Small 5E3

[Bass_nik]

Hi Everybody,
I was given a 1957 5E3 by a friend now deceased. He bought it at H&H Music here in Houston. I've been trying to find/make a top back panel for it, but it's smaller than the specs/drawings I find on the web. The back is space is 16 & 3/8 inches across, while all the sites I've found quote 18 & 1/4 inches! Also it's not covered with tweed, but with a nubby (tolex?).
Does anybody have any knowledge to share?
Thanks In Advance
Nick

[ThermionicScott]

Does the cabinet have the original tube chart in it? Sounds like a replacement cabinet if not.

- Scott

[Bass_nik]

Small 5E3

Yes, It has. It's stamped 'EG'.
I found a way to date it from that. It was made in '55, and it measures the same size as a "Wide Panel" but with a 5E3 chassis. (2 instrument & 2 Microphone inputs). It's not a replacement cab.
Thanks for your reply
Nick

[ThermionicScott]

Well, here's my crackpot theory: Fender was out of "real" 5E3 cabs that day, so they used spare 5F2A cabs. (The Princeton and Deluxe cabs were increased in size at about the same time, with the former getting the latter's old size, approximately.)

- Scott

[68goldtop]

hi bass-nik!

i´m pretty sure that the early 5E3´s did come in a smaller cabinet..

i´d call/mail one of the suppliers and ask them for a panel with the correct size.


cheers - 68.

[vavlehead]

Hi Everybody,
I was given a 1957 5E3 by a friend now deceased. He bought it at H&H Music here in Houston. I've been trying to find/make a top back panel for it, but it's smaller than the specs/drawings I find on the web. The back is space is 16 & 3/8 inches across, while all the sites I've found quote 18 & 1/4 inches! Also it's not covered with tweed, but with a nubby (tolex?).
Does anybody have any knowledge to share?
Thanks In Advance
Nick

What sites have you visited???
Fender Field Guide says all the early 5E3s are 16+ inches... Amp Guide » Fender Deluxe (Narrow Panel)

[68goldtop]

hi!

i checked the book (teagle + sprung´s "fender amps - the first 50 years") and they state that the first narrow-panel deluxes were 18" wide, but were soon enlarged to 20".

cheers - 68.

[Corona Blue]

Yes, It has. It's stamped 'EG'.
I found a way to date it from that. It was made in '55, and it measures the same size as a "Wide Panel" but with a 5E3 chassis. (2 instrument & 2 Microphone inputs). It's not a replacement cab.
Thanks for your reply
Nick

The '55 Deluxe was the first 5E3 IIRC. And YES... the cabinet was smaller. I think it was shorter. I have a friend here who has one and I did a major service on it a couple years back. I was confused as you were when I was comparing the dimensions of the cabinet to what I had on paper.

As far as I know, everybody makes the later style panels. I can talk to my buddy and see if he will let me make a template from his. Let me know.