My first Express build...its alive!..pic added...question?

[guitarsnguns04]

I guess the time has come where I give this a shot. I have been reading and learning as much as I can about the express and have decided to to build one. So far I have a chassis,boards and signal cap en route but I need Everything else. I know Ron Worley has a bom but I thought I would ask the forum memebers if they have and parts available for purchase before I go chasing them all around the internet. As I said before I need everything so if you have any extra parts for an express that you want to sell let me know. I have built other amps before but never a TW. I am sure it will be a great experience. Thanks in advance to all who will be giving me pointers or selling me parts along the way.
I cant wait...

ps: thanks Geetarpicker for the tones that I cant get out of my head. This is all your fault..lol

[Ron Worley]

The lion's share of parts can be bought from Mouser and Allied components.

The special stuff is a little harder- start with Allyn at Ampbuildersparts for what he can help you with.

Trannies- Chris at Toneslut, hands down.
Chassis- Allyn
Boards- Dana (UR12) on the forum or maybe Allyn if they have any for sale.
Pots- Metro amps or TEDSS
Tubes- KCA or whatever you like

The oddball stuff like cabinet feet, etc are on the BOM...

Part of what helped me with my build WAS the chasing around for parts, pouring over the pics and mining the forum by searching for answers to your questions. God knows I asked enough.

I have Build Guide that is almost done; Omar will post it on the WIKI when I get it finished. I am doing my cabinet, and once I capture that info into the document it will be done.

Have fun!

Ron

[guitarsnguns04]

thanks Ron. You are a great asset to this webpage..I will look for your build guide in the wiki.

[declan]

ps: thanks Geetarpicker for the tones that I cant get out of my head. This is all your fault..lol

Deja Vu...

good luck with the build, .... im sitting looking at a million little plastic bags with parts in em, still more to come not to mention the bits i have probably missed. Got a nice piece of oak for the cab today too.

Rons BOM was invaluable thanks Ron, as is the informtion on this site, its very easy to get lost jumping from thread to thread, one month later im still learning, every question you can think of and 100 more you never thought to ask are probably answered somewhere.

[guitarsnguns04]

did you use mouser and allied for parts?

[declan]

i thought i could source most parts in the UK/europe, but it ended up a little cheaper and much less hassle to use mouser and allied... (even with import duty, VAT & admin fees)

you guys are spoiled in the US

toneslut trannys and allyns chassis were also a must. One or two substitutions had to be made from Rons BOM as some items were not in stock at mouser, and any smaller orders that just broke the $36 customs threshold unfortunately had to be dropped as the customs fees were getting too much. i.e. (total + 17 1/2% VAT + 3% duty + $16-$30 admin fee depending on the carrier)

Mouser must have the fastest shipping on the planet. I ordered some EL34's and tube sockets in the UK at the same time and the mouser order was here a day before. Allied unfortunately only shipped the parts i ordered 5 days later, but in fairness that may only be a problem for international orders.

Anything USPS shipped seems to take 2 weeks plus.

[paulster]

I've found that I end up buying at least half of my stuff from the States as it's way easier (and cheaper) to source from there than in the UK.

I do generally use USPS when I can though, because it's at least a lottery then whether it gets stopped in Customs.

That being said, since they centralised Customs in Coventry, everything's taken an age to clear.

[guitarsnguns04]

I am glad to be in the states. I never thought about the whole overseas shipping issues. I bet you guys have a small fortune in your builds with all the shipping and import taxes? Thanks for the comments

[guitarsnguns04]

oops double post

[guitarsnguns04]

So far I have my....chassis..boards..caps. I am still sourcing other parts but am getting ready to get building. I cant wait to get the rest of the parts. I think I am going to start building my headshell while I wait.

[guitarsnguns04]

were getting closer..I need my trannys yet and a few other little things but am hopeful.. Is 18 ga. solid copper wire of to build with? I have a bunch of it around and thought I should ask before proceeding. Any explanations would be greatly appreciated.

[declan]

you probably know this but heres a good overview of what most are doing

http://ampgarage.com/wiki/Trainwreck:Tweaking_Guide

Apart from being heavier wire if you can work with it why not? After populating/wiring my boards im glad i had some 20awg as the spacing/holes on the turrets worked out just about right to do a fairly neat job

[guitarsnguns04]

thanks for the response declan. I may experiment with it a bit tonight to see what happens

[guitarsnguns04]

well I actually got started today. I dont have trannys yet but I think..actually I hope I have evrything else. I am building from the Franchesca pics but I am not using the exact same wire color etc. I am looking to clone the tone..lol. In any event I soldered up my pots and bright switch and I have about half of one board populated. I am doing what I can outside of the chassis..I got some drilling to do before I mock it up. In any event I am excited to get solder flowing on my build. I will post some pics when I have enought done to look at.

[guitarsnguns04]

I need a little help. I am using Allyns board and am a little confused around the 25 trimmer pot connections on the power supply board. I have looked at all of the pics I could find and nothing seems real clear to me. I am using a Piher brand trim pot..it has 3 legs like a normal pot. My board seems to have an extra flea clip or two when compared to the Francesca pics. I am sure it is there to make something easier and is no mistake but I dont know what to connect to which.Does anyne have a pic or two of one Of Allyns boards populated they could share with me.
Thank you,