Express with too much gain

[jumpbluesdude]

I built an express several years ago and had an issue. I shelved it and recently pulled it out again to try to figure it out. I went through it and voltages are good, wiring is correct, controls all work like they are supposed to work. I jumpered the input into the phase inverter to bypass the first 3 tube stages to test it and it is clean and quiet. The issue I am having is running normal, the gain is too much. If I brush the strings very lightly, it rings clear. If I hit it any harder it a very treble heavy sizzling bacon kind of sound. There doesn't seem to be a lot of in between when I lighten up my touch. I swapped the 12ax7 for 12au7 in the first and second tubes. There was a change in sound, but it still squishes the note severely. Has anyone run into this issue or something like this?

[johnnyreece]

I don't have a full-size express, but I believe most suggest using your guitar volume with this monster. Does that seem to help you?

[jumpbluesdude]

The overdrive is not more than I can handle as a player, it is a problem and not musical. I will try to post some audio, but the signal goes from clean to very buzzy. The treble makes it worse. Rolling back the volume can get it clean, but very quiet and there is no transition like it is supposed to do.

[Bob S]

Linear pots ? Volume & treble should be log/audio with a good taper.
What's the cap value(s) on the bright switch.
Guitar pots taper also important.
Good Luck!

[guitarmike2107]

Post some pictures.

Isolate where the problem is, jumper the input, just as you did with the phase invertor, to the second and third stage grids to see where the problem begins

[M Fowler]

Sounds like bad solder connections.

[lord preset]

Sounds like bad solder connections.

This. I have had these exact symptoms before on an 18 watt build and it was just a soldering issue. Reflow everything then try it.

[RJ Guitars]

Yeah, I would look for a problem like a bad solder, bad component, or maybe a component value that is wrong. Too much gain is the normal for an Express but sizzling bacon sounds are not part of a properly working beast.