Board Layouts...

[v00d00blues79]

I made these board layouts from the Mark Abbot Express pre-amp layout in the files section and the pictures of Francesca for the PS/Bias board. Please check them out and let me know if you see any problems with them. they are pdf's that are sized to print to scale.


Thanks,

Andy

[ampdoc1]

Looks very nice! Not to be critical, but I was comparing your drawings vs the ones I posted on the Kelly '90 thread, and see that you've left off one of the connecting posts at the "bottom" of your preamp layout. There are B3, B4, B5, and the bias wires hooked up here. On the other hand you've laid this out correctly on the .265" C2C vs my layout which was on .1" C2C. And the pics I posted do not print at the actual size.

David Hicks

[v00d00blues79]

I can add the extra tag to the pre board for the bias connection. I did the drawings in AutoCAD and printed them to .pdf using a 1:1 scale.

[v00d00blues79]

Here is the updated version. I also forgot to mention that the holes are sized for 1/32" turrets and the mounting holes are 1/16" <-- can be drilled for whatever size mounting hardware you use, but its only spaced 1/4" inch from the edges so beware.

[v00d00blues79]

also, i forgot that the PS layout is for the Express only... I will have one drawn up for the Liverpool in the next day or so.

Thanks,

Andy

[martins3325]

Thats great stuff! Thanks! Another newbie question here.. how many feet of hook-up wire --generous estimate-- does it take to totally complete an express build? And what gauge wire do you recommend -- i was gunna go with 18 gauge--? Thanks again. Martin

[Robert]

Martins, that one is easy enough for me to answer:

how many feet of hook-up wire --generous estimate-- does it take to totally complete an express build? And what gauge wire do you recommend -- i was gunna go with 18 gauge--?.

I bought a 50ft spool of 18 gauge solid core wire for my Express. I got alittle
worried about having enough, but made it. You will build another amp anyway so just get more. I liked the solid core because I could bend the wire anyway I wanted and it retained its shape as well as staying in place. It is plenty heavy for all aspects of the amp but did make it a little tight in some of the eyelets. In my second amp, I avoided putting more than 3 wires in the same eyelet. BTW, you will be in for some grief here for using only one color. For some reason that was frowned on.

[martins3325]

I bought a 50ft spool of 18 gauge solid core wire for my Express. I got alittle
worried about having enough, but made it.

Thanks, Good thing I asked I wouldnt of thought that much would be needed. Nothing sucks more than running out of something when your in the middle of a project.

BTW, you will be in for some grief here for using only one color. For some reason that was frowned on.

Thats funny ..I saw you took a little crap for the red wire..lol..unfortunately the wire I want to use only comes in white. (FIM - Solid Core UP-OCC Mono-Crystal Copper Hook-up Wire). I kinda went all out on parts on this while still trying to stay true to Francesca ie. Rikens, Teflon Sockets, PEC pots, Mallory TC's, PVC & 418P caps. So I want to use the best copper wire out there. Guess i'll catch heat for being all white..lol. My philosiphy is if I go the extra mile on parts it can only help not hurt..I figure it kinda like building a Strat --an area I have more expertise in really--.. Yes you could use Basswood and it may sound fine, but if you spend a few bucks more use a nice piece of light weight Swamp Ash your chances of it sounding GREAT are much better...who knows maybe im wrong and my Ruby Wreck will sound like crap..lol..But compared to the cash I dropped on the Komet KF50LTD I had, a few bucks more for the highest quality parts seems small in comparison.

[ampdoc1]

I don't think you'll get any crap about using the best parts you can find,...the regulars here are all about building for our own pleasure and the experience of playing on a TW. I've built two amps into old Fender chassis with stock xfmrs, and with numerous modifications. To everyone that's played them, they are still the top of the heap as compared to ALMOST anyting out there. Do it your own way and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

David Hicks

[Funkalicousgroove]

I think 18 awg may be overkill, JMHO though. 22 AWG PVC is rated at 10A. you may have trouble stuffing all those big leads into your eyelets. Even though it's not true to a real Wreck, I really like using 20 awg 1Kvolt Teflon, it's silver coated oxygen free copper, and it stays where you put it!

[Mark]

Dear Martins 3325

I don't know what the D.I.Y. amp will turn out like or how much difference improved componenets will make. Do you have anything to compare the amp against once it is completed?

What was the whole story with the Komet KF50LTD?

Have you received the amp yet?

Did you get to try it out prior to buying it?

(Speaker cab, guitars?)

What was the purchase experience?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm always curious.

[martins3325]

I don't know what the D.I.Y. amp will turn out like or how much difference improved componenets will make. Do you have anything to compare the amp against once it is completed?

Well I dont have a Trainwreck but I do have a Komet Constellation to measure against. The "Connie" is the most wreck-like amp ive owned or played so it will be interesting. BTW I loved your Express clip and you woulda been a top choice of mine to final assemble my build..but I see you are in Australia. Oh well..

Have you received the amp yet?

Yes I already recieved it..was a very nice amp..more below

Did you get to try it out prior to buying it?

Nope I didnt unfortunately

(Speaker cab, guitars?)

I have a custom Swanson cab..basically a Marshall 2061CX but a hair bigger and 14in deep like a 4x12. It has G12H Ann's. I also just picked up a rather rare Blues Pearl 4x12 and loaded it with Scumbag SA12M-75's --Weber Pre-Rola Clones-- my Guitars are a rare '54RI Brazilian board Flametop LP, a '62 National Glenwood, and a '72 Strat I still need to put together.

What was the purchase experience?

The purchase was smooth..they are only sold through ultrasound in NYC..was very professional. Both Hogy and Mike at Komet are awesome and Ive had extensive conversations with both of them. Hogy is working on my '64 AC30 head and I bet its going to kill when I get it back. I would have no problem buying anything Komet ..really to me comparing the Ruby chassis I got to my Connie is no contest..the Komet is soo much nicer IMO.

What was the whole story with the Komet KF50LTD?

Ok heres the deal ..all this is only My Opinion though. Komet is the best built amp ive EVER seen. Thier chassis is To Die for and their workmanship is top drawer! The KF50 was gorgeous. I had serial number #2. It was probably the nicest head cab of the run of the 1st 10. --Pic at bottom--. To be honest though I really was expecting more of an Express amp..ya know where a note turns into Harmonic Feedback almost immediately and will even go into harmonic feedback even playing clean. I live in a godforsaken apartment --about to be remedied--where I cant really crank it. So I took it to a fellow gearheads house who also had a KF50LTD --imagine that-- and a Constellation, and a K60!! Wow he has some nice stuff. So we cranked and compared all 3. I found the Constellation easily had the most gain and instant feedback...though slightly more grainy than the KF50 or K60. The KF50LTD and K60 sounded pretty damn close to me really. I felt the main difference was the KF50 had a nicer tighter bass. Probably because a SS rectifier in the KF50. I guess the best way to put it is I viewed the KF50 as a blend of a K60 and a real good Plexi. VERY nice amp. Absolutely killed with a Strat. But to my ears it was not a HUGE departure from the K60 I like gain and harmonic feedback..and the Connie has that in spades. Anyway..I had sold the Connie to help pay for the KF50 but I sent it parcel post..big mistake..it took 2 weeks to get to the guy and after the 1st week he got anxious and asked for his money back. I gave his money back . So the deal fell through and when it finally showed up at his door he returned it to me. So after some thought and in a little financial pinch with the Connie deal falling through I just decided that the KF50 was not $2200 superior to my Constellation, and a $5000 amp is just way too much a luxury for me at this point. And I figured with a Two-Rock Express kit and for the 1st time there being REALLY good pics of exactly how an Express was made--Francesca-- I could for under $1500 have an amp with the best parts money can buy which is much closer to an Express.. if done right. So the guy with the other KF50 I mentioned liked my head cab much better than his..plus mine being #2 was pretty cool. So he sold his and bought mine for what I paid. Actually I ate the shipping i paid but no big deal. That is my KF50 story. Here is what it looked like along with my guitar/cab set you asked about..very pretty head cab.

[Omar]

martins3325
Wow, thanks for all the great info on the Komet KF50. That cabinet is beautiful. Did you get a chance to peek inside the KF50 and compare the circuit to the K60? Is it much different?

Where did you get you PVC caps? I have an order in with Allied but they are backordered on the .0022uF/600V PVC.

Omar

[martins3325]

Thanks Omar, glad you found that helpful.
Yes I peeked..for $5K i wanted to see what was inside..lol..They look very similar to me really..though im not an amp guru so keep that in mind. I did notice the KF50 uses a couple orange drops where the K60 uses all M150's and a couple different resistors..layout appears very similar though.
I ordered 418Ps from Torres for the PVC's I couldnt find --I hear 418's were a popular choice of Kens for other TWs-- If the PVCs .022 and .0022 turn up i'll order them and go with those.

[BigGator]

is that a very rare Klon Centaur in that picture?
"-)