Project for a First Build (Did search, but I may be stupid)

[RJ Guitars]

This will cost you 2 cents... but you can owe me. Great discussion and lots of good guys adding into the collective wisdom so maybe i won't hurt the average.

First a freebee or two - Looks like your a Zeppelin fan? I can't say for sure but i never heard about Jimmy Page playing through a Wreck - does anybody know different? Of course a lot of great players made great music playing though not so great sounding rigs - EC comes to mind. Anyway, there are lots of rich guys who can't play with some of the best sounding amps in the world... and they don't sound so great. I'll go with the AC30 as my own personal favorite along with an old Marshall 1959 running a close 2nd. Listen to this if you want some evidence. The trainwreck Rocket "Amanda" is a somewhat perfected AC30 with a master Wreck player at the helm. http://derekferwerda.com/

To play a Wreck you gotta be willing (and able) to run the volume control up and down as needed and your favorite guitar might not be the ideal mate for an Express. The band, your neighbors, and your wife will grow irritating with their requests for you to back off a bit. Mr Colossal has it right IMHO - you can dampen a Wreck with MV or VVR or better yet with an attenuator, but the magic will fade with the volume.

Here is the part you paid your money for - As far as a first build, the Trainwreck amps are so well documented that even a first time Rookie can get all the right parts in the right place and build the amp. Be aware it might not sound great even at that? So there is a phase two in tweaking the build that can last a lot longer than building the amp. Some of us have created simplified versions that even a marginally trained monkey can put together (sorry to insult the monkeys - just trying to make a point. But you need more than instructions...

Here is the point - What you might not have is basic circuit savvy and the ability to solder... that comes with time and experience and unless you have those skills, the result can cause you amazing grief with tricky circuits like the Wreck amps. FWIW - Start with the most basic amp circuit you can find. Build it, modify, take it apart and build it again, and then move on as inspiration leads you.

[LedZepp007]

This will cost you 2 cents... but you can owe me. Great discussion and lots of good guys adding into the collective wisdom so maybe i won't hurt the average.

First a freebee or two - Looks like your a Zeppelin fan? I can't say for sure but i never heard about Jimmy Page playing through a Wreck - does anybody know different? Of course a lot of great players made great music playing though not so great sounding rigs - EC comes to mind. Anyway, there are lots of rich guys who can't play with some of the best sounding amps in the world... and they don't sound so great. I'll go with the AC30 as my own personal favorite along with an old Marshall 1959 running a close 2nd. Listen to this if you want some evidence. The trainwreck Rocket "Amanda" is a somewhat perfected AC30 with a master Wreck player at the helm. http://derekferwerda.com/

To play a Wreck you gotta be willing (and able) to run the volume control up and down as needed and your favorite guitar might not be the ideal mate for an Express. The band, your neighbors, and your wife will grow irritating with their requests for you to back off a bit. Mr Colossal has it right IMHO - you can dampen a Wreck with MV or VVR or better yet with an attenuator, but the magic will fade with the volume.

Here is the part you paid your money for - As far as a first build, the Trainwreck amps are so well documented that even a first time Rookie can get all the right parts in the right place and build the amp. Be aware it might not sound great even at that? So there is a phase two in tweaking the build that can last a lot longer than building the amp. Some of us have created simplified versions that even a marginally trained monkey can put together (sorry to insult the monkeys - just trying to make a point. But you need more than instructions...

Here is the point - What you might not have is basic circuit savvy and the ability to solder... that comes with time and experience and unless you have those skills, the result can cause you amazing grief with tricky circuits like the Wreck amps. FWIW - Start with the most basic amp circuit you can find. Build it, modify, take it apart and build it again, and then move on as inspiration leads you.

This seems like good advice. I may build a Champ, fiddle with it, and go from there. The only thing I find mildly concerning (although I'd treat electricity with respect) are the capacitors holding charge. Would anybody be able to direct me to schematic for a device to drain the caps?

I am a Led Zeppelin fan and consider them the greatest hard rock band. However (blasphemy!), I am not a huge fan of Page's tone and think that he is the weakest of the original four members. Gasp!

[vibratoking]

... I am not a huge fan of Page's tone and think that he is the weakest of the original four members. Gasp!

Your opinions just don't quit, do they?

Dood, don't allow yourself to be wooped by these guys. Build an Express and don't forget the 4x12.

[Colossal]

... I am not a huge fan of Page's tone and think that he is the weakest of the original four members. Gasp!

Blasphemy! Heretic!

Dood, don't allow yourself to be wooped by these guys. Build an Express and don't forget the 4x12.

Yeah, I agree with VibratoKing. If you like the amp, and that tone does it for you, build the amp. Guys are just pointing out the limitations with such a beast. Although is appears to be a simple build, there is more to it than that.

A 4x12 is a must

[JoeCon]

Mr. Zep

My first build was a Trainwreck Rocket amp. It can be done if you go slow, try to understand where and WHY things connect together and where it's all ending up. I plugged that beauty in and it worked great first chord...

Of course I had spent a good YEAR reading everything I could here and had some experience with amps in the past repairing and modding stuff.
I found a schematic and layout I wanted to do and found out all I could about it before ordering one component.

So it can be done...patience is the key!

And like Dave said...JIMMY PAGE RULES!!!!!

[xtian]

that even a marginally trained monkey can put together (sorry to insult the monkeys

I am one of those monkeys. No offense taken.

[Colossal]

that even a marginally trained monkey can put together (sorry to insult the monkeys

I am one of those monkeys. No offense taken.

Monkeymatic is monkey evolved! Monkey knows tone...and bananas.

Ape shall not kill ape.

[Ken Moon]

Monkey knows tone

You made me blow root beer out of my nose!

No more jokes until I finish lunch, please

[Mark]

He had some custom Heyboer 10W 22k primary OTs wound

I notice the circuit info mentions Hammond transformer, are the Hetboer transformers available?

I'm liking the idea, as I know how LOUD these amps get.

[M Fowler]

Is the Thrifty Wreck much different sounding from the AX84 440?

[LedZepp007]

Is the Thrifty Wreck much different sounding from the AX84 440?

Actually I have been wondering this as well

[Colossal]

Yeah, Thrifty Wreck is different. The 4-4-0 has an Express preamp mated to a 6SN7 dual triode running in fixed bias. OT primary is 22k for one pair of triodes and 11k for four triodes (two pair per side). That is a very good sounding 2W amp.

Oh, sorry, you said different sounding....haha, I have only played/heard the 4-4-0.

Mark,

I believe if you contact Heyboer and inquire about those OTs, Alden will help you out.

[drew]

The Dave Brons youtube video demonstrating the Thrifty Wreck is mighty impressive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj1pVyvCYy4

[KellyBass]

It sounds like your heart is set on the express, so you might as well dive in. My second amp was an express. the first was the ol' ax84. The express was a fantastic learning experience. It keeps ya honest!

Oh, and btw, all these guys who are making great, informed suggestions...trying to maybe steer you from the express...as your first build? They will be here, ready to help you with your express, that they warned you about...but your heart was set on building it. They're just great guys who wanna help.

Just be safe!

[Gibsonman63]

For what it is worth, I would do an easy. small build first to get your feet wet and mak sure you have all the tools, skills and space you need then dive in. My first build was an Express (kudos to RJ and to the forum for support and advice). I had already repaired a dozen or so amps and completely rebuilt a vintage Twin Reverb, so I had the tools and solder skills before I started. Lead dress is critical. I had some evenings where I would spend half an hour running only three or four wires so I could get them to lay just the way I wanted them to. This is why nobody builds ships inside of bottles anymore, tube amps are more fun when you finish!