Essential components to recreate the EXPRESS sound....

[vibratoking]

Cloth is cheap. It's nothing...it's only $385 for a 2x12 Blues Breaker sized cab. Really not that expensive since that includes the $20 shipping cost. If you send an email, Collins will send you a FREE sample swatch. He's gonna go broke doing that.

[Reeltarded]

Being honest, I never though that my express was bright. Even with irradiated wire and all that!!

Uhoh. Check your lead dress.. it can be fixed!

$385 for 2x12 cloth? That isn't good enough. Let me go look for something better.

Answer is: Vicuna. $4,000/yd.

[NickC]

Cloth is cheap. It's nothing...it's only $385 for a 2x12 Blues Breaker sized cab. Really not that expensive since that includes the $20 shipping cost. If you send an email, Collins will send you a FREE sample swatch. He's gonna go broke doing that.

I bet those sample swaths sell lots of cloth! Just wrap it around an iPod ear-bud and listen through it. You'll be convinced.

[vibratoking]

Just wrap it around an iPod ear-bud and listen through it.

OMG, I just tried that...I heard some faint music and the ghost of Jimi.

[Reeltarded]

The latex flaked off and now everything sounds like a prostate exam.

[redshark]

Switch matters too .

Sorry all the parts matter if you want the exact tone.

For some reason I have never bought that completely!!
Wire I won't question it cause is what carries the signal all over the amp. But a switch is a switch, ON or OFF, so is the impedance switch, conected to 4 , 8 or 16 ohms leads. No more than that!! You should ask JM how many of his parts are vintage trainwreck!! I'm talking not a special request build, I'm talking about the average amp he builds, somewhere I heard Sprague electrolytics are being used in new wrecks and we all know that is NOT what Ken used.

[Reeltarded]

Nah. They all sound different. Everything good does. Buy a fantastic A1 super duper anything and spend the rest of your life trying to find it's stunt double.

G'luck with that!!

[selloutrr]

about 80% correct parts based on Kens specifications any new parts are noted as possible substitutes from kens notes or cross references to current models. Ken had a lot of parts left in the shop. It will be a while before JM starts backing amps with new parts.

[redshark]

Interesting!!! not what he said when I emailed him asking for information on the amps. Anyway, I'm sure every part has an impact but mostly the ones that pass signal or provide voltage. A switch as I said is a switch!! or a pilot light!! or a diode!! I wouldn't worry about those parts to be that authentic!!

[selloutrr]

I'm confussed you started this thread but seen very opinionated. I think you should probably just build the amp as you think it should be and leave the correct amps to those who build them.
Tried to help but you just can't except it. Sorry they all matter.. They all add impedance, resistance and character. Signal path or not.

[redshark]

I'm confussed you started this thread but seen very opinionated. I think you should probably just build the amp as you think it should be and leave the correct amps to those who build them.
Tried to help but you just can't except it. Sorry they all matter.. They all add impedance, resistance and character. Signal path or not.

Hey man, relax, this is not about not accepting help or arguing, that is not my intention. You have been mentioning that many of the parts are unobtanium and even for JM I'm sure he has had a dilemma with some parts so the thread talks about what is the most important parts that need to be there and which ones make less impact. No confussion here buddy. Now, an impedance switch all it does is switch the leads of the OT, how come it adds impedance? you have to explain that and educate me. See? is not arguing but we could all learn something this way.
Now do the parts add character? that I'm sure they do but how does that transfer to sound? Could the human ear detect that? or how about when you are playing the amp on stage with drums, bass, vocals, etc.?

[Reeltarded]

If you use 1% components you'd get "different". If you used measured componenets, still, "different". If you tear an original down and put it all back together with the same parts it doesn't even sound the same.

The circuits are guidelines. They are each tweaked to sound good.. each amp on it's own for the player they were tweaked for. Little hot, lil cold.. whatever. Never a match.

[vibratoking]

redshark - you are asking good questions. You are not going to get the answers you are looking for here. You will have to contact some of the the techinically knowledgabe builders who have investigated these amps to a deep level and that have quantified the relationship between components and sound. Unfortunately, these guys are not likely to provide you with the information they uncovered. That leaves it up to you to do the work for yourself.

You can try to have a sensible discussion all day long about switches and their effect on sound. Those who believe in magic will tell you they make a difference. Those who don't will tell you it doesn't make a bit of difference. selloutrr has a lot of good information and experience, but he is also writing a book and his opinions have flipped over the course of time IMO. You can look at past posts and judge for yourself. There is nothing wrong with anyone changing their mind. Just being real about the situation. It appears the book aspect has generated political motivations with JM and possibly Ken's family, so process his information with that in mind. If a switch makes a difference in sound then there is a valid technical reason. There ain't magic in them parts. I agree with selloutrr - just build it. Then come to your own conclusions. Don't forget to report them back to us.

Always be prepared to hear that your clone does not sound like one of Ken's because it doesn't have flea clips or the correct switch. You need to realize that Ken's work was 'magic' that mere mortals can't recreate. JM couldn't recreate it either, but now somehow he can. So there is always hope for you too. You just need to possess something that someone else wants in order to change their opinion. If you actually care.

[redshark]

Yes, I have read old selloutrr posts when he questioned JM new trainwrecks and all that. I know people change their minds. Trainwrecks only belong to people that join the secret society and therefore parts have magical qualities. I had built an express and a rocket before and I would put my rocket in front of a Ken build or JM anyday and I'm sure it will hold its own just like my old express that unfortunately I had to sell and I miss it so much that I'm building a new one. Actually, this one a little more accurate. We'll see how it turns out!!

[M Fowler]

Redshark, that's exactly the kind of attitude be need around here bravo to you.

I don't care if my TW amps do or don't sound like a real wreck. Players I come into contact never seen one, never heard one, and never would spend $5000 for JM model or $30+ for Ken model.

I'll wait for Mark's book to be released and of course he better sign mine

MarkF