This amp cost me weeks to build - here's why it was worth it
tonymckenziecom
4,052 views
This amp cost me weeks to build - here's why it was worth it. A legendary design Express from Ken Fischer. Here I show you how I built this Ceriatone Expression all access tube amplifier train wreck and what the results really sound like. It's awesome!
00:00 start
00:13 Intro & Preamble
01:09 Train Wreck Info
08:13 Why make this amp?
10:51 Start of build
11:36 What's in my kit
12:35 Chassis overview
13:45 Transformers
15:15 Face plates
15:43 Start chassis build
16:00 First Tip
18:08 Fitting hardware
22:35 Fit grounds & sockets
23:50 Chassis variation
24:27 Tube sockets
25:18 Hardware complete
26:42 Second Build Tip
29:07 PART TWO - Boards
29:15 Build Tips
30:57 Board for Loop
33:23 Power & Relay boards
34:50 The Main Board
36:51 Catch up so far
37:50 Board Jump Wires
40:37 Front control knobs
41:34 Chassis & Board Wiring
42:13 Heater Wiring
44:14 Other wiring
45:23 Another Tip
46:03 More Chassis Wiring
46:45 Mod Heater Wiring
48:59 OT Wiring
50:33 Catch up: Chassis
53:34 Tip No 4
55:27 Main board in place
58:32 Completed assembly
01:00:09 Effects Loop Wiring
01:03:59 Chassis Top View
01:05:36 Front Controls
01:07:33 PART THREE - Amp cost
01:08:58 Amp Testing
01:13:17 Final Problems
01:14:46 Last Problem!
01:16:48 Summing up
01:21:26 Amp Tone Examples
01:29:35 Demo Rock Track
Links:
Ceriatone website: https://ceriatone.com
My original series of Ceriatone Dumble HRM Builds:
Part 1: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amplifier Build | P...
Part 2: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amp | Part 2 | Dumb...
Part 3: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amplifier | Part 3 ...
Part 4: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amp Build | Part 4 ...
Part 5: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amp Build | Part 5 ...
Part 6: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amplifier | Part 6 ...
Part 7: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amplifier | Part 7 ...
Part 8: Build a Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amplifier |...
Separate video of the final Dumble HRM amp: A DUMBLE Clone Amplifier of the Highest Or...
My Ceriatone Chupacabra Review: A Roaring Marshall? | Ceriatone Chupacabra...
My Ceriatone Centaura Klon Clone Review: Ceriatone Centaura Klon Centaur Clone Insi...
Check out Noisy Hammer (Case Maker): https://www.noisyhammer.com
And there are many more brands of amps on my channel at tonymckenziecom on my YouTube channel
My website has hundreds of reviews of guitar gear: https://tonymckenzie.com too.
The Train Wreck amps originally made by Ken Fisher (Ken Fischer) are legendary, but there is only one problem. Ken passed away some years back and he only made around 70 to 100 amps or so they say. Buy an original Train Wreck amp can cost you many tens of thousands of pounds (or dollars) and so it's generally out of the question for most guitarists and hobbyists.
So Ceriatone, a company from Malaysia has created a 'clone' of many Train Wreck amps - and this is their version of the Express - but now called Expression and with added features updating the amp to am 'all access' model. It is a wonderful project for anyone to make, but Ceriatone (pronounced 'cherryatone') can build the amp for you. But I wanted a project that was harder than some amps and I chose this amp - and hopefully my build will not be a train wreck! After all I'm just like most guitarists and am not particularly qualified as an electronics engineer, but I have had some practice.
So I bought the train wreck amp kit from Ceriatone and 'Nik' the owner promised to help me if I 'got stuck' along the way. Indeed Nik was frankly the best feature you could wish for! The Ceriatone support is honestly rated at a 10/10 and is recommended.
So on to the Train Wreck amp build. I try very hard to show what my experience was AND offer advice and help if I can to anyone that wants to build one of these amps. It's not the easiest project - but well worth the effort when completed - and you will learn so much (as indeed I did).
Nik at Ceriatone did a brilliant job and his support can't be bettered. Thanks Nik.
This is not a sponsored video and the opinions are entirely my own. The amp is NOT a Marshall JTM45 or even like a Plexi, it differs greatly from the overtone Dumble HRM special I built years back, but I guess does have some aspects of the Chupacabra amp from Ceriatone. But you can see a great demo and review of this train wreck expression all access amp right here.
I built this amp for documenting how to make one, but in reality I record with this amp in my home studio along with the other tube amps and sound reinforcement I own. It's a great sounding tube amplifier.
(c) A B McKenzie and tonymckenzie.com 2009-2025
All Rights reserved
#trainwreck #express #kenfisher # kenficher #ceriatone #tubeamplifier #tubeamp #tonymckenzie #tonymckenziecom #liverpoolamp #rocketamp #amplifier #guitarist #expression
20 Comments
" victory may be just over the horizon " And for me it always is.Now the part I have been jumping up and down for !!! Hearing you play with this amazing new creation. Let'Er Rip old Boy !!!!! Bless Jesus :>)
This amp cost me weeks to build - here's why it was worth it
tonymckenziecom
4,052 views
This amp cost me weeks to build - here's why it was worth it. A legendary design Express from Ken Fischer. Here I show you how I built this Ceriatone Expression all access tube amplifier train wreck and what the results really sound like. It's awesome!
00:00 start
00:13 Intro & Preamble
01:09 Train Wreck Info
08:13 Why make this amp?
10:51 Start of build
11:36 What's in my kit
12:35 Chassis overview
13:45 Transformers
15:15 Face plates
15:43 Start chassis build
16:00 First Tip
18:08 Fitting hardware
22:35 Fit grounds & sockets
23:50 Chassis variation
24:27 Tube sockets
25:18 Hardware complete
26:42 Second Build Tip
29:07 PART TWO - Boards
29:15 Build Tips
30:57 Board for Loop
33:23 Power & Relay boards
34:50 The Main Board
36:51 Catch up so far
37:50 Board Jump Wires
40:37 Front control knobs
41:34 Chassis & Board Wiring
42:13 Heater Wiring
44:14 Other wiring
45:23 Another Tip
46:03 More Chassis Wiring
46:45 Mod Heater Wiring
48:59 OT Wiring
50:33 Catch up: Chassis
53:34 Tip No 4
55:27 Main board in place
58:32 Completed assembly
01:00:09 Effects Loop Wiring
01:03:59 Chassis Top View
01:05:36 Front Controls
01:07:33 PART THREE - Amp cost
01:08:58 Amp Testing
01:13:17 Final Problems
01:14:46 Last Problem!
01:16:48 Summing up
01:21:26 Amp Tone Examples
01:29:35 Demo Rock Track
Links:
Ceriatone website: https://ceriatone.com
My original series of Ceriatone Dumble HRM Builds:
Part 1: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amplifier Build | P...
Part 2: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amp | Part 2 | Dumb...
Part 3: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amplifier | Part 3 ...
Part 4: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amp Build | Part 4 ...
Part 5: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amp Build | Part 5 ...
Part 6: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amplifier | Part 6 ...
Part 7: Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amplifier | Part 7 ...
Part 8: Build a Ceriatone Overtone HRM Amplifier |...
Separate video of the final Dumble HRM amp: A DUMBLE Clone Amplifier of the Highest Or...
My Ceriatone Chupacabra Review: A Roaring Marshall? | Ceriatone Chupacabra...
My Ceriatone Centaura Klon Clone Review: Ceriatone Centaura Klon Centaur Clone Insi...
Check out Noisy Hammer (Case Maker): https://www.noisyhammer.com
And there are many more brands of amps on my channel at tonymckenziecom on my YouTube channel
My website has hundreds of reviews of guitar gear: https://tonymckenzie.com too.
The Train Wreck amps originally made by Ken Fisher (Ken Fischer) are legendary, but there is only one problem. Ken passed away some years back and he only made around 70 to 100 amps or so they say. Buy an original Train Wreck amp can cost you many tens of thousands of pounds (or dollars) and so it's generally out of the question for most guitarists and hobbyists.
So Ceriatone, a company from Malaysia has created a 'clone' of many Train Wreck amps - and this is their version of the Express - but now called Expression and with added features updating the amp to am 'all access' model. It is a wonderful project for anyone to make, but Ceriatone (pronounced 'cherryatone') can build the amp for you. But I wanted a project that was harder than some amps and I chose this amp - and hopefully my build will not be a train wreck! After all I'm just like most guitarists and am not particularly qualified as an electronics engineer, but I have had some practice.
So I bought the train wreck amp kit from Ceriatone and 'Nik' the owner promised to help me if I 'got stuck' along the way. Indeed Nik was frankly the best feature you could wish for! The Ceriatone support is honestly rated at a 10/10 and is recommended.
So on to the Train Wreck amp build. I try very hard to show what my experience was AND offer advice and help if I can to anyone that wants to build one of these amps. It's not the easiest project - but well worth the effort when completed - and you will learn so much (as indeed I did).
Nik at Ceriatone did a brilliant job and his support can't be bettered. Thanks Nik.
This is not a sponsored video and the opinions are entirely my own. The amp is NOT a Marshall JTM45 or even like a Plexi, it differs greatly from the overtone Dumble HRM special I built years back, but I guess does have some aspects of the Chupacabra amp from Ceriatone. But you can see a great demo and review of this train wreck expression all access amp right here.
I built this amp for documenting how to make one, but in reality I record with this amp in my home studio along with the other tube amps and sound reinforcement I own. It's a great sounding tube amplifier.
(c) A B McKenzie and tonymckenzie.com 2009-2025
All Rights reserved
#trainwreck #express #kenfisher # kenficher #ceriatone #tubeamplifier #tubeamp #tonymckenzie #tonymckenziecom #liverpoolamp #rocketamp #amplifier #guitarist #expression
I am about at your skill level. That seems like a daunting build project. I fully understand the making of slight mistakes and then trying to find the issues.
I really like your stylistic dialog...your a good man 👍