Express Combo Build

[Bob S]

Looks beautiful Jeff and I know how your Expresses sound.
I hate you
Well Done !

[jeff12]

Way too pretty to gig

Okay I'm sold when does mass production start for this Express Combo series

Mark

Well I have to finish this one first, then a trip to The Beacon Theatre and a weeks vacation. After that my who knows????

[jeff12]

Looks beautiful Jeff and I know how your Expresses sound.
I hate you
Well Done !

Don't hate me Bob, it's not even done yet. I could screw up the finish and make it sound really fizzy. Too much finish=fizz.

[jeff12]

I've found the Wreck circuit isn't really so hard to conquer and the problems with excess noise and instability are often a combination of the Wreck layout and substandard build techniques. I think the component selection also can give you some random grief, especially tubes.

In my own deviations from the original layout I think the printed circuit board seemed to make the best improvement in reducing the stability issues.

I'm expecting more grab and go Express combos to start showing up.

Most of my builds have been for the most part trouble free, good parts from you and others have been key to things working out well. Have not used printed circuit boards in a build so I can't say much on how they are. I still like old school I guess. I would hope more people would experiment with new design ideas like you have.

[hans-jörg]

Hi gents,

my 18W LP was at the beginning very hissy. Then I eleminated all C and CC resistors, changed the caps to OD 225p (polyester) and put in for V1 a selected 12AX7 and propper layout.
Result: 2/3 of the hiss is gone. Volume pot between 9:00 and 12:00 o`clock and the LP (Les Paul) sings.

Best

Hans-Jörg

[kwijabo]

hans....interesting point. i would agree with you. i use 3W metal films for the dropping resistors and 2W metal films for plate resistors since i think these see the most drop across them. CC for everything else in the signal path.

i'm almost positive i have noticed hiss reduction in my liverpool by doing this. i didn't a/b side to side, but when i rebuilt it like this it seemed like it had much less hiss.

[jeff12]

Ok, back home and working today so I figured I better post progress pictures.
Put the amp all together and played it (REALLY LOUD) today(wife was out shopping). No noticeable issues playing my Les Paul Custom through the amp.
Put o ring dampers on the EL34's and let it rip, I have to roll some tubes to find the right combination but so far it sounded good and very LOUD.
Took everything apart and started to apply finish. Also noticed that the way everything is laid out the amp balances very well with the handle in the center of the cabinet. (try that with a traditional head design)

[RJ Guitars]

That is looking sick... if you send it to me maybe I could eventually heal it - might take a while!! Honestly, Wow, I love the wood in that cabinet! Also, I guess it must be kinda loud eh?

[jeff12]

That is looking sick... if you send it to me maybe I could eventually heal it - might take a while!! Honestly, Wow, I love the wood in that cabinet! Also, I guess it must be kinda loud eh?

Hey rj now that I stand back and look I think you are right, may be a little sick.
May have to quarantine this one, don't want to start an epidemic.
Would be more than happy to send the next one your way, I am almost out of the transformers I got from you. Could maybe work out a trade.
Yes it is loud, but faustine Phantom or air brake help tame it. I wanted to give it a shakedown run and it passed. . I will have some audio of it as soon as I can, just want to make sure it sounds it's best first.

[RJ Guitars]

Aren't those the units that are impossible to find... truly a phantom??

[jeff12]

Aren't those the units that are impossible to find... truly a phantom??

They are a little hard to find, and rather expensive when you do. But I found one and like how it works. Phantom like, almost like it is not there. Of course it is not perfect but way better than some attenuators i have tried, and I have a pile of them.

[jeff12]

Found a use for unfinished head cabinets.
In light of recent trip to New York City I named this amp the
New York City Express.

[jeff12]

All together at last. Just a few minor details to finish, some sound tweaks and a demo. Very happy with this build, sounds better than I had expected.

[cbass]

OK now you're just being a showoff . I don't even like you anymore
Nqh I'm just jealous of yer skills

[jeff12]

OK now you're just being a showoff . I don't even like you anymore

I loose more friends that way.