Anybody use Tweed amps for Jazz?

[Petimar]

I've got a couple good amps I'm happy with, but always interested in a few more tools for different sounds.

I'm specifically interested in a 5F1, 5E3, or similar type tweed.

Anybody got comments on those for warm fat jazz sounds?

[jorgemg1984]

I like tweeds more than blackfaces when they have headroom (which is kind of rare). They have the mid boost (300hz) and mid scoop (700hz) where I like. The low watt ones can be great for some 50s edge of distortion jazz.

[D.G.]

I'm also interested in this, see this thread: How to get Oscar Moore tone

Also, I'm not really after "fat warm" so much as bright and cutting. Maybe a 5E3 with 6L6's?

[marcwhy]

I have a Frenzel amp that is based on a 5E3, and it's great for jazz.

[steves3972]

i use a tweed bassman (4x10) with my Benedetto Bravo(all laminate).
Here is a recording I just did. The guitar on the left is through the bassman.

Since the 4x10 is quite big I have another unfinished tweed amp which will end up being a compact 2x10 with either a tweed twin or another bassman circuit.

I have the bass all the way down and treble and presence on 8 1/2 using the bright channel.

[Woody Sound]

For a long time I owned a late 40's TV-Front Deluxe. Bought it from a harp player. Used it for years in the privacy of my own home. Wonderful flat (dynamics, not freq) kind of sound. And so cool to look at. But too problematic to work with. And just one "tone" knob. Sold it when I started downsizing my amount of gear.

[monkmiles]

I've got a couple good amps I'm happy with, but always interested in a few more tools for different sounds. I'm specifically interested in a 5F1, 5E3 or similar type tweed. Anybody got comments on those for warm fat Jazz sounds?

I have blackface style amps mostly but I hope to own a 5e3 in the future. They certainly work well at low volume levels for jazz ala Green and Burrell. Tweed bassman should have good enough headroom. Some builders will make more powerful 5e3 amps too (Lil Dawg comes to mind). I have a fun and good sounding pedal that emulates a 5f6 that I really like for jazz and rock stuff.

[Keira Witherkay]

i'm all for small tube amps...if it gives you the tone you want ... and if you need more volume ...don't turn up the amp just mic it up .... i find that a mic'd up tone can sound awesome and work well live if you have a PA at the venue ...

[Encinitastubes]

I played a Victoria Silver Sonic with my 175. It is like a 20 watt, 1x12" Bassman. It was one of the finest sounds I've heard. One of the most expensive amps I've played, though.

[iim7V7IM7]

Soon I will have a new small, light 40w combo amp with modern takes on both an AB763 and 5E3 type preamps. I did not buy it primarily for archtop play (more for blues) but I will try it out for both. I will be curious to see how I like the mid rich tweed tones vs. the scooped BF tones.

[jorgemg1984]

Soon I will have a new small, light 40w combo amp with modern takes on both an AB763 and 5E3 type preamps. I did not buy it primarily for archtop play (more for blues) but I will try it out for both. I will be curious to see how I like the mid rich tweed tones vs. the scooped BF tones.

The new redplate? I would love to know how clean can the 5E3 channel be... the amp looks brilliant.

[cosmic gumbo]

My Fender SCXD thinks it's a tweed amp.

[iim7V7IM7]

Yes...

either tweed or BF into OD
only cathode biased, 40w (4-12ax7s, 2-6l6s) or 24w (2-6v6s)
smaller PT/OT for lighter weight (similar to Vibroverb)
having a small power strip installed in cab & will place Wet Reverb in cab via loop
either Tonkerlite or Tornado as neo speaker (tbd)
smaller pine cab 17"x17"x8.5"
should weigh about 32 lb.
foot controler switches between tweed or BF preamps, engage overdrive, tone stack lift

[Klatu]

I have a Frenzel amp that is based on a 5E3, and it's great for jazz.

The amp looks really cool with really unique features. Is this your primary amp? How does it blend with the groups you play with? How do you set your tone controls?

I remember you having an Earcandy cab. If so, do you still own it and have you tried to contact them recently? I have two of their cabs and had placed an order for a third that never arrived. That was about three years ago; I have no illusions of ever seeing the cab I bought and paid for back then.

[marcwhy]

The amp looks really cool with really unique features. Is this your primary amp? How does it blend with the groups you play with? How do you set your tone controls?

I remember you having an Earcandy cab. If so, do you still own it and have you tried to contact them recently? I have two of their cabs and had placed an order for a third that never arrived. That was about three years ago; I have no illusions of ever seeing the cab I bought and paid for back then.

Hi,
yes, I've mostly been using this recently, and it blends fine with my quartet (sax, dr, bs, gtr). I typically use the "F" input, although a friend of mine has the same model, and he uses the "M" input and sounds great! My tone controls are pretty basic -- straight up, usually! -- and I'll add a little Presence and 'verb.

I don't have my EarCandy cabs, mostly 'cause I can be a "gear slut" and change partners here and there!
They were excellent cabs, though. Sorry to hear about your experience, although since they've been back recently (I know "three years ago" was a dark period for them), they seem to be on top of things. I think they left eBay, and are mostly selling on the new Reverb.com site. I would hope if you contacted Tim, he would honor the old order...

Marc

[iim7V7IM7]

Sure can...

I am not sure how much headroom Henry has put into the Tweed channel. The volume control not only controls the volume but adjusts the breakup point. For Highest volume mid rich tones, the amp might work best with the Blackface pre-amp with the 6-position mode selector in position 6 (Tweed). I think the Tweed preamp adds the touch sensitivity of the simple 5E3 circuit.

I still also own a 5E3 that I can compare it to (Lil' Dawg D-Lux w/25w Weber 12A150) before I sell it. I am not expecting the new amp for about 1-1/2 to 2 months.

If you can please tell me how does the tweed side sounds with an archtop, when you have it. Thanks!

[jorgemg1984]

No hurry, just curious - redplate amps have all the features I need...

[monkmiles]

Sure can...

I am not sure how much headroom Henry has put into the Tweed channel. The volume control not only controls the volume but adjusts the breakup point. For Highest volume mid rich tones, the amp might work best with the Blackface pre-amp with the 6-position mode selector in position 6 (Tweed). I think the Tweed preamp adds the touch sensitivity of the simple 5E3 circuit.

I still also own a 5E3 that I can compare it to (Lil' Dawg D-Lux w/25w Weber 12A150) before I sell it. I am not expecting the new amp for about 1-1/2 to 2 months.

Tasty amps man! I've been eyeing the Lil dawg amps for a while and have been wanting a 5e3 type amp in my stable.

[yebdox]

Rick at Vintage Sound offers a "tweed" style tone stack as an option in his two channel amps. I've never owned a decent tweed amp, but it's an interesting change from the blackface tone stack and allows me to get more of that Grant Green or early Wes tone. I don't use it all that much. I think this is a pretty simple mod for most blackface style two channel amps, but I don't know what the resistor values are.... Just FWIW.

[iim7V7IM7]

PM me if you're interested....

A custom 12-watt, Li'l Dawg D-Lux made by Jim Nicholson in 2009. I had Jim make it with a line out and Mercury Magnetics PT/OT set. Peter Mather did a great job making a Tweed cab. I was able to outfit it with NOS 1950s RCA 5Y3, 12AY7, 12AX7 and blackplate 6V6s. I also added Bruce Collins "dual switchable humbucker flub/flatulence reduction mod kit" with a single coil/humbucker switch. I put a Weber 12A150 speaker

Tasty amps man! I've been eyeing the Lil dawg amps for a while and have been wanting a 5e3 type amp in my stable.

[stevedenver]

I have used my Mission 5E3 (ptp tweed deluxe clone ) upgraded mercury tranny and weber blue dog, which I built.
IMHO the speaker makes a huge change, for the better.

Portable, decent jazz tone, not much headroom-not huge volume either, depending if you have drums piano, horns, it likely wont be enough.

I get the most volume and least brown out by using about half volume or slightly more on the amp, and ditto my guitar.

You can jumper the two channels to get a different blend between bright and normal channels-
takes a little experimenting but these are pretty good if you don't need a lot of oomph, and , they have a nice natural cabinet sound even for a 1x12.

I tend to use the bright channel because of rolling off both the amp and guitar and treble loss-seems to reduce bass boom.

[DRS]

I would think a 57RI low powered Twin would have enough headroom for most gigs. A bit pricey, perhaps.

[r_o_b_s_o_n]

I'm fairly new to Jazz... coming from more of a blues & rock background... at the moment my only amp is a 5F1 Champ clone that I built... I'm thinking of building another amp and trying to think about what circuit to build.

I played through a Princeton Reverb reissue and a '68 Deluxe Reverb reissue today in the shop. Those have both been on my radar, but I've also been wanting to add a 5E3 Tweed Deluxe to my lineup... I know the 5E3 is less versatile than either of the blackfaces... but the Deluxe Reverb is $250 (33%) more than the Tweed Deluxe, and the Princeton is $125 (17%) more... not to mention that, I am wanting to build the amp from a kit... rather than buying from the showroom... The Tweed Deluxe would be a much easier build (I've only built the one amp prior)...

So, to cut to the chase... Are tweed amps Jazz friendly? I know that I'm not going to find that modern tone through a tweed... but a Charlie Christian-esque tone would probably be pretty close with a tweed deluxe?

[radiofm74]

Greentone is the tweed expert in the forum, and others are much more knowledgeable than I am in Charlie Christian tones (meaning Jonathan Stout, Christian, ……). I’ll give you my two cents:

- whether and amp sounds good for jazz will depend a lot from the pickups… I use DeArmonds, and one of them (FHC) likes blackfaces much less than tweeds, whereas the Rhythm Chief is happy with both. So: what pickup are you using, and what sound are you after?
- As Jon Stout pointed out, if you’re after a pre-bop vibe, the more archaic the pickup and amp design the better: P-90s with an early 50s tweed design is already great, a CC pickup through a Gibson EH-150 would be just it.
- To your question: I find that a 5F1 champ sounds GLORIOUS for jazz, at its volume. I once tried a reissue “Custom 57” Pro with a reissue DeArmond and was greatly pleased too. A tweed Deluxe cannot but be great (although you’d have no way to cut the bass, and this may lead to problems…). The one question I have is: what volume levels are you after?

Enjoy your quest!

[citizenk74]

I have a wide-panel Deluxe which was restored. It has a field-coil speaker. As to sound, there are a plethora of sounds available. The interactivity of the inputs make it a sweet-spot beast, but the sounds (if they meet your volume envelope requirements) are indeed glorious.