Finished the Express but it's too LOUD!!!

[Normster]

My goodness, how do you guys stand it? I haven't even been able to crank in any gain yet and it's already WAAAY loud. I thought it would break up sooner with 6V6s but even that doesn't help much.

On the bright side, the clean tone is killer and it sustains like a mofo, even at "reasonable" volume. When I bring up the volume just a bit more, it starts getting harmonic feedback that's just gorgeous...and that's still with clean tone!!!

Overall, I'm quite impressed with Ken's layout, design, and especially tone. I got a little sloppy in a few places but overall stayed pretty close to Francesca. Fired up first time (a first for me). Now I just have to get some decent preamp tubes.

[UR12]

Normster

Congrats on the new build! Are you using 6V6s or have you tried it with EL34s. What primary impedance did you go with?

How bout some pics?

[Normster]

I'm just running 6V6s...kinda scared to throw in EL34s.
I used a Hammond 1850G OPT w/6.6k primary. Now I just have to figure out how to wire up the impedance selector. (I just have it wired as 8 ohm right now. I couldn't wait to hear it. lol)

[img:843:453]http://bad-domain/Pics/TWguts.JPG[/img]
[img:611:279]http://bad-domain/Pics/TWfront.JPG[/img]

Not quite as accurate as the builds I've seen on this forum, but it seems to sound pretty good.

[UR12]

Looks pretty acurate to me Actually it looks great!! As long as it sounds good, isn't that what really matters? I did the same thing on the imp switch. I couldn't wait any longer either. You got to try the El34s though. Just so you will really know how loud it will get. Who made the chassis?


Again....That's one sweet build Normster!

[Moose]

My goodness, how do you guys stand it? I haven't even been able to crank in any gain yet and it's already WAAAY loud. I thought it would break up sooner with 6V6s but even that doesn't help much.

I tend to use a MASS unit with mine a lot of the time. It breaks up earlier and is a lot more compressed sounding, which kind of sucks, but if you roll off just a few Db you can get into the breakup character OK. If i cranked it every time I played it, my neighbors would HATE me. It's most fun when you are in a big room where you can just let it go, though!

[keithrick]

I'm just running 6V6s...kinda scared to throw in EL34s.

Normster,

Great amp! I am glad you like it! Yeah, it's loud though... I just went from EL34's to 6V6's not much difference. I am putting EL34's back in FWIW, to me the amp had more character.

Which tone caps did you use in your build? Mallory's? I used the Mallory 150's and am starting to think that they are lacking in tonal complexity.

Can you put up a clip? I have tried but my house seems to rattle and shake when I get this amp in the sweet spot!

[Normster]

Thanks, Dana. That was a Komboking chassis that was originally slated to go in a Pignose G60VR. I pulled it out of mothballs and it just happened to be the same size as an Express.

Moose, I'm going to bring the amp to a buddy's house and give that a shot. He has an attenuator AND a Marshall 4x12 so I guess we'll see how it works out.

Don't get me wrong, guys. It's a great amp design, but when you guys said loud I didn't know you meant LOUD!!! Heck, this thing on 9:00 is louder than my Dumble on 12:00![/b]

Keith, the caps are PS series Orange Drops. I'll try to record a clip at my buddy's house. He has a soundproof studio so we can really crank it up. (Plus the Marshall cab.) I did try the EL34s but kinda like the 6V6s better. As you said, it really doesn't seem to break up much sooner, but the 6V6s have a nice complex upper mid that was lacking in the EL34s. I'll try them again with the Marshall cab though.

[Allynmey]

Nice looking amp Normster! I'm sure it sounds killer. 4X12 is really the way to go with it

Allynmey

[Mark]

Dear Normster

Good stuff!

When I saw your post and you said the amp was too loud, I thought to myself, yeah I think he's done it!

Nice amp Normster, how does it compare to a Dumble in tone?

I always get put off building a Dumble as there are so many boards to build and the relays etc. The Express is such a simple yet effective amp.

[908ssp]

I run mine with Richter Attenuator from Motherloadusa.com. I have owned a half dozen different attenuators and this one is the best sounding.

No I won't photograph the guts so don't ask. They are a small struggling company in England and they have come up with something good they deserve to make some money off it.

[Normster]

Mark,

The Dumble is a very tame amp that gets its OD from the preamp. It's nearly impossible to drive the power amp into clipping. It also has a bit of hair or fuzz on the notes that seems to soften them up a bit. I also think there's a bit more harmonic complexity in the upper mids. Of course, my Dumble is based on an early '70's design so the later "HRM" amps may be a bit more wild. I'm also starving the first gain stage a bit which seems to add a lot of compression.

The Express, in comparison, is a wild man! Not only is it louder and punchier than the Dumble, but it always seems to be on the verge of going out of control. It truly has that "notes jumping off the fretboard" quality. I don't think I've ever played a more articulate amp. Based on what I've read in this forum, I may have to tame it just a bit more to stave off oscillations at higher volumes. (Only seems to happen with the 6V6s, not the EL34s.) Actually, now that I think about it, I probably just need to switch to the 4 Ohm tap when using the 6V6s. Doh!

[Normster]

Allynmey, I'll find out pretty soon about the Marshall 4x12.

908ssp, I'm not sure what kind of attenuator my friend has, but I'm sure it's not a Richter. Maybe a Weber Mass? I guess I should just stop whining and find a loud gig somewhere. LOL