How to get OD with a Trainwreck?

[Luddy]

Some history. I bought a Ceriatone OTS several years ago and loved it. I later had Shad build me two 15w SDOs, which I really love. I have been searching for a while and really feel very close to these amps. I play blues with an Epi Dot and a ceramic Tone Tubby 12". I use a Fuch Verbrator in the fx loop.

Back a few years ago, I also bought a Ceriatone Expression. I moved away from that as I was getting to know the SDOs better. Not long ago, I put my Tele through the Ceriatone to a Greenback 12". Wanting a little less clean sound, I went through a Weber Mass. It took me a while to get acclimated to this setup, but now I am ready to do more. Right now, I'm waiting for a quote from my favorite amp builder to make a couple 15w Trainwreck type amps. I used to use a Radial HeadBone head switcher, to switch between a Ceriatone OTS and Fender DRRI into a single Tone Tubby 12". Boy, that worked really well and was easy to use. I'm not sure if I would try something with the SDO and the new Trainwreck type amp, but who knows.

One consideration would be getting a little dirt with the Trainwreck. I don't know if using a Mass is a good idea with the amp switcher. I wouldn't want the SDO to go through the Mass, just the Wreck. I'm wondering about other options. I've tried a Zendrive into the Wreck, which sounds OK. I've had it sounding better in the past, so maybe I need to experiment with it some more. I'll also get out a boost pedal and see how that does.

Of course, I have a lot of options that I can try right here in my studio. But I thought I would ask what others' experiences have been for getting a little dirt, nothing gainy, by any means. Am I barking up the wrong tree trying to get a little OD with Wreck? I hear it with other players, but I'm not sure how they achieve that. Also, if I can hear that there is OD somewhere in the sound, then that is too much for my taste. I don't actually want to be able to have it that noticeable, if that makes sense. It's like wanting something while also not wanting it.

Thoughts?

[vibratoking]

I don't understand your question, unless your Express(ion) does not work properly. An Express does dirt, dirt and more dirt without any effort whatsoever. For a properly working Express(ion) it would be more likely that you would be asking how to get cleans from that amp. Something must be wrong or I am missing your point.

There are no off-the-shelf devices for switching on the front and back end of your amps.

[geetarpicker]

!

On a typical wreck a good starting point is to turn it up to about half, that said some pots come on so quickly that you might not even need to turn it up that far. Then if the guitar is full up you should get overdriven tones, then when you back the guitar down the amp should naturally clean up. How far you need to back it down also depends on the pots in the guitar, and specifically their taper. It's all controlled from the guitar if everything is working correctly. Keep in mind though clones vary like the menu in a chinese restaurant, and some may not clean up as well as others but just about all of them surely will have plenty of distortion!

Check out my Youtube videos, which FYI have no pedals used on any of them: http://www.youtube.com/user/GlenKuykendall

[Luddy]

Thanks, these comments help. I just wasn't turning the amp volume up much, which is why I want a lower watt version. The Mass helps a lot with the Ceriatone, which is 50w.

[passfan]

The magic is through the way each stage contributes to the distortion right on through to the output stage. Take away any one and it falls short of what it becomes when all are working together. Some have had some success with post PI Mv's but I never cared for them. You can try a hot plate on the output; it's probably your best bet

[Tillydog]

VVR style voltage regulator works very well in an Express IMHO.

[Zippy]

FWIW, Ken Fischer also design and built the Air Brake - the build guide and BOM is here at TAG.