Tell me about the lows of TW Express...

[dr.barlo]

Hi guys,

Am living in Istanbul, thus, as you could imagine, trying a real TW Express is next to impossible. In fact, even a clone would be definitely hard to come by. Here people are generally into Marshalls and Blackfaces. Anyways...

I was one of those folks actually. Love my 1987 clone (68 circuit, 400Vs PA Hammond trannies and all), which has a control called resonance. Having owned (and sold) a 1974 50W 1987, I can honestly say that I am loving my clonje... It gives a very wide spectrum of tones. Has a lot of body. I have to confess that I was a bit ignorant when it came to Express'. Yet, recently hearing one in action on Warren Haynes' solo album, made me try DrZ's Wreck (in Eddies' Guitars in St. Louis, great place!) which I know is not the same as an Express. But I liked it.

So, now I am itching for a TW Express. I know and have used a JTM45. Hence, either a Plexi or JTM45 is a good basis for comparison. Currently I don't have a JTM45, so the next project would be either a JTM45 or TW Express 35W. Moreover, the JTM45 is the safe bet in my case, simply because I do not have much idea about Express'.

Almost all the youtube clips of TW Express' have tons of gain. I am more interested in the spot where the amp is sorta in between the clean and overdriven waters. I know the "mean & clean" thing and am not bad in playing with the vol knobs of my guitars. Yet, I could not find a good clip of an Express that shows the low side when the amp is not very overdriven.

See?

How would the bass side of the TW Express compare against those of say JTM45 and or Plexi?

To be honest, I hear what I want on Warren Haynes' album. Yet, the guy is a monster, he could get those tones even with the Pro Jr. that was next to the TW Express in some photo I saw here.



Yet, apart from one or two clips (that were done with strats and teles) I could not get a good idea of what I am after. I myself am a LP player.

AND another question: Would thinking of a "resonance control" on a TW Express be blasphemous?



Serious and honest question... It provides miracles on my 1987 clone.

Thanks in advance

B

[Gibsonman63]

You should have not problem getting lows out of an Express. I have a 1 x12 cabinet that I use for lower volume stuff and for portability. It has a three inch port on the front baffle plate. I had to change out the back from closed to a semi ported back because it was blowing the speaker cable plug out.

The clean to mean is really nice. After you warm up on the amp for a while, you find the sweet spot with your guitar volume control.

[M Fowler]

Anyone know about this Trainwreck Express Constance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1XNOgW1 ... re=related

[Roe]

some complain about the bass of the express, saying its not tight enough etc. this is understandable since its a 30w amp with little negative feedback. its not like a 120w superlead. I decreased the cathode bypass cap on v2 til .68u in order to get clearer and tighter bass. but this also reduces gain a little, esp. in the lows

[dr.barlo]

some complain about the bass of the express, saying its not tight enough etc. this is understandable since its a 30w amp with little negative feedback. its not like a 120w superlead. I decreased the cathode bypass cap on v2 til .68u in order to get clearer and tighter bass. but this also reduces gain a little, esp. in the lows

Cool!

Thanks.

B

[767400]

Anyone know about this Trainwreck Express Constance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1XNOgW1 ... re=related

If I'm not mistaken that is a new/reissued Trainwreck built by JM from the Trainwreck web sight.

[selloutrr]

Correct Constance is a new '10-'11 JM made TW. One of the first 3 or 4 produced using the old KF iron. Based on the time period the iron used would be Pacific or possibly left over Heyboer or Mecury Magnetics. The word is JM has now run out of original TW iron.
If you google Constance and Trainwreck it will link you to TGP where Mrscratch talks up his new clone and Constance is introduced. in the same thread TelsaTubes posts a pic of Lindsay a KF Express, But when asked about it he is no where to be found. Lindsay was made by KF for Alex the guitarist Komet uses to make the sample audio tracks.

[Cliff Schecht]

Anyone know about this Trainwreck Express Constance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1XNOgW1 ... re=related

A few things bug me about this guys video(s). He can't play clean for shit, his guitar is out of tune and the second half of the video just has the volume control dimed while he plays. Doesn't make the Express look very versatile is all, I can go from country to blues to rock with my volume/tone knobs and a Tele..

[jaysg]

I had to change out the back from closed to a semi ported back because it was blowing the speaker cable plug out.

Pardon my tangent...that's sort of funny in a not so funny way. I think switchcraft or neutrik sells 1/4" plugs that screw onto the exposed threads of the jack. I have a diy Aguilar GS112 bass cabinet and I've never had that happen....the ports are pretty large though.

[selloutrr]

Anyone know about this Trainwreck Express Constance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1XNOgW1 ... re=related

A few things bug me about this guys video(s). He can't play clean for shit, his guitar is out of tune and the second half of the video just has the volume control dimed while he plays. Doesn't make the Express look very versatile is all, I can go from country to blues to rock with my volume/tone knobs and a Tele..

Tell me about it.. It's a common issue with the new owners. IMHO most of them would have been better off buying a Mesa Boogie and getting the intonation set on the guitar.

My personal observation with the new JM amps has been just because you can buy them, doesn't mean you know how to play them. It's been the same with all the guys posting new JM clones. Some sort of newbie mistake (tuning the guitar, tube swapping without rebiasing) wierd amp volume settings (forgetting the guitar should be the master volume on the amp), to where the amp can't open up or is dimed to only do squarewave clipping.

I'm hoping it's the player and not the product but so far I have not heard a demo that made me remotely want to shell out $5k. Considering the NOS parts are used up, it's even lower on my list.

At least KF built amps for players not profit. I have a theory, since all the amps are based off of one of two amps JM has access to. The personalized mojo is gone and it's been stream lined to one size fits all.. So who cares who buys them as long as the check clears. (and the person you are selling it to wont open it up and expose what's on the inside) I've made a dozen attempts at contacting JM from the start to purchase an amp with no return contact. I wouldn't be surprised if TAG members are on a do not contact list. It could be he's not good with email I've forwarded several KF built TW owners to him for repair/ service and they haven't gotten a response. Really, who knows?

[selloutrr]

I had to change out the back from closed to a semi ported back because it was blowing the speaker cable plug out.

Pardon my tangent...that's sort of funny in a not so funny way. I think switchcraft or neutrik sells 1/4" plugs that screw onto the exposed threads of the jack. I have a diy Aguilar GS112 bass cabinet and I've never had that happen....the ports are pretty large though.

not sure about screw in but they do make locking panel jacks in both metal and plastic.

I've never heard of the internal pressure of a speaker cabinet forcing the 1/4" male plug out of the jack. Are you sure you are using the correct mate for the plug? some cheap connectors male or female are not standard size creating a loose fit. If it's properly seated in the connector it should take some force to break that contact.

[Richie]

Yes this does and can happen,and its not good when an amp is cranked and the plug pops out. And mostly it will be the cliff or re'an jacks. And mostly an older or worn jack. The switchcraft,i've never seen that happen.Thats why i like them.

[Gibsonman63]

It's more common on bass amps. It was just surprising to me that it would happen in a box with a three inch port. I made some new back panels and to me it sounds a little better because the speaker can breath better.

Speakons are another solution. You just have to be sure the bring the correct speaker cable.

Maybe the guy was a little anxious to post his new amp on Youtube after paying that much for it. It takes a while to get used to an Express. My Marshall was letting me slop a lot of things in that I couldn't get away with on my Express clone.

[Cliff Schecht]

Anyone know about this Trainwreck Express Constance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1XNOgW1 ... re=related

A few things bug me about this guys video(s). He can't play clean for shit, his guitar is out of tune and the second half of the video just has the volume control dimed while he plays. Doesn't make the Express look very versatile is all, I can go from country to blues to rock with my volume/tone knobs and a Tele..

Tell me about it.. It's a common issue with the new owners. IMHO most of them would have been better off buying a Mesa Boogie and getting the intonation set on the guitar.

My personal observation with the new JM amps has been just because you can buy them, doesn't mean you know how to play them. It's been the same with all the guys posting new JM clones. Some sort of newbie mistake (tuning the guitar, tube swapping without rebiasing) wierd amp volume settings (forgetting the guitar should be the master volume on the amp), to where the amp can't open up or is dimed to only do squarewave clipping.

I'm hoping it's the player and not the product but so far I have not heard a demo that made me remotely want to shell out $5k. Considering the NOS parts are used up, it's even lower on my list.

At least KF built amps for players not profit. I have a theory, since all the amps are based off of one of two amps JM has access to. The personalized mojo is gone and it's been stream lined to one size fits all.. So who cares who buys them as long as the check clears. (and the person you are selling it to wont open it up and expose what's on the inside) I've made a dozen attempts at contacting JM from the start to purchase an amp with no return contact. I wouldn't be surprised if TAG members are on a do not contact list. It could be he's not good with email I've forwarded several KF built TW owners to him for repair/ service and they haven't gotten a response. Really, who knows?

The other thing he did that bugged me was he was playing for a good bit with the guitar maybe a foot or two away from the head. In my experience with the Express the amp does all sorts of crazy shit (oscillates, picks up a lot more noise) when you get too close with your guitar. Not all high gain amps do this, at least not to the extent the Express does it, but the Express is borderline unstable as is.

[M Fowler]

Ah come on

The Express is a nice quiet amp with no issues at all

Mark