September 2026: New 5E3-P2P "Standard" Combo

Created for players seeking a more practical route to the Speed Shop's "flagship" 5E3-P2P Combo - and built by Rondo to the same exacting standards - the new P2P "Standard" Combo model is comprised of a full-on 5E3-P2P chassis, housed in a standard 5E3 lacquered cabinet, and powered by a new production tube set.

Tube Set is your choice of 6L6GC or 6V6GT power tubes (with appropriate rectifier). (Stock 6V6 power is 15 watts, 6L6GC power is 22 watts.)

Speaker is your choice of A12Q, B12Q, or C12NS.

The 5E3-P2P "Standard" Combo provides all of the performance of the "flagship" Speed Shop 5E3-P2Ps - but at a more modest price-point and quicker turnaround time.

More info here.

July 2026: New Music EPs from Rondo

I have recently made over a dozen of my studio recordings available in high-definition, 48k/32bit, lossless, stereo-mixes.

Published across two EPs, each collection is available for download at $9.95.

Rondo EP1 - 2020-2023 Tracks were all recorded using my 1968 Gibson 335, while Rondo EP2 - 2024-2026 Tracks all feature my 2022 Custom Shop R0 Les Paul.

All tracks were recorded using my 5E3 Tweed Deluxe amplifiers.

I hope that through making these high-definition tracks available for purchase, it will help to fund the ongoing research and development of my amplifier work here; while providing a way for folks (appreciative of my work) to participate in the Speed Shop 'project' through sponsorship.

If interested, please visit my EP page here for more information and/or to order.

In return, for your kind patronage, you will receive some cool tracks highlighting the performance of the Tweed Deluxe Speed Shop 5E3.

Thank you all in advance for your support!

Tweed Deluxe Speed Shop 5E3 studio-track demo with new C12NS speaker and 6L6GC power tubes. Amp is dimed. Y'ing into both channels (passive). 1960 LP RI, straight in. No pedals. Track: "Bobbie Remington" written and recorded by Rondo, July 2026. (Ask me about using 6L6GC tubes, please.)

July 2026: New Track From Eric Garcia, Featuring Clean 5E3 Tones w/Vintage Guitars!

Terrific new studio track from Eric Garcia, "One Thing To Know." Eric is using a Speed Shop 5E3 with A12Q speaker. The track features wonderful up-front and clean amp/guitar tones (with very dry processing). The guitars Eric played on the track are a '58 Strat (left rhythm) '62 335 (right rhythm and solo) and '63 Melody Maker (fills). Great playing, Eric; and thanks so much for sharing the song! One Thing To Know.MP3

June 2026: Salience of The Lams!

Fresh batch of TD58OT output transformers after pre-bake, old-school varnish, and final bake-out; about 10 hours total. Baking comes after several hours of winding and assembly beforehand. So, lots of work involved in making these beauties. (These hand-made output transformers are standard with my P2P builds.) Technically, I wind them very consistently, but continue [occasionally] experimenting with various lamination material. Here, running sweeps.

R&D continues...

Late May 2026: Vintage Jensen C12N Recones in Process

While waiting on test coils for my new C12NS speaker (due out in July 2026) I (Rondo) am occasionally reconing vintage Jensen C12N speakers to the C12NS spec. (The vintage Jensen speakers pictured here have been pre-sold to Speed Shop clients.)

Same As It Ever Was:

Thankfully, the option stills exists to ground ourselves in the fundamentals.

No Artificial Intelligence (AI), no computers, no phones, no converters, no integrated circuits, no transistors, no software, no impulse responses, no modeling, no simulations . . .

No digital anything.

Just amp and guitar, straight in - and the infinite analog road ahead.