what caps to use in 5E3 build ?

[hebaton]

WOndering if there are opinions on specific capacitor brands or make to get best results in a 5E3 ?

[echuta13]

Cap choice is very subjective. I've been using Mallory 150's for quite awhile, but I've started gravitating towards Panasonic ECW's. I think many associate Orange Drops with Fender builds, but I haven't used those in ages. Here's a page from Mouser on those specifically: https://www.mouser.com/applications/aud ... nge-drops/

I think it would be safe to say that you really can't go wrong. If you have the cash to spring for some Jupiters, go for it. Let your wallet be your guide. For electrolytic's I generally use F&T.

[Stevem]

If you have never played thru a real 5E3 in good condition with stock parts and taken note of its grainy sound when clipping starts and don’t want that as part of the out come of your build, then just get the best coupling caps your wallet can handle, but no silver mica’s in place of ciramic’s please !

Be sure to install the coupling caps facing the right way also .
Power supply filter wise your noise floor will be better with
With 3 separate filters grounded a the right locations then one main can filter.

It’s also critical that signal flow wise to have your grid wires as short as possible, this many times means tweaking the layout if it’s a kit so that your plate leads are longer to get that coupling cap closer to the next down stream tubes grid input.

[ChopSauce]

When you wrote "the best caps your wallet can handle", do you mean the most expensive ones?

Otherwise, my question would be: which are the best ones?
(which I suppose is the OP question too)

[Phil_S]

There is some debate over whether you can actually hear any difference. I suggest this is the wrong question. I think the question should be, what can you actually hear? It is well known that hearing acuity naturally declines with age. I expect that most generic caps will do the job very well, particularly when you consider that manufacturing advances have given us very good quality at much lower cost compared to what the market offered when the Deluxe was being made by Fender. FWIW, that's my 2¢.

[Colossal]

The old amps had the kraft paper/tin foil Astrons. Here is a gut shot of an original I had on the bench once.

59tweed.png

[Charlie Wilson]

Blue Sozos sound nice in those. Use a good silver mica for the 500pf. I tried to get some red Jupiters but the only dealer in USA I could find was charging $11 a cap and wanted close to $20 to ship. I don't like being gouged.
CW

[Colossal]

Blue Sozos sound nice in those. Use a good silver mica for the 500pf. I tried to get some red Jupiters but the only dealer in USA I could find was charging $11 a cap and wanted close to $20 to ship. I don't like being gouged.
CW

I have built 5E3s with Blue Sozos and they do sound very good. I have a bag of Jupiters that I got before this new let's-just-charge-whatever-we-want-now-that-the-whole-world-has-gone-crazy global pricing structure took over.

[ChopSauce]

Thanks! I've read about the mica caps, which are better being the 1000V rated brown/tan, indeed.

I'm sure I wont" buy these red Jupiter sold around 15€ each but I'm still unsure about the "vintage" yellow ones sold around 5€ each...

[ChopSauce]

There is some debate over whether you can actually hear any difference.

I'm also sure I won't easily but so many customers are willing to pay for an extra mojo factor that I am interested in knowing where you reasonably put the bound.

Yes, you - reading, right now - not just Phil...

[thetragichero]

i use these for pretty much everything besides pf values (1kv ceramic for those): https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/c ... lm-tubular

i wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the fancy expensive yellow axial film caps were exactly the same with a different outer wrap (possibly sorted for tighter tolerances)

[Phil_S]

I'm also sure I won't easily but so many customers are willing to pay for an extra mojo factor that I am interested in knowing where you reasonably put the bound.
Yes, you - reading, right now - not just Phil...

Yes, most definitely give the customer what the customer asks for and remember to charge them accordingly. I have no problem at all with that as a way to conduct business. The only thing I'd add is that it's your obligation to give the customer the best guidance you can give. If they don't listen, that's OK. (We're discussing caps, not safety issues.)

BTW, I don't believe you can buy mojo. The mojo is in the musician, not the amp. Otherwise, if you put Sozo's in your amp, you'd be bound to get famous.

[Sequimite]

Pardon me for hijacking your thread, but I'd like to ask, beyond caps, for guidance on buying a full set of electronic components for a 5E3.

I bought a 5E3 clone that I like very much. It has some "found object" component choices like an over-sized 1950's power transformer. I'd like to build the RobRob Deluxe as my first build this winter with the help of a friend with electrical engineering experience, but none specifically for guitar amps. I'd very much like to find a recommended electronic component list of exactly what to buy and where. Rob does specify the PT and OT.

Since this is my first post I will add that I'm a retired CPA who bought his first tube amp, a '71 Fender Twin Reverb, in the 80's. I've had a half dozen since. My soldering experience is pretty much limited to making my own cables. Thanks.

[Charlie Wilson]

I could give you suggestions for specific components but I think what you may want to do is look into a 5E3 kit. I think you could build a real nice 5E3 using a kit from Mojotone.
CW

[Sequimite]

I could give you suggestions for specific components but I think what you may want to do is look into a 5E3 kit. I think you could build a real nice 5E3 using a kit from Mojotone.
CW

I'm sure you're right but I'm building the RobRob deluxe, so I'd have to throw away some parts and buy others. Whereas if I had a recommended list for the 5E3 I could modify it slightly for the mods on the RobRob and then buy.