Variations On A Theme - Express content

[solderstain]

I always enjoy looking at other people's amp porn - so many good builders here. I'm going to add some of my own for a change.

I'm only going to post a couple of shots of the outside here on the forum - I'm photo-documenting fool, and it would be inconsiderate of me to post a buncha shots, so I made up a quickie page so people can see and read without taking up bandwidth here on the forum.

After building an Express circuit into a 'mule' chassis, and experimenting with tweaks there, I finally built 'my' Express into a more traditional package. I took an occasional 'left turn' or two, but the results are worth it (to me). The full story is here (I promise - no Spam or any of that):

http://www.doctorvintage.com/amps/tw-e_exposed.html

[img:800:532]http://www.doctorvintage.com/amps/TW-E_Cab_Front.jpg[/img]

[img:800:424]http://www.doctorvintage.com/amps/TW-E_Chassis_Rear.jpg[/img]

[Big Jim]

Very well done. Always nice to see a job like that. Cabinets are really pretty too. Did you make them yourself? Sound clips!!!
Jim

[solderstain]

Very well done. Always nice to see a job like that. Cabinets are really pretty too. Did you make them yourself? Sound clips!!!
Jim

Thanks, Jim - I've been thinking about doing a few rudimentary clips - humbuckers and P-90s, different cabs, etc. - and putting them up on my youtube channel. It's mostly a matter of making time.

The cabinets were made by a wood-working brother of another member here on the forum. They come built and just need finish-sanding and application of your favorite finish. I used tung oil on both of the cabs. It's a long process, but it's also fool-proof (and when it comes to wood finishing, I'm only one level above 'fool'. )

[Lonely Raven]

Beautiful build! I'm hoping to get up to that skill level some day!

Do you have any other amp pages like this one?

Do you have any good photos of a Super Reverb with perfect layout? I've got an early 70's one I'd like to redo the layout for...

[Big Jim]

+1 on tung oil. I use it on just about all of my wood working projects. Its cheap, easy, beautiful looking, and most importantly, fixable. I am going to be doing another Express pretty soon. Looking forward to it! A chassis with room to work inside! Imagine that! Can you tell I've been building Fender circuits?

[M Fowler]

That is a great looking build and I love the figuring on that wood sweet.

The added bias test points are nice too.

Finally got a chance to go through your build photos, very clever and nicely done

Mark

[ampmike]

Wow,That is super clean,absolutly stunning,Great pics,love the cabs.I bet it sounds gorgeous,Mikey

[bcmatt]

I love it! I am very impressed with the redesign and the extreme tidiness.
My favourate thing is the biasing system- so compact and handy with the plate test points (love that).
Neat idea to combine the 2nd and 3rd gain stages and leave the 1st on its own- not afraid to try something else.

So my main question is, what is that extra knob and jack on the back by the preamp? Did I miss something in your explanation?
PPIMV and cut on the front, impedance on the back, what's the other?
Is it a line out with a volume?

[solderstain]

So my main question is, what is that extra knob and jack on the back by the preamp? Did I miss something in your explanation?
PPIMV and cut on the front, impedance on the back, what's the other?
Is it a line out with a volume?

Yes, the answer is in the explanation, but I didn't make a big deal out of it so it was easy to miss. And, your guess is correct - line out with level control. It's actually kinda fun - I've taken that and run it to a Crate Power Block as a slave and then pumped it through two Marshall 4x12s... no problem keeping up with a loud drummer with THAT setup!

[solderstain]

Do you have any good photos of a Super Reverb with perfect layout? I've got an early 70's one I'd like to redo the layout for...

I'm sure the 'net is just full of good photos already. And... it's exactly the same as a Twin or any number of other AB763 circuits, so don't limit your search to 'Super' pictures. Google Images is your friend.

[guitarsnguns04]

looks really nice..great job there

[Bob S]

Beautiful - bet it sounds as good as it looks.
I couldn't get Tung Oil to look that good.
Very well done.

[Lonely Raven]

Do you have any good photos of a Super Reverb with perfect layout? I've got an early 70's one I'd like to redo the layout for...

I'm sure the 'net is just full of good photos already. And... it's exactly the same as a Twin or any number of other AB763 circuits, so don't limit your search to 'Super' pictures. Google Images is your friend.

That's a good point...I was just hoping you might have some of your excellent photos. As an amateur photographer myself, I appreciate your work!

[ForcedFire]

Very nice build!

[solderstain]

That's a good point...I was just hoping you might have some of your excellent photos. As an amateur photographer myself, I appreciate your work!

Thanks for the props on the pictures. I'm the son of a professional photographer, and do photography of high tech machinery in my day-job, as well as in my personal life. I have portable studio lighting and back-drops and all that stuff. I was a little frustrated that I couldn't get the lighting right to REALLY capture the color of that cherry cab. Oh well...

I've got good-quality shots of Fender guts, but... they're not of STOCK Fender guts. As you might imagine, I tweak just about every damn thing I open up. And it sounds like you want to do a stock AB763 circuit with really clean, direct wiring, yes? If my hunch is correct, I don't have shots of that - definitely not shots of that quality. One of my local guitar buddies here in Phoenix has a gorgeous old black-face Twin that I'm 99% sure is stock. Maybe he'll let me pull the chassis and take some 'beauty shots'... I'll PM you after I talk to him some time in the next couple of weeks.