be easy on a first time builder

[exhausted]

well, for the sake of posting something for consumption, here are some pictures of a 5E3 i built.

not perfect execution by any means but it's quiet, hasn't made any ungodly noises yet. stacked up favourable against the current fender reissue. i prefer the ceramic speaker i used. seems looser and bassier. i didn't open up the reissue so i don't really know what they've put into it. my normal channel is darker than fender but the brights are similar. the kit's tubes are higher quality.

the only issue really is mechanical vibration. but i can't tell what's coming from the amp and what's coming from the ducts in my basement.:D

some highlights in thumbnail form.

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v117/128/27/668580992/s668580992_451386_8359.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v132/128/27/668580992/s668580992_452848_8837.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v117/128/27/668580992/s668580992_456056_3443.jpg

the whole painful ordeal.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21345&l=7a1dd&id=668580992


probably the last amp i'll get to build for a while. i'll very likely build a couple of tweed champs for my kids in the future though. maybe an 18watter some day.

[JofZ]

Looks great and for a first time I would be very happy. I played with a kit and completed it and it was not pretty. It really opened my eyes to the amount of work that goes into a hand wired product. Its one thing to make it sound good, its another to sound and look good.
You should build another as it gets easier!

[sliding-tom]

Congrats! As I am scared sh...less of lethal voltages I don't think I'll ever attempt this but I sure wish I could.:rolleyes:

[exhausted]

yeah, the voltages make me nervous as well. doing the initial testing (measuring a couple big voltages) is sort of nerve-wracking even though i know how to do it.

i was lucky, it fired up trouble-free first time apart from one forgotten step. but it was away from the infamous filter caps so i didn't have to go back in after i'd applied the juice for the first time.

[sliding-tom]

Oh yeah - those scary filter caps!!!!:eek:

[VacuumVoodoo]

I'll say you did an excellent job, doesn't look like a first timers at all :)