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!