Forum The Amp Garage

I made some changes to this amp quite a while back and forgot to post updated info here. Before: PXL_20251025_144711095.jpg Summary of my changes: All shielded cable replaced with NOS Columbia Flexlife cable. Not exactly correct...but looks closer to the part. V1 and V2 cathode resistors have been changed to NOS Mepco 1.54K MF7c. V3 1M grid leak resistors are now NOS Mepco MF7c. Plate resistors are now 47.5k and 51.1K NOS Mepco MF7c. Balance trimmer removed. NTE resistor in the V2b level circuit is now a piher. FET Volume trimmer now an NOS CTS thumb wheel. I think that is everything. Also rolled tubes more, especially for the PI. Amp sounds great and while not drastically different, I do think it is "clearer" now. Still more raw than a Classic or Skyline. This amp more than the others begs for you to actively adjust guitar volume and tone pots while playing. In the future if I ever get my hands on 100K or close MF7 or MF6 Mepcos, that would be my final change. PXL_20251029_010144884.jpg PXL_20251029_010241947.jpg PXL_20251029_010208608.jpg -Dan

That would certainly take it in the right direction. It’d be interesting to hear from someone who has built a Tweedle to the spec published here on TAG. Hey Martin, I built one 10 years ago or so (I think it was a Triode Kit!) , I remember it being a great sounding amp, but basically just a tighter, more aggressive amp than it was the day before when it was a 5e3. But I don't remember it sounding like a superlead like the one Joe is playing :) But it does sound killer. Sounds about right based on reports by others. Nonetheless, Kirk Fletcher has one, or at least was playing one a couple weeks ago. I'm going to guess the pedal on his amp is verb, he's not a gain pedal kinda guy. He works the guitar volume big time . But I could be wrong. All those blues guys stick a verb pedal on top of their amp if it's a tweed. https://youtu.be/nZaLswPW1VY?si=dVrb7e_mFgELXMRT&t=96 about 1:30 in. That's just a cell phone at a live show so to me is a more realistic demo. Nice sounds. Humbuckers again, like JB, so feeding it something different from what it was designed for. I happened to pick up a 5e3 build a local guy built, w/ Heyboers, 350V plates, jupiter caps, jensen alnico, and it's one of the best sounding 5E3s I've ever heard. Dead stock, and I have a 50's one in now I just finished. I mean, it sounds great, but not as great as my $800 kit amp. The new Fenders do sound really good too, but $2700?? Damn. I'm convinced you can build a great sounding amp if you just get the voltages right

My decision is to punt, lol. I ordered a KBPC5012FP and some Keystone 1563 turrets from Mouser and will re-evaluate the way forward once I have everything in front of me (to include the original block) and have thought about it more. As for the other bits; I have a .68 mustard and NOS Ero MKT1813 .022/400v on hand to replace the obvious cap changes. I know the Ero isn’t “correct”, but I think it’s an appropriate sub for now. Heard back from Marstran a few days ago and just waiting for my invoice from Brian; and working on some resistors from our man in Spain. Meanwhile, more cleaning and “putting back to normal”. Still thinking about trying 32/32uf on the pre…

Hey everyone that’s messaged so far. Was out of the country for work and just got back. Catching up on messages today and should be getting back to everything. Thanks for the interest.

Stock MM 5e3 power transformers produce 400VDC+ , so that's likely what's going on here (looking at the website description) . They likely had some tweedle dee stickers printed up

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Dan, here are two photos of two amps which, in my opinion, give a similar impression regarding the overall cleanliness and the shine of some of the solder joints as some of the pictures of this OD-50WX on eBay. But perhaps that's just my personal impression:

As far as I can recall right now, the serial number is one between ODRS #0013 and ODRS #0019. If you're interested, you can find some comments from Howard Dumble's European distributor at the time regarding this ODRS at the two links below: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCjHNyMOguZ/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DCjNOPROGIw/

What does the pull trim function do?

What serial number is that? I'm not an expert on dating them or who's amp was who's. I see the extra light on the front panel, but I don't know who's it was.

Joe B says the original Tweedle Dee’s he had come into contact with were “a bit gainy” for his taste, so yea maybe. Could be some circuit mods and/or a different speaker. Then there’s the other two-thirds of the equation, the guitar and the player,,, Tweedle Dee plans here always show a 12AX7 first stage, maybe they've dialed that back to the 12AY7? 12AX7 through and through. The website in now life. Interestingly it comes with a ground switch.

That would certainly take it in the right direction. It’d be interesting to hear from someone who has built a Tweedle to the spec published here on TAG. Hey Martin, I built one 10 years ago or so (I think it was a Triode Kit!) , I remember it being a great sounding amp, but basically just a tighter, more aggressive amp than it was the day before when it was a 5e3. But I don't remember it sounding like a superlead like the one Joe is playing But it does sound killer. Nonetheless, Kirk Fletcher has one, or at least was playing one a couple weeks ago. I'm going to guess the pedal on his amp is verb, he's not a gain pedal kinda guy. He works the guitar volume big time . But I could be wrong. All those blues guys stick a verb pedal on top of their amp if its a tweed. https://youtu.be/nZaLswPW1VY?si=dVrb7e_mFgELXMRT&t=96 about 1:30 in. That's just a cell phone at a live show so to me is a more realistic demo. I happened to pick up a 5e3 build a local guy built, w/ Heyboers, 350V plates, jupiter caps, jensen alnico, and it's one of the best sounding 5E3s I've ever heard. Dead stock, and I have a 50's one in now I just finished. I mean, it sounds great, but not as great as my $800 kit amp. The new Fenders do sound really good too, but $2700?? Damn.