Video of my Express clone

[eazilyled]

Here is a quick video of my Express build using 3 different guitars.

http://youtu.be/zdkiO7PNowY

It was recorded using my line out / slaving rig so the volume is truly at bedroom levels. For that reason there's not much in the way of the glorious feedback / sustain you'd get when the amp is unattenuated. Anyway it should give a flavour of the tone, clean to mean capability etc.

Apologies for the lack of editing and slightly schizo playing.

[eazilyled]

Forgot to post amp settings:

Volume was at 2 o' clock. Bright switch on brightest setting. All other controls at 12 o' clock.

[gary]

as a fellow resident of the UK, I'm interested in where builders get their components and transformers. Any tips?

It sounds good, by the way!

[eazilyled]

Thanks Gary.

Well, my build was based on a Ceriatone kit from Malaysia and Heyboer trannies from the US, so not much came from the UK.

However, here are some places in the UK / EU that I know of:

http://www.rapidonline.com for general electronic components / tools.
http://www.ampmaker.com/store/home.php sells amp kits / parts.
http://vyseamps.com/ also sells amp kits / parts.
http://www.audiocap.co.uk sells a good range of caps - the SBE PS6 are a good substitute for the Mallory PVC caps.
http://uk.farnell.com/ - general electronic suppliers. Also sell the Vishay BC components filter caps that I and others have used.
http://www.tube-town.net/ttstore/ - German supplier of tube amp parts, good selection of transformers. I bought some good wire from here - I used some interesting silicon coated wire for my heater wiring.
http://www.trans-tronic.co.uk/ - another forum member plook says he has used transformers from these guys - think they make the vox OEM ones.
http://www.hotroxuk.com, http://www.watfordvalves.com, http://www.edicron.com - valves (tubes).

I guess it all depends on how close you want to get to the original parts selection. I reckon you can build a great amp using the above suppliers but you may have to look further afield if you want to get more accurate, particularly with transformers.

Hope this helps. I'm sure other UK members can point you in the direction of other places that I don't know about.

[gary]

Thanks for the info, a couple to add to my list there. Steve at Valvepower has been helpful to me in the past - good components and kits.

Did you get the trannies via a dealer or straight from the manufacturer?

[eazilyled]

I hadn't heard of valvepower so thanks I'll check them out.

I got my trannies direct from Heyboer back in Oct 2009, as at the time the original dealer Toneslut had stopped selling them. Back then it cost $130 for the PT, $105 for the OT, $283.10 total including shipping. Then there was customs charges (can't remember how much but you could probably add 20% as a rule of thumb), and of course VAT has gone up since then. Phil at Heyboer did mention at the time that Mojotone sell the transformers, but they only have the PT with a 120V primary.

Since that time fellow TAG member RJ Guitars (http://www.rjguitars.net/) started supplying the Heyboers (and others such as Pacifics and Edcors). I'm not sure if he does the 240V PT, but that's who I'd go with if I was ordering today.

[gary]

the old shipping + customs * vat sting

cheers