Someone please explain! (A 5E3 Question)

[KentNZ]

OK. So. I've done a little net-wandering around the 57 Deluxe Style amp... apparently known as the 5E3 circuit amp... So. Can someone please explain to me why the 15W 5E3 reissue Fender Tweed Amp with a Jensen P12R speaker costs... $4k

http://www.rockshop.co.nz/shop/guitars/ ... r-amp.html

and my lovely 2003/4 40W Fender 'special/reissue/something - I never quite knew' Hot Rod Deluxe Tweed with Jensen P12N Speaker... cost under $2k (with some heavy bargaining on my part) back in the day.... Whats the difference?

I hit a brick wall in the Fender Tweed search for low wattage amps, as there is no such thing (in NZ voltage) in the Blues Jr Range at 15W with a Jensen, but I then discovered these 57 Deluxe's... which, apart from being hand-wired, seem to be something very special (hence the price)....but... why?!

OK, so The Edge uses a 57, 58, and 59 Deluxes in his rig, along with a pile of 60's AC30's. They are clearly tone monsters...

I just want to know what the difference is between that, and my amp. I mean... part of me is annoyed at having to lug around an attenuator with it, and wire it up every time... so, 15W sounds perfect (and will pair nicely with my AC15...)
Technically speaking... is my HRD pretty much the same, add an internal attenuator and I'm away....or am I better off trying to find a (reissue) 57 Deluxe second hand...?

[alanp]

Part mojo, but mostly the chance to get money out of blues lawyers I suspect.

Edit -- I meant the monetary value, not tone and response

[Hot_Grits]

Not very the same at all is the short answer.

The only particularly 'tweed' thing about your HRD is the covering and the speaker. It's not really related to any 50s tweed fender amp circuit, of which there are many, from Champs to high power twins.

For starters, your amp runs about 40W from a power section of 6l6s. The 5E3 puts out about 14-18 watts from a pair of 6V6s. So there's a tonal difference and different distortion characteristics coming from that tube and wattage difference. The phase inverters in the power sections of the amps are also different, which definitely makes for a different tone, especially in overdrive. The HRD has channel switching, reverb and tremolo, all of which influence the overall tone of the amp simply by being there in bypass. Finally the preamps are different.

If you were to play a 5E3 you'd hear a pretty different clean and overdrive tone to your current amp. 5E3s are great amps with a distinctive sound, and you may well love what they have to offer. Many of us do. I own A Victoria Double Deluxe, which essentially a 40w version of the 5E3 circuit, and it's a fantastic amp. As well as Edge, other famous 5E3 users include Neil Young, Peter Frampton, Ronnie Wood and Eric Clapton (tremolux version).

Basically you'll need to play one to see if you like them. You already like your amp, so an attenuator with the amp you currently have is a perfectly cool way to roll. If you want a bit more portability/convenience you could install a Dr Z brake lite in the back of your HRD's cabinet.

The good news is you don't have to pay 4K to buy a hand-wired 5E3 made with all the good stuff. Ryan at Custom Audio Boutique can assemble a top-notch 5E3 or provide you with the parts for you to build your own. As far as trying one, there's at least a couple of hand-built 5E3s among the members of this forum, so maybe there's one near you that you can try. There's also a slim chance you might come across a Victoria 20112 (dead-on 5E3 clone) or similar secondhand if you keep an eye out.

If you must absolutely have the fender badge then you're beholden to the pricing whims of the fender custom shop.

[KentNZ]

Great answer... thanks. And yep, keeping an eye out for a Victoria 20112 may be a wise idea. Like the idea of having Fender... but hey. Guess I need to hear/try one...

And... maybe I'll like my amp as much... if Matt can sell his 8ohm Attenuator for 350, I can sell mine for the same and get a Dr Z put in by Ryan. Cant hurt...

[Slowy]

Great answer... thanks. And yep, keeping an eye out for a Victoria 20112 may be a wise idea. Like the idea of having Fender... but hey. Guess I need to hear/try one...

Accepting that established brand names have an added value to some folks, there are no amps on the planet better built than CustomAudio Botique. And the man whi builds them is only a PM away.

Just saying.

[Starfire]

I believe this belongs to a forum member, if it's still available.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/music-instrume ... 498060.htm

It's a great price, I think. The Weber speaker is the one to have with a 5E3. I have one in mine and it sounds great.

[dc]

Ive got a dr z brake lite for sale if anyone wants one

[rocklander]

Ive got a dr z brake lite for sale if anyone wants one

more or less than 2/3 rrp?

[Bg]

maybe a swap for your ballpark? or 2/3 of it

[Rog]

maybe a swap for your ballpark? or 2/3 of it

So, that's approximately a ballp ?

[handsoffmatt]

Just to throw my hat in the ring....

The high price of the '57 Deluxe is partly Fender's pricing decision, partly the pricing whim of the NZ Fender agents, and partly a much poorer exchange rate at the time it was imported.

The good news for you is that I have had that amp in stock for far too long, and it's time I liquidated it. I will do a reasonably silly deal to get rid of it. It'll still be an expensive amp, but markedly less so...and trust me. It's an amazing amp!!! You won't know yourself from the HRD you have now.

PM me if you're insterested! Cheers

[KentNZ]

Despite the endless search for the perfect amp... this combo (with Hotplate) this morning was sounding... gorgeous! #myhappyplace

[MogwaiBoy]

Wow.. nice gear pron, oooh

Great idea with the pick holder on the board too. I may have to follow suit!

[mr_sooty]

Ive got a dr z brake lite for sale if anyone wants one

PM on it's way.

[Bg]

Did you ever get the 5E3 you were gassing for or was it just a passing phase?