Amp Viagra?

[Winder]

I love my Express build. Closest thing to the tone in my head I've had, and I haven't flipped the switch on any of the herd of "other" amps currently taking up space in my music room. But ...

I recently decided to mod a Boss GE-7 as I love the pedal but it hisses a lot out of the box and I heard it could sound better with different Op Amps. My original GE-7 sounds good. I bought a new one just to mod and put it in front of the Express. Set it relatively flat (frown, with boost but fairly flat across 200Hz to 3.2kHz). Now we're talking. I know this tone isn't everyone's cup-o-tea, but it's nirvana for me except for a bit of hiss (less than pre-mod), which I can generally live with.

I know I'm guilty? ... of thinking I should be able to get exactly what I want by jacking straight in, but damn, I've been after this shizz for 40+ years. I only wish I didn't have tinnitus so bad now so I could rip it up a bit louder. It's exhilirating to be able to play for an hour or more without even thinking "Man, this is great, but there's just a little sumpin'-sumpin' that seems to be missing." When you're mind is on what's missing, the groove is missing too.

So, is this something I should be able to "tweak" into the amp without the EQ on the front or should I just go with the EQ and call it a day?

[Colossal]

Good for you, man! It's always great when you find your tone, you know?

[lumox0013]

im gonna go with ( if it aint broke - ?() nothing wrong with a little pedal love. ! cheers

[Roe]

I love my Express build. Closest thing to the tone in my head I've had, and I haven't flipped the switch on any of the herd of "other" amps currently taking up space in my music room. But ...

I recently decided to mod a Boss GE-7 as I love the pedal but it hisses a lot out of the box and I heard it could sound better with different Op Amps. My original GE-7 sounds good. I bought a new one just to mod and put it in front of the Express. Set it relatively flat (frown, with boost but fairly flat across 200Hz to 3.2kHz). Now we're talking. I know this tone isn't everyone's cup-o-tea, but it's nirvana for me except for a bit of hiss (less than pre-mod), which I can generally live with.

I know I'm guilty? ... of thinking I should be able to get exactly what I want by jacking straight in, but damn, I've been after this shizz for 40+ years. I only wish I didn't have tinnitus so bad now so I could rip it up a bit louder. It's exhilirating to be able to play for an hour or more without even thinking "Man, this is great, but there's just a little sumpin'-sumpin' that seems to be missing." When you're mind is on what's missing, the groove is missing too.

So, is this something I should be able to "tweak" into the amp without the EQ on the front or should I just go with the EQ and call it a day?

Modding the amp would be interesting. I'm removing some low bass on mine, using a 2.2uf cathode cap on the two first stages

[Winder]

Don't do that to me Roe!!

I do like a bit "crisper" bottom that cuts through the mix a bit more. Let the Bass guitar provide the predominance of bass, if you will. Not thin, but a bit of edge that I couldn't seem to just dial in with the amp EQ without getting ice-picky. I'm pretty confident that my pickups are on point. I installed a Monte Allums GE-7 Plus mod ... cap upgrades, chip sockets, replaced the original Op Amps with RC4559P and OPA2134PA Op Amps. Really enhanced the clarity and harmonics and dropped the noise quite a bit. Can "roll" Op Amps now too, I guess. Probably can't run it on battery very long due to higher current draw, but I use a power brick so I thought I'd give it a run.

I have most of the parts gathered for another Express and a Rocket ... just need the iron, and to get going.

[Roe]

instead of the ge7, try a 2-5nf bright cap. it gives a great boost with tight lows. add a small snubber if there's too much treble. I'm using a 470pf cap between grid and cathode of the first gainstage, simulating a high capacitance guitar cable (common back in the day). the added capacitance changes the resonanse peak freq of the pickups downwards from ca 5k to 2k (dep. on capacitance obviously)