Ceriatone Forum

I've been considering getting another amp from Nik. I bought an 18W EF86 last year, and I'm looking to suppliment it with a clean "Fender" style amp.

What I'm looking for is an amp that has a lot of clean headroom, but low volume. I know that sounds a little contradictory, but I basically only need an amp that's loud enough to record, or mic up for playing live, which is not much volume at all.

The 5E3 is reputed to have very little clean headroom, but still has a 20 watt power section, which I feel should be pretty loud, should it not?

Would it be possible to use very low gain pre amp tubes (12ay7 - 12at7 etc - any suggestions?) to maximise the clean headroom, at the expense of volume and compression, which I don't really need?

Would this result in an amp that sounded clean, and not too loud? In my experience, using clean Fender amps with 6L6 power tubes sound awesome, but the volume is ridiculous. I'm basically looking for that same tone, at 1/10th the volume. What are my options here?

The 5E3 has very little clean headroom indeed... power rating of around 12W.. and mine is quite less louder than a 18W (although my 5E3 has a less efficient speaker - Jensen P12Q- than the one I use with the 18W - Celestion G12H30-, which is also important in that equation).

Since you´re looking for a low volume amp with lots of clean headroom, how about a Blackface champ? ;)

Hi Bendo

I have just got a 5E3 from Nik.  The best cleans I have been getting from the amp are more middy, thick and jazzy than fender spanky - really nice though.   There is not much clean headroom at all - gets pretty crunchy at about 2 with p-90s. IMO this amp is all about the breakup.   I have been using celestions though while I am waiting for a Weber alnico.  That may have something to do with the sounds I have been getting.
I agree with Alpedra - perhaps a BF vibro-champ would suit the bill better?  There is a really nice sound clip by Tim Dutton on the main Ceriatone page.

same here, Made a 5E3 with my gretsch (with dynasonic pups) it stay's clean till just about 2.
It loud enough for recording but for playing live you will need to mike it up. ( if you want clean)
It's a really nice clean tone though.  8)
I'm also thinking on buying a vibrochamp.
Or maybe something custom?  ;)

Thanks for the replies.

Why is it that a Champ is cleaner than a 5E3, when it only has a SE 6V6 power section, and a 12AX7 front end tube?

Wouldn't this mean it should be the opposite?

bendo,

I guess it's more clean because it's a different circuit.
probably a lame answer, sorry for that.  :-[
But consider that the Blackface champ came later than the tweed 5E3.
In those years they wanted to design an amp that could play CLEAN.
you know, distortion is such an evil thing.  ;D
since the preamp has higher gain I think the differences are in the poweramp. (biasing?)

Anybody can tell in english what the technical reason is?

Thanks

Tweed design is definitely not for you if you are after Fender clean tone.
Hell, I would say 5E3 Tweed is closer to Marshall sound than Fendery BF.
Stock 5E3 can be moded to have more headroom and less Tweedy mid thing going on but still this is not a BF Fender.


Maybe you can ask Nik if he's willing to build something like this...
http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/princeton_bf.html (http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/princeton_bf.html)
or
go for a BF Champ and ask Nik to make it with 6L6 for a little more power. Or make it  switchable (bias) like mine, to go from 6V6 to 6L6 at will.

...just thinking here
 ;)

i was looking for pretty much the same thing too.. a fendery clean sound that wouldnt be too loud to not be able to get overdrive out of at a reasonable volume.. went for the bf champ.. its been nearly 3 weeks since i placed my order, so it's gonna be done in a few more days.. cant wait.. i know the low wattage rating of the champ may put you off, as i have my doubts too.. guess we'll find out once i get my hands on one!