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[secret agent man]

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[xtian]

It really is an absurd amount of gain, isn't it? I also had to dump gain to make it useful. Create a voltage divider at R7:

Screenshot 2026-07-13 at 4.19.07 PM.png

Break the connection from C8 to R7/V2a grid and add a new resistor in its place, 120K-470K will be useful. You're essentially adding a new volume control there, just fixed instead of a pot. Of course, you could also just replace R7 with a 500K pot for full control!

[secret agent man]

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[secret agent man]

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[Mark]

What is the best way to reduce the preamp gain in the Trainwreck Express clone that I built?

Anything above 6 (out of 12) on the volume dial is too loud and noisy. I tried 5751s in V1 and V2 and that helped a bit but not enough. I also tried increasing the global feedback by going from a 100k feedback resistor to 68k. I might try reducing the value even more. I'm just a home player so don't need a ton of gain.

Not interested in an attenuator. Mostly just want to reduce the noise in the amp. Not talking about hiss, just the typical noise that occurs as gain is increased.

Thanks in advance.

I thought Ken Fischer used a 12AY7 to reduce gain, though you could use vintage/fast circuit from Komet amps. You might want to choose a different capacitor value than 0.1uF, I think people were modding their Climax/Komet amp by putting a much smaller value cap in there.

https://ampgarage.com/forum/files/Expre ... iation.jpg

[Roe]

alternatively replace the 2n2 and 150k with 3n3 and 100k (or try 2n7 and 120k)

[secret agent man]

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