Broad Tweed Question

[LedZepp007]

So, I'm thinking about a tweed build and need help (shock).

I, unfortunately, don't have access to each of the tweed circuits and there are surprisingly few clips of some at the roaring volumes necessary for distortion on YouTube. For those clips that do exist, the sound was handled poorly from a recording standpoint.

I care most (by far) about overdrive character and nastiness. I also prefer 12-inch speakers to 10-inch or 8-inch (especially since I have some 12-inch speakers that I love). I'd also love to have a circuit on which a Post PIMV can be utilized.

Ultimately I'd love to build a tweed amp that:

1) Uses 12-inch speakers
2) Has some nasty overdriven sounds when cranked
3) Can utilize a PPIMV so that I can play it driven at reasonable volumes with my Airbrake

Which circuit might work best? I had thought of the 5F4, but I'm not sure it gets nasty enough.

Thanks!!!

[xtian]

Bassman 5F6A (tweed) or 6G6B (blonde).

https://youtu.be/rMxnmGSezaQ

[martin manning]

Why not a 5E3 Deluxe? Seems to fit your spec pretty well.

[LedZepp007]

Why not a 5E3 Deluxe? Seems to fit your spec pretty well.

It does, except even the 5E3 would be too loud to crank in my house.

I guess I could do a VVR.

I'd prefer the PPIMV, though.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

The 5E3 will certainly get you into nasty distortion territory. I have a vvr in mine, but, unfortunately, it sounds its best at full tilt - which is where it sounds like it's ready to explode into a million pieces any second. It's actually a pretty cool sound if you're into Neil Young's electric years....

[robrob]

With the 5E3 circuit a PRE phase inverter master volume works fine because the cathodyne phase inverter doesn't add gain. Here's a simple 5E3 MV that works great:

https://robrobinette.com/5e3_Modificati ... ter_Volume

[img:600:1188]https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/ ... _small.png[/img]

[LedZepp007]

With the 5E3 circuit a PRE phase inverter master volume works fine because the cathodyne phase inverter doesn't add gain. Here's a simple 5E3 MV that works great:

https://robrobinette.com/5e3_Modificati ... ter_Volume

[img:600:1188]https://robrobinette.com/images/Guitar/ ... _small.png[/img]

Oh, I have looked ALL through your page. Great stuff. My concern is that a MV on the 5E3 would make it lose all its magic.

[AcornHouse]

Won't your Airbrake be able to get the 5E3 down to your volume needs?

[LedZepp007]

Won't your Airbrake be able to get the 5E3 down to your volume needs?

Usually, the Airbrake will do well up until I get the rheostat beneath approximately 2/3. Then it totally falls apart (fizzy and kind of thin). Bedroom levels in my apartment are a bit below that. It can take about 1/2 - 2/3 of the volume away, but I would still need a little more.

[vibratoking]

The 5E3 will certainly get you into nasty distortion territory. I have a vvr in mine, but, unfortunately, it sounds its best at full tilt - which is where it sounds like it's ready to explode into a million pieces any second. It's actually a pretty cool sound if you're into Neil Young's electric years....

The 5E3 is a great amp IMO, especially with smaller couplers. It is capable of many different sounds. It only sounds like Neil's trash if you crank the amp and guitar volumes and play all 6 strings at once. The 5E3 and a Les Paul sounds much more like Billy Gibbons early, ie good, stuff to me. You can finesse a 5E3 to do ALOT.

Reducing the volume only works well in a very limited sense. Too much reduction, in any amp, results in garbage IMO. If I have to reduce it to that point, I'd rather not play it at all.

[LedZepp007]

Maybe I could ask a different question. Of the moderate to large tweed circuits, which ones had the nastiest overdrive when cranked:

Deluxe
Bandmaster
Bassman
Pro
Tremolux
Super
Twin (Low powered)

Thanks!

[vibratoking]

Maybe I could ask a different question. Of the moderate to large tweed circuits, which ones had the nastiest overdrive when cranked:

Deluxe
Bandmaster
Bassman
Pro
Tremolux
Super
Twin (Low powered)

Thanks!

I'm gonna be stupid and ask what you mean by nastiest?

[LedZepp007]

Maybe I could ask a different question. Of the moderate to large tweed circuits, which ones had the nastiest overdrive when cranked:

Deluxe
Bandmaster
Bassman
Pro
Tremolux
Super
Twin (Low powered)

Thanks!

I'm gonna be stupid and ask what you mean by nastiest?

I don't think that's stupid. I suppose I mean most overdriven.

[Reeltarded]

All pretty similar. The bassman is a nasal mess at full drive. (my opinion)

Bandmaster in the mismatched 3x10 confiiguration kills.

Mostly 10s.. right. not many 12s.

[AcornHouse]

Why no Champ on the list? If you need it at apartment levels, that's pretty much the one that you can dime (well, actually 12 for a tweed Fender) at your volume.
Clapton, Joe Walsh, etc. can't all be wrong.