Fender Twin vs 5E3

CharlyG · Post by **CharlyG** » 07 Jul 2011, 14:51

I have a half built 5E3 chassis that I will be finishing up this summer, but while getting back into the technical aspects of tube amplifiers, I saw that the Dumble ODS is based on the Fender Twin(not Twin Reverb). If that is the case, why isn't a twin kit more popular than a 5E3?

I know prolly a dumb noob question, but gotta start somewhere.

phatt · Post by **phatt** » 07 Jul 2011, 15:07

Hi Charly,
Don't confuse ODS with SSS.
SSS,, Yes an over speced Twin. ODS has ODrive so very different animal.

I'd finish the 5e3 and do a lot of research.
if you don't need really loud amps stay away from the bigger ones.
Smaller amps are generally far more pleasing in use.
Phil.

CharlyG · Post by **CharlyG** » 07 Jul 2011, 16:11

My bad. One of the reasons I ask is, I have a Judybox chassis and a 112 cab for it to go in, It is pretty much all wired up except for one minor detail. There is no MAIN board! I have to figure out what to do with it. I'm thinking of an eyelet board or similar, but not sure which one would work the best.

tictac · Post by **tictac** » 07 Jul 2011, 19:14

The twin is a wonderful amp; maybe the best tweed amp of all...

But it's also heavy and expensive to build a kit with a large cabinet and the expense of two speakers; which is likely why many first time builders are cutting their teeth with a 5E3 kit. Plentiful kits available for a decent price, simple circuit construction, and great tone. What more could you ask for?

TT

CharlyG · Post by **CharlyG** » 07 Jul 2011, 19:21

I will finish the 5E3 kit here soon, but I still need to do something with the Judybox. The chassis has 3 tone controls on both channels,but I can't seem to find a schematic to see what it is based on..

Ben N · Post by **Ben N** » 07 Jul 2011, 23:40

CharlyG wrote:I will finish the 5E3 kit here soon, but I still need to do something with the Judybox. The chassis has 3 tone controls on both channels,but I can't seem to find a schematic to see what it is based on..

What else does it have? You're choices are likely to be narrowed by the iron and sockets.

CharlyG · Post by **CharlyG** » 08 Jul 2011, 00:20

It is called a Judybox Revival 28 watt 6L6 amp with tube rectifier and 3 12AX7 sockets. No numbers on the transformers anywhere that I can see. The board was cut out so all of the wires are still in place. I hadn't seen the model before so I will go Google it now.

CharlyG · Post by **CharlyG** » 08 Jul 2011, 00:24

I found a picture, still snooping for schematic. I also found out there are a few boards floating around after the close of the shop. I have a request in to see if I can obtain one!

wrnchbndr · Post by **wrnchbndr** » 21 Jul 2012, 23:51

I've built both the 5E3 and the 5F8A. The 5E3 is just something that everybody ought to have. The 5F8A Twin has a lot of the charactor of the 5E3 but is silly loud. The mojo of the power tubes does not arrive until you are hurting people with the volume. I also found that you need to do a bit of tweeking to keep the preamp from getting dirty too early. Its a fun build and no more complicated that the 5E3 but its heavy and kind of a one trick pony. Its kinda difficult to dial in your appropriate volume level because like a lot of the tweed amps, they are highly dynamic and loose. It can make an accomplished player sound really good through the translation of their picking dynamics and every nuance can be heard however it can also magnify every mistake. I built three of these and put them in custom hardwood and lacquered cabinets. I did not keep one of them. These were the 4 X 6L6 Twins (no reverb). The 2 X 6L6 Twin might be a totally different amp but I'd bet that its just as hard to control and get it to work for you.