Tweed Deluxe 5E3 or Tweed Champ 5F1 12" speaker

**SamBooka** · 08-04-2014, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by Greentone

Princeton Reverb and 5e3Deluxe have the same power output.

true, but you don't want to Princeton reverb to scream like a deluxe

**Greentone** · 08-04-2014, 10:42 AM

...and it won't

**pablonavarroB** · 08-04-2014, 03:55 PM

As I see the impedance of the speaker does play a important role in the final sound, innit?
I don't want the amp strictly for home use, even though it's main use would be there.

**Greentone** · 08-04-2014, 06:56 PM

Bucky and John Pizzarelli recorded, gigged, and played around the house with Bucky's tweed Vibrolux for 50 years. It made the Sinatra tour repeatedly. At 14 watts, it is an amazing amp. It is a Deluxe with fixed bias power tubes and vibrato...and a 10" Jensen speaker. I have played one regularly and can say I would lose my 5e3 in favor of it. My honest recommendation is have someone build you a 5f11. Best overall amp on the planet.

**pablonavarroB** · 08-05-2014, 06:36 PM

A Vibrolux to play jazz? Or you mean the overall tone?

**Greentone** · 08-05-2014, 06:58 PM

Remember...we are talking about the 5f11..._tweed_ Vibrolux. It was Bucky Pizzarelli's amp. I favor it over ANY other Fender amp for jazz. I have played and built most all of them. I never use the tremolo. The 5f11 narrowly edges out the tone of the Harvard, even. Must be the 12ax7.

**mad dog** · 09-04-2014, 01:42 PM

I should chime in on this one. Just traded two weeks ago for a near new Fender EC Tremolux. I knew little about it, was thinking it'd pretty much be tweed deluxe like. Plugged in, not really. Very good sound in stock form ... comes with all 12ax7 preamp, and a ceramic Celestion 12-65 speaker. It's fixed bias, at 12 watts output. Very different volume taper than the tweed deluxe. More headroom for longer on the volume dial, a more gradual increase in volume as you turn the knob. Might be more like the tweed vibrolux tonally. Sounds so good with a strat. Just as good with all manner of P-90s, and excellent with my old 335. I thought for sure a 12ay7 would be needed in V1. Haven't tried that yet, as it sounds so good with a 12ax7 there

Got mine all tricked out with some great old tubes, and it sounds even better. The half power attenuator is a brilliant touch. The 12 watts are louder than I expected. More important, it has a large sound for such a small amp, none of that boxy feeling I sometimes get from small tweeds. A more efficient ceramic speaker would add a bit more volume if needed. Haven't played it out yet, so I don't know how it will do live. But in the music room, quite beautiful tone.
MD