This amp has been through some life changes. It started out life with a solid state rectifier and that proved to be very unpopular with the fender tweed aficionados. So I fitted in an even bigger power transformer, added a 5y3 tube rectifier and stuck in a pair of EL34s for good measure.
This amp is based on the Fender Tweed Deluxe 5E3, the circuit is wired according the 5E3 schematic. I used the same resistor ohm values and signal capacitor micro farad values true to the original Fender 5E3 schematic. I kept the voice of the amp tone controls identical to the original. The circuit components are high quality, Vishay 2 watt metal film resistors, Cornell Dublier signal caps, an orange drop .022uf to feed the phase inverter. It has a 5Y3 rectifier tube, 12AY7 and 12AX7 like the original 5E3. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Different from a 5E3: I added a choke and an extra filter capacitor to the power supply. This makes less ripple and a quieter power supply. I used a Hammond 273BX power transformer. This transformer is more robust than the original spec and can handle larger power tubes. The output transformer is a Hammond 1620, this is also more robust than the original spec. The power tubes are new matched pair of JJ EL34 tubes. Obviously different than and much more powerful than the 6V6 tubes normally found in a 5E3. The power transformer can handle these tubes easily and they are currently biased at about 60% running cool and comfortable at just under 30 watts for the pair . ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This amp sounds like a regular 5E3 with more headroom and significantly more volume. At about 3 or 4 on the dial it gets crunchy and turned up more than halfway it gets that characteristic tweed dirty tone. The preamp tubes are an EH 12AY7 and an RCA 12AX7A.
The cabinet is a tweed deluxe style that I bought from this ebay store. The guy makes great stuff. I haven't finished the cabinet with anything.
The speaker is a Fender special design 50 watt ceramic magnet speaker. I tried a big alnico Rola from a Hammond organ and it sounded great but I was apprehensive about running this amp full power into it and blowing up a nice old original cone speaker. So I put in this Fender branded speaker and was surprised to find it sounds better.
A few last miscellaneous items, it has Alpha pots, belden and cinch sockets, and switchcraft jacks. The chassis is a Hammond 1400 series 17x4x3 made from 20 gauge steel.
Here are some pictures showing how this amp was built. Maybe you can see something in here to inspire you to build your own 5E3. If you have any questions about how or why I did one thing or another on this amp send me an email from the form on the homepage. I'll be glad to reply and answer.