Over the Moon - Thanks So Much

[Koop]

Finished my RJ Guitars PCB XP/LP Express (Rev 04-2012). Tonight I went through the power up with a bulb limiter and checked things out. My plate voltages at V4 and V5 are a little lower than expected, I'm reading 395v. I biased at 40ma for ~62% and went ahead and played it.

WOW!!!! I'm a believer now. This is awesome, getting some of the tones I always heard in my head. Unbevelievably responsive to pick attack.

When I first plugged in, I had the bare chassis sitting on the bench and had a little hum, not much considering it didn't have a bottom plate and was under flourescent lights. I decided to go ahead and put it into the cab with the bottom plate, it's as quiet if not quieter than my 18 watt Trinity sIII or my Triwatt. RJ really did a great job on the PCB. I'm over the moon right now and don't know when I'll investigate the plate voltages, it sounds sooo good.

Thanks again to all that offered advice during the build and all who have contributed so much knowledge on this forum.

[martin manning]

Here is a set of voltages from an Express with rj Pacific transformers. My guess is you are in good shape. https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... 100#223100

Congrats on the successful build!

[LeftyStrat]

That's really awesome. The only thing better than playing an amp that puts a grin on your face is playing one that puts a grin on your face that YOU built.

Congratulations!

[rock_mumbles]

Good news!!!

[Koop]

Here is a set of voltages from an Express with rj Pacific transformers. My guess is you are in good shape. https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... 100#223100

Congrats on the successful build!

Thanks Martin. That reinforces my thought about it sounding so good I don't want to try and raise the plate voltage. Thanks again to all. I'm on cloud nine...but I should add that my wife would like me to play it when she's away as it is quite LOUD.

[Koop]

OK, so I've lurked here for nearly a year gleaning as much info as I could. I'm still in dis-belief with regards to how great this amp is. You read the descriptions and all the hype, but you don't know. My wife asked me to to put it into words and I had a difficult time. Balanced, thick yet articulate, natural compression, very present in the lows without being muddy or flabby, screaming highs minus the ice pick in the ear. I don't know. If this could possibly be improved I think attenuation would be the only thing I could think of.

I also know that most threads end up saying "without pictures it didn't happen" so here's what I have. When I'm in the building mode I don't want to interrupt to take photos, so sorry for the lack of good pics.

[M Fowler]

That is a beautiful amp