Trainwreck Express build

[baron55]

6CA7's sound very interesting! I'll have to try a pair for sure..

Didn't EVH run 6CA7's in his Super Lead?

I think EL34s and found this tidbit on EVH's amps:

"For years, there was more than a little mystery surrounding EVH’s stunning tone. Some of the confusion was due in part to the guitarist being less than completely forthcoming about his rig, mostly because his bandmates—ever protective of their golden goose—urged him not to completely reveal his signal path. While he initially threw imitators off his trail with hints of secret amp mods and boosted transformer voltages, subsequent interviews revealed that the famous Marshall head that powered the classic David Lee Roth-era Van Halen albums was entirely stock—though typically biased hot enough to melt its Sylvania EL34 power tubes at least once a week. The one tonetweaker practice EVH engaged in regularly was lowering his amp’s transformer voltage to about 90 volts via a Variac. Today, EVH gets his sizzle from his signature 6L6-powered EVH 5150 III heads." - See more at: http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/10- ... R9SIx.dpuf

Nope Eddie only ran 6CA7's. Sylvania and for that matter no US company made EL34's they couldn't as Mullard had the digs on them.

If you read this article, it says Sylvania EL34's, what they mean is 6CA7's. The problem is that EL34 and 6CA7 are interchangeable as far as data sheets and tube cross referencing is concerned. The writer just assumed 6CA7=EL34 which is mostly true EXCEPT for Sylvania 6CA7's, these were also re-branded by RCA and GE, these were a much different tube, much closer to a 6L6GC crossed with a 6550. That is why today, Eddie prefers 6L6GC power tubes in all his signature amps, they are much closer to a real 6CA7 in tone than an EL34.

 

[tone spelunking]

6CA7's sound very interesting! I'll have to try a pair for sure..

Didn't EVH run 6CA7's in his Super Lead?

I think EL34s and found this tidbit on EVH's amps:

"For years, there was more than a little mystery surrounding EVH’s stunning tone. Some of the confusion was due in part to the guitarist being less than completely forthcoming about his rig, mostly because his bandmates—ever protective of their golden goose—urged him not to completely reveal his signal path. While he initially threw imitators off his trail with hints of secret amp mods and boosted transformer voltages, subsequent interviews revealed that the famous Marshall head that powered the classic David Lee Roth-era Van Halen albums was entirely stock—though typically biased hot enough to melt its Sylvania EL34 power tubes at least once a week. The one tonetweaker practice EVH engaged in regularly was lowering his amp’s transformer voltage to about 90 volts via a Variac. Today, EVH gets his sizzle from his signature 6L6-powered EVH 5150 III heads." - See more at: http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/10- ... R9SIx.dpuf

Nope Eddie only ran 6CA7's. Sylvania and for that matter no US company made EL34's they couldn't as Mullard had the digs on them.

If you read this article, it says Sylvania EL34's, what they mean is 6CA7's. The problem is that EL34 and 6CA7 are interchangeable as far as data sheets and tube cross referencing is concerned. The writer just assumed 6CA7=EL34 which is mostly true EXCEPT for Sylvania 6CA7's, these were also re-branded by RCA and GE, these were a much different tube, much closer to a 6L6GC crossed with a 6550. That is why today, Eddie prefers 6L6GC power tubes in all his signature amps, they are much closer to a real 6CA7 in tone than an EL34.

Ah, interesting differences there. Thanks for shedding some light on that subject.

 

[Mudder]

I was always under the impression that part of the Trainwreck tones come from the fact the design of the amp isn't entirely stable. That part placement and selection was very precise to be on the edge of total ruin.

 

[tone spelunking]

I was always under the impression that part of the Trainwreck tones come from the fact the design of the amp isn't entirely stable. That part placement and selection was very precise to be on the edge of total ruin.

That makes a lot of sense, sorta ready to meltdown when pushed which produces that signature "bite". The PT is from a large organ amp(I think) and OT is a 50 watt Thordarson/Schumacher. Vid demo of the home brew Express with a Les Paul: