ODWan, you mighta missed my question above:
ODwan, how did you implement the triode/pentode mod?
some doubts about Express - first and second post - edited
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
and now the second doubt
Here I am again, in the last part of my decision for a new amp.
I'm going to buy an amp from Nikn, plus some other possibilities (I have found two good deal just yesterday).
I play rock and hard funky, Pearl Jam mostly. I like a quite darker tone, not too much midrange, silky-smooth-violin like leads, don't like EL84 brightness and type of growl. Infact I'm thinking to Fender BF too.
I never play in large clubs unmiked!! In Italy nobody plays like that, we must have decent sounds at quite low volume.
I'll play this amp as my only amp, as for pedal I'll use an OCD and a FD2
Here's the alternatives:
- 18watt TMB. I've just said I don't like EL84 and plexi midrange and often muddy basses, but 18w seems a different beast, and this is a classic with just the right power.
- T-wreck Express with the mods discussed in this thread, Nik can arrange them for me. 6V6s.
This is wonderful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgKPwtcey_s
are there any possibilities to get that kind of sound, gain and useable volume with a DIY Express?
- Fender. I have two great deal. A Bandmaster pre CBS, obviously BF, with Tung Sols checked last year. A change to 6V6s, and I will have a solid state rectifier Deluxe Reverb of the past, maybe an OCD will bring me here:
http://www.fulltone.com/audio/OCD_LP_BfDlxRev.mp3
or maybe I don't have the right power for chords and busses will become muddy.
The other one is a Bassman SF 100w, but this one is in great shape and last week was checked and retubed by one of the best technician here in Italy. Not a good amp (and investment) like the bandmaster, but maybe more pedal friendly and so more rock oriented.
I can think to Deluxe Reverb reissue too, but since the chance of getting the bandmaster it has no sense, or a Bassman reissue LTD.
I know I'm jumping through very different kind of amps, but it's quite difficult to decide for the Trainwreck since is a kind of design never hear in person, and that I'll never heard until I get one by myself.
Fenders are plug and play beauties, Express "rubber foam under it as suggeste by the man himself" makes me worrying about it.
I'd like to hear your comments.
Thanks.
I'm going to buy an amp from Nikn, plus some other possibilities (I have found two good deal just yesterday).
I play rock and hard funky, Pearl Jam mostly. I like a quite darker tone, not too much midrange, silky-smooth-violin like leads, don't like EL84 brightness and type of growl. Infact I'm thinking to Fender BF too.
I never play in large clubs unmiked!! In Italy nobody plays like that, we must have decent sounds at quite low volume.
I'll play this amp as my only amp, as for pedal I'll use an OCD and a FD2
Here's the alternatives:
- 18watt TMB. I've just said I don't like EL84 and plexi midrange and often muddy basses, but 18w seems a different beast, and this is a classic with just the right power.
- T-wreck Express with the mods discussed in this thread, Nik can arrange them for me. 6V6s.
This is wonderful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgKPwtcey_s
are there any possibilities to get that kind of sound, gain and useable volume with a DIY Express?
- Fender. I have two great deal. A Bandmaster pre CBS, obviously BF, with Tung Sols checked last year. A change to 6V6s, and I will have a solid state rectifier Deluxe Reverb of the past, maybe an OCD will bring me here:
http://www.fulltone.com/audio/OCD_LP_BfDlxRev.mp3
or maybe I don't have the right power for chords and busses will become muddy.
The other one is a Bassman SF 100w, but this one is in great shape and last week was checked and retubed by one of the best technician here in Italy. Not a good amp (and investment) like the bandmaster, but maybe more pedal friendly and so more rock oriented.
I can think to Deluxe Reverb reissue too, but since the chance of getting the bandmaster it has no sense, or a Bassman reissue LTD.
I know I'm jumping through very different kind of amps, but it's quite difficult to decide for the Trainwreck since is a kind of design never hear in person, and that I'll never heard until I get one by myself.
Fenders are plug and play beauties, Express "rubber foam under it as suggeste by the man himself" makes me worrying about it.
I'd like to hear your comments.
Thanks.
Re: some doubts about Express - first and second post - edited
The amp choices you have mentioned here are very different from a TW Express.
The Express is known for its very agressive, very touch sensitive response, with amazing gain, sustain, and harmonically righ feedback. You don't generally need an overdrive pedal of any sort with an Express.
The various Fender amps you described have great clean tones, and when cranked all the way up, they can achieve varying degrees of overdrive, but none are as agressive and nasty as the Express. So, this should be a clear choice based upon the type of sound you want from your amp.
You mentioned that you will own just one amp, and that it will be miked in large clubs. Let me say that an Express is a very LOUD amp. It is not really meant fo practicing at home (although many of us love it so much, we use it that way anyway). Even with the 6V6's installed, it is quite loud.
All in all, it doesn't sound like you are really looking for an Express based on what you have said here. If you want a lower powered amp that can be clean, but also takes pedals like your OCD well, you should probably look elsewhere.
BUT, if you decide you do want an express, don't be concerned about not having heard one in advance. You will be so pleasantly surprised by how amazing it sounds, it will be worth any anxiety you experience while waiting for it to come. And Nik, from all I have heard, is a great guy and delivers a great product.
Good luck!
The Express is known for its very agressive, very touch sensitive response, with amazing gain, sustain, and harmonically righ feedback. You don't generally need an overdrive pedal of any sort with an Express.
The various Fender amps you described have great clean tones, and when cranked all the way up, they can achieve varying degrees of overdrive, but none are as agressive and nasty as the Express. So, this should be a clear choice based upon the type of sound you want from your amp.
You mentioned that you will own just one amp, and that it will be miked in large clubs. Let me say that an Express is a very LOUD amp. It is not really meant fo practicing at home (although many of us love it so much, we use it that way anyway). Even with the 6V6's installed, it is quite loud.
All in all, it doesn't sound like you are really looking for an Express based on what you have said here. If you want a lower powered amp that can be clean, but also takes pedals like your OCD well, you should probably look elsewhere.
BUT, if you decide you do want an express, don't be concerned about not having heard one in advance. You will be so pleasantly surprised by how amazing it sounds, it will be worth any anxiety you experience while waiting for it to come. And Nik, from all I have heard, is a great guy and delivers a great product.
Good luck!
-
pureoldsound
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:49 pm
Re: some doubts about Express - first and second post - edited
I don't know if you really want an express. A TW express as stated by others, is very aggressive and in your face type of amp. If you are looking for rounder, softer sound with great amount of sustain and still being touch responsive then I can suggest a Dumble type of amp. I used to own a Fuchs SLX OD and that amp had just what I described. It was really good. I sold it because I like more EL34s, Marshall type of sounds.
Another thing if you are concern about volume and don’t want to use an attenuator then I suggest either a PPIMV (it comes right before the power amp section. And if installed correctly once you set it at 0 its right out of the circuit and you can still retain the dynamics on the amp)
Another alternative London power scaling.
Another thing if you are concern about volume and don’t want to use an attenuator then I suggest either a PPIMV (it comes right before the power amp section. And if installed correctly once you set it at 0 its right out of the circuit and you can still retain the dynamics on the amp)
Another alternative London power scaling.
Re: some doubts about Express - first and second post - edited
Thanks a lot.
pureoldsound - Yes, Fuchs ODS would be my perfect amp, if only I could afford it. It has everything I want, exactly just what I need, Jason Barker videoclips on steelbender are astonishing.
I talked to an italian guy who are building Dumbles as an hobby, he has GREAT prices on them. But he's building mid '80 Dumbles, the ones perfect for Larry Carlton and Robben Ford so he suggested me not to buy his amp. He never tried to build the HRMs, wich are similar to Fuchs.
But keep in mind that Fuchs has more gain than Dumbles.
Dumble and Fuchs are the reason why I'm thinking about Fenders, both started from Fenders, and I really hope that a couple of pedals could bring me in a similar land.
The deal on the pre CBS Bandmaster is a GREAT deal.
sliberty
But a Fuchs ODS will make me happier, of course.
The clip I posted on Concorde is not Fenderish, but I cannot say it's a Marshall on steroids. It has all the best qialities from the three major brand, Marshall - Fender - Vox.
I really like using high amounts on gain, but the main reason I'm worrying about Trainwreck is that I want a plug and play amp with no problems at all, not an amp to tame every second.
Nik is putting master volume on TWEx, but I'm planning to buy an hot plate too in that case.
Thanks a lot, I've never found so understanding people in forums.
pureoldsound - Yes, Fuchs ODS would be my perfect amp, if only I could afford it. It has everything I want, exactly just what I need, Jason Barker videoclips on steelbender are astonishing.
I talked to an italian guy who are building Dumbles as an hobby, he has GREAT prices on them. But he's building mid '80 Dumbles, the ones perfect for Larry Carlton and Robben Ford so he suggested me not to buy his amp. He never tried to build the HRMs, wich are similar to Fuchs.
But keep in mind that Fuchs has more gain than Dumbles.
Dumble and Fuchs are the reason why I'm thinking about Fenders, both started from Fenders, and I really hope that a couple of pedals could bring me in a similar land.
The deal on the pre CBS Bandmaster is a GREAT deal.
sliberty
All that you said is exactly what I'm thinking. Not sure Express is my amp, but I'm quite sure that once here I'll be an happy guy.BUT, if you decide you do want an express, don't be concerned about not having heard one in advance. You will be so pleasantly surprised by how amazing it sounds, it will be worth any anxiety you experience while waiting for it to come. And Nik, from all I have heard, is a great guy and delivers a great product.
Good luck!
But a Fuchs ODS will make me happier, of course.
The clip I posted on Concorde is not Fenderish, but I cannot say it's a Marshall on steroids. It has all the best qialities from the three major brand, Marshall - Fender - Vox.
I really like using high amounts on gain, but the main reason I'm worrying about Trainwreck is that I want a plug and play amp with no problems at all, not an amp to tame every second.
Nik is putting master volume on TWEx, but I'm planning to buy an hot plate too in that case.
Thanks a lot, I've never found so understanding people in forums.
-
pureoldsound
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:49 pm
Re: some doubts about Express - first and second post - edited
whitewave;
You can always get a moded Fuchs out of the gear page forum. They cost way less than a production one. About gain, when I had mine, it had gain but my Plexi boosted sounded with more gain than the Fuchs. The thing is that the gain on the Fuchs is round and refined, a word to describe it will be elegant. Very silky, and smooth. Marshall or Express gain is more of a "shut up I am talking here" disrespectful and all in your face.....
A word of advise because I've been in that same road you are now. Don't start getting amps to sound like other amps. Next thing you will do is start adding EFx, rack, etc to get the sound you want out of a certain amp. In the end when you sum up everything it will cost the same amount of the amp you wanted originally and perhaps you had wasted a bit more over.....Try to save as much as you can and get a Fuchs...Believe that will make you happier than a Fender....and like I said can't afford a production Fuchs get a moded one. Can't find one buy yourself a used Fender bassman head and send it to Fuchs to convert it into an ODS...that will be money well spent plus you will get what you really want....
Just my $ .02
You can always get a moded Fuchs out of the gear page forum. They cost way less than a production one. About gain, when I had mine, it had gain but my Plexi boosted sounded with more gain than the Fuchs. The thing is that the gain on the Fuchs is round and refined, a word to describe it will be elegant. Very silky, and smooth. Marshall or Express gain is more of a "shut up I am talking here" disrespectful and all in your face.....
A word of advise because I've been in that same road you are now. Don't start getting amps to sound like other amps. Next thing you will do is start adding EFx, rack, etc to get the sound you want out of a certain amp. In the end when you sum up everything it will cost the same amount of the amp you wanted originally and perhaps you had wasted a bit more over.....Try to save as much as you can and get a Fuchs...Believe that will make you happier than a Fender....and like I said can't afford a production Fuchs get a moded one. Can't find one buy yourself a used Fender bassman head and send it to Fuchs to convert it into an ODS...that will be money well spent plus you will get what you really want....
Just my $ .02
Re: some doubts about Express - first and second post - edited
Used modded Fuchs would be a choice for people from US, in Italy they simply don't exist.
I'm taking my time to buy the new amp, but I think I've understood where is the problem.
I like fat and smooth distortion, and they are the ones coming from a vintage style amp, with tubes compression working, setted on 10 of volume. The distortion of power tubes.
Most of the recent designs introduces the gain control that switch the clipping from the power section to pre, resulting in fizzy, thin and harsh sounds.
I've just tried a Crate V-series amp. Tone tubby, GT tubes, 4x EL84, three preamp sections, it seems a very good amp, and it was. But it has this problem.
I'm listening to Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes playing as "Allman Brothers". One with a Fender, the other one plexy based (and of course his Soldano), and I love that big and fat sounds that can be smooth leads or edged cleans just with guitar pot.
T-wreck is a power tube based amp extremely dynamic, this way really on steroids.
The problem with this way of playing is loudness of course.
Who can set his JMP or Vox AC30 or Super Reverb with volume on 10 without crashing everything around?
So, maybe, I have to buy a vintage style amp and a THD Hot Plate, this would be the key. Pedals will help.
A Ceriatone Plexi Lead? The Bandmaster pre CBS? A THD Bivalve?
(I had the Univalve for 4 years, and I never was able to use it. I didn't understand til now that it needed to be slaved into a power amp or a THD Hot plate, since the built in attenuator sucks. Bivalve has the same no preamp gain distortion way of working, but maybe more tightness on basses)
18w... mmhh.. I can't make me happy with the growl of EL84, I don't like them, I need bigger tubes or 6V6.
Did I discover my holy grain of tone or will I be frustrated just like now?
Thanks a lot.
I'm taking my time to buy the new amp, but I think I've understood where is the problem.
I like fat and smooth distortion, and they are the ones coming from a vintage style amp, with tubes compression working, setted on 10 of volume. The distortion of power tubes.
Most of the recent designs introduces the gain control that switch the clipping from the power section to pre, resulting in fizzy, thin and harsh sounds.
I've just tried a Crate V-series amp. Tone tubby, GT tubes, 4x EL84, three preamp sections, it seems a very good amp, and it was. But it has this problem.
I'm listening to Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes playing as "Allman Brothers". One with a Fender, the other one plexy based (and of course his Soldano), and I love that big and fat sounds that can be smooth leads or edged cleans just with guitar pot.
T-wreck is a power tube based amp extremely dynamic, this way really on steroids.
The problem with this way of playing is loudness of course.
Who can set his JMP or Vox AC30 or Super Reverb with volume on 10 without crashing everything around?
So, maybe, I have to buy a vintage style amp and a THD Hot Plate, this would be the key. Pedals will help.
A Ceriatone Plexi Lead? The Bandmaster pre CBS? A THD Bivalve?
(I had the Univalve for 4 years, and I never was able to use it. I didn't understand til now that it needed to be slaved into a power amp or a THD Hot plate, since the built in attenuator sucks. Bivalve has the same no preamp gain distortion way of working, but maybe more tightness on basses)
18w... mmhh.. I can't make me happy with the growl of EL84, I don't like them, I need bigger tubes or 6V6.
Did I discover my holy grain of tone or will I be frustrated just like now?
Thanks a lot.
Re: some doubts about Express - first and second post - edited
I played through a used UniValve at Guitar Center, and thought it was wonderful. I would keep the shitty attenuator off, and use an outboard attenuator if I needed one (like my Dr. Z (TrainWreck) Airbrake.