge of break up, to marshall-esque scream! Very loud for 15 watts!! I have 1 concern and a two part question I'd like to ask the forum and those who have built one of these...

First: this thing runs HOT! The control panel is very hot on the power tube end, is this normal?

Second: I'm not used to a one channel amp for being able to get cleans and dirty tones. Ill be running my '02 R8 and new DC junior tribute into it (definitely not used to P90s, but digging them trough the 5E3 so far). I want to be able to get the glorious tweed overdrive when full up and then roll the volume back to get clean-ish tones. I'd love to be able to get as much drive as possible and then have it clean up when I roll the volume back to about half way. So the two part question is this... how do YOU set the amp to achieve both? Which channel do YOU use? which input #1 or #2? Do YOU jumper? Where do YOU set YOUR volume and tone knob?

Any help is greatly appreciated!
 

Don

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2001
Messages
5,732
Mine doesn't run that hot (though it's not a Mojotone). Check your voltages and bias. Maybe it's fine.

I set my volume anywhere between where the amp makes sound to about 9. It's chimey dirty at 2-1/2. Dirtier at 6. Raunchy at 9. A beautiful mess at 12. I don't usually jumper the channels though I have occasionally used a Y cable. I like for my guitar to be clean-ish with the guitar's volume set around 7 or 8 and dirty when I crank it. Sometimes I use a clean-ish boost (AMZ Minibooster or a Prince of Tone set on boost) to push it harder.
For guitars I prefer my Telecaster, ES-225 and ES-335 with this amp.
 

oldog

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2003
Messages
201
The combos chassis get pretty hot. I imagine a head, if the back is closed, would run even hotter. On a 5E3 the volume on the channel you're not plugged into is also important,it affects the channel you are plugged into. Experiment with changing the volume on the channel you aren't plugged into.
 

musekatcher

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Apr 15, 2018
Messages
135
My Proluxe runs very hot. I never jumper, its too loud as-is, and I use the softest input - input 2 on the normal side. I use a pedal in front to push it into breakup, but working towards no pedal and using the guitar volume to switch from clean to grind.
 

Triburst

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
4,353
Tweed Deluxes do run warm if you're running them loud. As the previous poster said, make sure you've got the correct bias, just to be sure.

On the channels, a lot of the fun with a Tweed Deluxe is noodling with the wide variety of tones you can squeeze from it.

Here's a video (not mine) that does a very good job of showing you knob position numbers and the corresponding tones they get on their clone Tweed Deluxe. Perspective on this is a bit weird, because the guy shot the video on a go-pro strapped to his head, but he does edit in his settings for each tone as graphics.

 

sonar

New member
Joined
Jan 10, 2003
Messages
3,589
As a change of pace I've been playing my 5E3 a little more than usual. They really are great sounding amps!

First: Maybe? I don't really feel transformers when I'm playing guitar and I haven't blown my Deluxe up yet.

Second: With non-master volume amps (pretty much all I play) and volume restraints permitting, I prefer to play the amp turned up, set it and forget it, using either my pick attack or volume knob on the guitar to clean up. 50's wiring helps on my LP, while sometimes a treble bleed does the trick on other guitars. If I have to (usually volume issues) I'll goose the amp with a preamp or overdrive pedal, but I try to go amp OD as much as I can.
 

Tubes 'n Wood

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Joined
Nov 9, 2013
Messages
402
33740483568_f7aefd54d5_k.jpg
 

Tubes 'n Wood

Active member
Joined
Nov 9, 2013
Messages
402
Thought I'd add a gratuitous pic along with questions... just forgot how to when I posted?!
 

Axis39

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2010
Messages
83
This video should just be the new user manual for all 5e3s.


To get heavy grind, I run into the Bright channel, and push the Normal channel's volume beyond 9 or so. At that point, the amp just get's more saturated and eventually, quieter. It's like a built in attenuator. However, push it too far and the amp gets hissy.


Enjoy the 'simplicity' of a 5e3... The most complex, simple amp you'll ever own.
 

Tubes 'n Wood

Active member
Joined
Nov 9, 2013
Messages
402
Played though it, messed with it, tweaked it in and out in every way last night with the Jr DC. Used the settings I've seen online and in this thread, and another I found on the forum. Found a couple I really like after tweaking it to my gear and playing.

Jr DC into tuner, into head, into cab...
1) input #1/instrument channel, mic volume/3-5, instrument volume/10.5, tone/5-6 with guitar on 8 for volume. Cleaned up nice turning down volume on guitar to 5-6 and adjusting picking attack. Rolling to volume up all the way on the guitar, and attacking the strings was a nice boost for soloing.

2) input #1/instrument channel then jumper'd into input #1/mic channel, mic volume/7, instrument volume/7, tone/5-6. This is a lot harrier than I thought this amp would get!? WOW!! \m/ \m/
 
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