weber 5G15 vs fender 63 RI

TwangOmatic

Joined: May 16, 2008
Posts: 123

Posted on Jan 20 2009 03:39 PM

So im looking at a used 63 RI for $400 and the weber 5G15 kit for $415 and my first question is are there the same circuit or does the 63 have an extra tube? Also what can you tell me about these units? Is one considered superior for surf?

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badash

Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732

Posted on Jan 20 2009 04:19 PM

The biggest difference is you can point to one of them and say "I made this"

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TwangOmatic

Joined: May 16, 2008
Posts: 123

Posted on Jan 20 2009 05:47 PM

Ya that is appealing. I wish i had the knowledge to design one myself, that would extra cool. I am sort of leaning toward the kit since i can get it in black to match my princeton reverb and i do enjoy building things.

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HBkahuna

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1778
Star, Idaho. Formerly lived in Surf City USA.
United States

Posted on Jan 20 2009 06:04 PM

I recent acquired a 63 reissue with the tube mod. It's every bit was wet & drippy as my vintage 64 tank. The Fender tank is a part of history.

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dave

Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Posts: 109
Center of Michigan

Posted on Jan 20 2009 06:07 PM

My brother and I are building scratch built RU's (he knows what he is doing, I'm learning). We plan on using the best of everything for them.
My question is, should I go with a 2 or 3 spring tank?
What do the surfers prefer?

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zak

Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
1 Link Pin

Posted on Jan 20 2009 06:24 PM

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 21:47:30

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DannySnyder

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11075
Berkeley, CA
United States

Posted on Jan 20 2009 06:49 PM

My experience is the 3 spring is too much. But they're not so expensive, buy both and choose the one you like best. In fact buy several, some work better than others.

—

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

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Rio

Joined: May 22, 2006
Posts: 500
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada

Posted on Jan 20 2009 07:21 PM

I'm the proud owner of a Weber Tore-Vibe 5H15T which I think is the Fender 6G15 reverb circuit, plus a bias-modulating tremolo in one unit, which my friend & tech (Tim from Songbird) was kind enough to build for me.

I also have a re-issue, which has a 6K6 and the cap mod (also by Tim).

The re-issue uses a PCB, while the Webers follow the original circuit, and of course, they're hand-wired...

In terms of sound, Jeff Big Tiki Dude was over last year for the Great Lakes Surf Battle, and we A/B'd the two units in my basement. We both agreed the Weber reverb sounded less harsh and glassier, and preferred it over the Fender re-issue. The Weber sounds great.

In addition to the reverb, the trem or vibrato is sweet, too. Sounds awesome with a Bassman.

I have not plugged in the reissue since.

—

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/rockinrio.delrosa

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/TheHighTides

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/pages/The-Blue-Demons

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SURFmole

Joined: Nov 22, 2007
Posts: 901
Portland, OR
United States

Posted on Jan 21 2009 04:05 AM

I built a 'mostly' Weber RU and it's great...I'm completely happy with it and have no desire whatsoever to get anything different including a vintage Fender tank. It sounds nice and glassy just as Rio said...not harsh or too trebly like I've heard some of the RIs described.

That being said, my Weber is 'mostly' a Weber...by that I mean I went with Weber's chassis, transformers, resistors, board, and that's about it! I built the cabinet from scratch, put a NOS 6K6 and JJ tubes in it, went for a higher quality jewel lamp, fuse holder, switch, semi-boutique caps, Fender knobs, and an Accutronics 2 spring tank (I haven't liked any 3 spring tanks I've heard). By piecing together my own 'kit' I was able to save some considerable money compared to the price of the Weber kit while upgrading key components too! '

Keep in mind that the Weber kits aren't really "paint by number" and you should have some basic electronics skills or knowledge, a decent soldering iron, and the ability to troubleshoot if you run into problems. If you're up to the task at hand I'd highly recommend building one though as I think the Webers have an edge over the Fender RUs in tone.

—

www.apollo4.com

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mad_dog

Joined: Sep 23, 2008
Posts: 349
Montclair, NJ

Posted on Jan 21 2009 09:18 AM

Haven't tried a Weber yet. My '63 RI has a medium delay 3 spring tank in there now. Worlds better IMO. The stock tank was unbearably harsh and metallic. Even with all the mods, the unit was too harsh. Now it isn't.

Not all tanks are the same. I've had other new 2 spring, long delay tanks that were not at all harsh. Perhaps it's a matter of quality control ...

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Rio

Joined: May 22, 2006
Posts: 500
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada

Posted on Jan 21 2009 11:27 AM

We upgraded the caps on mine,... also, I went with BF cosmetics to match my amps, including Fender white barrel knobs, and a Fender footswitch (in my case, controlling both rev & vib)

—

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/rockinrio.delrosa

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/TheHighTides

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/pages/The-Blue-Demons

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TwangOmatic Joined: May 16, 2008 Posts: 123	Posted on Jan 20 2009 03:39 PM So im looking at a used 63 RI for $400 and the weber 5G15 kit for $415 and my first question is are there the same circuit or does the 63 have an extra tube? Also what can you tell me about these units? Is one considered superior for surf? Top
badash Joined: Aug 18, 2006 Posts: 1732	Posted on Jan 20 2009 04:19 PM The biggest difference is you can point to one of them and say "I made this" Top
TwangOmatic Joined: May 16, 2008 Posts: 123	Posted on Jan 20 2009 05:47 PM Ya that is appealing. I wish i had the knowledge to design one myself, that would extra cool. I am sort of leaning toward the kit since i can get it in black to match my princeton reverb and i do enjoy building things. Top
HBkahuna Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 1778 Star, Idaho. Formerly lived in Surf City USA.	Posted on Jan 20 2009 06:04 PM I recent acquired a 63 reissue with the tube mod. It's every bit was wet & drippy as my vintage 64 tank. The Fender tank is a part of history. Top
dave Joined: Nov 10, 2007 Posts: 109 Center of Michigan	Posted on Jan 20 2009 06:07 PM My brother and I are building scratch built RU's (he knows what he is doing, I'm learning). We plan on using the best of everything for them. My question is, should I go with a 2 or 3 spring tank? What do the surfers prefer? Top
zak Joined: Sep 24, 2007 Posts: 2728	Posted on Jan 20 2009 06:24 PM This post has been removed by the author. Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 21:47:30 Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11075 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Jan 20 2009 06:49 PM My experience is the 3 spring is too much. But they're not so expensive, buy both and choose the one you like best. In fact buy several, some work better than others. — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac' Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
Rio Joined: May 22, 2006 Posts: 500 Hamilton, Ontario	Posted on Jan 20 2009 07:21 PM I'm the proud owner of a Weber Tore-Vibe 5H15T which I think is the Fender 6G15 reverb circuit, plus a bias-modulating tremolo in one unit, which my friend & tech (Tim from Songbird) was kind enough to build for me. I also have a re-issue, which has a 6K6 and the cap mod (also by Tim). The re-issue uses a PCB, while the Webers follow the original circuit, and of course, they're hand-wired... In terms of sound, Jeff Big Tiki Dude was over last year for the Great Lakes Surf Battle, and we A/B'd the two units in my basement. We both agreed the Weber reverb sounded less harsh and glassier, and preferred it over the Fender re-issue. The Weber sounds great. In addition to the reverb, the trem or vibrato is sweet, too. Sounds awesome with a Bassman. I have not plugged in the reissue since. — http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/rockinrio.delrosa http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/TheHighTides http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/pages/The-Blue-Demons Top
SURFmole Joined: Nov 22, 2007 Posts: 901 Portland, OR	Posted on Jan 21 2009 04:05 AM I built a 'mostly' Weber RU and it's great...I'm completely happy with it and have no desire whatsoever to get anything different including a vintage Fender tank. It sounds nice and glassy just as Rio said...not harsh or too trebly like I've heard some of the RIs described. That being said, my Weber is 'mostly' a Weber...by that I mean I went with Weber's chassis, transformers, resistors, board, and that's about it! I built the cabinet from scratch, put a NOS 6K6 and JJ tubes in it, went for a higher quality jewel lamp, fuse holder, switch, semi-boutique caps, Fender knobs, and an Accutronics 2 spring tank (I haven't liked any 3 spring tanks I've heard). By piecing together my own 'kit' I was able to save some considerable money compared to the price of the Weber kit while upgrading key components too! ' Keep in mind that the Weber kits aren't really "paint by number" and you should have some basic electronics skills or knowledge, a decent soldering iron, and the ability to troubleshoot if you run into problems. If you're up to the task at hand I'd highly recommend building one though as I think the Webers have an edge over the Fender RUs in tone. — www.apollo4.com Top
mad_dog Joined: Sep 23, 2008 Posts: 349 Montclair, NJ	Posted on Jan 21 2009 09:18 AM Haven't tried a Weber yet. My '63 RI has a medium delay 3 spring tank in there now. Worlds better IMO. The stock tank was unbearably harsh and metallic. Even with all the mods, the unit was too harsh. Now it isn't. Not all tanks are the same. I've had other new 2 spring, long delay tanks that were not at all harsh. Perhaps it's a matter of quality control ... Top
Rio Joined: May 22, 2006 Posts: 500 Hamilton, Ontario	Posted on Jan 21 2009 11:27 AM We upgraded the caps on mine,... also, I went with BF cosmetics to match my amps, including Fender white barrel knobs, and a Fender footswitch (in my case, controlling both rev & vib) — http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/rockinrio.delrosa http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/TheHighTides http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/pages/The-Blue-Demons Top

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weber 5G15 vs fender 63 RI