Meet Sharlene

[redshark]

Use the Lava coily cable if you want to simulate the effect of running long cable with added capacitance.
I think what darkens the tone the most is using a 4x12 with old celestion 25 watter copies or original pre rolas like Glen's.
The scumback M75 or the weber 1225 with prerola doping will get you close. It really smooths the tone and makes the use of the bright switch not as shrill. Also is important to turn the volume up to minimize the effect of the bright switch and if you have a guitar with bright pickups is ok to use the low bright setting (100pf) or not use it at all.
Ken had to put that bright switch because the 80's was a time of hot humbuckers that sounded really muddy without the bright switch on but for a guitar with low gain vintage pickups it might be ok without it.

[RJ Guitars]

Hello all... Just finished my first Express clone... Named her Sharlene after my wife. ...

Pardon my opportunistic editing here, but I did want to make sure that everyone is aware of the potential dangers of naming an amp after your wife. This idea works great if you are a one amp kinda guy, but when you get down to needing another one then it can get kinda messy. If you do get past all the financial and permission issues then she will want to know what you are going to name the 2nd one and why you chose that name. Worse yet she may suggest that you name it after her mother!

rj

[Zippy]

Whoa, someone has given this some deep thought...

P.S. I have a fresh bag o' Ohori's "Costa Rica" in the office. I'll give it a try just to make sure it's the good stuff.

Travel well.

[T Wilcox]

Have not given that much thought I guess if I decide to build a Liverpool or a Rocket I will have to name it after my mom or my niece, do dogs count?

Good thing this naming convention is unique to TWs or i'd be in trouble already

Todd

[Gibsonman63]

Rookie mistake. I named the first one after my Wife. I just stamped my current build last night naming it after my Mom. Fortunately we have a female dog, so I can build one more Trainwreck before I have to move on to something else.

[T Wilcox]

Hey guys

So right now I have 4 amps that I've built and like to play each one for what it has to offer but do not have enough 12ax7 tubes for all of them so I have been swapping tubes between amps. I have some ANOS GE 12AU7s and decided to put one in the Express ( Sharlene ) V1 position just to see how it sounds and whoa I really like it. Gives up way more clean headroom with the 12AU7. Although I do like the distorted/overdriven sound of the Express with all 12 AX7s this has made the amp a little more useable for my style and takes pedals much better IMO as well.
Has anyone else here ever tried pre's such as the 12AU7 in their express and if so what were your impressions?

Todd