Humbucker mod

[TD_Madden]

At this point, I'd question the overall build...or maybe even ears!

[The Captain]

No its been gone over meticulously, far too many times now: PT changing, filter cap redos, input wiring redos, all cap value changes as I mentioned, speaker redos, tube switching etc etc.. I now finally conclude the 5e3 is meant to be this ridiculously bassy amp & so defo not for me (unless I decide to take up the electro-cello!) I cannot understand how its meant to be reveered etc- for a guitar its just completely wrong to me.

Bruce, alas its not one of yours, but thanks all the same for the input here.

[RickyD]

Captain-

I just can't imagine anyone describing the sound of my 5E3 the way you describe the sound of yours. So I think our amps sound very different, and they should not.

The mods you describe should have had a profound effect on the sound of the amp, and they did not.

I suggest you stop trying to modify it. There is still something wrong with your amp. Somewhere in your amp, the highs are bleeding off. Can you follow the signal through the circuitry with an oscilloscope? You could isolate the fault very quickly that way.

[The Captain]

Im 99.5% certain this amp is how a 5e3 should sound by now. I have humbuckers and am certain its inherrantly not designed for them, & Im not paying for a mod kit if its just one resistor and one cap I have plenty of sitting here. The fixed bias mod MJWB refers to is the last thing I'll try, then I want this horrid thing away asap! Ill then save for a real fender amp methinks.

[The Captain]

Captain-

I just can't imagine anyone describing the sound of my 5E3 the way you describe the sound of yours. Can you follow the signal through the circuitry with an oscilloscope? You could isolate the fault very quickly that way.

No Ive no way of accessing a scope- but there is no fault. Others have noted its a dark amp too and described it as such (to a lesser extent sure, but Im really hating it now) so Im not on my own here.

I cant find the Area51.com site for the 'fixed bias' mod type idea- is there anywhere to bumf up on this idea? I know not if its a one resistor redo, or a whole amp overhaul (Ill ditch the thing if so) Thanks

[MWJB]

http://area51tubeaudiodesigns.com/Me...ry_Code=cat004

Drill a few holes, bolt it in (small bias board), relocate 3 wires & hey presto!

Bias to 30mA (I'd add 1ohm 2W cathode to ground resistors - 1 per 6V6 - to make biasing easy).

[The Captain]

Thanks MJWB- Id have a go with details to knock a board up, as at this stage Im reluctant to spend ~£25 to have a kit sent from US. So Im ditching the damn thing- if anyone wants one it'll be burning in a wet field nr Stratford, Uk.

I simply must have bass and treble pots- that's definitive after this fiasco. Ill look to see if there's a ~12w fendery clone with a proper tone control out there (ideally with a MV too) or invest in a fender again- oh why did I sell my SF Twin?! bugger.

[TD_Madden]

Ears.