Express acting up!!

[ampmike]

Hey Guys,Ive been enjoying my express these days,One problem,Today the Vol. pot just stayed on.Amp was screaming loud and turning the vol. did nothing.So I shut it off waited a bit and it was working fine and then it did it again.Do you think it is just a bad pot or somthing else.They are good potentiometers,Clarastats,Im dont think thats spelled corectly.Thanks Mikey

[Gibsonman63]

Are you sure it isn't a microphonic tube? Mine takes off if I put it on the speaker cabinet, but works great as the head is isolated from the cabinet. Once is goes microphonic, you have to put the amp in standby to stop it.

[M Fowler]

Mikey make sure the volume pot pin 3 is grounded to buss bar if not that can open up and amp will take off like crazy.

[ampmike]

Thank guys ,Im sure its one of the two.Your description"TAKES OFF" is exactly what it is doing.As always you guys are THE BEST!!!!!!Mikey

[Tin Ears]

Mikey make sure the volume pot pin 3 is grounded to buss bar if not that can open up and amp will take off like crazy.

Isn't it lug 1 of the volume pot that gets grounded?

[mumford]

Yep, I had this problem and the buss had come off of the pot housing.

[M Fowler]

Some people label them 123 and others label them 321 and a long time ago I tried to get an official ruling from my search and to this day people label the pins differently.

So looking at the pot from the back with pins up the left outer pin is grounded whatever number you wish to assign.

Mark

[Tin Ears]

It's always been my understanding that with the pot's shaft pointing towards you and with the solder lugs down they are numbered 1, 2 & 3 from left to right.

[ampmike]

Ok,It was the ground on the pot,I pulled it off very easily,Amp is SMOKIN again,Its kinda funny I had a 4x12 marshall here for a while and my buddy needed it back.I Have Only 2X12 CABS marshall, boogie.I made a 2x12 and put 2 weber speakers in it.The cab is solid pine,I left a 6" panal off on the back and it is the best sounding of all the cabs.Its a real nice match.My college crew is home this weekend and its time to do a Utube thing with my express,I really apreciate all the help I got here on TAG.Its kept me sane during job loss and being home after being busy for 25yrs,Also I mailed rj a money order for a rocket build.Its been about 9 days.Coming from Pa. to N.M. he hasn't got it yet as of yesterday.Is that normal?I know its the holidays but Im getting a bit nervous.Thanks Mikey

[M Fowler]

rj probably kicked his mail under the floor mat I'm sure the money order will get there or already has Mikey.

Glad you got the amp up and running buddy. Did you work on pin 3 or 1?

Mark

[M Fowler]

It's always been my understanding that with the pot's shaft pointing towards you and with the solder lugs down they are numbered 1, 2 & 3 from left to right.

So based on that then I was correct in my answer above.

Mark

[ampmike]

Yea Mark ,You were correct,No,Im not worried about rj,Just the postal service if it was ever lost,I did keep the receit copy.Im sure the holidays jam up the mail service.So what will the rocket be like compared to the express?
Should I use the express wire{thin stuff} or just normal pvc coated?And would you guys recomend nos preamp tubes,Thanks,Mikey

[M Fowler]

The Rocket will be tame but full of tone!

I have been using topcoat lately and like that.

[RJ Guitars]

rj probably kicked his mail under the floor mat I'm sure the money order will get there or already has Mikey.

Glad you got the amp up and running buddy. Did you work on pin 3 or 1?

Mark

Always good to have a vote of confidence...

Mikey I haven't seen that envelope yet... doesn't seem like it should be taking that long. Maybe time to call in the USPS detectives.

Glad you got the Express amp working O.K.. Are you using the grounding lugs on the pots? I can't recall if you used the PECs or not but the solder will definitely not stick to a PEC... do I have the right issue?

I've got the super duper PVC insulated holy grail solid core wire although I know a lot of guys use the teflon shielded stuff with no problems in a Rocket build.

Rockets tend to set the bar really high for clean tone and offer some real sweet crunch when you push them. Not anything as agressive as your Express though.

rj