Tonal Differences between a Rocket and Liverpool

[rawnster]

I'm very much "amped" to try another build. With that, I'm curious about the differences between the Rocket and Liverpool. So, I would appreciate reading your experiences between the two...especially in regards to tonal palette comparisons, how one would use each amp, and their limitations and versatilities.

Thanks!

[sst4270]

Having built both recently I can definitely agree with Allyn's assessment that the Rocket is the cleanest of the three models.
Mind you the Rocket gets dirty, but not until much later.

ST

[geetarpicker]

In my experience the Liverpool is much closer to an Express. A high gain amp that is probably best plugged straight it out to a 4x12. I find the Liverpool a little brighter than the Express and not quite as loud. I find the Liverpool starts to breakup more gradually than an Express making it actually a little harder to get a clean tone loud enough in a band when you get the lead tone about right. The Express seems to ramp into distortion later and ends up with a little more headroom, though actually breaks up more when you dime your guitar. The Rocket is much lower gain, more pedal friendly, and EQed to have more lows which helps to make it work on smaller cabs. On a downside the Rocket may more of a typical (mostly) clean sounding amp very much based on an AC30, where as the other two models are perhaps more unique in the amp world for something truly different.

[rawnster]

Thanks.

A Rocket's cleaner tones and pedal friendly platform is an intriguing option for sure.

Anymore considerations/comparisons?

[Stanz]

The Rocket seems to be a great rhythm amp, at least for me. It can can get some crunch, but shines with clean settings, but I really am liking it for rhythm stuff, a lot. Here are some Rocket clips.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=6473

[RJ Guitars]

Take a look at the post I made last night on the Derek Ferwerda thread. Derek has Rocket #1 and he tells me that it is "the do everything amp".

FWIW - Derek does not use any pedals with his Rocket.

He has provided some links to new and old sound clips of all his Trainwreck amps and has been very helpful in sorting out the sound of the various Trainwreck amps.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=6840

rj

[rawnster]

Again thanks for the responses!

RJ, the Rocket in that clip kills! If I didn't know what guitar Derek played, I would have sworn it was a tele. The amp cuts through the mix, and then blends back beautifully. Of course that does have something to do with studio engineering. Even so, if the amp truly was recorded and left flat, eq-wise, then very cool indeed.

Stanz: Thanks for the clips. I could some tonal similarities between your clips and Derek's clip.

Geez, I'm being pulled by some serious Rocket mojo. Any rebuttals for the Liverpool?

You know, doing this stuff is a blessing. Now, if I can just get my wife to buy in to it, I'll be set!!

[fishy]

I would do the Rocket before a Liverpool if I already had an Express in the house.
I love the Liverpool but it is still quite an aggressive amp. The Rocket covers more ground and tends to impress from with a different palette.

[dartanion]

I personally like the Liverpool to most out of the 3. Again, they all can be tweaked to taste, but for an all around amp (I am not a pedal guy ) I'll take the Liverpool.

They are all great amps that are a lot of fun to play. I just keep going back to the Liverpool. I like the sparkly cleans of EL84s, so that biases me just a little.

I would say if you are a pedal person, build the Rocket. If you are not a pedal user, either the Express or Liverpool. Then it's a matter of, "Do I like 34s or 84s...hmmm." Build one of each!!!

[soma_hero]

By pedals, do you guys mean any stompbox? Delay, chorus, wah, etc.... or just boost/distortion pedals?

I could see distortion pedals not interacting well with already high gain amps, but modulation pedals should be fine?

trying to decide which to build, and I definitely love my delays...