Heavy strings, hard attack = Bad Express Tone

[rooster]

I just wanted to bring this up because for some reason this point has been driven home quite often lately. If you pick hard - like your playing an acoustic guitar 'hard' - and you use a gauge of strings bigger than a .009 - .042 - then you are not going to get an Express circuit. You will not find the experience enjoyable and you will not 'get' the Express. You need a disciplined pick attack and some finesse. The Express is a sensitive amp, not a BF Fender or a Marshall Plexi.

There, I said it.

[M Fowler]

I build them but I can't stand my playing through an Express.

Yup my string attack is hard so I enjoy a Marshall high gain amp or the Hot Rod Tweed "Bluesmaster" circuit 50w.

Mark

[Roe]

I prefer light strings and a softer magnet. Try the throbak magnets, e.g. unoriented alnico 5

[2tone]

Yep.. Express tells you how it wants to be played..It does teach you about dynamics, more accurate picking etc.. You can't resist an Express, only join and comply!!!

[Mark]

I think strings do have a sweet spot on how hard you can strike them. 10-46 and 10-52 sound fatter and it's likely that you'll play them harder. I'm sure you can strum them softer too.