Express in an outdoor setting

[marcoloco961]

I got my first chance to hear the express amp used in an outdoor setting last week. I know I am not telling anyone here, anything new by saying what an excellent circuit this is, but IMO, in an outdoor setting, these little gems really shine.

Indoors, this amp has always been a bit of a bugger to tame. It is just too "up in your face" for the smaller venues. Outside is a completely different story. The wreck, through a tiny 1X12 cab, held it's own nicely against the 100 watt Marshall w/ 4X12's on the opposite side of the stage.

The almost "too shrill" sound I always hear when i'm indoors was gone and the thing just sang.

How many here have had the opportunity to hear their own "express" build in an outdoor setting??

What were your thoughts?

[rooster]

Like you say, no big surprise, but read on. In my case I have always used a 4/12 outdoors - a Marshall cab full of Vintage 30s. We just do a 3 piece. I wish I had Glen's cab - always - but then mine is just loud as hell and with a great 'thunk', which works outdoors. I think one problem with outdoors though, and something you didn't mention, is the fact that in one case I was about 25 feet away my cab. This wasn't what I wanted but I had no choice. I like the Express best when its about 10 feet away and you can imagine why. So, yeah, the Express can be a bit more fun outdoors than indoors. On the other hand, there is still that sweet spot that you find on the amp volume knob that really isn't about super loud volume, and something you can get to indoors - and sometimes better indoors than outdoors. In fact, around 10 or 11 o'clock is where I like it best. Of course, indoors things are bouncing around a bit which is fun. .....And (note) I am using pedals here so my thing is different than somebody just going for it, as cool as Glen makes it look!

BUT - BUT - You need to visit the LaMar (LarMar) MV idea. With this onboard your complaints regarding indoor gigs will vanish. It lets me get to that sweet spot and then just back the MV down a bit.

BTW, kudos to you for cutting it with a 1/12! Was that an EV12L or something similar?

[marcoloco961]

The single 12" was a vintage30.

It wasn't planned that way, our guitar players combo amp took a dump on him at practice mid-week. It's still under warranty, so he was hesitant to open it up and break the warranty. I just let him use the express to get us through for the next couple of jobs. I was worried about the single speaker not being enough, but it did the job. I could hear him plain as day on stage.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will check out the LaMar MV. It does need something indoors. I had been trying to decide between the VVR3, an attenuator - (airbrake), or one of the MV set-ups. With as little experience as I have, the MV would probably be the quickest and easiest for me.

[rooster]

Wow, a single Vintage30. It kind of figures, actually - they can cut cheese from 20 feet!

But seriously, yes yes yes, go with that MV! It will blow you away. Just BE SURE to use an AUDIO TAPER dual 250K pot! That's the magic, I have learned my lesson here.