Voicing a trainwreck

[selloutrr]

The story goes no one could voice a wreck but Ken. He tried to show a couple people but it never worked out. Thus the company died with him. That being said.... Does anyone know what exactly was involved in the voicing of an amp. Was it a set voltage or some magical sound he had in his head?

I noticed the tweakers kit in the BOM list was this part of kens magic?

[dr. who]

They were all built a little different...the tweaks were made for the specific players and their respective styles. There were different circuits used for different amps. That being said the magic was in how Ken knew exactly what the change of a resistor, cap, or different tranny would do to change the sound of the amps. I think that magic is called a good memory and a lot of trial and error.

[redshark]

I think it's been said here before that most of the express amps are identical circuits. What made a huge diference is that Kenny owned a huge stash of NOS tubes to choose from, I'm sure he had testers too. And he also did the last biasing of the amp by ear. I'm sure he set the amp with a number and then slowly adjusted the bias close to those specs until the amp sounded its best.
The selection of preamp tubes and bias of this amps is CRITICAL and can make the world of a diference. So yes, probably nobody can voice the amps like Kenny
Just my opinion.

[selloutrr]

I'd agree with tubes and bias. I thought the circuits were all the same based on model of amplifier.

It would be interesting to get an untouch wreck on an rta and see if one could voice there amp to it.

[CaseyJones]

The story goes no one could voice a wreck but Ken. He tried to show a couple people but it never worked out. Thus the company died with him. That being said.... Does anyone know what exactly was involved in the voicing of an amp. Was it a set voltage or some magical sound he had in his head?

I noticed the tweakers kit in the BOM list was this part of kens magic?

There's a simple equation that describes the increase in someone's mojo once they're dead. I expect that to fully understand you must be dead yourself but we won't go there. Several dead guys to check out:

Elvis

Jimi Hendrix

Jim Morrison

SRV

Michael Jackson

What they have in common is that their legend far exceeds their mortality. Many of us love a "good" legend, we pass it around like a good brew or a good smoke. "The willing suspension of disbelief"...

[rawnster]

The story goes no one could voice a wreck but Ken. He tried to show a couple people but it never worked out. Thus the company died with him. That being said.... Does anyone know what exactly was involved in the voicing of an amp. Was it a set voltage or some magical sound he had in his head?

I noticed the tweakers kit in the BOM list was this part of kens magic?

There's a simple equation that describes the increase in someone's mojo once they're dead. I expect that to fully understand you must be dead yourself but we won't go there. Several dead guys to check out:

Elvis

Jimi Hendrix

Jim Morrison

SRV

Michael Jackson

What they have in common is that their legend far exceeds their mortality. Many of us love a "good" legend, we pass it around like a good brew or a good smoke. "The willing suspension of disbelief"...

And so what's your point? ...that KF's mystic has gotten out of whack; gone a little pair-shaped, and a little over-rated?

Interesting...you must play dumble clones.

[selloutrr]

i find it laughable how a year ago you couldn't force someone to listen to michael jackson and now it's impossible to escape his music. I agree the man had talent. I'm just shocked at the way people react. had they given him this kind of attention in life he probably would not have needed the drugs that killed him.

the true fans rest at ease, the fake super fans... blaim yourself. Personally i'm not one or the other. I bought a few albums when he was hot in the 80's i grew out of him and moved on. I'll listen to it but i'm not going out of my way to pump the jams.

If you look back at all the artists listed. they all had a talent and probably one more album before the lime light fizzled out, the reason they are all remembered they died untimely deaths and for the most part left the industry on top or at least before they burned out.
I hope to never see bands like U2, metallica, aerosmith, the rolling stones... etc. on that list of greats. they have all bean on top and they are respectable musicians for there time and place but now they are stuggling to have a second wind while the hunger has left the music so long ago the fumes are all that remain. not saying you can't be a fan... just that they have given there best... and burned it into the ground... IMHO i wish they could disband and let it die in peace before i hate them so much i start using there CD's for coasters.

it's funny what the record companies make you listen to, and as a consumer and force you to like.
another thing that the artist on your list had... you can put the album on and listen to the whole thing beginning to end. those good times are gone it's all about the "radio Hit" tv and film.. ads ads ads.

as far as ken... i think he had a hard life and gave a lot to the world of music both in his knowledge and passion to create and repair amplifiers. He died early but at least he had time to come to peace with it.

[KellyBass]

I was never lucky enough to meet or talk to the man...but from what I've read, I think he voiced his amps by doing the one thing that most humans just don't seem to have any ability or interest in...he LISTENED...

[jaysg]

The other concept for voicing a TW, is think about what the basic sound is, clean, on the cusp, distorted, over the top, then ponder what you actually want to add. Is there anything you want to get rid of, etc? Glen K has been good enough to provide really good audio examples of Express amps for a baseline. KF is gone, so make your own decisions from here on out.

For example, if you want to run all JJ's, then tweak it for those tubes.

The architectural thing that keeps telling me to pay attention, is all the low end in the preamp which then gets rolled off at about 400Hz, yeilding an amp we call bright...it's more like there's no low end or low midrange, so you're left with a lot of highs. KF didn't have to do it that way.

Recently, I was playing bass in an open mike type of thing with way too many guitarists. After quite a while, I was looking around trying to figure out where some competing bass notes were coming from. The guy with the guitar synth didn't seem to be doing it. I finally narrowed in on a guy who's low E was thumping loud and clean. Notes on his low A were normal...you really can't interfere with the bass range with a TW. Perhaps that was the idea.

[CaseyJones]

And so what's your point? ...that KF's mystic has gotten out of whack; gone a little pair-shaped, and a little over-rated?

My point is that many of us get the tidy wiring and careful lead dress thing while some of us don't. Doesn't matter how your amp is voiced if it's talking to itself and squealing like a pig.

The rest of it is myth and urban legend. You want to talk about amplifiers? The net is several gazillion watts when it comes to amplifying hype.

Interesting...you must play dumble clones.

Nah. 'Wrecks all the way, baby!

Dumbles are a hassle to voice.

[marcoloco961]

I was never lucky enough to meet or talk to the man...but from what I've read, I think he voiced his amps by doing the one thing that most humans just don't seem to have any ability or interest in...he LISTENED...

+1

He also had the patience, passion and conviction to make each amp special for the individual player and their style, etc.....not just, slap 'em together with a set of cheap tubes and ship by the thousands.

[Structo]

I think the biggest thing that separated Ken from HAD was Ken didn't charge $200/ hr for a phone call........

[redshark]

Yes, I think Kenny's motivation was love for tone and passion for perfection.

[M Fowler]

Perhaps HAD as actually a lawyer moon lighting as an amp builder that would explain the secret contracts and $200 per phone call.

[Structo]

Or a lofty impression of self worth.
I shouldnh't knock him though, I do love his designs.