While technology has progressed quite a bit since the golden age of rock, for many the vintage-style tube still represents the high-water mark for guitar tone. And even the most popular digital amps expend the majority of their processing power attempting to recreate the chest-thumping tones of old tube amp.
Fender’s 5E3′ was the internal model designation for the 1957 tweed Deluxe. Although there were several other models of the ‘Deluxe’, the 5E3 was by far the most popular. It’s no surprise why the 5E3 amp kit phenomenon is still going strong to this day.
Mojotone’s 5E3 Amp Kit
While North Carolina’s Mojotone have been involved in dealing with the guitar products, their best-selling product have been their great quality DIY amp kits.
Mojotone’s Tweed Deluxe Amp is based on Fender’s very popular 5E3 circuit from the 50s and is one of the most sought-after amps out there. Originally designed as a medium power amp that would allow guitarists to plug in more than one amplified instrument at any one time. At higher volumes, the amp produces saturated tones that were adopted as signature tones for many icons.
The kit uses 2x 6V6 power tubes, 1x 12AY7 preamp tube, and 1x 12AX7 preamp tube. The circuit is simple enough to maintain a rich harmonic composition, while still powerful enough for guitarists to use in recording studios, rehearsals and smaller venues. This amp is just a microphone away from being ready for bigger stages. Mojotone chose a Jensen C12Q 35-Watt speaker to complement the 5E3 style circuit, as it enhances the sound of the amp without compromising its historic tonal accuracy.
Mojotone’s Deluxe style amp has two normal channel inputs and two bright channel inputs. There are normal and bright channels, which each have their own volume control, and the two channels can even be ‘jumpered’ together and blended which gives a new range of tonal options. The amp has a global tone control that helps to shape the overall timbre of the amp, giving the player total control over their sound without having to spend hours dialling in EQs.
Little Dawgs D-Lux 5E3 Kit
Little Dawgs D-Lux amp is based on the tweed narrow panel 5E3 Tweed Deluxe circuit and is a real chameleon as it has no problem covering a variety of music genres. The D-Lux 5E3 Tweed Deluxe is unique among tweed amps as its controls are interactive. With a little knob turning you’ll find plenty ‘sweet spots’, which can account for why the circuit used is so popular with studio players as well as the stage pros.
It features Normal and Bright channels with high/low inputs on each, separate volume controls, as well as a common tone control.
The traditional tube compliment is 1x 5Y3GT, 2x 6V6GT, 1x 12AX7 and 1x 12AY7.