5E3 Baffle board

[Jensen P]

I've noticed there's some variation among the new builds. Wood, ply and thickness differ (as well as the position of the speaker hole). But what about the original cabs;

- What material and what thickness was used?

-Is there any consensus that the baffle board could actually alter the tone?

-Is there any consensus about a preferred baffle board construction?

Some popular replacement speakers are really heavy compared to the original lightweight P12R. It's documented that heavy speakers can weigh down a thin baffle board - that would obviously be a reason to go with a thicker baffle board (or just avoid the heavy speakers).

[soundguruman]

Yes the baffle can alter the tone.

The best sounding is usually gap-less aircraft grade birch plywood.

But, there is no standard or accepted consensus. It's just whatever you like better.

A lot of amps are made with particle board, which is much heavier, non- water resistant, flakes apart and sheds over long periods of time, screw holes won't stay solid...cracks easily...
and I would rather not use particle board.

I mean the classic Marshall is Birch.
The Peavey is particle board...
The Electrovoice is gap-less plywood, or hardwood, like Cherry.

The best sounding is generally made with higher dollar materials.

[Leo_Gnardo]

It's documented that heavy speakers can weigh down a thin baffle board - that would obviously be a reason to go with a thicker baffle board (or just avoid the heavy speakers).

Heavy speakers can be hell on a thin baffle board. I've seen a tweed Twin loaded with Celestion G12-80, carried in a proper ATA approved road case, it didn't help one bit. Baffle crushed and the amp looked like something Picasso might have painted after the damage settled.

Thicker MDF or flake board? Similar smashup happened to a friend's Twin Reverb with one JBL and one EV. I made him new baffles (for this and another just like it) with reinforced half-inch void-free plywood. No more problems.

Got called in @ 1982 to a studio where Al Dimeola was recording. His practically new Twin Reverb had a big crack down the middle of the baffle. E-series JBL 12's bolted to it. When I told him he needed a new baffle he just went out and bought a whole new amp. Same thing could have happened again easily enough, what with rough handling by stage hands plus bumping around in the back of the touring truck. One good fall onto its back & that sawdust baffle board could be counted on to split, with all that weight pulling on it.

If you can stand the tone of neodymium-magnet speakers (I havent' heard all of 'em - some must be good) that could be a solution to putting hi power speakers in your gem.

[Tom Phillips]

I've noticed there's some variation among the new builds. Wood, ply and thickness differ (as well as the position of the speaker hole). But what about the original cabs;

- What material and what thickness was used?...

I don't have notes on the 5E3 but I did measure the baffle board in a 1960 5F6-A Bassman. It was plywood and the thickness was 9/32". I have run across other old plywood of such non-standard thicknesses.

[Jensen P]

Thanks all, this is very informative.
There have been observations mentioning 1/4" - 1/3" as the ideal depth for authentic tone. Some believe that the baffle board could have something to do with the "3D-sound" often attributed to the Tweed Deluxe. I don't know about that (I would guess it's because of the wide open back), but at least now I know that the originals where right in between 1/4"-1/3".