CEC AMPLIFICATION
TOLL-FREE EXPRESS
BY MATT HOLLIMAN
Given the constraints and long hours involved with running a one-man
operation, Craig Wildenradt of CEC
Amplification is really something of an
overachiever. His Nashville company
has already impressed with the 15-watt
Suckerpunch combo, has an 80-watt behemoth under development, and recently
unleashed the 10-watt Toll-Free Express
reviewed here.
The Express is Wildenradt’s answer for
the travelling musician who likes a little
kick and growl from an amp, no matter
how small. With its miniature frame and
miniscule weight, the Express is designed
to accompany you from the practice hall to
the studio to the stage. But it’s how big the
Toll-Free Express sounds doing it that dis-tinguishes this diminutive monster.
Utilitarian Expressions
The Toll-Free Express offers a simple control
array. There’s one instrument input on the
lower right-hand side with an On/Off/Standby
switch and an LED indicator. The five white
chickenhead knobs cover the basics—Master,
Bass, Middle, Treble, and Gain. There’s also
a Hi-Cut switch that enables you to move
between the regular output and one with a
shaved high end when engaged.
The backside of the Express features
three separate output jacks ( 4, 8, and 16
Ω) for matching speaker impedance. This
output option may look like it takes up
needless real estate, but it also seems far
more durable than those plastic impedance
selectors that can show wear after repeated
coin or flathead screwdriver use.
You’ll find some nice components nestled within the 1/2" Baltic birch walls. This
10-watt growler ships with two JJ 12AX7s
in the preamp and one SED “Winged C”
EL34 in the power amp. You’ll also find
custom-wound O’Netics power and output
transformers, Audience Auricap capacitors,
