your express specs

[Roe]

since alot of people have been tweaking the express circuit, it would be great to collect the different specs people have ended up with.

my specs are
- a tad high voltages (430v on the plates)
- different grounding scheme (so-called larry style multi-star system)
- BC 33uf at the screens (reads 36). this sounds much warmer than the 47uf ceriatone cap
- 250k volume pot with 2200pf and 470pf bright cap. reduces hiss (and gain)
- catode bypass cap on second gainstage is reduced to .68uf (tightifies bass)
- diodes are uf4007, have also added two snubbers in case
- 100k+100k bleeders increased to 100+100+100k
- grid resistor installed on v3 (33k or 47k)
- 5k6 grid resistors on the el34s (RFTs)

This is a ceriatone kit with RFT el34s, tungsram and a EI pi tube. caps are pvc originals.

I wanted tighter bass and a tad less distortion. Also I wanted less hiss and a more quiet amp. and it works very well. not harsh or bright

[JamesHealey]

I use a slightly lower B+ of around 390v than 410v..

1k Grid Stopper on the 2nd stage

I've used Polypropylene 715p for the 2n2/150k RC.

I use 6V6 Power Tubes

I used stranded wire throughout and laid it out like a Marshall.

I have a defeat-able matchless style master volume installed (not the best MV circuit but it's the only one that when switched off is totally out of the circuit)

[Roe]

anyone else?

[jjman]

Mine's far from true:

[azatplayer]

might have to try the lower gain control, 250k or maybe 500k, makes sense for sure.
Just finished mine and have started modding straight away. My mate has one, and i know what i love about and whats not so hot, the hiss being one thing i dont love...
But the clean tones are amazing, and the thing screams.
Ive gone all paper in oil caps including the treble 500pf cap, 3 way bright switch with styro caps, local filtering, PPIMV, fixed neg fback sans presence, but with a vox style cut control. And its in the form of a combo chassis, yet to finish the cabinet, tubes hanging under.
Star ground system, no hum at all. But there is hiss..
Heyboer trannies using a liverpool OT at 5200 ohm. Has a little more gain than my mates build, maybe the OT impedance, but theres a few other variables.
So far its pretty great.