Solid State Express??? What do you all think?

[passfan]

I think it is a good sounding amp. That being said, transistors don't distort like tubes and you can't make them do it. I've always heard the word " close" used to describe every attempt to do so. I say if it sounds good go for it, and quit trying to make one sound like the other. I cut my teeth on SS and have compared some Class A ss stereo circuits to some single ended class A tube circuits and while the ss sounds really good , the tube circuit just has a "rightness" to it. The soundstage is different, the high end is smoother, perhaps it more closely resembles to way we hear, but in the end, you have to trust your ears and pick what you like. We're all different.

[gearhead]

In my personal view there is no need for any speculation, if it "could" be done. As soon as these are available, everyone can decide according to his personal taste, if these amps do what he is looking for in a wreck or not. I personally doubt, that this decision can be made based on clips.

My (and others) observations were based solely on the clips presented, yes. However, in this day and age, that's how a lot of tonal discussions get started and even end. How many interested folks and even ultimate buyers will get hands on one to begin with? Some will be able to at one of the organized amp shows. but not a lot. I speculate that before even one is ready for sale, there will be a lot more clips.

It's a relatively simple circuit, but the layout (in certain areas) and especially tuning it by swapping in and out a buttload of tubes to get it right makes it a difficult amp to get right. The variability in transistors is sometimes even higher than with tubes. Maybe they''l find a way to quickly screen lotsa transistors at once? That would be a big step.

I wish them well, and -do- hope they succede.

But understand that in this TW subforum there are quite a number of folks who have examined real Trainwrecks and built a number of Trainwreck clones and personal-taste variations over a few years. In my personal opinion, they have the knowledge, experience and right to speculate all they want.

[WhopperPlate]

Isn't it funny how comments like "I can hear it's ss" came only AFTER it was made known the amp is ss?[IMG:42:33]http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c149/ ... uicide.gif[/img]

A little harsh I think. Perhaps this would be appropriate had the poster not mentioned the fact that it is a solid state amp right off the bat.

I listen to these clips and can clearly hear the solid state nature. Sounds great, really good in fact, good enough to make me interested in making a purchase, but I've played enough guitar through enough amps to feel the solid state tone from those clips. It has a certain compression that always seems to be apparent with most solid state amps.

In my experience I have Not found SS amps to be any more reliable than tube amps. Has more to do with build quality. Actually, I find transistor circuits more prone to failure.
A fet can be made to behave sort of like a tube . See the Fetzler circuit.

I don't necessarily think a solid state amp is as rugged or reliable than a well built tube amp (I too have had worse luck with solid state breaking down), but the tone is much more consistent and that to me means reliability.

[geetarpicker]

I'm impressed, and I own, play, and do session work with original Trainwreck amps. The tone seems a bit more aggressive, up front and more modern perhaps, more like playing my amp through modern speakers maybe. Different but still in a good way at least judging by the clips. Cleans up just like it should and that's the point with any wreckish type amp IMHO! I'll need to check this out sometime.

Also very nice playing by the guitarist and the whole band too.

Glen Kuykendall

www.glenkuykendall.com

[VacuumVoodoo]

Isn't it funny how comments like "I can hear it's ss" came only AFTER it was made known the amp is ss?[IMG:42:33]http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c149/ ... uicide.gif[/img]

A little harsh I think. Perhaps this would be appropriate had the poster not mentioned the fact that it is a solid state amp right off the bat.

Couldn't find a "tongue in both cheeks" smiley.....
I don't care if it's built with solid or vacuum state devices. How it sounds is what counts whether you slap the "*****" keyword on it or not. This assortment of electronic components sounds damn good and I did congratulate Lance on the design. Loosen up, it's not the end of the world.

[M Fowler]

It probably will be normal in the not so near future, to use Mosfet or other inventions in SS electronics rather than the vacuum tubes.

Many of us already talked about building a SS version of the Express as well so a little disappointing they beat us to it.

I used SS amps for the better part of my gigging years because they did not break during travel in the band wagon, mine always performed and I was too lazy to maintain a tube amp for gigging. I always tinkered with tube amps at home though.

[Big Jim]

Perhaps we are on the doorstep of the second tone circle.

Tubes------Solid state------Tubes--------?????

To me its all good as long as it makes us want to make music.

[Structo]

I wonder what it uses for it's output.

I've stopped following high power transistor technology years ago.

I have a couple old SS guitar amps, one being a Peavey Century head that is 100 watts that uses the old power transistors.
Still works great after all these years.

So I wonder if he is using discrete transisitors or is using some kind of modular affair like you see in some of the newer Hi Fi stuff.

I for one would like to see a picture of the interior.

[WhopperPlate]

Couldn't find a "tongue in both cheeks" smiley.....

Loosen up, it's not the end of the world.

Sorry, I guess I was a little short tempered last night.

[Allynmey]

Sounded more Marshally (JTM with a pedal in front) than a 'wreck. I would like to hear one without processing really loud. That's where SS seems to be lacking. Pretty rockin' sound though.

[Richie]

I would like to hear one without processing

Maybe it has built in slap back echo and reverb.

[PlinytheWelder]

Just wait 'til someone starts making guitar amps out of Silicon Carbide JFets...
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/solid-st ... jfets.html

With the correct packaging, they can run red hot (>600C) and still function, just like tubes...

[passfan]

Just wait 'til someone starts making guitar amps out of Silicon Carbide JFets...
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/solid-st ... jfets.html

With the correct packaging, they can run red hot (>600C) and still function, just like tubes...

Until you push them into distortion.

[bigbeck]

Maybe it has built in slap back echo and reverb.

I didn't like that. Hard to tell what it REALLY sounds like.

Just going by the clip,it's not a "keeper" to me.

[raiken]

I wonder what it uses for it's output.

I've stopped following high power transistor technology years ago.

I have a couple old SS guitar amps, one being a Peavey Century head that is 100 watts that uses the old power transistors.
Still works great after all these years.

So I wonder if he is using discrete transisitors or is using some kind of modular affair like you see in some of the newer Hi Fi stuff.

I for one would like to see a picture of the interior.

Judging from the 6-pound weight, my guess would be a class D switchmode output stage

I thought it sounded pretty darned good...good enough to make me want to try my hand at designing one.


RA