What tubes does the Trainwreck Express use?

The Trainwreck Express uses 3× 12AX7 preamp tubes and 2× EL34 power tubes.

Who famously used the Trainwreck Express?

Matt O'Ree are among the notable players associated with the Trainwreck Express.

What recordings feature the Trainwreck Express?

Better as I Go by Matt O'Ree Band (2022).

Trainwreck Express preset

Verified · 84/100 confidence. Complete schematic. All component values readable. Parameters derived directly from the circuit.

The Express is Ken Fischer's EL34 Trainwreck, first built in January 1984 for players who wanted more crunch than his Liverpool. It is a single-channel head with no master volume: the Treble/Middle/Bass stack sits right after the first gain stage, two more 12AX7 stages follow, and a long-tailed pair drives two EL34s for about 40 watts with a Presence control. Fischer hand-built and named every amp, and fewer than 100 Trainwrecks were made.

Introduced: 1984
Made in: USA
Wattage: 40W
Channels: 1
Preamp tubes: 3× 12AX7
Power tubes: 2× EL34

Known for: Matt O'Ree.

Heard on: Better as I Go — Matt O'Ree Band (2022).

Tags: american, boutique, hand-wired, el34, crunch, mid-wattage.

Schematic-derived preset files for 16 Fractal and Line 6 modelers: Axe-Fx II/XL/XL+, Axe-Fx III, FM3, FM9, and the full Helix family (Floor, LT, Rack, HX Stomp, HX Stomp XL, Native).

Gridleak extracts amp parameters from original circuit schematics using AI vision — component values, gain staging, tone stack topology, tube types — then generates native preset files for every supported modeler. Every extraction is scored 0–100 and the score is published.