Fender Tweed Deluxe
Encyclopedia
The Fender Tweed Deluxe guitar amplifier
was produced by Fender during the 1950s from approximately 1955 to 1960. Model 5B3/5C3, one of the earliest versions of the Deluxe, was produced between 1948 and 1952. It is often referred to as having a TV Front appearance because the wide panels around the grill were like the television sets of the 1950s. This was true also of the similar Fender Princeton
student and studio amp introduced in 1946 and upgraded in 1948.
The Tweed Deluxe was the most popular of the Tweed amplifiers made by Fender.
It is a relatively small amplifier, having one twelve inch speaker. It has four inputs and two channels. Each channel has a volume control. Both channels share a tone control. The inputs and controls are mounted at the top of the amplifier. It is referred to as the tweed deluxe because of its covering - a brown tweed material.
At the time, Leo Fender
produced amplifiers with the intention of having the amplifier stay clean even at high volumes. The Tweed Deluxe is not known for producing a clean tone at high volumes, and as such, was regarded as being a beginner's amplifier. Ironically, the saturated tone this amplifier produces at higher volumes is the reason why it is one of the more famous amplifiers Fender ever produced. It is part of the signature tone for many musicians, a few notable examples being Neil Young
, Larry Carlton
and Don Felder
.
Unusually for a Fender amplifier the Deluxe (models 5D3 and 5E3) has both a feedback-less and cathode biased output stage (a distinctive combination it shares with the Vox AC30
). Most push-pull Fenders use feedback tapped from the output transformer's speaker winding to enable more headroom before power stage distortion starts, and in the quest for more volume use the more efficient negative voltage biasing (which also runs the power valves at a cooler temperature). These aspects of the circuit make a key contribution to the complex, wild and ragged sound of an overdriven 5E3 Deluxe, especially in comparison to other Fender amplifiers. The earlier 5C3 model did use feedback although it too was cathode biased.
The amplifier has a 5Y3
rectifier, 2 6V6GT
power tubes operating in push/pull mode, and a 12AY7 and a 12AX7
in the preamp. The output is rated at 15 watts.
The amplifier's simple circuitry has made it a favorite of home builders. Fender later reissued the amplifier as the '57 Deluxe.
Guitar amplifier
A guitar amplifier is an electronic amplifier designed to make the signal of an electric or acoustic guitar louder so that it will produce sound through a loudspeaker...
was produced by Fender during the 1950s from approximately 1955 to 1960. Model 5B3/5C3, one of the earliest versions of the Deluxe, was produced between 1948 and 1952. It is often referred to as having a TV Front appearance because the wide panels around the grill were like the television sets of the 1950s. This was true also of the similar Fender Princeton
Fender Princeton
The Fender Princeton was a guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was introduced in 1947 and discontinued in 1979. After Fender introduced the Champ Amp in 1948, the Princeton occupied the next to the bottom spot in the Fender line...
student and studio amp introduced in 1946 and upgraded in 1948.
The Tweed Deluxe was the most popular of the Tweed amplifiers made by Fender.
It is a relatively small amplifier, having one twelve inch speaker. It has four inputs and two channels. Each channel has a volume control. Both channels share a tone control. The inputs and controls are mounted at the top of the amplifier. It is referred to as the tweed deluxe because of its covering - a brown tweed material.
At the time, Leo Fender
Leo Fender
Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender was an American inventor who founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, or "Fender" for short...
produced amplifiers with the intention of having the amplifier stay clean even at high volumes. The Tweed Deluxe is not known for producing a clean tone at high volumes, and as such, was regarded as being a beginner's amplifier. Ironically, the saturated tone this amplifier produces at higher volumes is the reason why it is one of the more famous amplifiers Fender ever produced. It is part of the signature tone for many musicians, a few notable examples being Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, Larry Carlton
Larry Carlton
Larry Carlton is an American jazz, smooth jazz, jazz fusion, pop, and rock guitarist and singer. He has divided his recording time between solo recordings and session appearances with various well-known bands...
and Don Felder
Don Felder
Donald William "Don" Felder is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as lead guitarist for the Eagles from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1994 to 2001.-Early life and influences:...
.
Unusually for a Fender amplifier the Deluxe (models 5D3 and 5E3) has both a feedback-less and cathode biased output stage (a distinctive combination it shares with the Vox AC30
Vox AC30
The Vox AC30 is a guitar amplifier manufactured by Vox and known for its "jangly" high-end sound. First introduced in 1958 due to the growing demand for higher-wattage amplifiers, it became an iconic amplifier for British musicians and soon for others....
). Most push-pull Fenders use feedback tapped from the output transformer's speaker winding to enable more headroom before power stage distortion starts, and in the quest for more volume use the more efficient negative voltage biasing (which also runs the power valves at a cooler temperature). These aspects of the circuit make a key contribution to the complex, wild and ragged sound of an overdriven 5E3 Deluxe, especially in comparison to other Fender amplifiers. The earlier 5C3 model did use feedback although it too was cathode biased.
The amplifier has a 5Y3
5Y3
The 5Y3 is a medium-power directly heated rectifier vacuum tube introduced by RCA in 1935. It has found wide use in tube radios and early guitar amplifiers It is virtually identical, electrically, to the four-pin type 80 tube, but with an octal base.The success of the 80 and 5Y3 led to the...
rectifier, 2 6V6GT
6V6
The 6V6 is a beam-power tetrode, introduced by Radio Corporation of America RCA United States in late 1937, and still in use in niche applications.Similar to its predecessor the 6L6, the 6V6 was far more widely used...
power tubes operating in push/pull mode, and a 12AY7 and a 12AX7
12AX7
12AX7 is a miniature dual triode vacuum tube with high voltage gain. It was developed around 1946 by RCA engineers in Harrison, New Jersey, under developmental number A-4522. It was released for public sale under the 12AX7 identifier on September 15, 1947. The 12AX7 was originally intended as...
in the preamp. The output is rated at 15 watts.
The amplifier's simple circuitry has made it a favorite of home builders. Fender later reissued the amplifier as the '57 Deluxe.
External links
- 57 Deluxe in Action - 57 Deluxe with Stratocaster and Les Paul
- Tweed Deluxe Research - RecProAudio
- Tweed Deluxe Speed Shop - Tweed Deluxe Speed Shop
- 1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe - ar American Vintage Guitar
- Fender Tweed Deluxe - Ampedia