Tonal charecter of the different Trainwreck Designs

[havoc41]

First post and general amp building noob here... please forgive my very subjective high level question.

I'm considering tackling an Express build, or at the very lease asking Nik@Ceriatone to send me a partially assembled kit that i can put caps, tubes, PT and OT I want into.

I'm wondering where you all feel the Express, the Liverpool, and/or the Rocket shine? If one is more suited to a particular type of guitar, type of music, or style of play?

Like i said very subjective with oh so many variables in play... but am i way off, is the Express a more gritty driven Blues to Rock (Page, perhaps Hendrix) sound than say the Liverpool or Rocket?

Thanks
Rich

[gearhead]

One thread: https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... ool+rocket

The search function is "or" by default (don't now why). For example, to find threads with the all three trainwrecks in them, need to type in:

express and liverpool and rocket

[havoc41]

Thanks very much. Didn't find this in my searches, appreciate it.

[M Fowler]

I don't know, its all so addicting

Take for instance myself, I bought a Ceriatone Express assembled by Nik to play while I built a Liverpool. Then I decided I needed a Rocket, my favorite. Then I decided there must be a big difference in the Ceriatone Express and the Ampgarage builds so I built an Express too. I like the Pacific and Heyboer trannies better than Ceriatone. That Ceriatone will tear your freaking head right off with the volume it produces.

Probably if you only need one, perhaps the Liverpool would be the amp right smack in the middle of the Express and Rocket.

I'm no expert but is sure is fun to build and talk about.

[RJ Guitars]

I don't know, its all so addicting

I can quit any time I want to... I just don't see what the big deal is!

[M Fowler]

Yeah right rj

[KellyBass]

Ah, so that's why you sell the stuff, RJ?...to support your habit?

Well don't stop, you got great stuff!

[bcmatt]

As far as guitars go, I think I've read around here and also confirmed with my builds that the Liverpool seems to be the better match for single coil guitars and the Express matches well with humbuckers. Both can sound great with either, but I find the range on the Liverpool's volume knob gets quite dirty fast unless you have quite low output pickups. With the same guitar, you will end up turning the Express knob up higher to get the same level of grit. But then, the express is capable of getting raunchier in addition to having greater headroom. The Express can go from cleaner to meaner easier with your guitar volume knob.
I feel like the Liverpool has a "sparklier" tone and I prefer its cleans. That being said, you have to know that the liverpool and express are very similar to each other in style of amp. The rocket is not the stereotypical trainwreck and is the clean one. But I've only tried my one liverpool and 1 express build, so you should wait for some more informed opinions.
It seems that the single-coil/humbucker thing was the recommendation by Ken in some of the advertisements.