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I am about to build my third 5E3 - a Mission kit - which I will give to a friend. Bruce very generously threw in a free mod kit after reading my posts here about very boomy bassiness on my first build which was from a tube depot kit. My second build - also a Mission - sounds great even with the humbuckers.
I modded the tube depot by changing cap values on the first cathode cap and on the capacitors in the preamp stage - that connect to the volume controls. (Down from .1uF to .047uF). These mods have worked great but of course are relatively "permanent" (unless I reverse them) which obviously ain't practical when shifting guitars.
So as I prepare this next build I was wondering about the experience of forum members with the three mods that Bruce's kit contain - his first humbucker mod to the cathodes of the 12AY7, his second humbucker mod in the bright channel coupling capacitor - which sounds very cool as it lets you shift between the moded sound and the classic sound, and lastly his "Paul C" mod. Any thought would be welcome - I am particularly intested in keeping close to the original 5e3 sound and the interactivity between the two input channels as I love that quality that makes this amp a real instrument in its own right. I like the relatively early breakup an dthe drit as I am a blues and jump player. I am playing a gretsch hollow body with humbuckers (I modded these and am using GFS classic AlNiCo II humbuckers that are not wound hot and aim for a vintage 50s sound), a carved jazz archtop with a single floating armstrong pickup and two Fender strats one with texas special pickups.
I hope anyone who has been working with these amps chimes in. I am having a ball and love the Mission amp - played Sunday and got great feedback about the amazinng tonal range. I managed to get really melodious soft and clear jazz tones as well as dirty and fat lines. Very cool amps.
The Mission amp I am about to start building is for a freind - also a blues player - who is desinging and building fine quality archtops and solid bodies with humbuckers.
I modded the tube depot by changing cap values on the first cathode cap and on the capacitors in the preamp stage - that connect to the volume controls. (Down from .1uF to .047uF). These mods have worked great but of course are relatively "permanent" (unless I reverse them) which obviously ain't practical when shifting guitars.
So as I prepare this next build I was wondering about the experience of forum members with the three mods that Bruce's kit contain - his first humbucker mod to the cathodes of the 12AY7, his second humbucker mod in the bright channel coupling capacitor - which sounds very cool as it lets you shift between the moded sound and the classic sound, and lastly his "Paul C" mod. Any thought would be welcome - I am particularly intested in keeping close to the original 5e3 sound and the interactivity between the two input channels as I love that quality that makes this amp a real instrument in its own right. I like the relatively early breakup an dthe drit as I am a blues and jump player. I am playing a gretsch hollow body with humbuckers (I modded these and am using GFS classic AlNiCo II humbuckers that are not wound hot and aim for a vintage 50s sound), a carved jazz archtop with a single floating armstrong pickup and two Fender strats one with texas special pickups.
I hope anyone who has been working with these amps chimes in. I am having a ball and love the Mission amp - played Sunday and got great feedback about the amazinng tonal range. I managed to get really melodious soft and clear jazz tones as well as dirty and fat lines. Very cool amps.
The Mission amp I am about to start building is for a freind - also a blues player - who is desinging and building fine quality archtops and solid bodies with humbuckers.
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