5e3s in 2023...

xchrisv

I realise I'm a stuck record but the Lazy J J10LC is my favourite amplifier of all time and the only amp I own. I've had mine for six years now (after previously owning, reviewing or demoing almost everything else) and I've gigged and recorded with it hundreds of times, everywhere from tiny pubs to large outdoor festival stages and commercial studios. Plug into input one on the bright channel, turn the tone up almost full and set the volume between 3-4 depending on the guitar – it's just magic, with clean to mean under your fingers. The reverb voicing is gorgeous too, it really enhances the core tone and I never turn it off. The only drive pedal I use with mine is a Klon or Klone for those occasions when I need a little bit extra. Probably the best gear purchase I've ever made. Here it is in action (the guitar wasn't bad either): https://youtu.be/HlUm0Up42eI?si=Izt_5_gxvyp8dR-P 

ArchtopDave

Rift for me. I had mine made in a TV style cabinet. It's my main Amp.

If you ever get the chance to play through a Rift Vibro '63, try it. The Anysley Lister videos, that he did for Rift, used the Amp that I now own, which used to belong to Chris (Mr.Rift himself).

RaymondLin

Lazy J here too, Vac, Trem and Reverb.

mo6020

chrisv said:

I realise I'm a stuck record but the Lazy J J10LC is my favourite amplifier of all time and the only amp I own. I've had mine for six years now (after previously owning, reviewing or demoing almost everything else) and I've gigged and recorded with it hundreds of times, everywhere from tiny pubs to large outdoor festival stages and commercial studios. Plug into input one on the bright channel, turn the tone up almost full and set the volume between 3-4 depending on the guitar – it's just magic, with clean to mean under your fingers. The reverb voicing is gorgeous too, it really enhances the core tone and I never turn it off. The only drive pedal I use with mine is a Klon or Klone for those occasions when I need a little bit extra. Probably the best gear purchase I've ever made. Here it is in action (the guitar wasn't bad either): https://youtu.be/HlUm0Up42eI?si=Izt_5_gxvyp8dR-P 

Chris it was that video that made me pull the trigger on my J20, and then a month or so later on a Les Paul Special for that P90 goodness. 

I hope you’re proud of yourself. 

Neilybob

Whitecat said:

Neilybob said:

"money no object" a friend has a Lazy J20 which sounds great but it's feckin loud!!

Under "the money slightly an object" heading. I'm in total love with my Ceriatone 5E3 that I grabbed from this very parish. 

Gorgeous... I should have also said, I would prefer if it were not SUPER loud... but it doesn't have to be like Tonemaster-level quiet either, obviously. Have noted the Lazy J already and that's kind of the benchmark at the moment, but I'm liking that Ceriatone!

It does make you wonder how much difference say the Lazy J is to my Ceriatone 5E3? 

I can feel like a comparison coming on soon. Better talk to my mate with the Lazy J20 

xchrisv

mo6020 said:

chrisv said:

I realise I'm a stuck record but the Lazy J J10LC is my favourite amplifier of all time and the only amp I own. I've had mine for six years now (after previously owning, reviewing or demoing almost everything else) and I've gigged and recorded with it hundreds of times, everywhere from tiny pubs to large outdoor festival stages and commercial studios. Plug into input one on the bright channel, turn the tone up almost full and set the volume between 3-4 depending on the guitar – it's just magic, with clean to mean under your fingers. The reverb voicing is gorgeous too, it really enhances the core tone and I never turn it off. The only drive pedal I use with mine is a Klon or Klone for those occasions when I need a little bit extra. Probably the best gear purchase I've ever made. Here it is in action (the guitar wasn't bad either): https://youtu.be/HlUm0Up42eI?si=Izt_5_gxvyp8dR-P 

Chris it was that video that made me pull the trigger on my J20, and then a month or so later on a Les Paul Special for that P90 goodness. 

I hope you’re proud of yourself. 

Haha! If you are happy with your purchases then I am guilt free :-) 

mo6020

chrisv said:

mo6020 said:

chrisv said:

I realise I'm a stuck record but the Lazy J J10LC is my favourite amplifier of all time and the only amp I own. I've had mine for six years now (after previously owning, reviewing or demoing almost everything else) and I've gigged and recorded with it hundreds of times, everywhere from tiny pubs to large outdoor festival stages and commercial studios. Plug into input one on the bright channel, turn the tone up almost full and set the volume between 3-4 depending on the guitar – it's just magic, with clean to mean under your fingers. The reverb voicing is gorgeous too, it really enhances the core tone and I never turn it off. The only drive pedal I use with mine is a Klon or Klone for those occasions when I need a little bit extra. Probably the best gear purchase I've ever made. Here it is in action (the guitar wasn't bad either): https://youtu.be/HlUm0Up42eI?si=Izt_5_gxvyp8dR-P 

Chris it was that video that made me pull the trigger on my J20, and then a month or so later on a Les Paul Special for that P90 goodness. 

I hope you’re proud of yourself. 

Haha! If you are happy with your purchases then I am guilt free :-) 

Yeh, best amp I’ve ever played by a mile, and while I’ve not played as many as you have I’ve played a few. I’ll never sell the J and the Les Paul’s not bad either. 

HAL9000

duotone said:

I’ve been looking at the affordable ‘Award Session 5E3 Extra 22’ there is also a 45 watt model available. 

The website has been down for the last few days but there is a Guitar.com review here (from October 2020) https://guitar.com/reviews/amplifier/review-award-session-5e3-extra-22/ 

When the website is back this should be the correct link: https://award-session.com/5E3-EXTRA_combo.php

I’ve got the 22 Watt version which I’m very happy with.

Whitecat

chrisv said:

I realise I'm a stuck record but the Lazy J J10LC is my favourite amplifier of all time and the only amp I own. I've had mine for six years now (after previously owning, reviewing or demoing almost everything else) and I've gigged and recorded with it hundreds of times, everywhere from tiny pubs to large outdoor festival stages and commercial studios. Plug into input one on the bright channel, turn the tone up almost full and set the volume between 3-4 depending on the guitar – it's just magic, with clean to mean under your fingers. The reverb voicing is gorgeous too, it really enhances the core tone and I never turn it off. The only drive pedal I use with mine is a Klon or Klone for those occasions when I need a little bit extra. Probably the best gear purchase I've ever made. Here it is in action (the guitar wasn't bad either): https://youtu.be/HlUm0Up42eI?si=Izt_5_gxvyp8dR-P 

Classy af. Love it. That amp is definitely very high on the list... need to work out which limb I can do without to help afford it...

Modulus_Amps

@Neilybob ;This is a post from 2019 talking about the same things.

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/166318/10w-20w-tweed-amps-lazy-j-rift/p1

I posted this, the recording was originally done by Poopot of this parish (RIP)

Modulus_Amps said:

https://soundcloud.com/user-96749354/modulus-tweed-deluxe-kit 

Listen to this, one of these is a J20, the other two samples are a Modulus Deluxe kit built by a forum member here, one with 6L6's, one with 6V6's. Most importantly they are all played through the same blue alnico speaker.

Jessie builds a great sounding amp, a big part of it is the speaker and the cabinet mods, but it is out of budget, If I was looking to buy a deluxe amp pre built to a high standard, that complies with current safety standards and will have decent resell value then Rift is a good option.

mo6020

Modulus_Amps said:

@Neilybob ;;This is a post from 2019 talking about the same things.

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/166318/10w-20w-tweed-amps-lazy-j-rift/p1

I posted this, the recording was originally done by Poopot of this parish (RIP)

Modulus_Amps said:

https://soundcloud.com/user-96749354/modulus-tweed-deluxe-kit 

Listen to this, one of these is a J20, the other two samples are a Modulus Deluxe kit built by a forum member here, one with 6L6's, one with 6V6's. Most importantly they are all played through the same blue alnico speaker.

Jessie builds a great sounding amp, a big part of it is the speaker and the cabinet mods, but it is out of budget, If I was looking to buy a deluxe amp pre built to a high standard, that complies with current safety standards and will have decent resell value then Rift is a good option.

All 3 of those sound mega, I think I like the 2nd one the most (sounds like it has a bit more clarity?), but to my ears there's very little difference that couldn't be tweaked out with the tone knob...

Modulus_Amps

mo6020 said:

All 3 of those sound mega, I think I like the 2nd one the most (sounds like it has a bit more clarity?), but to my ears there's very little difference that couldn't be tweaked out with the tone knob...

IIRC the second one was the Modulus kit with 6L6's. Back then we used a bigger OT stock in the kit which was a little less compressed.

I think the point Poopot was trying to make there was its a simple circuit that with the right speaker sounds great.

Getting one with reverb and VAC controls and a brand that ensures great value when selling on is something to consider.

springhead

VAC works very well on a 5E3 circuit. Jessie just uses the standard VVR circuit that Dana Hall first posted years ago. I built my own 5E3 after a spiritual experience with a Gartone and built VVR/VAC power reduction into it. Very handy at gigs to knock the volume back but keep the tone. Mine will be doing two this weekend. 

dazzajl

TheMarlin said:

Vyse and Rift.  Best I’ve ever heard 

From Soho down to Brighton, I must have played them all…

And it’s a Rift. Hands down, no question, by a country mile. I don’t know what pixie dust Chris uses but no one else has it. 

MikeP

That video of the early gold top is a great playing and tone but I'm not mad for the gnarly overdrive you get from p90s.

mattacjones

I've had several 5e3's (including  the tweedyluxe) and also have a Imperial MK2. I reckon tonally the drive channel is pretty close. I've moved on a vyse and a modulus as always felt the tone king had it covered plus it does a lot more.

DougCoda

Lazy J and Victoria for me…I play through a 20112 and its awesome but am seriously considering a J10 when we get some more in, they’re not quite the same to my ears so it’s a tricky choice.
Shameless plug time, we’ll be stocking Victoria amps from November..

Whitecat

DougCoda said:

Lazy J and Victoria for me…I play through a 20112 and its awesome but am seriously considering a J10 when we get some more in, they’re not quite the same to my ears so it’s a tricky choice.
Shameless plug time, we’ll be stocking Victoria amps from November..

Oh that is excellent news…!!

musteatbrain

https://ampguitars.com/product/martamp-tweed-deluxe/

This early MJW is a good amp that’s based off a 5E3

If I remember rightly it’s a tweed deluxe circuit but with a 6L6 power stage.

I had it on loan for a while many years ago. 

It was a great thing but way too loud for the house I had at the time.

I was in amp today and noticed they had it.

It had an old re-reconed 55hz speaker in when I had it which I loved. I think it still has it

pt22

I just realised that Rift Amplification has a 2 day course to build one of these yourself. It’s quite decent value in my eyes.