Guitar Gear Forum

Hi everyone,

After some doubt which amp I should buy I came to the decision I want to make one on my own. The 5F1 circuit seems perfect for my needs. Simple 5W all tube practice amp. I know there are a lot of DIY kits out there. Since I've already decided which circuit to use, the question remains: Which DIY kit should I build, what are the best kits around?

There are so many options, and I only know few of them. That's why I'm asking you guys for some help. I know Mojotone has decent 5F1 kits but there are plenty of other good suppliers. Aside from this, does anybody here have some experience with a 5F1 kit or a real Fender Champ?

Speaker wise, I am currently thinking of a Jensen P8R, P10R or P12R (Alnico). As Jensen was commonly used in a lot of Fender amps back in the late 50s and 60s. Even in some early 60s Fender Champs if I'm not mistaken..?
My second question is: What difference will a 10" or 12" speaker make over a stock 8"? (Volume, headroom, bass, ...) And if I were the pick a 10" or 12" - which are only sold as a 8Ohm and 16Ohm and the 5F1 circuit was designed to drive an 8" 4Ohm - what OT does the job best at driving an 8 or 16Ohm for a 5F1 circuit. Are there any other factors I have to take into account when changing speaker Ohms?

I would really like to pick the 8", just as the original and install it in the original Tweed cabinet. But if a 10" or 12" really makes so much difference in fullness and bass and doesn't give the amp way more headroom and volume, I might consider putting a 10" or 12" in a 5E3 cabinet.

Note:
The Kit has to ship to Europe (Belgium)
The cabinet has to look like an original Tweed Champ, no black tolex for me (the Mojo is a good example)

Thank you in advance!

I have not idea on the kits - but I would 100% go for a 12" speaker.
so many more options - and the sound is fuller - etc......

I have a 12" Celestion Blue in my 5 watt combo - and it kills.
NOTICEABLY better than the greenback it replaced.
louder - which give you more clean headroom at any given volume.
chimier when clean
still crunches up awesomely.


also make sure you go for good transformers - will open up the sound more, more 3-D if you will, more clarity.
Many people say the Mercury Magnetics stuff is overrated - but they made a big difference in my amp
(hand-wired, slightly modified, AX84 high octane circuit)
check out this link for instructions to build your own without a kit.
(I bought mine - I didn't built it myself)

mamberg wrote:I have not idea on the kits - but I would 100% go for a 12" speaker.
so many more options - and the sound is fuller - etc......

I have a 12" Celestion Blue in my 5 watt combo - and it kills.
NOTICEABLY better than the greenback it replaced.
louder - which give you more clean headroom at any given volume.
chimier when clean
still crunches up awesomely.


also make sure you go for good transformers - will open up the sound more, more 3-D if you will, more clarity.
Many people say the Mercury Magnetics stuff is overrated - but they made a big difference in my amp
(hand-wired, slightly modified, AX84 high octane circuit)
check out this link for instructions to build your own without a kit.
(I bought mine - I didn't built it myself)

Well I rather don't want it to be louder or have more headroom, because that's the purpose of this amp. Overdrive it on "low" volume. But the thing that frightens me is the lack of low end with an 8"..

EDIT: Anybody an idea what speaker Fender put in their champs? (1960-..) I guess an 8" Jensen but I don't know what type.