Which TW To Build To Sell?

[rp]

I guess this is a poll of sorts: If you were to build one TW as a showpiece to consign in a very tony HiFi & Guitar store in Italy with the hope of it actually moving out the door (and not in 2 years but like 3 months) for enough dough to make it worth it for me and the store and attract some attention to get me more work - which one would you build?

I've never built or heard (in person) any TWs. I'm inclined to Rocket as the other two might scare away those w/o the chops. Not sure yet what crowd goes through the place - doctors, lawyers or real musicians or both. I worry the rocket may be be too unoriginal, just an extra nice AC30. Maybe the jolt of an Express is what's needed?

I must go check on what cabs they have too as that would be prime in trying to sell any TW. Right now this is just a back burner idea. I really think once I add in shipping from USA/UK/EU for cab, chassis and parts, maybe customs, delays, it may not be worth it.

Their Mojo based tweed 5F1 goes for €1200. That's a lot! So maybe it's possible.

[dave g]

Want a really blasphemous opinion?

Build an express with VVR, and leave out the bypass cap on the 2nd preamp stage (or put something like an extra 1k resistor in series with it).

Most people will not play it at full volume, especially in the store. So it has to sound good at low volume, hence the VVR.

The express has too much gain. Almost nobody turns the volume knob past 1 o'clock. All of that extra gain is wasted and does nothing but increase noise and cause oscillations. Removing the 2nd stage's bypass cap (or reducing its effect via series resistance) is a great way to remove just the right amount of that gain and makes the amp a lot less fickle. It also makes the entire range of the volume knob actually useful.

The Rocket is probably my favorite trainwreck but like you said it's just a stripped down AC30. I dont like the liverpool because it drives the output tubes way too hard and as a result sounds fizzy. EL84s only need 1/3 the voltage swing as EL34s to drive them into clipping, but the liverpool (and most other EL84 amps) give them too much. A PPIMV would really do wonders in a Liverpool, though.

Building amps isn't a great way to make a living in the US, but maybe it's different across the pond.

[xtian]

^ nailed it.

[Blackburn]

The Rocket would be my choice, even though it's the most extensive/expensive to build, and is the most user friendly when pairing with a cab. My favorite circuit and pretty easy to make sound great and increase/decrease gain. The others may, like dave g says, scare off potential buyers and therefore be more difficult getting out the door.

Which one have you been leaning towards?

[martin manning]

The Express I built has a Lar-Mar PPIMV and a cut control, plus a trimmer to dial down the signal into V2. It is very manageable at low volume, but also has the option to max-out the MV and turn the cut down, which takes you back to the full Monty.

[M Fowler]

The Express I built has a Lar-Mar PPIMV and a cut control, plus a trimmer to dial down the signal into V2. It is very manageable at low volume, but also has the option to max-out the MV and turn the cut down, which takes you back to the full Monty.

Reminds me I need to play around with that trimmer on my Express based on Martin's layout.

[rp]

Most people will not play it at full volume, especially in the store. So it has to sound good at low volume, hence the VVR.

that's a damn good point, more initial cost, however, one more thing to have shipped.

I'm now convinced at least a MV would be essential in any of the TWs to sell in a shop, to people unfamiliar with the TW concept. Maybe first time around a Rocket with a MV would be the safe bet. I've got one half built, it was going to be for me but it's PTP and going into a tolexed box. If trying to sell a clone of a renowned amp I think it should look the part. Maybe finish mine then run it by them on sonics and then maybe get them to fund the cherry clone???

[JoeCon]

rp,

Allow me to disagree. I think you need to have it in some kind of cabinet, doesn't have to be cherry, when you bring it to the store. That alone sets it apart from all the other amps. The first thing you want is for it to be different. So it's looks are the first place to grab the buyer. It's like food, we eat with our eyes first. So it's gotta LOOK good.

Secondly it's much better to show up with a finished "prototype" than a chassis and some tubes. You wanna show them "this is what you get." Don't ask them to imagine in it in a cherry cab a finished amp.

First you get their interest with a wood cab then nail'em with the Rocket sonics.

[Zippy]

The Rocket is more stable, more intuitive for most people to play, and pedal-friendly.

[Smokebreak]

The Express I built has a Lar-Mar PPIMV and a cut control, plus a trimmer to dial down the signal into V2. It is very manageable at low volume, but also has the option to max-out the MV and turn the cut down, which takes you back to the full Monty.

Martin, do you favor the 50n/250K cut on the output couplers? I'm very interested to try this.