ampage Tube Amps / Music Electronics	For current discussions, please visit Music Electronics Forum.

ampage archive

Vintage threads from the first ten years

Anyone gigging with Tweedy?

3/31/2002 6:31 PM
Brian E	Anyone gigging with Tweedy? Is anyone here gigging with their 5E3? I'm trying to finalize my stage setup and would appreciate some feedback (so to speak). The last time I gigged out was with a Mesa Tremoverb (I obviously had more money than sense). We're playing fairly traditional blues, e.g. Albert King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, etc. The setup I'm now leaning toward is a Deluxe Reverb RI A/B'ed with the 5E3 Deluxe. I'm generally using the DR for cleaner parts with a Strat and sending dirty parts through the 5E3 via a HB-equipped Santana SE. The only effect I'm using is a Dynacomp for leads, set mostly for a volume boost with just a little extra sustain. The DR is stock with factory tubes and speaker (haven't got around to upgrades yet); I've re-biased it fairly hot at around 33mA to get a little more "ooomph" in the mids. At practice, I run it at about 4, but would like to get it to at least 6 on stage because it really starts to open up at 6 and above. I want to run the 5E3 full-up to get that superb crunch; again, at practice I run normal all the way up, bright all the way down, and plug into the normal 2 input. On stage I'll be plugging into the number 1 input for added volume. Starting out, our PA won't be much to write home about; we probably won't be running the guitar through it, just vocals and some reinforcement for the drums. My concerns are: 1) Will this be loud enough? My brain tells me it will be plenty, but going from a hundred watt monster to a 20 watter makes me little uneasy. If it's too loud, I can always turn the amps around, pad them, isolate them, whatever. I've long since gotten over the desire to be loud for loudness' sake, but I want to run these amps hot enough to get them where they sound best (not necessarily "10"). 2) Long term reliability. Even though I haven't had any trouble with it, I am concerned about running the 5E3 at max for extended periods. Anyone have any first-hand experience with this? I do have the zener installed, so the power should be slightly less than with the full B+. 3) Compatibility. I've never run a two-amp rig before and wonder how well they'll work together. I will probably be running strictly A/B, not Y-ing them together. I've had to lift the ground on the 5E3 due to hum, which tells me I need to get back in there and re-work my grounding (it's pretty quiet by itself, just hums with the DR connected). Will switching between these two be a great way to expand my tonal pallete or just a distractingly abrupt shift in sound? Sorry to go on so long; if you made it down to here, you're a real trooper. I really would like to hear from anyone who has run a setup similar to this, so I wanted to supply exact information on what I intend to use. Thanks as always to Tom and Bruce!

3/31/2002 6:31 PM

Brian E

Anyone gigging with Tweedy?

Is anyone here gigging with their 5E3? I'm trying to finalize my stage setup and would appreciate some feedback (so to speak). The last time I gigged out was with a Mesa Tremoverb (I obviously had more money than sense). We're playing fairly traditional blues, e.g. Albert King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, etc. The setup I'm now leaning toward is a Deluxe Reverb RI A/B'ed with the 5E3 Deluxe. I'm generally using the DR for cleaner parts with a Strat and sending dirty parts through the 5E3 via a HB-equipped Santana SE. The only effect I'm using is a Dynacomp for leads, set mostly for a volume boost with just a little extra sustain.

The DR is stock with factory tubes and speaker (haven't got around to upgrades yet); I've re-biased it fairly hot at around 33mA to get a little more "ooomph" in the mids. At practice, I run it at about 4, but would like to get it to at least 6 on stage because it really starts to open up at 6 and above. I want to run the 5E3 full-up to get that superb crunch; again, at practice I run normal all the way up, bright all the way down, and plug into the normal 2 input. On stage I'll be plugging into the number 1 input for added volume.

Starting out, our PA won't be much to write home about; we probably won't be running the guitar through it, just vocals and some reinforcement for the drums.

My concerns are:

1) Will this be loud enough? My brain tells me it will be plenty, but going from a hundred watt monster to a 20 watter makes me little uneasy. If it's too loud, I can always turn the amps around, pad them, isolate them, whatever. I've long since gotten over the desire to be loud for loudness' sake, but I want to run these amps hot enough to get them where they sound best (not necessarily "10").

2) Long term reliability. Even though I haven't had any trouble with it, I am concerned about running the 5E3 at max for extended periods. Anyone have any first-hand experience with this? I do have the zener installed, so the power should be slightly less than with the full B+.

3) Compatibility. I've never run a two-amp rig before and wonder how well they'll work together. I will probably be running strictly A/B, not Y-ing them together. I've had to lift the ground on the 5E3 due to hum, which tells me I need to get back in there and re-work my grounding (it's pretty quiet by itself, just hums with the DR connected). Will switching between these two be a great way to expand my tonal pallete or just a distractingly abrupt shift in sound?

Sorry to go on so long; if you made it down to here, you're a real trooper. I really would like to hear from anyone who has run a setup similar to this, so I wanted to supply exact information on what I intend to use.

Thanks as always to Tom and Bruce!

4/1/2002 9:04 PM
scott c.	see neil young. he uses a remote control to change his settings from a foot pedle.

4/3/2002 5:55 PM
woodyc	Brian, Your amp could be different but my "5e3" isn't loud enough to compete with a deluxe reverb. Its not that you wouldn't hear it, it would just lack the dynamics it has when some headroom exists. Also when you're on 10 your tone really goes to pot with these amps. (Thats another good mod topic.) But people here regularly do things that amaze me. I'd be interested to know how the gig turned out.

4/3/2002 5:55 PM

woodyc

Brian,

Your amp could be different but my "5e3" isn't loud enough to compete with a deluxe reverb. Its not that you wouldn't hear it, it would just lack the dynamics it has when some headroom exists. Also when you're on 10 your tone really goes to pot with these amps. (Thats another good mod topic.) But people here regularly do things that amaze me. I'd be interested to know how the gig turned out.

4/6/2002 4:15 PM
Brian E	I certainly agree with you that the 5E3 is not very dynamic at 10 (12?), however, I really love the crunchy distortion this thing gets when pegged. It's nice and compressed which makes it great for lead work which is mostly what I intend to use it for. It does not work well for all-around playing when dimed due to the lack of headroom. I was hesitant about using two amps -mainly because I didn't want to haul more stuff- but decided that the 5E3, even though it's somewhat of a one-trick pony, gives me a sound the DR can't, even with pedals. Plus, if the DR ever goes down I'll have a backup amp.

4/6/2002 4:15 PM

Brian E

I certainly agree with you that the 5E3 is not very dynamic at 10 (12?), however, I really love the crunchy distortion this thing gets when pegged. It's nice and compressed which makes it great for lead work which is mostly what I intend to use it for. It does not work well for all-around playing when dimed due to the lack of headroom. I was hesitant about using two amps -mainly because I didn't want to haul more stuff- but decided that the 5E3, even though it's somewhat of a one-trick pony, gives me a sound the DR can't, even with pedals. Plus, if the DR ever goes down I'll have a backup amp.

4/5/2002 12:44 AM
Rockin' Daddy	I've done several gigs with mine, running a Weber C12N. It's quite loud for a Tweed DeLuxe, especially for smaller clubs. If your mic-ing Drums you might think about mic-ing the Tweed. It's really a fabulous amp for small gigs with a band that plays at a sensible volume. RD

4/7/2002 3:35 AM
Brian E	How loud do you run your 5E3, RD? Full up? And are you confident (brave) enough to gig it without a backup?

6/10/2002 9:27 PM
Rockin' Daddy	Sorry Brian, I haven't been here in a while. I run the 5E3 volume between 4 and 8, with the tone at 7 to 9, maybe 10, Strat in the normal channel, LP or L5 copy in the bright. I have on occasion had the volume up around 10, it still sounds good at that level, but I have to back the tone down to reduce gain. I'm using a Weber P12QA which is very efficient. For bigger rooms I'll swap in a 5V4 recto. And I converted the speaker extension jack to a line out so I can use my DR or SR as a slave. Still sometimes I have to ask the bassist to turn down and that's fine with me, I'd like to avoid further hearing damage if I can. RD

6/10/2002 9:27 PM

Rockin' Daddy

Sorry Brian, I haven't been here in a while.

I run the 5E3 volume between 4 and 8, with the tone at 7 to 9, maybe 10, Strat in the normal channel, LP or L5 copy in the bright. I have on occasion had the volume up around 10, it still sounds good at that level, but I have to back the tone down to reduce gain. I'm using a Weber P12QA which is very efficient. For bigger rooms I'll swap in a 5V4 recto. And I converted the speaker extension jack to a line out so I can use my DR or SR as a slave. Still sometimes I have to ask the bassist to turn down and that's fine with me, I'd like to avoid further hearing damage if I can.

RD

Page 1 of 1