What _is_ an Express?

[toobeedoobee]

You know, like a jtm45 is a tweed bassman. Was there an existing design that inspired Ken to make the Express?

[dave g]

Well, the Express is often described as what a Plexi "should" be.

Generally speaking, it's a Blackface Fender preamp (with some tweaks) plus an extra gain stage going into a 50 watt Plexi PI and output section.

Of course, as anybody here can tell you, try and build one and you'll discover that there's a lot more to it than that

[Kregg]

So the bloodline would be Blackface - Plexi - Mesa Boogie - Express?

[JimiB]

right except take that dirty third one out of the list.

[Kregg]

I have a feeling that KF paid notice to what Randall Smith was doing.

[geetarpicker]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Express and Liverpool didn't simply evolve out of Ken's years of amp repair and mods, especially on Vox Marshall & Fenders. Still there is a particular era of blackface Fender bassman that if you look at the "bass channel" has an extra gain stage like an Express. Tons of other value differences however and probably just coincedence. Also the bassman heads of the 60s and 70s were truly cheap and plentiful for years and years and perfect amps for modding into something more interesting. I remember seeing them all the time for $100. I bet Ken tweaked many of them. It still doesn't explain Ken's preference for layout, parts choices and overall mechanical build.

Take a look:

http://www.schematicheaven.com/fenderam ... _schem.pdf

[M Fowler]

Yeah the circuit is not unusual or new but was what Ken wanted as a lead amp to cut through in a high gain high frequency range. To my ears it hurts so I am slowly tuning it to hopefully an E chord or G.

In other words changing the caps so that I have usable clean before breakup. Not really an Express after all that is it?

Mark

[geetarpicker]

My Express (and two clones of it) have more usable clean with all knobs on 1/2 than a typical fully dimed 4 input Marshall 50 or 100. Not mention they do this with more gain overall plus a better S/N ratio. These are all stock circuit amps I'm talking about.

Still, I'll admit no where near as much headroom as more typical lower gain amps.

[dave g]

I have a feeling that KF paid notice to what Randall Smith was doing.

I really don't think so. A Wreck and a Boogie are on complete opposite ends of the design philosophy spectrum.

[Richie]

Only thinking out loud here.. but i think part of what Ken might have been trying to do is related to early fender boogie mods. Which also is seen in Dumble amps. where the tone stack is bypassed, for a big gain boost.
And who is to say really came up with it,or who found it out or passed it on to someone..hard to say..

Then if this is done, to fine tune the circuit so it works well for guitar,or the frequencies needed.

So, to keep the tone circuit,but have the gain boost,he added a tube gain stage.

Like i said, only a guess.. but that is a great mod, if done right,and been used by alot of people in a few different ways of making it work.

I think the rest was his knowledge of how he wanted to go about having the best of both worlds.. There is more to it than just those circuits.. his choice of transformers power section and alot of things all come into play.

[M Fowler]

Glen,

Your Express clone was put together following very strict guidlines following your original to the T. Mine was not and was built by Ceriatone. Since I have never seen, heard or played through an original TW I have no idea what one should sound like and I have no faith in listening through ear phones on youtube recordings to get the feel of an amp. One needs to be there adjusting the knobs and trying different cabs or playing out live.

So when I say mine is harsh to my ears and very little clean head room the only thing I have left to do, Glen, is built one of my own and follow that build guide really close. But do I really have to use those flea clips?

When are we having that AMP FEST I have been whining about it, because I want to meet some people and play some amps or hear Glen play up close where I can judge the difference. East coast is fine with me.

Mark

[bcmatt]

You know, like a jtm45 is a tweed bassman. Was there an existing design that inspired Ken to make the Express?

I'm pretty sure that the Express is just Ken's version of Nik from Ceriatone's "Expression" amp. If you look closely, it seems that Ken almost cloned it exactly and popped it in a hardwood cabinet.


I'm not nearly as funny as I think I am.

[CaseyJones]

You know, like a jtm45 is a tweed bassman. Was there an existing design that inspired Ken to make the Express?

I'm pretty sure that the Express is just Ken's version of Nik from Ceriatone's "Expression" amp. If you look closely, it seems that Ken almost cloned it exactly and popped it in a hardwood cabinet.


I'm not nearly as funny as I think I am.

I don't care who you are, that's funny!

Betcha Brandon don't think so.

[Rimy]

I'm pretty sure that the Express is just Ken's version of Nik from Ceriatone's "Expression" amp. If you look closely, it seems that Ken almost cloned it exactly and popped it in a hardwood cabinet.

yes exactly, that's how it was.
it's like the slo-100 is mike soldano's version of the heather amp kit from weber-speakers. *lol*

[Nigel Tufnel]

I have no idea what Ken was thinking as I never had the pleasure to meet the man much less speak to him. But, by trying to put the blinders on but leaving in knowing that Ken had a large knowledge base and lots of experience I'd speculate this. Blackface bandwidth and tonestack flexibility paired with some tasty clipping and a very unloaded preamp running hot into a Marshally poweramp. Oh Yeah! . Just my 2 cents