Winfield Thomas Amps 5E3 Head

This is a 5E3 Tweed Deluxe type amp (April 2003). It has 2 internally jumpered channels. Controls are Vol 1, Vol 2, and tone. If you want a simple, straightforward amp with a great overdrive tone, this is it. It is kind of a one-trick pony, but it's the trick I was looking for. With the 6L6 power tubes/solid state rectifier option, it has plenty of power to gig with.

I use a semi-hollowbody with P-90's. It sounds awesome! Sounds more like a Marshall than a later model Fender. It comes with 6V6's and a 5y3 rectifier, and I also went with the option of 6L6's and a solid state rectifier. I prefer the 6L6's. I think they give better clarity, and a little more clean headroom. The normal channel is dead quiet. The bright channel is a little noisier. I emailed Winnie and he sent me a few lower value caps to try on the bright channel volume pot. I subbed a 250 pf cap for the original 470 pf cap, and the bright channel is now just a little noisy, but nothing out of the ordinary for a tube amp, and unnoticeable when playing. If you want a sparkly clean amp, it's not the one for you. If you want a quiet bedroom amp, it's not that either. I had a Peavey Delta Blues, and used pedals for solos, and always got buried. No more pedals for me now. Back off on guitar volume for clean(ish) rhythm, and turn it up for solos with great tone and tons of sustain. It is very loud through a 2-12 cab (with the 6L6's). I have done a mid-size gig with it, and had no problem keeping up with the loud drummer. Always loved Neil Young's tone, and if you do, you would love this amp. If you want clean headroom, then you probably don't want a tweed type amp.

I would and have gigged with it without a backup (I do have spare tubes). It seems to be very well made.

Winnie Thomas is great to deal with. I emailed him with a ton of questions before and after ordering, and he was very helpful and accessible. I'm sure in the unlikely event a problem did arise, he would go out of his way to see it resolved.

I've been playing for about 30 years, but didn't get into a band until about 6 years ago. This amp has the sound I always wanted, but didn't know where to find.