1st build, latout questions

[tubelovin]

I'm gearing up for my first build and needed to get some opinions before I made my board, and drilled my chassis. I haven't decided if I'm going Liverpool or Express yet.

1. Why the tube and control spacing? Is it purely to keep wire runs short or for stability? I don't like the big gap for the presence control.

2. Is there much volume difference between the two builds? If I did a 1/2 liverpool is there any clean headroom.

3. would cheaper pots add noise?

4. What kind of wire did KF use? Any links to it or other suitable wire at a good price? I don't have any solid core that isn't cloth covered.

I'm not trying to make an exact clone, I want to add in alittle of my own touches. Thanks in advance for any advice?

[skyboltone]

I'm gearing up for my first build and needed to get some opinions before I made my board, and drilled my chassis. I haven't decided if I'm going Liverpool or Express yet.

1. Why the tube and control spacing? Is it purely to keep wire runs short or for stability? I don't like the big gap for the presence control. Stability. If you move the NFB or grid wires 1/4" you can get out of control or noise problems. Leave it alone. The power supply is flexible
2. Is there much volume difference between the two builds? If I did a 1/2 liverpool is there any clean headroom. Yes, but not like a Bandmaster

3. would cheaper pots add noise? KF used box stock CTS amongst others. I dunno if more expensive pots would make it quieter.
4. What kind of wire did KF use? Any links to it or other suitable wire at a good price? I don't have any solid core that isn't cloth covered. PVC insulated solid #20 if I'm not mistaken, anyone?
I'm not trying to make an exact clone, I want to add in alittle of my own touches. Thanks in advance for any advice?

Try it by schematic first. Then add the tweaks.

[tubelovin]

I don't really want to change the circuit so much as the control spacing, and look of the amp. If it will be too much trouble then it stays, but if it has been done with good results the I might give it a try.

The reason I ask about headroom is that on my 18watt build it breaks up pretty early on. Will the larger OT help me get a little more headroom out of 2 EL84's compared to the 18watt?

What have been the results of using the Mallory 150's in TW builds? I've got a ton of those but not a single PVC cap.

[gearhead]

Depends on what you mean as "headroom". Can you get a loud volume without distortion? To some degree, yes. However, recognize that the Express shines in overdrive/distortion. That's what it was designed to do. If you're looking for clean volume, a Trainwreck aren't the amp you want to build.

OTOH, if you're looking for a mix, then check out Glen K's vid for a good demo of both. Like most users, he pre-sets the amp volume in overdrive, and controls all volume and distortion with guitar volume knobs. He just does it waaaay better than most,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2_12Ler9B8

[tubelovin]

Those are the vids that got me interested inTW's. Glad someone with skills and a good recording put those up. In lesser hands such a sensitive amp could be a total mess.

There are also some good Komet vids I like to. I'm torn weather to go EL34 or EL84. Maybe I'll do both. Is the Concorede more or less the same circuit as a liverpool?

[geetarpicker]

Thanks for the video plug!

One of the reasons I no longer have my original Liverpool was that in a live situation I got more usuable clean headroom out of an Express, even when both amps were set for similar gain. It seemed the Liverpool ran out of headroom too quickly and the drummer (a loud animal I admit) buried the amp when trying for decent cleans. I do use G12Ms which are low efficiency so your mileage may vary. Also the Express just sounded thicker and bigger, though there is something to be said for EL84 amps on more delicate and cleaner things. Still if you want more clean vs distortion you might try building an Express, and just attenuate it down if you need less volume. My gut feeling is a 2xEL84 Liverpool might even have less clean headroom than an 18 watt Marshall, not more.

GK

www.myspace.com/glenkuykendall

[tubelovin]

Glen, your probably right about those El84's overdriving more than the 18w.

I was thinking of implementing a VVR if possible, in either instance. The VVR might suck some tone, but I guess the babies have some to spare.