Solo boost with an Express?

[Lublin]

I have a great sounding Express clone that I want to start gigging out with but I'm a little confused how I'm going to get a volume boost for my solos. If I stick a clean boost out front all it does is overload the preamp and add gain. Any suggestions?

[geetarpicker]

Yep as you have learned once an Express is cranking there is no more headroom to give you any response from a boost short of more gain and noise. Point of the Express is when you are running it distorted you are using the entire circuit as a team to do so.

However 3 ways come to mind for you quest, the first being the best IMHO>

1) IF you are doing gigs where you mic the amp it's simple, hire a sound man.

2) IF you are already using a power attenuator mod it in some way to have a footswitchable boost.

3) IF you are miking the amp on stage (but don't have a regular sound guy) you might be able to build an XLR box with a footswitchable mic pad you could have it set for 2 different levels out to the soundboard.

4) IF the amp has power scaling maybe you could mod that for two footswitchable levels.

5) Yet another form of attenuation would be to run the amp into a speaker simulator and/or attenuator with a line out. Then you could run it into a volume pedal, passive boost switcher etc. then on to a power amp/cab. The trick though would be to get the amp to sound decent attenuated and reamped as such. A Palmer unit might be worth looking into. The Ultimate attenuator does this in one box, and at one point they did offer them with a two knob footswitchable output. That said, I never could get mine to give a good clean to dirty ratio....something about the input impedance of the unit caused the amp to not clean up well compared to other passive attenuators.

6) Probably not workable but use the amp in a 3 piece (guitar/bass/drum, plus singer?) band format only. I've found when you only have 1 guitar you rarely need a boost for solos.

[LeftyStrat]

I do believe London Power scaling does offer a way to have two volume levels that can be switched with a relay.

You may also want to take a look at the GMX-KIT. Normally it is only used as a feel enhancer, but can also be used as a power enhancer.

[greekie]

If you build, say, an AirBrake, tag a rheostat in series with the resistors to the output, and get a suiltable relay (5A should do) to short it out when you need your solo boost.

Either that, or bypass the tone controls. Or bypass the treble cap with a larger cap - 2nF would be my first bid.

All methods work very well, and are easy to implement.

[eazilyled]

Yet another form of attenuation would be to run the amp into a speaker simulator and/or attenuator with a line out. Then you could run it into a volume pedal, passive boost switcher etc. then on to a power amp/cab.

This is the route I intend to go. I have a line out rig for quiet home playing, which is a Hotplate attenuator set to load, then a line out into a power amp. I have to say that this setup smokes using the Hotplate alone at high attenuation settings, although at quiet volumes you don't get the feedback / bloom thing.

I originally used the effects return of a Mesa Tremoverb as the power amp and that sounded great, but I've just bought an EHX Magnum 44 power amp (pedal sized). It's can be a little hissy on the bright setting, but can be loud enough to be used for small to medium sized gigs, not to mention being very convenient to transport.

I may also pick up a Morley Little Alligator volume pedal which works with a line level signal. That way I'll have the guitar volume as the gain control, and the overall volume control at my feet.

[Cliff Schecht]

How much boost do you need? I usually will back the volume down some and play neck to "hide" more in the mix and kick on the bridge pickup at full volume for solos. The bridge of any guitar through an Express should cut through the mix no problem.. People usually go the other way trying to tame the Express' volume compared to the rest of the band.

[RJ Guitars]

Glen, thanks for those tips... some cool ideas and obviously road tested. rj