Low volume high gain...

[CECamps]

Hey guys, I wanted to run this by RT because I know there are a lot of high gainers here. I'm going into production on a small run of Toll-Free Express amps soon and I'm probably going to be making one of them a high gain variant. It will basically have an additional preamp tube (for a total of 3) for balls out gain and will undergo a bit of tweaking to optimize the voicing.

The standard TFE is known for having uncanny performance for a low watt amp. It's only 10 watts out of a single EL34, but it has tone as soon as it has volume and sounds & feels more like a 50 watt amp. You can literally set it at volumes that can be talked over, and it will still sound and feel big.

So the idea here is increase the gain of the standard TFE to modern high gain levels and retain all the performance. I'm gauging interest at this point, so let me know if you'd be interested in a pint-sized gain monster that sounds and feels much bigger than it really is.

 

[Mudder]

Sure. The biggest issue to me about lunchbox amps isn't the gain level but they just don't sound big, even when you dime the volume. I figured it had to do with tranny size, but there's a total difference in feel between little amps like a tiny terror and even a 30/45w.

 

[Skrapmetal]

It definitely sounds appealing and interesting to me, unfortunately that price rules me out for an amp this size so don't put too much stock in my opinion.

 

[mrkmas]

Im not too much of a high gainer, but I think it would be a home run for you.

 

[CECamps]

Sure. The biggest issue to me about lunchbox amps isn't the gain level but they just don't sound big, even when you dime the volume. I figured it had to do with tranny size, but there's a total difference in feel between little amps like a tiny terror and even a 30/45w.

There are a number of variables that factor into why a lot of low watt amps sound small despite endless tweaking. Transformers definitely play a role, particularly the output transformer.

The Toll-Free has a lot of things going on in the design that you just won't find in any other low watt amp, which results in some pretty unbelievable results in terms of the playing experience. Not just in that it uses an EL34 instead of the typically used EL84's which tend to fall apart when pushed. There are some pretty non-standard design elements that are working in concert with that. It is my answer to the shortcomings of the typical lunchbox--mushy low end, "small" sound, muddy overdrive, etc. Everybody that I personally know of that has one or has played one pretty much gets their mind blown by it.

But the standard TFE is voiced for classic British overdrive tones. I thought it would be cool to do a high gain variant, retaining all the low volume performance aspects of the amp.

It definitely sounds appealing and interesting to me, unfortunately that price rules me out for an amp this size so don't put too much stock in my opinion.

Yeah, I understand. Given that it's US made, runs O'Netics transformers, Auricaps, and a host of other high end components it's actually very reasonably priced. But I totally get that for a 10-watt single channel amp, without having played one or heard one played in person it might seem pretty pricey at a glance.

Im not too much of a high gainer, but I think it would be a home run for you.

I'm thinking it could be a great alternative to the standard TFE for the high gain crowd. The usual response from high gain players who demo the amp is, "It's awesome, but there's just not enough gain for my taste."

 

[Skrapmetal]

It definitely sounds appealing and interesting to me, unfortunately that price rules me out for an amp this size so don't put too much stock in my opinion.

Yeah, I understand. Given that it's US made, runs O'Netics transformers, Auricaps, and a host of other high end components it's actually very reasonably priced. But I totally get that for a 10-watt single channel amp, without having played one or heard one played in person it might seem pretty pricey at a glance.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't mean to say that it was overpriced. It is just out of my budget. Based on all of the guys here running amps that cost 2-3 times more than mine I'm sure there is plenty of market for it.

 

[CECamps]

Don't get me wrong, I didn't mean to say that it was overpriced. It is just out of my budget. Based on all of the guys here running amps that cost 2-3 times more than mine I'm sure there is plenty of market for it.

Oh, no worries. I didn't take it as you saying it was overpriced. I totally understand that it's out of budget for some people--particularly given that it isn't a multi-channel, higher wattage amp with a bunch of bells & whistles.