Trainwreck Express Replica

[SleepLess]

Hi there!
Just thought I'd share my latest build with the community. It's not a debug thread, the amp works 100%. It's a Trainwreck Express replica. Best amp I have ever played and I have built and played all the vintage 50's and 60's Fender tweeds, blackfaces and Marshalls... This says a lot to me. Dynamics are second to none, the amp picks up everything. Cleans are gorgeous and the crunch/natural distorsion is impressive. I think I have found my Holy Grail amp at last! Darn LOUD for a 30w amp though!!! The volume it puts out easily rivals a 100w plexi! I'm glad I have an attenuator or I wouldn't be able to play it. I didn't think it would be louder than my 50w plexi, but it is, for whatever reason I can not fathom right now!

Thanks for everyone here for teaching me so many things and making me move forward in the amp knowledge world. I wouldn't have been able to launch this build if I hadn't benefited from your insight and tips. This is the best amp forum in the world! 

Pics for some drooling now... Oh, by the way, the woodburning on the faceplate was all done by myself... This was the first time I woodburned something, it's really nice and it turned out quite well!

[TIMBO]

Nicely done. 

[tubenit]

Great job!  I love the figured cherry cab.  It's beautiful. 

THANKS for sharing the pics.

With respect, Tubenit

[SILVERGUN]

SIMPLY....

GORGEOUS!

 

[zendragon63]

Wow, the guys over at TAG would be proud of you--that is one nice build sleepless. Impressive woodwork and just as impressive under the hood.

I got to agree with you that, done well, these 'wreck circuits are hard to beat for a rock amp. Uber dynamic. Some would say that these are one trick ponies but once you discover that you have a VOLUME and TONE  on your guitar (and you start using them!) you can start your rehab program and literally chuck all your dirt pedals. The Express proper is a little too loud for most venues that I play so I have ended up using the same approach with lower power valves and get nearly the same result at a manageable group volume. The VVR or equivalent helps as do the attenuators. (And so does hearing protection)

Can you tell I'm a little sweet on the Trainwreck approach? 

Way cool, nice job. Regards

dennis

[Backwoods Joe]

Really nice. Exceptional cabinet work & very neat wiring. I put an express into a 1-12 combo a couple of years ago. I tried several (mostly Celestions & Eminence) speakers, but settled on a WGS Green Beret. I won't allow myself to run EL34's... even though the sound is kill'in, I've got to save what hearing I have left! It's got to be the most touch-responsive amp ever. Congradulations and keep that Reducer dialed back!

[SleepLess]

Thanks everyone! I didn't do the cabinet myself. I ordered it to a really nice guy known as ampmike over at TAG. I only did the chassis job and the faceplate woodburning...

[jojokeo]

Great job, even down to the old school labeling too. One thing is missing...??? WHAT's HER NAME???!!!

[SleepLess]

Great job, even down to the old school labeling too. One thing is missing...??? WHAT's HER NAME???!!!

Thanks! The baby is not baptized yet... But I've recorded four videos for you guys on my Youtube channel:
Trainwreck Express Replica Soundcheck #1
Trainwreck Express Replica Soundcheck #2
Trainwreck Express Replica Soundcheck #3
Trainwreck Express Replica Soundcheck #4

[alerich]

Great pics and video. I have always been intrigued by the Trainwreck circuit but I once saw someone demoing one on You Tube wearing airport tarmac style hearing protectors and using two 50' guitar cables in series and figured it just wouldn't be that practical for me. I have an old 2x6V6 amp that I am going to gut and re-configure as a Trainwreck inspired circuit to see how it sounds.

[Ed_Chambley]

Great Work.  Nicely done on the woodburning as well.  Yes 30 watts is loud, but so is 15.  I like the EL34 in the circuit.  There are lots of schematic versions around.  Would you attach the actual one you used.  I can always use one more amp.

BTW, your chassis looks like it was constructed better than an original.  

[SILVERGUN]

I like the EL34 in the circuit.

I second that....100%
There's just something to the overall tightness and upper mid kick that blows me away......

Had 6V6s in my modded T-wreck until my buddy set up his JCM800 next to it and smoked me......popped some 34's in there, rebiased, and WHAM-O, I was back on top 

[shortfuse]

Very nice build very clean and tidy inside and out.
I too would love to know which design / schematic you used for your build.  Also who's transformers did you use?
Thanks for sharing

[BrianS]

I too would love to know which design / schematic you used for your build.  Also who's transformers did you use?

You can put me on that list, too!

Nice job.

[SILVERGUN]

I too would love to know which design / schematic you used for your build.  Also who's transformers did you use?

You can put me on that list, too!

Yup,,,that's the deal...

If we're going to continue to say nice things about your beautiful amplifier, you're gonna have to share ALL of your secrets.
 

[SleepLess]

I don't know how to upload a file but I can do it if you tell me how... But it's pretty easy, I followed the layout/schematic given on the TAG forum. Nothing fancy here...
Transformers are a Heyboer PT and a Pacific OT. The guys over at TAG will be very helpful if you want to buy these parts. I asked "RJ guitars" for components and "ampmike" for the cab.

So how'd you like these videos? 

[SILVERGUN]

So how'd you like these videos?  

I like em a lot....I'm kinda jealous, I gotta tell you...

I posted a sound clip earlier today, and some guy commented that he liked the way you did your demo better....geez, the nerve of that guy  

If I could say one negative thing (and I HATE to do it),,,,I have a pet peeve when watching amp videos of any kind:
- It makes me crazy when I can hear the sound of the pick hitting the strings over the sound of the amp..
EDIT---referencing soundcheck #4 with the SG where I assume you turned the amp down a little bit so your ears would stop bleeding
..I have been guilty myself, and I just want that other guy to know what to look out for.....it sounds like he might be thinking about posting a couple demos  

GREAT WORK! all the way around on this project and truly inspirational for anyone who appreciates this stuff....you've got some people thinking about following in your footsteps, and that's always a good sign.
 

[BrianS]

This is the only amp forum I follow, any chance you could tell me what TAG refers to?

[SleepLess]

This is the only amp forum I follow, any chance you could tell me what TAG refers to?

Sure: TAG= The Amp Garage. A nice small community who mainly focuses on Trainwrecks and Dumbles. You'll have everything you wanna know over these two "brands" there, including schems, layouts and BOMs...

@SILVERGUN: Thanks a lot mate! 

[Ed_Chambley]

So how'd you like these videos?  

I like em a lot....I'm kinda jealous, I gotta tell you...

I posted a sound clip earlier today, and some guy commented that he liked the way you did your demo better....geez, the nerve of that guy  

If I could say one negative thing (and I HATE to do it),,,,I have a pet peeve when watching amp videos of any kind:
- It makes me crazy when I can hear the sound of the pick hitting the strings over the sound of the amp..
EDIT---referencing soundcheck #4 with the SG where I assume you turned the amp down a little bit so your ears would stop bleeding
..I have been guilty myself, and I just want that other guy to know what to look out for.....it sounds like he might be thinking about posting a couple demos  

GREAT WORK! all the way around on this project and truly inspirational for anyone who appreciates this stuff....you've got some people thinking about following in your footsteps, and that's always a good sign.
 

Someone has quoted me out of context.  The nerve of that guy.  I think he is the one who prefers breadboards to building.  This way you never have a bad amp because all you gotta say is I am not finished.  Cannot remember his name, but I bet Ritchie 200 can.

[SILVERGUN]

I think he is the one who prefers breadboards to building.  This way you never have a bad amp because all you gotta say is I am not finished.  Cannot remember his name, but I bet Ritchie 200 can

That is 100% true....I don't know if I'll ever be finished....
That way I won't have to try to build a head cab as nice as SleepLess's.

but I bet Ritchie 200 can
I am not afraid of anyone who plays along with Alanis Morissette songs....I'm just not  

[BrianS]

Thanks for the info, Sleepless!

[SleepLess]

You're welcome!

[6G6]

Bitchin' build! 

[SleepLess]

Bitchin' build! 

Thank you! 

[HotBluePlates]

Seriously outstanding build quality! Now if you can enjoy it with bleeding ears, you'll be all set!

[SleepLess]

Hi and thanks for the kind words!
I rehearsed with the Trainwreck for the first time yesterday evening. I'm still floored. I didn't use any pedal at all and had a consistent, powerful and just plain gorgeous tone from the first minute to the end of the third hour. It's the first time I'll gig with an amp without any pedal. I'll just take my tuner and my wah and that's it. I use the wah for two songs out of thirty only... Right now after those three first hours of live playing with the band I feel it's a little tough to get consistent clean tones, the crunch comes pretty quickly, but it's a matter of time before I can handle that well enough. I might have to get rid of tunes like Thrill is Gone or Old Love in the setlist though... But hell, for Bonamassa, Gov'T Mule, Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy tones, it's all there without a single pedal! This thing sustains for days. I used it on 6, then 8 then 10 and attenuated it at -15dB at the beginning of the rehearsal and -7dB at the end. I enjoyed the tone with the amp on 8 the most. Great sound. I just had some fun and clicked the attenuator OFF for one minute and that was HELL loud, just like a plexi 100w... Damn... 33 watts??? REALLY???

My friends in the band said that my tone was awesome as well. The singer said " it has the Marshall growl, the Fenders chime and it never is aggressive even though it's real loud". I'm glad that it's not just a guitarist thing and that unaware ears find the sound to be impressive, and trust me, that Express had a tough job to do to beat the 1987 replica I did two years ago. Here's a picture of that babe as well:



She beat it! I might try my Clinch Fx EP+ through it next time though... You just can't cure a fifteen-year-long pedal addiction in one day...  
Cheers guys!