It will likely take some getting used to the lack of subtlety that a high gain Wreck delivers. They are quick tempered and unforgiving with a tendency to hiss at you if you aren't playing something.
Enjoy it, you've joined an elite brotherhood... a collection of guys and a bit of a issue once you realize that you had a lot more control over the plan to start building amps than you will over your ability to stop building them.
Very exciting to read about your first build! Looks like a great job, and sounds like things are coming along nicely! I understand that it can be a little frustrating to have such a temperamental amp from boot-up, but there this is still all of the process toward getting it finely tuned to suit you and your ear. Most other amps may sound pretty nice right from the initial start-up, but won't have the character and responsiveness that this one has.
My liverpool build is the pickiest amp I've ever had when it came to speakers, but seriously no other amp I've tried responds like it.
I always run the presence all the way down.
I mostly run the bright switch off in the centre position.
I've tried a number preamp tubes in different positions, and V1 is a lower gain 12ax7... and I did run a 5751 in V1 for a couple years. any swapping of preamp tubes can make dramatic differences in all the sounds we are talking about.
And then speakers make a huge difference. There can just be way too much hash and fizzyness with some speakers. WGS Veteran 30, and Celestion G12H (70th anniversary) are too fizzy. The WGS ET65 really tames and smooths quite well, but it is not especially exciting. The Retro 30 is bold and bright, but somehow not fizzy like the Veteran 30 and so I quite like it combined with the ET65. The Celestion Alnico blue was decent too, but I have a different (combo) amp that loves it more and on it's own it doesn't have a solid enough bottom end for me.
I quite like the new Celestion Creamback G12m65. It on it's own is even a slight improvement than that WGS combo I like. I bet a 2x12 or 4x12 of them would sound awesome (with any amp really!)
I mostly use a strat with this amp, so your tele playing will likely be even more picky for speakers. I don't doubt that you'll eventually get to something you love. It really helps if you can borrow some people's cabs and speakers to try out.
I wouldn't stress about the noise until after you get the lid on the chassis though. Mine just has copper tape on the inside floor of my head cab. Pushing preamp wires a millimetre this way or that can make differences too.
Which orange caps did you use? I used 716s, but now wish I went with the 6PS because I know know they are polyester instead of polypropylene... but I'm not convinced enough that it warrants swapping them out.
I can't say enough how professional yours looks. Notice that I too have not posted gut pics of my 'pool...
It looks very good! I just did my first build....you have come to the right forum for the best advice. These guys are the collective knowledge source center of the universe.
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Be sure your tinfoil hat has a good low impedance ground.
