Triode TW - Express Kit Build

[pleasantbullet]

Finished the express late late last night!

Albeit with one hangup. One filter capacitor was missing from the kit.
Nevertheless i found a cap to use in its place.

Fired it up and it worked right away.

I'll post again once I've played it a few days.

But all i can say is, Loud. Such a huge sounding amp. Its crazy.

Definitely may have to look into a hot plate or master volume.

cheers
alex

[RJ Guitars]

I guess that means you had it done in time for rehearsal today?? Did any body there notice anything different?

[pleasantbullet]

The guys are pretty impressed with it.

Just a testament to how loud these amps are. Our drummer beats his drums hard, so we usually have to crank up fairly high to compete. THat means, on my peavey 5150 ii, 120 watt (4 6L6's) I turn up about 3.5. And thats pretty loud.

Anyways, Last night, i could barely break the volume past 1 on the express.

Its a great sounding amp, but its definitely going to take some getting use to. Especially going from a high gain amp like my beloved 5150.

I'd really like to experiment with the master volumes, so i can get idea what its capable off doing.

[Paultergeist]

Really nice-looking build.......well executed (in my novice opinion).

From what little I understand about the Trainwreck style of amplifier, I think you really owe it to yourself to hear this amp dimed -- through an attenuator of some kind -- before you consider putting a Master Volume (MV) in the circuit. Many MV controls color the sound/gain/feel of the amp (even if the MV is dimed). I also suspect that you will find that there is not a linear relationship between the numerical volume setting and loudness (i.e., "6" may not seem twice as loud as "3").

Congrats on bringing the build to completion.

[RJ Guitars]

There are a few ways to dial down an Express, but IMHO it sorta works out that the good sound goes away in direct proportions to the volume with most MV or power scaling efforts... The only solution I've found that really sounds decent is the attenuator. You'll find some folks here that love the PPIMV and VVR so don't take my word for it without a 2nd thought.

With the Express and Liverpool you have to use the guitar volume and you also have to get used to being very exposed... if you make a mistake there is no cover to hide in, everybody hears it.

Enjoy it, they are quite fun!

[pleasantbullet]

I installed the PPIMV last night.

Its true, it sucks the life out the Guitar Volume control. With the MV pulled back half way, when you cut the volume on the guitar the tone becomes unclear, dead and boomy.

Its not perfect, but it'll work for now until i can afford an attenuator, or the VVR. All of which i intend to try, so as not to have an unbiased opinion.

One thing I'm struggling with is my pedals. My delay and reverb sound find. But I have a really nice Boost and TubeScreamer that sound like shit when I play through the trainwreck.

Has anyone had success with boosts or overdrive pedals?
I thought that i nice way to get around the one channel thing, would be to use my pedals to boost it into distortion. But it tends to just hiss louder and the distortion produces isn't all that nice.

Any recommendations?

-alex

[Colossal]

Has anyone had success with boosts or overdrive pedals? I thought that i nice way to get around the one channel thing, would be to use my pedals to boost it into distortion. But it tends to just hiss louder and the distortion produces isn't all that nice.

Any recommendations?

-alex

You might want consider increasing the gain to about 1 o'clock to get the ideal distortion and then putting a 250kA pot in a pedal enclosure and run that in between your instrument cable and the amp. Using the pot, you can dial down the input signal slightly and then use the pedal to switch out the pot for an apparent boost to distortion. It's the same thing as dialing down your guitar volume but the volume-pot-inna-pedal lets you do it on the fly. The difference between clean and distortion volume on the Express is not great.

[M Fowler]

Has anyone had success with boosts or overdrive pedals? I thought that i nice way to get around the one channel thing, would be to use my pedals to boost it into distortion. But it tends to just hiss louder and the distortion produces isn't all that nice.

Any recommendations?

-alex

You might want consider increasing the gain to about 1 o'clock to get the ideal distortion and then putting a 250kA pot in a pedal enclosure and run that in between your instrument cable and the amp. Using the pot, you can dial down the input signal slightly and then use the pedal to switch out the pot for an apparent boost to distortion. It's the same thing as dialing down your guitar volume but the volume-pot-inna-pedal lets you do it on the fly. The difference between clean and distortion volume on the Express is not great.

I built one of these pedals to have on hand incase I wanted to control the volume by pedal.

I have one Express designed by Martin Manning with MV, cut and Presonance and I can't say that the amp is lifeless but that's me. The amp better suits my playing having those extra knobs to play with. I still have my traditional Express and Express Combo if I want the original feel.

[Koolaide]

Very Nice

Thanks for sharing

Jim

[jazzbass]

.... I built several this way myself until I got out a set of headphones and dialed in the sweet spot for transformer alignment...

I'm hoping for you to blister some ears for the band on Sunday... in a good way of course![/quote]

Hy RJ, can you tell me where did you plug the headphone. Thank you

[RJ Guitars]

.... I built several this way myself until I got out a set of headphones and dialed in the sweet spot for transformer alignment...

I'm hoping for you to blister some ears for the band on Sunday... in a good way of course!

... Hy RJ, can you tell me where did you plug the headphone. Thank you[/quote]

I tied both headphone speakers to the 8 ohm tap using a stereo speaker jack... You don't have to use both ears but it helps to block out any room noise and can be pretty sensitive to low level hum.

[jazzbass]

i]... Hy RJ, can you tell me where did you plug the headphone. Thank you[/quote][/i]

I tied both headphone speakers to the 8 ohm tap using a stereo speaker jack... You don't have to use both ears but it helps to block out any room noise and can be pretty sensitive to low level hum.[/quote]

Thanks RJ, I am following attentively your fantastic discussion on TAG, you're doing a great, great job, thanks for sharing it. I live in Italy, which PT did you suggest to use (220 volts).

[RJ Guitars]

... I live in Italy, which PT did you suggest to use (220 volts).

EDCOR can wind any of my PT's in any mains voltage or it turns out that I have a few Heyboer multi-tap with 100, 110, 120, 220, 230, 240 V mains. Demand for these has been weak and I've still got a few left. Either Pacific or MM would clone this for us if there was a need.

[Curranproducer]

Speaking of EDCOR transformers, and this pacific transformer company. I have used the triode transformers on a couple of my amp buils and I am very happy with the amps, I did a rocket/ac30 build, and I also did a tweed 5F6A. I saw a post on here where someone was not impressed or even down on the sound of the triode transformers. Is there a reason for this and if so what are some decent alternatives, I am not interested in dealing with heoyber, or MM. to much money and I am not convinced at all on the sound difference people tell they hear that I do not. I am not to wild about the hammond stuff even though it is very well built. feed back and opinions are totaly wanted!!!!

[martin manning]

As far as I know the transformers Triode sells are made by Magnetic Components, and are from MC's "Classic Tone" line. They are good quality and very reasonably priced.

Heyboer are also good quality, and although a bit more expensive than MC still quite reasonable. They will also do one-offs very reasonably.

Any opinion on sound quality that is not based on an A/B test in the same amp is suspect IMO.