It's alive!! It's alive!!
The Cobraluxe 5e3 head...
These projects just seem to take forever!
Of course it's modded, just a little...
Split cathodes on V1 with different voicings, switchable fixed/cathode bias w/test points & bias pot on the back panel, Brimar power, Bendix 5y3 recto, screen resistors, & BIG IRON!
Cleen to scream!!
I guess for the truly traditional, it's not really a 5e3 anymore, but I'm cool with it!
It's sounding really good, although one of the speakers in the 2x12 (pic below) is new, & needs to be pounded for awhile to break in. It's a little hard, strident, & spikey right now. I'm on it! The mic channel (split cathode) is basically what the inst channel is on the original, & voiced so it's still very traditional & vintage sounding. The other split cathode channel is voiced more modern and british, & here's where the clean to scream thing with the guitar volume really happens, a huge plus! It's tighter & punchier, with a little more headroom, not so smeared and flabby in the lows, & it's got better range on the volume dials. In fixed bias mode it tightens up even more, sorta like a BF Deluxe, without the mid scoop & the farty lows. It's more dynamic & touch sensitive. The cleans seem better than a stock 5e3, & easier to dial in. The grindy OD tones are totally cool, with a sort of harder revved up british flavor. It's kinda like a southern rockabilly redneck that lives in Ipswich, & likes to have tea every day at the same time!