TW Express build...it's alive!

[tob]

Hey guys,

here's a sample of my first Express build. I'll upload gut photos next week. I only intend to use it with 6V6s so I used the Fender Deluxe replacement OT from Hammond. Being curious as to how Wima MKS4 caps would sound like I replaced the Roederstein 1813s and Orange Drops I had originally used, so you're hearing Wimas and a ceramic Stelco 470p treble cap.

The setup for all samples in this mp3 is the same:

• Music Man Axis Super Sport w/ 2 Humbuckers
• Tung-Sol 12AX7 (V1), JJ ECC83 (V2, V3), JJ 6V6s
• Bright switch at 500p, Volume at 6, Treble 7, Mids 4.5, Bass 5, Presence 6.5. The amount of distortion is only changed by the guitar's volume pot
• 1x12" cab with one Celestion G12H speaker
• Shure SM57

Cheers,
Tobias

[nickt]

Very interesting - about to start my first Express which will probably always use 6V6's. Liked the sweet stuff at the start a lot - excellent playing throughout.

Congratulations!

[Fredaxis]

That's great, it sounds great with 6V6 !

I have some salvaged 6V6 Xformers (300/0/300; 6600) that I may wnt to use for a 6V6 Epress later on.

congrats!

[Lonely Raven]

Wow, chimey and grindy all in one package...sounds like you did it up well! I especially like the satch boogie part. A little fizzy, especially on the bass notes, but that rocked out for sure!

[benoit]

This is seriously my favorite wreck clip, esp the stuff towards the end. Nice work! I still love Glen's clips but this one is more my style, playing wise.

[drhulsey]

... here's a sample of my first Express build...

That is a seriously sweet, singing amplifier, mein Freund
Dreimal hoch

[tob]

Thanks a lot, guys! I played it some more and the slight fizz goes away when the amp is cranked up past 7. In fact, the treble is cut noticeably then, or maybe it's just my ears that shut down at that volume. Has anybody here had a similar experience?

As content as I am with the sound of this build (that wide smirk hasn't left my face for the last two weeks) the noise level at zero signal is too high for my taste. Much higher than my not-very-quiet Tweed Deluxe build for sure. The very bright switch position is worst whereas the tone and presence pots' effect is minor compared to that switch. I'll take pictures next weekend (must not forget to take camera with me on Friday!!) but again, maybe someone here has experienced a similar thing and could give me a lead.

Cheers,
Tobias

[El_Martin]

Hi Tobias!

Remember: TWs are running three only slightly attenuated gainstages with no master. Try this with any higain amp and listen

There are some measures to reduce hum/hiss...
What size of capacitor are you using between the two 6V6 plates? Try a bigger one, if you don't lack highs...
EDIT: GRIDs not plates, sorry (a rc-combination across the primaries of the OT would also tame highs)

UF rectifiers, snubber caps across diodes

Grounding and lead dressing makes some differences, too
Gridstoppers would be another idea.


Sehr schoenes Tonbeispiel, gefaellt mir gut

Ciao
Martin

[Lonely Raven]

As for the treble tapering off as the volume goes up...I've heard that from several real Trainwreck owners, and I think it's written somewhere on the Trainwreck.com web page. So I figure that's part of the design.

It is a noisey amp. Many pages of information here on how others have tried to tame that a bit.

[El_Martin]

Hi Tobias!

These kind of bright-switches, when engaged, open up a parallel path for higher frequencies across the volume pot. For lower volume settings there are more highs. If volume is fully cranked, the capacitor is shorted and gives no effect.
Look at the schemo for further insight

Ciao
Martin

[tob]

Hi Tobias!

These kind of bright-switches, when engaged, open up a parallel path for higher frequencies across the volume pot. For lower volume settings there are more highs. If volume is fully cranked, the capacitor is shorted and gives no effect.
Martin

D'oh! I didn't look at it that way but of course it makes perfect sense now!

[tob]

This is what the amp looks like.

[tob]

...more photos...

[tob]

...and three more.

[Structo]

Looks great!
Do many of you guys use the Toroid tranny in these?