Geetarpicker on the Plexi Palace board said that his Trainwreck has as much gain on 5 as his plexi on 10.
My question is whether the gain is useable on 10 or if it mushes out and gets overly compressed and muddy?
I'd dig being able to use that much gain on tap!
I've also read that the circuit causes the power tubes to saturate before the phase invertor does. Is that true, and if so, how does a PPIMV sound with it?
I find my Express is usable for a lead tone with the volume on 10, IF I back the bass knob down to at least half or lower. The amp is quite compressed set like this, but it definately isn't muddy. I've use to cover Cliffs of Dover with the amp set that way. Heck I could get controllable feedback from the opposite side of the stage then the amp was set up on, even on a big stage.
Better have nicely potted pickups though to run that kinda gain. Also be prepared to mute every string that you aren't actually playing. Oh, and even slightly microphonic 12ax7s become quite offensive with this kinda gain. Ken always said to put the amp head on a thick piece of foam rubber, or don't even put it on top the cab at all.
I found from building my clone that the amps' volume could be set to "10", however the consequences were the pickups feeding back, or in the case of a well potted pickup, the pickup would shake in the mounting ring and feedback.
Personally, I thought the amp sounded it's best with the volume control set between 11:00 and 3:00 o'clock. It's not overly compressed and it is easily control from the guitar.
Mind you, Geetarpicker owns the real thing, so...........
Mark wrote:Personally, I thought the amp sounded it's best with the volume control set between 11:00 and 3:00 o'clock. It's not overly compressed and it is easily control from the guitar.
I agree with Mark on this one. The 11-3 area seems like the sweet spot on my clone. Anything more and it becomes too compressed for my taste. I would not say it's muddy at higher settings just not my cup o' tea.
