customizing express 5:25 head

[alexdelfo]

has anyone ever tried to customize an express 5:25 head ?
I would like to check the possibility of footswitching between the
modes clean and crunch (for channel 1) or blues and burn (for channel 2).
Does anyone know if it's possible with some modifications ?

thanks in advance for the answers.

bye

alex

 

[tmac]

There was a thread by a guy that had modded his Express combo. He had included e.g. a bias pot and changed the power & footswitch cable connecton plugs. Those things could also be done on the head version. He hadn't done anything with the clean/crunch or blues/burn settings, though. If you haven't seen it:

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=36146

I think that a significant volume change occurs when flipping the "mode" switches on each channel. At least when the amp is at low volume. Maybe it is neccesary to change to those dual/stereo gain pots to be able to have individual gain settings for each case, i.e. individual gain setting for clean and crunch within the same channel. I can't think of any reason that it should not be possible to make it footswitchable. Can't really remember if there is a large noise or not when flipping the switch at a loud volume? Right now it is not something that I need, but who knows, maybe sometime I will try it. It would be nice, no doubt.

Ideally, the FX loop should also be footswitchable. For me, that would be more useful than the footswitchable reverb.

- torquil

 

[edward]

Try this experiment: set your knobs in Clean exactly where you like it. Now flip the switch to Crunch. Does it sound exactly how you'd want it? I would seriously doubt it. And that is what you'd get if you made these modes switchable. Try the Same with Blues and Burn modes. The channels are differently voiced such that adjusting the gain and eq settings is required to get the sound you want.

I can, of course, be completely wrong and toggling between the two voices within the same channel is a usable option for you. In which case go for it. Let us know how you like it.

Edward

 

[EtherealWidow]

Try this experiment: set your knobs in Clean exactly where you like it. Now flip the switch to Crunch. Does it sound exactly how you'd want it? I would seriously doubt it. And that is what you'd get if you made these modes switchable. Try the Same with Blues and Burn modes. The channels are differently voiced such that adjusting the gain and eq settings is required to get the sound you want.

I can, of course, be completely wrong and toggling between the two voices within the same channel is a usable option for you. In which case go for it. Let us know how you like it.

Edward

A lot of people with Mark V's talked about the same thing with mode switching until they realized that the modes do sound much too much different.

 

[alexdelfo]

dear all,

thanks for your answers and comments, very much appreciated indeed.
I too realized that switching between the modes on the same channel could not
give the desired results. But in certain cases, with a little compromise it might
be usable even if not the best solution. I still have to experiment a little bit
before doing anything on the amp since it is already an excellent equipment for
the music I play.

bye