New Wreck Build with VVR

[Methow]

I just completed my first TrainWreck Express build. It's my second build- first one was a TwoStroke from the Dave Hunter book.

The amp sounds fantastic. I decided it has a "normal" level of hiss, and setting the VVR and other controls to get the desired tone and volume helps alleviate the hiss issue that some people have reported. I'm just starting to explore the range of sounds this thing will produce. I find that the VVR works great for taking the sound from extremely loud to tolerably loud in my basement music room while retaining most of the original tone. Very pleased with it.

I have to thank all you guys at Amp Garage, particularly Ron Worley for the build guide (could not have done it without that great document), Dana for his VVR posts, and RJ for supplying the transformers, capacitors and other special parts. Also, all the posts on everything from biasing to speakers to hiss were extremely helpful, if not immensely time consuming to read!

The build went smoothly with only a few screw ups- I had to move one transformer a little bit when it interfered with installing one of the multicaps. I thought I had everything spaced right, but topside there wasn't enough room. I also wired the B+ in and out backward into the VVR board at first, which caused me a bit of confusion for awhile.

I used the multicaps as per Dana's VVR builds, and also installed the capacitors to prevent DC bleeding to the pots. I re-arranged the spacing on the pre-amp board to make things fit more neatly.

I adapted/developed a way to make decals for the faceplate. I'll post that separately as my small contribution to the AG.

greg

[ampgeek]

Well done Greg!
I like the homegrown labeling technique as well.
Rock on,
Dave O.