Taming the brightness

[Littlewyan]

What attenuator are you using? And how much are you attenuating? And is the amp built to the spec in the Express files? What transformers did you use?

I run mine through a 2x12 G12M cabinet and have no trouble running everything at 12 o'clock with the bright switch in the 500pf position. Used to use an Airbrake style attenuator which was a bit bright but I now use a reactive one and it's much better.

[geetarpicker]

I have owned 3 different Ken Fischer built Trainwrecks (x2 Express, x1 Liverpool) and almost always ran about a 35-40’ cable going in. Before getting into TWs I did the same with my 4 input Marahalls. I originally started doing this because on a large stage with TWO stacked 4x12s, you needed this kind of length to get around the stage. In time I realized it simply works nicely tonally as well. GK

[bcmatt]

I've continued to experiment trying to address this issue because I also like the eq/gain affect of having the bright switch on. Currently in my Liverpool and Express I have either no presence or a preset wired in amount and use that pot position for a cut control. In my Express, I keep upping the cap value for the cut... I think I'm currently at a 0.01uF.
Cut control seemed to work better when I removed NFB completely, but I want the faster transition from clean to mean that NFB provides.

I finally picked up some reverse log 250k pots. So I put back in a 0.0047 cap for my more intuitive cut control and it works well.

[Roe]

the phase cancellation of 4x12s helps here

[Matthews Guitars]

Marshall powerbrake, attenuation varies as needed, sometimes I use NONE and just let it rip.

Transformers....
Mojotone Mojo791 ATS5200 output.
Amp Parts Direct APD-8065H power.

Using 2 4x12s is impractical for my customers. I need practical recommendations for tonal response modifications
in the circuit itself, something that may be as simple as changing one or two capacitor values or adding treble bleed to ground caps.

I will end up experimenting with bleed caps soon at this rate. I've now got THREE people who've heard my Express clone, with humbucker equipped Les Pauls, who want me to build them one. So...three tentative orders? Yeah, I've got to be able to give my customers a tonal range they really like.

Today I had my amp at a guitar show, demonstrating it, and without a doubt it was the best sounding amp in the building. And lots of people commented on it, all very positively.

[bcmatt]

Marshall powerbrake, attenuation varies as needed, sometimes I use NONE and just let it rip.

Transformers....
Mojotone Mojo791 ATS5200 output.
Amp Parts Direct APD-8065H power.

Using 2 4x12s is impractical for my customers. I need practical recommendations for tonal response modifications
in the circuit itself, something that may be as simple as changing one or two capacitor values or adding treble bleed to ground caps.

I will end up experimenting with bleed caps soon at this rate. I've now got THREE people who've heard my Express clone, with humbucker equipped Les Pauls, who want me to build them one. So...three tentative orders? Yeah, I've got to be able to give my customers a tonal range they really like.

Today I had my amp at a guitar show, demonstrating it, and without a doubt it was the best sounding amp in the building. And lots of people commented on it, all very positively.

Dude! Proper ethics and etiquette dictate mandatory pictures posted in this forum for any new Trainwreck-style amps built. I wanna see!

[Matthews Guitars]

https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36577

There's my topic on that amp build. Photos included.

Prepping to build three more soon. Maybe up to 5.