More Power!

[spiffpeters]

I'm being commissioned to build a couple of 5E3 amps for my brothers band. The standard 5E3 doesn't have enough power for their band. I'm looking at building a couple of kits with either four 6V6's or a pair of 6L6's.

Any pro's/con's to either config?

[RickyD]

If it were me, I would go for the 6l6's. That's 2 fewer tubes to mess around with. More tubes = more tubes to buy = more tubes that will eventually act up = more heat to mess up every thing else in the amp.

[TD_Madden]

agree from the maintenance standpoint, but 6L6s and 6V6s don't sound the same in these amps.

[RickyD]

agree from the maintenance standpoint, but 6L6s and 6V6s don't sound the same in these amps.

You are absolutely right. I think I was personalizing a little. I just built a Mission 5E3, and they have options / mods to use 6L6's on the same chassis.

[spiffpeters]

I'm on the fence. I like simplicity of less tubes, but I don't know if a 6l6 config will change the character of this amp to the point where it is no longer a 5E3.

Decisions, decisions.

[RickyD]

Well, bumping up the output (doubling, right?) means it's not exactly a 5E3 any more. It's really a decision for your client in my view. There are cost issues they will have to live with, too. 4 x 6v6 is going to sound more like a 5e3 than 2 x 6l6, I think.

[TD_Madden]

yes, I agree on that point. A "double Deluxe" should still sound like a Deluxe. Weber has such a kit.

[spiffpeters]

Thanks guys.

[jaimeshaw]

I built a tweed deluxe using merc mag trannys, eventually I did a 6L6 mod plus defart mod with the help of the great people on old 5e3 forum. I used the MM tweed deluxe PT and the MM tweed deluxe OT. It sounded great but still needed alittle more headroom and power so I just put in a MM tweed super OT and man did it come alive. I will still mic my amp like I always do for live gigs (just for fullness using a shure 58). I still have that great deluxe overdrive but now have more power and headroom. Probably kinda like the double deluxe some folks talk about. The only problem I know I have is the lower b+ voltages on the PT using the tweed super OT but haven't had a problem yet. I am also using the Tone Tubby H1E hempcone alnico 12" speaker. I will never use any other speaker unless Tone Tubby comes up with something better (tried JBL "nice", original jensens ect). take care and goodluck jamie

[spiffpeters]

Headroom isn't the issue. They have a hard hitting drummer (one of my brothers - the other plays guitar, and his wife is the bass player). My brothers have been playing together for decadeds, so getting a new, softer hitting drummer is not really an option.

I dunno know. I have a feeling that the Deluxe will just be a recording amp, which is fine by me. I'd prefer to stick to a circuit that I at least partially understand.