anyone gut their express and build something else

[wsaraceni]

i dont know if i'll ever get this express working properly. and i've kinda lost interest in trying to do it some more. i'm at a point now where i either 1)need to pay someone to finish it for me (know of anyone in NJ) or 2) gut it and build something simpler. Ideally using the same transformers. I wish I could build something along the rocket/songwriter/z-wreck style. but who knows. what would you guys suggest?

[LarryLarry]

There are a lot of helpful people here, I'm sure if one of them is close enough to you they'd take a look and see what you've got going on. If you were in Atlanta, I'd take a look (but I'm nowhere near the caliber of other techy guys here!)...

Best of luck and don't give up! (Love my Express)

[Bob S]

I'd stick with it. The Express has a character of her own.
But ... quite a few - me included - have built big bottle Rockets.
I'm sure the search function will come up with some good info & schematics.
Good Luck!

[LeftyStrat]

Post picks and people here will help. Don't be afraid or ashamed of your build quality. People will help with the debugging process, and you'll learn a lot.

And you'll have a big grin on your face when you finally fire it up.

[redshark]

I'm in atlanta area too, otherwise I would help you. The express was the first amp that I ever built so it can be done. Just be patient and look every wire, every connection checking the layout and schematic posted in the building guide. You can make it happen!!!

[Tillydog]

i dont know if i'll ever get this express working properly.

What's the problem?

know of anyone in NJ

OK, whaddapwablim?

Ask and ye shall receive.....

[jelle]

Union county...

I would be happy to see if l can help. I would be glad to return a favor to the community.

[gktamps]

wsaraceni,

Jelle is a generous, knowledgeable bloke, and spent a good amount of time helping me with my current build - I'll bet he can help you out. In fact, this forum has a lot of talented, helpful folks, so don't throw in the towel until they've had a chance to give you some input.

Cheers

[LeftyStrat]

wsaraceni, to echo what gktamps said, this is a guy that has played more than one Dumble and met Henry Kaiser. Seriously take him up on this offer. This is an opportunity of a lifetime.

And Jelle, if you are ever in Seattle, would love to show you around. We could even visit Soldano and THD (Andy Marshall) shops which are very close to where I live.

[RJ Guitars]

I certainly think the Express can be a circuit that tempts you to save the big pieces and start over, but I think if you get one just right, it will be worth the effort. In addition to his other magic, I sorta see this as a circuit that Ken Fischer swapped tubes around to make it work... rather than change the circuit to make the tube he had in it the first time work. For those without a big stash of tubes, you are probably going to have to do some circuit tweaking and then maybe Jelle can help you add a little magic too. YMMV rj

[wsaraceni]

thanks for the replies guys. i'll post pics. i think i should finish re-wiring it up and firing it up and then seeing if i can get assistance for tweaking it. no point wasting someone else's time with the easier stuff. i'll post a picture tonight so you can see where I am and maybe comment on anything i might have seriously missed.

i also just ripped out the power section of my 18 watt lite iib that i havent touched in forever. so now i can hopefully add VVR to it.

[jelle]

Cool.

[jelle]

wsaraceni, to echo what gktamps said, this is a guy that has played more than one Dumble and met Henry Kaiser. Seriously take him up on this offer. This is an opportunity of a lifetime.

And Jelle, if you are ever in Seattle, would love to show you around. We could even visit Soldano and THD (Andy Marshall) shops which are very close to where I live.

Thanks! I'd love that. Will let you know. Jelle

[wsaraceni]

here are some pictures. anything i should adjust before i move forward?

[img:800:598]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/ ... G_2802.jpg[/img]

[img:800:598]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/ ... G_2803.jpg[/img]

[wsaraceni]

[img:800:598]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/ ... G_2800.jpg[/img]

[img:800:598]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/ ... G_2799.jpg[/img]