First Express Build

beasleybodyshop · Post by **beasleybodyshop** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:54 am

Starting my first Express build. Bent and welded up a chassis this weekend. Gave me an excuse to try my new TIG out

i cut it out of 14ga aluminum scrap piece I had that was just big enough. Also drilled my face/back plates. I toyed around with the all wood vibe, but I think im going to build/tolex the cab out of some euro-ply I have laying around work. Thinking about going with some classictone iron , as I had good experiences with them in my plexi build.

Smokebreak · Post by **Smokebreak** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 3:26 am

Talk about a scratch build!
Classictone is nice. If you wanted to try something else member RJ has some really nice Edcor iron at competitive prices.

beasleybodyshop · Post by **beasleybodyshop** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 4:16 am

Smokebreak wrote:Talk about a scratch build!
Classictone is nice. If you wanted to try something else member RJ has some really nice Edcor iron at competitive prices.

Yeah I took all the specs for the chassis off the Trainwreck files section. Talk about all the info you need! I also picked up several feet of heavy stranded copper electrical cable that i tore the strands out of to use for ground buss - I like to use scrap and leftover stuff whenever I can. Beginning to source out all the small parts - any tips on anything that is difficult to find?

also, I went with a 1/4 inch lip on the chassis, looking back I should have gone for a 1/2 inch lip....didnt see a spec for that in the files, but I could have overlooked it.

beasleybodyshop · Post by **beasleybodyshop** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:46 pm

Update:

all sockets attached. Boards came in, big shout out to Watt's tube audio for Francesca boards....also wired in the heaters. Somewhere out there, im sure Reeltarded and Cbass are remembering my last fiasco with wiring them up - ive gotten much better! Oh yeah, scored a nice piece of Paduak for building the cabinet. It was the same price as Cherry at my local hardwood lumber yard, but at just the right width (Their cherry was a few inches too short.

Party on Wayne.

M Fowler · Post by **M Fowler** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 3:12 am

If your going to run the traditional TW Express cap stack trial fit that in before committing to drilling the tone board and bias board mounting holes.

The tone board may need to go all the way to the end of the chassis for clearance.

Mark

M Fowler · Post by **M Fowler** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 3:13 am

double post

beasleybodyshop · Post by **beasleybodyshop** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 3:38 am

M Fowler wrote:If your going to run the traditional TW Express cap stack trial fit that in before committing to drilling the tone board and bias board mounting holes.

The tone board may need to go all the way to the end of the chassis for clearance.

Mark

Mark, I decided to use cap cans for this build. Im going to use a VVR and I really want that real estate up front.

M Fowler · Post by **M Fowler** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 4:02 pm

Oh Okay I like using can caps myself very easy but still need to watch the space.

Putting the preamp filter caps on the tone board really frees up a lot of space but that requires a whole different tone board layout then the boards you have already.

Have fun.

I've done the can caps on Express but here is a Rocket I built for rj.

Blackburn · Post by **Blackburn** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 5:05 pm

Hey Mark, I like that mint board you have in that one. Where might one find that stuff?

JazzGuitarGimp · Post by **JazzGuitarGimp** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 5:12 pm

Beasley, I'm surprised you didn't punch and drill all the holes while it was still "in the flat". Seems it would have been easier.

beasleybodyshop · Post by **beasleybodyshop** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 5:37 pm

JazzGuitarGimp wrote:Beasley, I'm surprised you didn't punch and drill all the holes while it was still "in the flat". Seems it would have been easier.

Throat on my drill press wasnt big enough. I wished I could, It would have made things much easier. I TIG'ed up some more chassis last week, I think I will just take them to a metal shop and have them punch it out next time. looks cleaner than drilling and deburring.

beasleybodyshop · Post by **beasleybodyshop** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 5:40 pm

M Fowler wrote:Oh Okay I like using can caps myself very easy but still need to watch the space.

Putting the preamp filter caps on the tone board really frees up a lot of space but that requires a whole different tone board layout then the boards you have already.

Have fun.

I've done the can caps on Express but here is a Rocket I built for rj.

Woah. Nice build. Very clean! That lead dress gives me some inspiration when all my small parts come in.

M Fowler · Post by **M Fowler** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 10:10 pm

No idea where rj got that mint board.

I just wanted to show how easy it is to wire up the TW tone board when using can caps nice short leads. JJ 50/50 and JJ 40/20/20/20.

beasleybodyshop · Post by **beasleybodyshop** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 11:30 pm

Update: Paduak all ripped up.

M Fowler · Post by **M Fowler** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 11:31 pm

Sweet looking wood.

The Amp Garage

First Express Build

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