The Express on lower voltage?

Express, Liverpool, Rocket, Dirty Little Monster, etc.

Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal

Post Reply
Mark
Posts: 3271
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 8:10 am
Location: Sydney Australia

The Express on lower voltage?

Post by Mark »

I was wondering if anyone has tried their Express on the 260vac power supply secondaries as opposed to the normal 300vac secondaries?

I guesstimate that would drop 50VDC from your rail voltage, I suspect the timbre of the amp would be affected as it wouldn't be as bright, though it may break up sooner.

The other thought is having a pentode/triode switch on the amp. Surely these two moves would lower the volume but change the timbre of the amp. It may not be a bad thing though.
Last edited by Mark on Thu Nov 08, 2018 7:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
Yours Sincerely

Mark Abbott
andresound
Posts: 701
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:48 am
Location: Durban South Africa

Re: The Express on lower voltage?

Post by andresound »

Pulling up a chair
If it sounds good, it is good! Trust your ears
User avatar
martin manning
Posts: 14308
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:43 am
Location: 39°06' N 84°30' W

Re: The Express on lower voltage?

Post by martin manning »

There must be someone here Who has tried an Express with VVR?
andresound
Posts: 701
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:48 am
Location: Durban South Africa

Re: The Express on lower voltage?

Post by andresound »

Martin, I built an express with VVR. With a 20% reduction (I’m guessing, will have to measure voltages), the VVR is much better than a attenuator in my opinion. When reducing the express to 50% (approx 5 the dial), the amp looses feel and becomes fizzy). In the file section, I have placed a YouTube clip with a Tele. In that video the VVR was set to 7. That would be the maximum attenuation I would recommend.
https://youtu.be/Zbu3kGnudc4

Here is one with a humbukers.. https://youtu.be/1zZlKMMKls0
If it sounds good, it is good! Trust your ears
User avatar
Reeltarded
Posts: 10189
Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:38 am
Location: GA USA

Re: The Express on lower voltage?

Post by Reeltarded »

Has anyone ever liked triode modes? It always takes the face right off of an amp.

I can see a good outcome with lowering voltages on an Express. Softer but still with face would be great.
Signatures have a 255 character limit that I could abuse, but I am not Cecil B. DeMille.
User avatar
Reeltarded
Posts: 10189
Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:38 am
Location: GA USA

Re: The Express on lower voltage?

Post by Reeltarded »

andresound wrote: Wed Nov 07, 2018 2:36 pm Martin, I built an express with VVR. With a 20% reduction (I’m guessing, will have to measure voltages), the VVR is much better than a attenuator in my opinion. When reducing the express to 50% (approx 5 the dial), the amp looses feel and becomes fizzy). In the file section, I have placed a YouTube clip with a Tele. In that video the VVR was set to 7. That would be the maximum attenuation I would recommend.
https://youtu.be/Zbu3kGnudc4

Here is one with a humbukers.. https://youtu.be/1zZlKMMKls0

I really like the body of cleaned up with humbuckers. That's a great tone!
Signatures have a 255 character limit that I could abuse, but I am not Cecil B. DeMille.
andresound
Posts: 701
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:48 am
Location: Durban South Africa

Re: The Express on lower voltage?

Post by andresound »

Thanks. iPhone recording, so higher gain sound suffers (compression)
If it sounds good, it is good! Trust your ears
Post Reply