June 2025: Rondo Demos a New 5E3 With Some Clapton-esque Blues

Speed Shop 5E3 w / Custom 5D3 Cab / B12Q Speaker. Gibson Custom Shop '60RI w / Wizz PAFs. No Pedals. No Processing. Raw Audio.

June 2025: Speed Shop 5E3/5D3 Combo

Very cool combo. The mid-fifties 5D3 wide-panel cab is a little smaller than the late-fifties 5E3 narrow-panel, and also has a different baffle arrangement. 5E3 chassis bolts right in. This one is a Base Combo build with TD58OT and a B12Q speaker. Also has the GT Mod. A little gem.

Tweed Deluxe Speed Shop Base 5E3 Combo

Late May 2025: 1966 Deluxe Reverb

Just in for a tune up. About 99.5% original. Great amp!

Speed Shop Vintage Amp Service.

May 2025: Speed Shop 5E8-a Low-Power Tweed Twin Amp!

Built to 1957 vintage-correct specs, the 2x12, 2x6L6, 40-watt, Speed Shop Low-Power Twin is a great amp. Dual rectifiers and a parallel input scheme make it very unique among the Tweeds. Lots of punch and power, in vintage trim its a cleaner amp with more headroom than its Bandmaster/Super brethren. The pictured example features a heavy relic cabinet, NOS tubes, caps and resistors; vintage Jensen P12Qs reconed by Rondo.

Read more about the Low Power Twin here.

May 2025: RecPro Vintage/Modern Hybrid Caps Now In Stock

Made in the USA, the new RecPro Caps are of a special design, custom made for me (to my specifications) and utilize a rare dielectric material that is particularly good in audio applications. All materials are of highest quality, and vintage appointments are retained where applicable.

Additional values now available covering most Tweed circuits:

.1uF 600v and .1uF 200v
.05uF 600v
.02uF 600v
.01uF 600v
.005uF 600v

More info here.

April 2025 - Quick Video: Jumpered Deluxe and Les Paul - Ambient Room

Brief example of running an external cab outside the room and having fun playing the natural ambience. Beats using a reverb pedal. Les Paul straight into a Speed Shop Base Combo 5E3 with a B12Q speaker in the remote cab. Normal channel high input jumpered over to the bright channel.

March 2025: New Studio Track, 'Cop Show'

Cop Show is the result of watching too many Kojak episodes!
(Also thinking about Dave Grusin and Robben Ford a bit. Leslie West got in here, too.)
I (Rondo) wrote, produced, programmed, and play a Gibson 1960 Les Paul Custom Shop Reissue with Wizz pickups, straight into a Speed Shop 5E3 'Eldo' revision Tweed Deluxe. Speaker is a 1961 Jensen P12Q. There's also a little '57 Strat Reissue on rhythm (and a few SRV type licks in the breakdown) through the same amp setup. I also play a '92 Jazz Bass direct through a RecPro Audio Valve DI into a Revolution Recording Redd.47 Preamp. All guitars recorded with a Shure SM57 Unidyne III through a RecPro Audio VAC Preamp (a true UA 610 clone). Altec 438A on Strats and Purple MC76 catching the peaks on all guitars. Some delay and verb on lead guitar. Otherwise, minimal processing. Credits: Graham Hawthorne brings the funk on drums and channels Mark Craney at the fade. Dan Kaneyuki of The Sunset Horns plays a great sax solo in the breakdown. Nick DiDia did a clean and mean killer mix (and master)! Many thanks, gentlemen!

Late December 2024: Power Champ 2x8

A Power Princeton perhaps? Custom Power Champ with 2x8" speakers mounted in a premium Princeton cab. Small, nice and light, 10 watts. Rocks hard with great cleans... sounds like a little Plexi.

December 2024 - Chain (Instrumental) by Rondo (2024)

How many guitars is enough? One.... more! New instrumental track by Rondo featuring a lot of guitars and a lot of video editing. Electrics straight into a new Speed Shop 5E3-P2P Combo with B12Q speaker. Minimal Robben Ford style delay and reverb on the fade solo. All instruments, Rondo. Drums, Jackson Sommerville. Mastered by Nick DiDia for NAD Mastering. Happy Holidays!

October 2024 - Quick Speed Shop Power Champ Demo

Power Champ Demo by Rondo with Les Paul R0 and Stock Strat - Straight In - Camera Audio.

October 2024: Hurricane Milton Update

Many thanks to everyone who wrote in with concerns

We are doing fine and are very fortunate to have not received any damage from the storm
Unfortunately, others were not so lucky
Please consider a donation to American Red Cross 
Thanks again to all

Rondo

September 2024 - Quick Speed Shop 5F4 Super Demo - Strat - Clean then Hot

Quick Super demo using (Canon) camera audio (exaggerates compression). Rondo plays the white [stock] Strat straight-in. Settings: Clean Set - Amp controls about 6. Pickups - Middle, Bridge, Neck. Overdrive Set - Amp controls at 10 Vol & Treble, 2 Bass. Pickups - Neck, Bridge

September 2024: 1957 5E3 Service

1957 5E3 on the bench. Chassis came in for a three-prong power cord and general evaluation. Amp had a cap-job (electrolytics only) some time ago (by an unknown party) and one cap was installed backwards. Also, a '69 Blackface Deluxe OT had been subbed in (probably a few decades ago). Amp is all original otherwise and those old yellow Astrons are still holding on! Amp sounds absolutely fantastic.

August 2024: Gerald Weber

Just noticed that Gerald Weber of Kendrick Amplifiers passed away earlier this year. Gerald was a legendary figure in the amp world; one of the first boutique builders and an author/writer. His amps are renown for their tone and Gerald will be remembered for them, as well as for being a mentor/guru to many aspiring amp builders. Gerald was also a really nice guy. I never met Gerald but did correspond with him many times over the years. He would always write me right back whenever I'd reach out to him about a technical issue I needed help with. A very kind person who was always quick to share his knowledge. Thank you, and 'Ciao,' Gerald.

The Weber family is asking for donations to be made in Gerald's honor, to preserve his legacy and continue his dream of Kendrick Amplifiers remaining groundbreaking and iconic: Gerald John Weber Jr, Founder of Kendrick Amplifiers

August 2024: 5F4 Super NOS Relic

Just completed and headed for burn-in and auditioning. 5F4 Tweed Super NOS Relic, built like a 'swiss watch' by Rondo, with custom A10Q speakers also coned in-house by Rondo. Features relic cab, custom iron, NOS tube set, RecPro/NOS caps, resistors, etc., mild tuning.

July 2024: Power Champ!

The amp on the left is a Speed Shop 5F1 Tweed Champ clone, build using new and NOS components; basically a time capsule. The one on the right is a new Speed Shop Power Champ, slightly modded and outfitted with 5881 power. The stock Champ is a lot of fun to play, rather quiet (about 5 watts), and somewhat restrained in attitude. The Power Champ, on the other hand, can rip your face off! It's noticeably louder (about 10 watts) and overdrives as good (or better!) than a 5E3, and the clean tones are fantastic as well. Which is better? The stock version delivers the classic Tweed experience, while the revamped version provides response more akin to a JTM or Plexi. The choice is yours and price is the same for either. More info here. More on the Power Champ: This is not your grandpappy's Champ! After months of circuit tweaking and speaker shootouts, the Speed Shop Power Champ is here. Featuring 5881 power, "contour" control, vintage-size cab and 8" speaker. About 10 watts of Rock awaits - cleans are great, too. Really fun with all guitars and no pedals are necessary. This is a serious amplifier.

June 2024: Speaker Research Continues

Speaker reconing, custom coils, cones, etc., A/B testing, Vintage Jensens...

May 2024 - 5E3 "Eldo" Combo, Fingerstyle!

Rondo plays fingerstyle on a Gibson R0 though a new Speed Shop 5E3-Eldo combo. B12 speaker, RecPro capacitors, TD58 OT, NOS tubes, etc. Smooth transients and clipping with musical harmonic distortion.

May 2024 - 5E3 "Eldo" Revision, B12Q Speaker, Quick Demo

Quick demo of the new "Eldo" revision Speed Shop 5E3 Combo. This latest iteration represents a further refinement of the Studio-Series tuning that results in a 5E3 that works and sounds like a vintage 5E3... only better. Lightly re-arranging the stock circuit DNA (along with a couple of subtle adjustments) provides a slightly smoother transient response, while the B12Q speaker shifts the response toward the midrange (much like a vintage P12R). Great setup with a sweet spot way down on the volume dial - around "3" in this demo... with a stock Tele. Cleanish, spanky response here, yet with enough compressed "get up and go" to provide fast and smooth tracking. (Audio captures the sound in the room very faithfully.)

April 2024 - 5F4 Super, Quick Demo

Quick demo of the overdrive response of a new Speed Shop 5F4 Super by Rondo. 2022 Gibson Custom Shop 1960 Les Paul Reissue (R0). Amp is largely stock, but with some tone circuit mods to modernize the response and increase the tonal range across different guitars/pickups. Easy/liquid leads and Who's Next tight/focused rhythms. Dead quiet. About 40 watts output. Two vintage-spec A10Q AlNiCos smooth out the overdriven tone and are slightly less efficient (than modern ceramics) making the amp good-and-loud - but never earsplitting. All NOS tubes including 5881s and ST 5U4. (EL34s also sound great.) Mercury power and custom output transformer. Hand built using only NOS sockets and resistors, NOS and RecPro yellow capacitors, and the best of new production pots and switchgear. Only 38 pounds! Demo features guitar straight into the amp - no effects, pedals, or processing of the signal. Settings: normal channel, about 80% volume, 40% bass, 90% treble, presence off. I did my best to capture the tone in the room, but it's even better in person - a really fun amp!

February 2024: Just Baked!

Real deal, vintage-spec TD58OT output transformers - made by Rondo. These are just out of the oven after several hours of varnish bake out.

February 2024: Custom Build!

Speed Shop 5F6A Bassman mounted in a custom Low Power Twin 2x12 relic cabinet. 2x A12Qs, RPA caps, and NOS tubes (5881s) round out the spec. Really fun to play - lots of mids, great punch, and a nice round, articulate frequency response. Sounds great and the speakers haven't even broken in yet!

January 2024: Happy New Year!

It's a good time for me to say 'thanks' to everyone for all the orders and support - past and present. At the moment I'm very busy and backed up quite a bit, so lead times are currently about 20 weeks for combo builds. But as usual, I am working alone and building everything personally, using the best components I can source, have manufactured, and/or make myself. I really like what I do and feel very fortunate to look forward to another great year of building amplifiers; as well as continued research and experimenting - and playing guitar! Thanks again, everyone, I really appreciate your patronage.

P2P Head Switcher!

I often find it necessary/important to compare two similar amps.

But, plugging into one amp then into the other, back-and-forth, is always problematic; as it takes a few seconds to do and it's sometimes hard to play the same exact way in each instance. Switching in and out of standby on each amp is also a hassle. Plus, it's really hard to discern critical differences in sound-and-feel when there is even a small lapse between sample performances.

Beyond that, the speakers in either amp may sound (or be) different from one another, plus your orientation to the two cabinets and the room itself can often falsely color the results, flattering one amp at the expense of the other.

So, to facilitate instant switching while using the same speaker and cab, I put together this simple passive switcher. It a/b's two amp outs into either a single speaker / or dummy load. On the other side, it will switch a guitar into either of the two amp inputs while shorting the other. Hitting both footswitches in one stomp is surprisingly easy.

To keep things quiet, I set it up to float all the grounds except that the enclosure gets grounded/shielded by way of the GTR input jack which acquires its ground from whatever amp input it's switched into. As such, the noise floor is no different then when plugging straight into an amp directly - as there is zero ground-loop hum.

All passive mechanical circuit keeps the signal paths completely straight-through with no added resistances and/or capacitances (that might otherwise confuse tonal response) and completely hand-wired (using actual wire!) point-to-point - no PC boards or traces here.

Using it for the first time, I quickly realized what a luxury it is to have this switcher; as there is no better test method (to really evaluate the differences between two amps) than to play real-time while instantly switching between them.

Special Build: Speed Shop "NOS" Deluxe

This is about as close as you can get to a 'new' 1958 5E3 Deluxe. Built by Rondo around an original-cone vintage Jensen P12R, with a '58 spec output transformer wound by Rondo, RecPro vintage 'Astron' capacitors, new Speed Shop '57 style chassis, Mercury PT... and of course, NOS tubes and other period bits - all housed in a twenty-year-old cab built by late guru Larry Rogers. Sounds like '58! 

October 2023 - New Speaker: B12Q!

After months of research and testing, reverse-engineering and prototype-building, Rondo is happy to announce the B12Q speaker. The B12Q is a new AlNiCo P12Q variant designed by Rondo and built by Weber Speakers for RecPro Audio and the Speed Shop. The B12Q will be available October 1, 2023. Read more about it here: B12Q 12" AlNiCo

September 2023 - Clean 5E3 Demo by Rondo!

New track from Rondo "Cruiser". Larry Carlton Nightfly tones are featured. Two guitars, one lead and one rhythm. Setup: '68 Gibson ES-335 straight into a Speed Shop 5E3. B12Q prototype speaker. Recording chain: Shure Unidyne III into a RecPro Audio VAC tube preamp. No EQ, compression or effects. (Some reverb added to the guitar bus.)

Story goes, that for Donald Fagen's Nightfly album, Larry Carlton showed up for the sessions without his Tweed Deluxe (which he previously used on Steely Dan's Royal Scam). What amp he did initially bring is unknown, but Fagen insisted Larry get his Deluxe. He did; and that is what Larry used for all his beautiful 335 playing on Donald's amazing album.

When used for clean Blues/Jazz work, the Deluxe has a big sonic footprint and sits in the mix without any tweaking. The tone is clear, delicate, and very expressive; yet very dynamic. Very authoritative as well - with harder pick attack.

Another great example why the 5E3 is such a legendary amp!

Download the track here: cruiser.mp3

Want to play along? The amp settings are at the end of the video and you can download just the the rhythm track here: cruiser - rhythm track.mp3

Latest Build: Speed Shop "NOS" Champ

Essentially, a brand-new, 63 year-old 5F1-Champ. Built by Rondo, using NOS and vintage parts. Relic cab. 

May 2023 - P2P Studio Track Demo - "Domino" by Rondo

Rondo explores the phrygian dominant mode in this studio demo of a 5E3-P2P head through a new protoype speaker. Recording chain: Shure Unidyne III into a RecPro Audio VAC tube preamp.

April 2023: RecPro Audio L-Pad

From just taking the edge off to complete bedroom levels of attenuation, the RecPro L-Pad is a great sounding and versatile tool. Built by Rondo.

March 2023 - New P2P Studio Track Demo

Rondo demos a new 5E3-P2P Heavy Relic Build in the Studio with a vintage 335

January 2023: Update, and a Speed Shop 2x10 Bassman on the Bench

It's been a very busy several months with many amps shipping overseas and domestically - thanks everyone for the opportunity to build these amps for you. Otherwise, Speed Shop Bassmans are currently being assembled on the bench and I thought I should update the combo offering with a recent photo. Below is a Speed Shop Tweed Bassman 5F6a Dark Custom Combo featuring 2x A10Q AlNiCo speakers. Like the Speed Shop Super the Bassman will accept 5881, EL34, 6L6GC and more. Rondo's is currently running KT66s. Contact Rondo for more info.

December 2022 - Season's Greetings

Rondo takes a shot at Christmas Time Is Here by Vince Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson from A Charlie Brown Christmas

October 2022: Hurricane Ian Update

Many thanks to everyone who wrote in with concerns

We are doing fine and were very fortunate to have received only superficial damage from the storm
However our cleanup continues
Amp production will resume 10/17, but orders are being taken
Meanwhile, speaker and capacitor orders are being processed

Please consider a donation to the Florida Disaster Fund

Thanks again to all

Rondo

Update July 2022: Output Transformers!

I am now personally assembling and finishing my TD-58-OT output transformers in-house, with windings supplied by a premier US manufacturer. I have also started CNC winding my own coils, and within the next few months all TD-58-OT output transformers will be 100% manufactured by me, Rondo, here in the Speed Shop. Manufacturing these transformers myself ensures that each unit is made with the correct materials to the correct vintage (1958) specs, and with consistently great performance that I can tune. This was a major R&D undertaking that I have been working on for over a year, and I'm very proud to have achieved this difficult goal. I'm pretty excited about it, as making my own transformers is a milestone in my work and represents a bit of a new era - and another step in the evolution of Speed Shop R&D.

TD-58-OT output transformers are only available with Speed Shop amps and are not sold separately.

April 2022 - Speed Shop 5E3 Base Combo / RecPro Capacitors / A10Q Speaker

Rondo demos a new 5E3 Base Combo with RecPro Tweed Era Capacitors & 10" A10Q Speaker. Stock 2021 Gibson SG Junior straight in.

March 2022 - Speed Shop 5F6a Bassman

Rondo demos a new 5F6a Bassman. EL34s. Stock Strat straight in.

March 2022 - Speed Shop 5F1 Champ

Rondo demos a new 5F1 Champ [heavy relic] build. LSL T-Bone straight in.

December 2021 - Quick Speed Shop Bassman Demo (Camera Audio)

Rondo demos the new Speed Shop 5F6a Tweed Bassman. EL34 Power through 2xA10Q speakers. JTM45 Tune. Stock '57 AVRI Strat straight in.

January 2022 - New Developments

Been a very busy fall at the Speed Shop with lots of work and some very cool new things happening.

RecPro Tweed-era capacitors are in stock and now available. After [too] much research and patent searches, there is finally a range of signal capacitors made available to builders that are assembled using the correct materials delivering the correct tone and response. Like all else at the Speed Shop, the reason it is created is because it does not already exist.

In other cool news, on the bench is the new Speed Shop 5F6a Bassman which is available in a 2x10 or 4x10 (A10Q) configuration with multi power-tube compatibility. This amp really rocks, and dimed with a pair of Genalex Gold Lion KT66 you're in serious early Van Halen territory. Beautiful cleans as well. Built by Rondo (JTM tuning) with all the best NOS stuff and Speed Shop know-how, this new flagship 5F6a Bassman amp is now available and built to order. The Speed Shop 5F6a Bassman is a very rare amp series offered in limited numbers.

Please note: Lead times for all amp builds is currently 15 weeks.

April 2021 - Introducing the RecPro Audio Vintage American Channel 'VAC' Mic Preamp

Rondo demos his new Vintage American Channel (VAC) microphone preamplifier. A boutique and faithful recreation of a vintage 1960 tube preamp console module used on countless hit recordings throughout the 1960s.

Late August 2020 - New Video Demo: Rondo plays the Speed Shop 5F4 Tweed Super w/5881s & Stock Tele

Cranked 5F4 Tweed Super Amp by Rondo and the Speed Shop. NOS tube set featured with NOS Tung-Sol 5881 power, RCA 5U4 rectifier, 12AX7 and 12AY7 preamp tubes. 2x A10Q Speed Shop AlNiCo speakers. Amp is mildly tuned by Rondo for best tone and performance. All NOS vintage components and vintage output transformer.

RecPro Audio customers span the globe, hailing from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Venezuela, and beyond.

Custom hardwood 5E3 head with heavy-duty (but light-weight) dove-tail construction / hardware and TY Yellow finish with lacquer top coat.

May/June 2020: New! Speed Shop 5F4 Tweed Super / 5E7 Bandmaster

Fantastic Speed Shop Tweed Super 5F4 Heavy Relic Combo featuring 2 brand new A10Q AlNiCo speakers. This amp sounds amazing and is fitted with all the best componentry from Rondo's stash. NOS everything (where applicable) and the very best new production parts everywhere else. NOS tube set (featuring micro-matched vintage Tung-Sol 5881s available). The star of the retro show is a very rare vintage output transformer that adds the extra swagger. This new Speed Shop amp was in development for several months and is essentially a stock - but carefully tuned and dialed-in - 5F4 Super. Much more versatile than vintage/stock while retaining the great Tweed cleans, but with a JTM45-style overdrive that was always in its DNA waiting to be set free. Big, bold, and in-your-face 5F4 Tweed Super / 5E7 Tweed Bandmaster tone. You can truly get lost for hours playing this Super with every guitar, pickup selection and guitar/amp settings. The Speed Shop Super will accept 5881, EL34, 6L6GC and more. Currently running EL34s @ 42 watts RMS. One-off custom build prototype (featured in the demo videos and photo below) is available. Also taking new orders. Contact Rondo for more info.

June 2020: RIP Paul "Tonka" Chapman, June 9, 1954 - June 9, 2020

Paul Chapman died yesterday - it was his 66th birthday. Very sad. He was a really nice guy and a truly great player who will remain an inspiration to many. I was in his band and lived with him (and Cheryl) over the summer/fall of '84 - between his stints with UFO and Waysted. Lots of laughs and fun and work with him. I'm proud to have known and played with Paul. We never knew him as "Tonka," so... Ta, Chappy!

Lukas Nelson - Touring with his Speed Shop P2P Combo

Lukas toured in 2019 with his Speed Shop P2P Combo opening for Zac Brown Band (The Owl Tour) and The Rolling Stones, as well as a part of Neil Young's live band (including Farm Aid). He also headed out on The Last Waltz tour (with Warren Haynes). Check out Lukas (with his '56 Les Paul Jr. and Speed Shop P2P Combo) and Promise of the Real covering CSN’s “Carry On” Live in Howard Stern’s Studio in the video below. Great player! Great band!

Rondo Talks About the Tweed Deluxe Speed Shop

Rondo of RecPro Audio's Tweed Deluxe Speed Shop discusses his philosophy regarding building the finest Fender Tweed-Era Deluxe amplifiers and introduces his new 1958 Tweed Deluxe output transformer reproduction and A12Q AlNiCo vintage Jensen speaker recreation.

Tweed Deluxe Volume and Tone Control Demo

Rondo of the Tweed Deluxe Speed Shop demonstrates how the controls on a 5E3 Tweed Deluxe operate and interact.

NEWS!

SM57TL Mic on Snare - Recording Basic Tracks at Ocean Way Recording, Nashville. Nice Room!