Can we talk about 5e3? Fender Tweed Deluxe

[yeatzee]

I’ve built, modded, and bought 5E3 clones but have never played a vintage model. Does anyone have a quality A/B comparison on YouTube or elsewhere where to share? Or can anyone comment from experience whether clones can be made to sound as good? There seems to be a camp who believes that the vintage models have a secret sauce that can’t be replicated.

You might enjoy my 5e3 series I'm doing right now. Video 1 I built an Amplified Parts kit and compared it to vintage one with the same speaker and tubes.

28:12 is when the comparison starts.

 

[Athos]

Rather than starting a new thread on the 5E3...

I'm getting "speaker curious." The builder of my clone put in a Jensen Blackbird 40, which so far (I've had it almost one year now), I very much like. However, I'm interested in trying a slightly different and louder speaker just for fun.

The current speaker is AlNiCo, rated at 40W and 96dB efficiency. I'm generally happy with its frequency response, but if I had to change anything, I'd tighten up the bass and add some high-end presence maybe. I don't want to modify the basic circuit of the amp.

Any recommendations for a more efficient speaker that isn't super heavy? Not looking for "vintage" flavour, more neutral than that, but as much headroom as I can get.

 

[jb_abides]

Rather than starting a new thread on the 5E3...

I'm getting "speaker curious."

That's a good one, I may use that!

Recommend you inquire: @ScumbackSpeakers always happy to guide and help LPFers.

 

[LeonC]

Rather than starting a new thread on the 5E3...

I'm getting "speaker curious." The builder of my clone put in a Jensen Blackbird 40, which so far (I've had it almost one year now), I very much like. However, I'm interested in trying a slightly different and louder speaker just for fun.

The current speaker is AlNiCo, rated at 40W and 96dB efficiency. I'm generally happy with its frequency response, but if I had to change anything, I'd tighten up the bass and add some high-end presence maybe. I don't want to modify the basic circuit of the amp.

Any recommendations for a more efficient speaker that isn't super heavy? Not looking for "vintage" flavour, more neutral than that, but as much headroom as I can get.

FWIW, I love the Alessandro SC59; it's quite efficient (actually in some cases, it's not good choice for that reason) and pretty neutral to my ears. May want to look into the Speed Shop offerings as well.

 

[Athos]

That's a good one, I may use that!

Recommend you inquire: @ScumbackSpeakers always happy to guide and help LPFers.

I've actually got a couple of Jim's 65W M75s on order at the moment, for a diagonal slant 2x12 (for use with some other amps, not the 5E3). I was thinking maybe a 30W H75 from Scumback, if I want to go that route again.

FWIW, I love the Alessandro SC59; it's quite efficient (actually in some cases, it's not good choice for that reason) and pretty neutral to my ears. May want to look into the Speed Shop offerings as well.

The SC59 has come in a few times in my 5E3 speaker topic searches. Might tick all the boxes too, and I like the higher efficiency. Speed Shop also comes up, but it looks like their speakers have a lower efficiency than my current Jensen.

 

[Wilko]

I've actually got a couple of Jim's 65W M75s on order at the moment, for a diagonal slant 2x12 (for use with some other amps, not the 5E3). I was thinking maybe a 30W H75 from Scumback, if I want to go that route again.

The SC59 has come in a few times in my 5E3 speaker topic searches. Might tick all the boxes too, and I like the higher efficiency. Speed Shop also comes up, but it looks like their speakers have a lower efficiency than my current Jensen.

I can't imagine a speaker with a lower efficiency than the Jensen. Do they make anything louder than 96dB? I love the alnico Blue from Celestion for a tweed deluxe (well, any amp, really). They are 100+

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

I have tried so many speakers in my 59 tweed. More than anything I have ever owned. The original P12Q is so darned glorious that I didn't want to mess it up with the amount of play I was doing with the amp. Literally daily at many times. The original is in really good shape, but I was taking the thing out in the winter and just didn't want to take the chance. Doubt I will ever sell the amp, but if I do the buyer will get an excellent original speaker with it.

Celestion, Eminence, Jupiter, new Jensen, Weber, WGS, you name it I tried it. I was buying and trading speakers left and right. Not just alnico either. Some of them sounded great in their own way, but nothing ever sounded like the original P12Q. As big, sparkly and harmonically tuneful. Finally, about 5 years ago, I took a chance on a 62 Jensen P12N in really good shape online. I figured there has got to be something to those original speakers. I was right. It has the same thing going on and has taken up permanent residency in my tweed.

I can live with a lot of things in a 4x12 with a Marshall, but in a single speaker Fender combo I have really come to appreciate some of those old Jensen's and Oxford's. I looked up the sensitivity ratings of those old Jensen P12Q's and P12N's. They look to be about 96db and 98db respectively. I am truly not sure how much that comes into play with how big and beautiful a speaker can sound in these old amps. There has to be a whole lot more to it than simply sensitivity.

 

[Athos]

I can't imagine a speaker with a lower efficiency than the Jensen. Do they make anything louder than 96dB? I love the alnico Blue from Celestion for a tweed deluxe (well, any amp, really). They are 100+

Surprisingly, there's a supplier in Ukraine that actually has both the Celestion Blue and Gold in stock. No import tax is always nice.

 

[Offshore Angler]

So to the original post - There's nothing to talk about. A 5E3 is perfect the way Leo made it.

 

[nats]

Saw Neil Young at the Hollywood Bowl and he certainly is rocking’ the stage at age 79 with Old Black and his 1959 Fender Deluxe Amp 5e3. I’m really interested in purchasing a vintage original 5e3, can we talk about this? Any advice, suggestions, experience stories please share!

Well I picked up a 1959 Fender Deluxe 5e3 at the Nashville Guitar Show last week. The amp is nothing short of amazing. Lives up the to hype, heritage, and history. I'm am so happy I got my hands of this gem. Highly recommended and possesses the purist qualities I have always wanted and been looking for. That you to all who have contributed to this discussion, for your guidance and advice and valuable opinions. I am grateful to this community and happy to be part of it. Long live rock n roll!

 

[jb_abides]

@nats Pics!