See this 'trainwreck' of a thread:
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=9398
Last Trainwreck
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: Last Trainwreck
Paulster,
I was just about to revive that one....it's the same old stuff again, just a different year
I was just about to revive that one....it's the same old stuff again, just a different year
Where gators roam the backyards; keep your kids and dogs inside!
Re: Last Trainwreck
can't top that name for an amp tech.. maybe short for buzzard/Buzz.
I think Buzzy may have had some help along the way.
I think Buzzy may have had some help along the way.
I think Buzzy knew what he was doing, considering he had the first Trainwreck, now the last, as for any of you building a better Trainwreck? please.
Re: Last Trainwreck
Please leave Buzzy alone. He is cool. As far as the amp goes I recently played a real Trainwreck again and there is just something about a real one. Maybe it is just me and the emotional stuff. I dunno....
I do think people should keep an open mind but to me personally if Kenny did not finish it it ain't a real wreck.
Like Silbert has on the website...he built one and Kenny "tweaked" it and deemed it a real wreck.
Trainwrecks were built by other people and only cristined as a true Trainwreck AFTER Kenny made final adjustments and shipped it out.
If Buzzy sees this as an opportunity then good for him. I do see the fact that the logo is not on right makes me question how good it may sound.
just my 2 cents!
As the website says. If it sounds good then buy it if you have the money but don't think you are getting a real Trainwreck!
I do think people should keep an open mind but to me personally if Kenny did not finish it it ain't a real wreck.
Like Silbert has on the website...he built one and Kenny "tweaked" it and deemed it a real wreck.
Trainwrecks were built by other people and only cristined as a true Trainwreck AFTER Kenny made final adjustments and shipped it out.
If Buzzy sees this as an opportunity then good for him. I do see the fact that the logo is not on right makes me question how good it may sound.
just my 2 cents!
As the website says. If it sounds good then buy it if you have the money but don't think you are getting a real Trainwreck!
Re: Last Trainwreck
I don't think Buzzy's the problem. It's his marketing man that won't accept he's trying to sell clones with the Trainwreck name slapped (askew, seemingly) on them. 
Re: Last Trainwreck
I found the answer to my questions on the Trainwreck website:
http://www.trainwreck.com/?page_id=5
New Trainwrecks???
Introducing the Trainwreck Authorized Reissues. The new builder for Trainwreck Circuits is, like Ken, someone who prefers to remain out of the public spotlight. In respect for his privacy, he will be referred to as JM. It is true that Ken once wrote, "... I am the only one it seems that can build and voice my amps so they sound right. I've tried to teach family and friends to build these amps for me, but to no avail. They never sound right." The advent of new 'wrecks will be addressed here in a question/answer format:
How can there be new Trainwrecks? If Ken didn't build these amps, what makes these new amps any different than clones?
Ken respected, trusted, and was influenced by JM's ears. JM worked with Ken before Trainwreck Circuits existed. Ken consulted JM on issues of tone and JD helped Ken voice the original Trainwreck amps. JM worked on a number of 'wrecks over the years. Ken appreciated JM's ears and meticulous work; Ken would have hired JM but JM worked so slowly that paying him would have raised the price of the amps by 25% (This was when Ken sold them for $650 a head. Ken never imagined the monetary value his amps would achieve). When Ken spoke of nobody being able to build Trainwrecks, JM had never built a complete one. JM's is sure Ken would have affirmed that the new amps sound "right". That's coming from the man who helped Ken originally voice Trainwreck amps.
JM has access to information no one else has. He has access to Ken's notes and Ken's parts list (Hint: Though you can build a good sounding amp with Heyboer transformers, Trainwreck amps were never built with them). JM has access to the five laws of electronics which Ken discovered. Ken found that following these laws lead to good tone.
Webmasters Note: Don't ask me about these laws. I don't know them and don't want to. I wish I could have harangued Ken about keeping them secret.
JM works in Ken's shop and builds with Ken's equipment, helping him replicate Ken's exact methods. Working with Ken's equipment actually helps JM to understand the way Ken did things. He uses Ken's stash of tubes and parts, too.
JM compares his newly built Rockets with Ken's personal Rocket, the one Ken referred to as "Reality Check". JM's newly built amps hold their own and then some. They sound amazing and meet the tonal standard set by "Reality Check" even in blind listening tests.
So these are being built so the Fischers can make money, right?
If the Fischers were doing this for the money, they would have accepted one of a number of extremely lucrative offers. They could have handed over design information and received very large checks upfront even before the poor sounding "Trainwrecks" rolled off the assembly line. The Fischers actions regarding Trainwreck amps have always been in response to the sole question, "What would Ken have wanted?" The idea of having JM try to build a Trainwreck was originally an experiment. It is only because the amps meet Ken's tonal standards, according to ears that Ken trusted, that these amps are being produced and sold.
How much do new ones cost?
It depends on the specific amp, features, and accessories such as tubes. Currently the base price $4000. This amp to the right was half built by Ken. It has sold already for a price well below the baseless rumors that are circulating the internet.
How do I get one?
Ken's original list still gets first priority though the selling of these amps has not really been worked out yet. If you are interested in the new amps feel free to contact the Trainwreck webmaster (Stephen at trainwreck.com) until other avenues of contact have been established.
http://www.trainwreck.com/?page_id=5
New Trainwrecks???
Introducing the Trainwreck Authorized Reissues. The new builder for Trainwreck Circuits is, like Ken, someone who prefers to remain out of the public spotlight. In respect for his privacy, he will be referred to as JM. It is true that Ken once wrote, "... I am the only one it seems that can build and voice my amps so they sound right. I've tried to teach family and friends to build these amps for me, but to no avail. They never sound right." The advent of new 'wrecks will be addressed here in a question/answer format:
How can there be new Trainwrecks? If Ken didn't build these amps, what makes these new amps any different than clones?
Ken respected, trusted, and was influenced by JM's ears. JM worked with Ken before Trainwreck Circuits existed. Ken consulted JM on issues of tone and JD helped Ken voice the original Trainwreck amps. JM worked on a number of 'wrecks over the years. Ken appreciated JM's ears and meticulous work; Ken would have hired JM but JM worked so slowly that paying him would have raised the price of the amps by 25% (This was when Ken sold them for $650 a head. Ken never imagined the monetary value his amps would achieve). When Ken spoke of nobody being able to build Trainwrecks, JM had never built a complete one. JM's is sure Ken would have affirmed that the new amps sound "right". That's coming from the man who helped Ken originally voice Trainwreck amps.
JM has access to information no one else has. He has access to Ken's notes and Ken's parts list (Hint: Though you can build a good sounding amp with Heyboer transformers, Trainwreck amps were never built with them). JM has access to the five laws of electronics which Ken discovered. Ken found that following these laws lead to good tone.
Webmasters Note: Don't ask me about these laws. I don't know them and don't want to. I wish I could have harangued Ken about keeping them secret.
JM works in Ken's shop and builds with Ken's equipment, helping him replicate Ken's exact methods. Working with Ken's equipment actually helps JM to understand the way Ken did things. He uses Ken's stash of tubes and parts, too.
JM compares his newly built Rockets with Ken's personal Rocket, the one Ken referred to as "Reality Check". JM's newly built amps hold their own and then some. They sound amazing and meet the tonal standard set by "Reality Check" even in blind listening tests.
So these are being built so the Fischers can make money, right?
If the Fischers were doing this for the money, they would have accepted one of a number of extremely lucrative offers. They could have handed over design information and received very large checks upfront even before the poor sounding "Trainwrecks" rolled off the assembly line. The Fischers actions regarding Trainwreck amps have always been in response to the sole question, "What would Ken have wanted?" The idea of having JM try to build a Trainwreck was originally an experiment. It is only because the amps meet Ken's tonal standards, according to ears that Ken trusted, that these amps are being produced and sold.
How much do new ones cost?
It depends on the specific amp, features, and accessories such as tubes. Currently the base price $4000. This amp to the right was half built by Ken. It has sold already for a price well below the baseless rumors that are circulating the internet.
How do I get one?
Ken's original list still gets first priority though the selling of these amps has not really been worked out yet. If you are interested in the new amps feel free to contact the Trainwreck webmaster (Stephen at trainwreck.com) until other avenues of contact have been established.
Re: Last Trainwreck
I still have heard how much Lark Street wants for the 1/2 built by Ken amp. Anyone know?
Re: Last Trainwreck
Well everyone can send me money and I will purchase the new TW then we can dissect the bugger for review. I accept paypal. 
-
funkmeblue
- Posts: 485
- Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:17 am
- Location: akron, ohio
Re: Last Trainwreck
what? no express reissue? No wood burned face plates? I still want one!
anything worth doing, is worth doing right
Re: Last Trainwreck
No express reissue because it seems to me that the express is the most problematic to get right. The rocket is a more stable amp to begin with and in order to make them sound good they will depend mostly on Ken's old tube stash.