About the trainwreck "reissues"...

[redshark]

Well, I tried to do a little research on this topic and it seems that this info is legitimate and soon we'll witness this new generation of trainwrecks.
It will be very interesting to see how this amps will sound. Also is well known here that the "clones" that were produced this years were "close" but not perfect compared to the originals.
Let's see if the information and parts that are put in the hands of "JM" make posible to build an amp that to the most discriminative ears sounds dead on to a real wreck.

[ampmike]

Hey Redshark,I am about to start my express and would you think maybe if i followed all the info here i could 99% nail the tw express,It really gets into the details to the T here.Its kinda of crazy,somedays Im pshyed and ready and other days I worry I might end up with a "HOWLING MESS" words of GK.
On GK site it looks like he plays out with some clones I would imagine he had to have nailed an express.Is an express available yet from TW co.?
I mean it would probably cost in around $1200.00 to make a clone and if you could get one for $4000 it would always be worth the investment you would think.I guess we will have to see how this unfolds.Also does anybody know if these new amps are being built in NJ?Maybe at some point I could go to the shop and play one.Thats kinda how most small amp Co. work.I live by Diaz and he wont let you leave untill you have tried them all.Mike C

[redshark]

Look ampmike, If you download all the information from here and when you build you take everylittle detail as very important you won't end up with a howlin' mess. I built mine and I'm very happy with the results but I have to say I checked every single connection I did like 5 times and didn't build all at once. I populated the boards first, then I mounted tube sockets and wired the heaters. Then mounted boards and trannies, then wired preamps, then wired power tubes, then wired power board and then I did all the front controls. Just be organized and do only one thing at once with 120% attention to detail.
Check the pics a million times and follow indications as close as posible.
The most important thing comes after that, really. Bias and preamp tube selection specialy if you don't have a big tube stash can take forever until it sounds good to your ears through the speaker cab you play and using your favorite guitar with the right pickups and the right wiring....
Sounds crazy? yes it is!!

[ampmike]

Thanx Redshark,That is very helpful to read about your build,It is going to be a year in the makings,and i understand like you said the tubes and bias is an effort within itself.It sounds like you ended up very happy.So i guess Ill start with buying the trannys,board and chassis from RJ.Then I think Ill go in the same order as you did on the build.So mabey at the end of the day it is possible to have a great sounding amp.Ive built a few Metro: plexie,Brownote,Mojo 18 watt and now Im finishing a Twin reverb.One thing this building does is gets your mind off of wanting all kinds of amps made by big Co.'s.Thanx Man,You encouraged me to push on and take the challenge,
Have a great Day Mike C.

[redshark]

well, it seems you have a little bit more experience than me so that will help you.
Going back to the topic as soon as we know how close to the "real deal" these reissues are I think I might pull the trigger with one, specialy a rocket.
I heard one of those before (a real one) and is the most 3d amp I've ever heard.

[ampmike]

No man I dont have as much expierience as you,the problem with kits is you find yourself just putting parts together and not really understand what each componet does.I wish I could go back in time and take some courses in electronics,peaple here blow me away with there knowlege.You got a real experience building a express from scratch.Did you put it in a wood head cab? Mike C. Ps,What would a rocket cost from JM,?

[Cliff Schecht]

$1200 and year to build a clone . Mine will take me maybe two weeks, mostly because I'm waiting on parts in the mail (thanks Andy, Dave, RJ and hopefully Ron ) and should end up costing about $200 total (minus shiny wood cab).

[redshark]

I think if I'm not mistaken that a rocket reissue will cost something between 4-5k.
I don't understand that much electronics either but my express clone is the first amp I had ever built by mysef although I had modded a few other amps. I bought a cherry cab for it but I'm not done with it. Need to decorate my faceplate and still experiment with biasing and preamp tubes.

[ampmike]

Cool,I got the 1200 figure from,chassis,boards,trannies 325.,Wood cab=400.00 Parts and tubes 475.00 easey! Good tubes are expensive!
So the express with the head cab could be around 1200. or more.What do ya think? Where did you get the cherry cab?

[selloutrr]

if you want a 99%+ clone that isn't a mess, take your time... track down as many or all of the original parts and voice it. you will have a TW.
by voice it i basically mean make it sound good to your ears. bias it hot and make sure it's stable when dimed.
$1200 for a new parts clone seems high. $200 sounds nice but $800 is a more realistic average... all original parts is closer to $4000+. it all comes down to how bad you want something and how much you are willing to pay... personally most of the $4000 is in shipping. It doesn't feel like much a $100 here $60 there... then you sit down and add it up and go .. holy shit!

as for the reissues i'm waiting to hear them before i decide which side of the fench i'll go. he has some big shoes to fill I wish him the best.

[M Fowler]

Plan to spend $600-$800 for a Wreck and take your time enjoy the build process learning.

Your on the right track with NOS tubes they sure do cost and one of the largest portions of the wreck build. So after all said and done perhaps $1200 is the right price.

I try to use commercially available tubes and garage finds old tubes. Can't seem to let go of all that money on tubes but that is what it takes to get a wreck dialed in.

Enjoy

[mac0611]

If you take the time to build your own, the money you save can go into premium components and tubes with cash to spare. Plenty of resources and excellent folks here to help out. Besides, if Ken didn't tune it, it is a clone anyway, no matter how good it may sound. So save yourself some money and learn at the same time.

[ampmike]

Hey guys,Has there ever been a side by side kinda blindfold test on a clone vs real TW?I really dont see that anywhere on You Tube or in any forumns.MJC

[MCK]

Besides, if Ken didn't tune it, it is a clone anyway, no matter how good it may sound. So save yourself some money and learn at the same time.

Exactly what I was thinking. With that idea in mind one could suggest that even real wrecks might one day become clones if they require a cap job and/or re-tubing. The second you touch something substantial in there its not going to be the same amp that KF lovingly voiced. Just my humble opinion. I know I can get yelled at for this.

[M Fowler]

I don't use the word clone when describing my TW amps as they are far from being exact. Not too many that are built on this forum can truely be classified as a clone.

I still find it funny that JM had to start with the Rocket first because as he found out its the easiest one to CLONE.