Essential components to recreate the EXPRESS sound....

[MCK]

The joints matter?!!

Well, you might be on to something here... IMHO, the joints, the quality & quantity of the joints definitely play a role in recreating the Express sound.

[selloutrr]

Nobody has decoded the secret yet but the express tone comes from:

-fuse holder
-original impedance switch
-tube sockets
-original pilot light
-power chord

and finally....the flea clips!!



That should be written in april's fools!! sorry I couldn't resist!!!

Actually some of that is true when you get down to impedance it all starts to matter.

[M Fowler]

Skin affect cannot be ignored and I'm quite sure the Columbia Red wire has a lot to do with the tone.

[selloutrr]

It was non irradiated wire so yes it was less bright

[redshark]

That is why I didn't write about the wire, just in case it has a mild effect, the impedance switch is just a switch, and I'm sure it has no effect whatsoever. Still the wire if it does has an effect it must not be noticeable to the average ear and even less noticeable playing the amp with the band on stage.

[selloutrr]

Switch matters too .

Sorry all the parts matter if you want the exact tone.

[Bob S]

So - to clarify - would any manufacturer of non-irradiated red wire with the correct amount of appropriate conductor strands, be ok.
Or does it have to be Columbia wire ?

[vibratoking]

Actually some of that is true when you get down to impedance it all starts to matter.

C'mon guys...a good connection is a good connection. There ain't no magic in the solder joints. The impedance of a joint? That's funny. It's just resistance and any small deviations in a good joint don't make a bit of difference. This is starting to sound laughable. Flea clips don't add or detract anything except esoteric nonsense that has nothing to do with tone. It's starting to sound like some here may sail off the edge of the earth. Our understanding is better than that, isn't it?

Sorry all the parts matter if you want the exact tone.

Each one sounds different. So the exact tone of what? You can match the parts all day long and it won't be exact, so that's not a realistic goal IMO.

[Bob S]

And let's not forget the knobs.

[Reeltarded]

In the worst case you could always use those wooden knobs that make everything sound cheap. Were they $450 each, or was that for pairs?

[vibratoking]

Each! There is no "buy two get one free" in that game.

[Reeltarded]

Ok, so to reknob my tweaker amp.. $5,400.00.

I think that is what a convertible BB Vette was in 1972 with air.

[vibratoking]

And worth every penny!

You may also want that special grill cloth with the paint smeared on just right. I hear it knocks the brightness off the Express like nothing else.

It's all about tone...at any cost.

[Reeltarded]

If I had $348,962 to spend on an amp I would. I would make an amp out of all these things.

Let's make a list and tally up a budget for a head and a 4x12.

So,

$10,000 book about amps
$ 5,400 knobs
$11,200 speaker cable

How much is that cloth?

[redshark]

Being honest, I never though that my express was bright. Even with irradiated wire and all that!!