Custom Tweed Harvard 5F10

Custom Tweed Harvard 5F10 - REPLICA

THIS NOT GENUINE FENDER - IT IS AN EXACT COPY. This amp was made exactly to the same specs and circuit (sounds the same) as the vintage Tweed Harvard. Fender unfortunately doesn’t make this amp anymore - but here is a chance to own a professionally made copy with the highest quality modern parts in a handwired configuration that is only a fraction of what a genuine vintage one would cost.

The Fender Harvard (5F10) tone is best described as highly touch-sensitive, harmonically rich, and tightly focused vintage sound. It bridges the sonic gap between the smaller, low-headroom Champ/Princeton models and the larger, bass-heavy Deluxe.

Because it utilizes a fixed-bias circuit layout and 0.02 mfd coupling capacitors, it possesses a unique sonic fingerprint that sets it apart from other Tweed-era amplifiers.

Clear and Crisp Cleans

* Tight Bass: Unlike the famously boomy Tweed Deluxe, the Harvard keeps low frequencies tightly controlled and punchy.

* Crisp Transient Edge: At lower volumes, the amp delivers highly responsive, full-bodied clean tones. It features a pleasant high-frequency clarity that highlights the unique voice of individual guitars.

* Midrange Focus: It pushes warm, thick midrange frequencies that help a guitar cut through a band mix effortlessly without sounding harsh.

Overdrive and Compression

* Creamy Overdrive: When pushed past midway on the volume dial, the amp rolls into a smooth, singing saturation. It transitions from a "crisp snarl" into an even, rockabilly-style bark.

* Dynamic Compression: The combination of its 10-watt dual-6V6 output section and a Weber 10A100T speaker is perfect for this amp. Here’s the Weber website description of the 10A100-T speaker: For tweed amps with AlNiCo 10’s. To replace late 50’s Chicago Jensen P10R and Oxford AlNiCo 10’s

10″, 7oz AlNiCo plug magnet, 15 watt, 1″ voice coil, seamed, ribbed cone.

Bright, articulate, airy, later breakup, aggressive, compressed at high volume.

* Touch Sensitivity: The breakout of overdrive is deeply interactive. You can clean up your tone simply by softening your pick attack or rolling back your guitar's volume knob.

The Sophisticated Tone Control

* Dual Treble Boost: The single tone knob does not function like a basic treble-cut circuit. Midway is the neutral baseline. Turning the dial in either direction engages different internal capacitors to flavor the treble boost, adding extra crunch as you advance it.

Historical Context

This specific sonic footprint made the Tweed Harvard a legendary studio secret weapon. Most notably, guitarist Steve Cropper used the Harvard to cut his iconic, biting soul licks on numerous classic Booker T. & the M.G.'s and Stax Records tracks.

The nos 6V6 power tubes installed are extremely rare and the best 6V6s ever made. Here’s the description from Watford Valves UK website:

Simply The Best

The Brimar 6V6GTY was specially designed for long life in military application and was generally supplied under the Nato contract number CV511. These are one of the best balanced and fattest sounding 6V6 valves I have ever come across.

The valve come in the original government boxes with the production dates from the early 1970s.The brown base is made from micanol due to its low loss. The grey or dark glass on the 6V6GTY is RF shielding which was sprayed on inside the glass. So the GTY was generally specified for Military and communication applications. These valves will simply blow away all modern day 6V6GT types and are amongst the best sound new old stock valves made. 

In clean mode the Brimar displayed all the sounds from the Strat, Tele and Les Paul in all the settings perfectly. The bass response was tight, deep and well extended. Midrange was detailed and silky smooth with excellent harmonic content .The treble was also very smooth with no spikes even when switching to finger style playing.

In overdriven mode the Brimar really did set the pace as when the volume and gain were cranked up you got no fizz or flabbiness, no early compression to suck all the tone out of your sound and they supplied great rock guitar sounds.

Power chords has a nice punchy attack with solo lines having a beautiful rich sustain, especially the sweet child riff. In our last tests this valve had killer woman tone, the best of any 6V6GT tested. In this department this valve won the day again and if you like this sound you cannot better this valve.

The Brimar 6V6GTY displays a sweet smooth break up similar to the Mullard EL34. Remember Mullard did not produce a 6V6GT anywhere near as goods at this which is why Brimar had the Nato Contract for this type.

Also including 5 extra Brimar preamp 6TA6 tubes (also rare) for the unique tube required for this circuit