Just when you think you are losing interest in your amp....

[sliberty]

....you change some tubes and WHAM!

My Express has been sounding a little harsh to my ears. A touch of bees buzzing. A bit overly overdriven. I thought I just really liked my Rocket so much that I had lost my taste for the Express.

Then, on a whim, I changed V1 and V3. V1 had been an Ei 12AX7, and V3 had been a JJ 12AX7. I usually prefer 12AT7's in the PI, so that was my first swap - a nice Brimar 12AT7 (wish I had a few more of those). Then I also put in a GE 12AT7 into V1. Much of the harshness is gone, and the amp still sings. Still very touch sensative. Still thick and quite different from the Rocket. But quite the improvement.

I still don't favor the amp much beyond 12 o'clock. I think its sweet spot is from 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock. But it is so loud on those settings, who cares.

So, if you are starting to sour on one of your amps, try some tube swaps. You just might renew the love.

[Colossal]

Hey Steve, good to hear of your renewed affair. What kind of musical style are you using your Express for?

[sliberty]

Classic rock mostly. Or as a coworker likes to call it, Jurassic Rock.

[dorrisant]

Old tube tvs and various other flea market finds have yielded many great old american made preamp tubes for me. Usually, just one tube from these jewels turns out to be worth more than the price paid.

I scored a pair of CBS 12BZ7s from ebay a while back... Tried them out in V1 of my Rockster... Wow! $8 shipped and worth 8 times the price if you ask me or the others that have tried them. I don't know who made them... I can't remember who printed the number in a ring around the top, facing up... Maybe you guys know.

Jurassic rock sounds great though, don't it? Keep rockin' Steve!

Tony

[M Fowler]

I set up a future meet with an old tech I know he said sure I'll give up my tubes, coupling caps and resistors.

I know he has old tech tools as well so might bring the whole truck load home but he wants to wait for spring thaw and it's only just starting winter Oh well something to look forward to.

Mark

[sliberty]

Is it typical of an Express, beyond 12 or 1 o'clock on the volume pot, to get so overdriven and so compressed as to be somewhat uninspiring? I am being kind really, I don't generally like it at all above those settings (although the 12AT7's allow me to push a tiny bit further). What are your thoughts?

I had kept this amp pretty traditional until now, but I think I may install my favorite Express mod - the split plate load resistor on V2a. I learned of this mod here some time ago, from Paul Ruby if I am remembering correctly. I installed it in my other Express - the Uniwreck, and love what it does to the tone. it dials back the agression, but still allows the amp to be thick / harmonically rich / etc.

[passfan]

I've got some Brimars but they're made in China, same tubes?

[selloutrr]

Just throwing this out for other readers. if you use any out board effect pedals and run them on batteries. You might a fresh battery is all you need.