Introducing Myself

[docsmith]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and I'd like to introduce myself to everyone. My name is Dr. Kevin Smith. I'm a chiropractor and guitarist from Pittsburgh, PA. While I don't know much about the inner workings of amps, I have a great appreciation for amps and especially for Trainwreck amps.

Here's a true story for you all. Sometime around 1991, I was reading an old back issue of Guitar Player (Sept. 1985 I think), where they did an interview of Howard / Alexander Dumble. I wanted to know more about this very interesting person. So I called the Guitar Player offices and spoke to a very nice guy named Art Thompson. I explained my story to him and asked if he knew how to get in touch with Dumble. (I know, I know...I was young and naive). Art didn't know how to get in tough with Dumble, but he did give me the names and phone numbers of two east coast amp gurus - Cesar Diaz and Ken Fischer. I called Cesar first and we chatted for about a half hour. He was really funny but somewhat cocky. Told me that Dumbles were a "real piece of shit", and then went on to try and sell me one of his amps. We had a couple of good laughs and then ended the call. Then I called Ken Fischer. Now THAT guy was interesting! He talked to me for at least two hours. First of all, his opinion of Dumble amps was rather poor. He told me he doesn't even want to work on them anymore. Then he told me about Dumble's business practices (collecting all the money up front and then making people wait for 4 years, blah, blah, blah...). Then he proceeded to educate me about guitar circuits and why all the multi-channel amps sound like shit. By the time he was finished, I was 1) Enlightened and 2) Craving one of his amps. So I put in an order for a Trainwreck Express right then and there. I wanted her to be named "Megan" and I wanted the wood burning to be of a volcano. He couldn't give me a delivery date, but said he'd call.

About 7 months later, I'm having dinner with my family and the phone rang. It was Ken. He told me that a guy who ordered an Express had lost his job and wasn't able to pay for the amp and would I want it. It's name was "Jamie" and it had a wood burning of a gazelle on the front. I mulled it over for a bit and then said no. I wanted the amp just as I had specified. What I didn't know is that Ken would soon get sick and stop building amps.

I had a Trainwreck Express in my grasp and allowed it to slip away. In a way, I felt like the villain from Titanic allow the big diamond to slip away. LOL! Anyway, from an investment point of view, I really blew it big time. A $1,500.00 investment would be worth close to $40,000.00 today. Oh well. I've still got some other cool tone toys (including the 84th PRS ever made).

Just recently I became aware of Trainwreck clones and am very interested in buying one. I'm not sure who the builders are (there isn't a directory I could find). So if you are a builder, please feel free to IM me.

Anyway, I wanted to introduce myself to the group. Pleasure to meet you all.




Kevin

[UR12]

Welcome aboard Kevin!!! Which amp are you interested in?

[CaseyJones]

...Told me that Dumbles were a "real piece of shit", and then went on to try and sell me one of his amps. We had a couple of good laughs and then ended the call. ....First of all, his opinion of Dumble amps was rather poor. He told me he doesn't even want to work on them anymore. Then he told me about Dumble's business practices (collecting all the money up front and then making people wait for 4 years, blah, blah, blah...).

I like Dumble's business practices.

Here's how it is:

We got to get it real straight right up front, who's the tech and who's the musician. Speaking for myself I've honed my skills over decades. I'm a mediocre musician but a competent tech. As opposed to competent musicians who are mediocre techs. Now that's great, you've been out in the woodshed honing yer guitar pickin' chops and I been out in the woodshed honing my amp building chops.

It comes down to a very singular vision if you will, you can't get that from a committee. It starts with a singular vision then follows through with design and execution. Combine a committee and engineering, you'll get a mutant jackass from yer petri dish, a mule on the hindquarters, a sow up the middle complete with engorged pig nipples, a komodo dragon at the head. Musicians know what they want but they're frequently not aware of what does and doesn't work well together.

It's especially true today. We got our current crop of Website Wonders, guys who can follow a layout drawing but who are entirely screwed when they run into a problem. It's simple, know who you are and know yer limitations. Come into my shop with a style of yer own, you have my respect. Barf up a partially digested regurgitation of Hendrix and SRV, I just may be a little skeptical. Puke up the Internet Urban Legend du Jour and tell me I have to work to that template... Take a hike, Bucko. I ain't got the time for that. I got all the time in the world for a solid concept that's even semi-brilliant in design and execution. I don't have time fer draggin' dead weight up the steep part o' the learning curve. Been there, done that. It's a tedious and tiring way to contribute to The Greater Good.

No offense intended, Doc. Just one o' my trademark rants. Welcome to the show!

[docsmith]

Welcome aboard Kevin!!! Which amp are you interested in?

Hi Dana,

Pleasure to meet you! I'm interested in the Express. However eventually I'd like to have all three for my collection.




Kevin

[docsmith]

Hi Casey,

Thank you for your reply and for your honest opinions. You don't like to be second guessed. I can appreciate and respect that. As a board certified chiropractic physician with years of clinical experience, I also don't like to be second guessed by the lay public.

That being said, the stuff that Mr. Diaz and Mr. Fischer were complaining about was in the way that Dumble would mandate full payment up front and if you ever called to find out how it was going, he'd punt you to the bottom of the list. That sort of thing.

Anyway, nice to meet you and I wish you well!



Kevin

...Told me that Dumbles were a "real piece of shit", and then went on to try and sell me one of his amps. We had a couple of good laughs and then ended the call. ....First of all, his opinion of Dumble amps was rather poor. He told me he doesn't even want to work on them anymore. Then he told me about Dumble's business practices (collecting all the money up front and then making people wait for 4 years, blah, blah, blah...).

I like Dumble's business practices.

Here's how it is:

We got to get it real straight right up front, who's the tech and who's the musician. Speaking for myself I've honed my skills over decades. I'm a mediocre musician but a competent tech. As opposed to competent musicians who are mediocre techs. Now that's great, you've been out in the woodshed honing yer guitar pickin' chops and I been out in the woodshed honing my amp building chops.

It comes down to a very singular vision if you will, you can't get that from a committee. It starts with a singular vision then follows through with design and execution. Combine a committee and engineering, you'll get a mutant jackass from yer petri dish, a mule on the hindquarters, a sow up the middle complete with engorged pig nipples, a komodo dragon at the head. Musicians know what they want but they're frequently not aware of what does and doesn't work well together.

It's especially true today. We got our current crop of Website Wonders, guys who can follow a layout drawing but who are entirely screwed when they run into a problem. It's simple, know who you are and know yer limitations. Come into my shop with a style of yer own, you have my respect. Barf up a partially digested regurgitation of Hendrix and SRV, I just may be a little skeptical. Puke up the Internet Urban Legend du Jour and tell me I have to work to that template... Take a hike, Bucko. I ain't got the time for that. I got all the time in the world for a solid concept that's even semi-brilliant in design and execution. I don't have time fer draggin' dead weight up the steep part o' the learning curve. Been there, done that. It's a tedious and tiring way to contribute to The Greater Good.

No offense intended, Doc. Just one o' my trademark rants. Welcome to the show!

[UR12]

Welcome aboard Kevin!!! Which amp are you interested in?

Hi Dana,

Pleasure to meet you! I'm interested in the Express. However eventually I'd like to have all three for my collection.




Kevin

Ahh a collector eh? I'm just down the road just outside of Huntington, WV. I am a Packers fan at heart but will be cheering on the Steelers in the big game.

Shoot me a PM and I'll give you a few options.

[CaseyJones]

As a board certified chiropractic physician with years of clinical experience, I also don't like to be second guessed by the lay public.

Bringin' fresh meaning to, "You're pullin' my leg!!"

Second guessing here... may I suggest a tougher nickname?

We got an old chiropractor here, true story. He'll align human spines or align equine spines, same bedside manner either way. If you want your team to pull 10,000 plus in a long free-for-all he's your man.

That being said, the stuff that Mr. Diaz and Mr. Fischer were complaining about was in the way that Dumble would mandate full payment up front and if you ever called to find out how it was going, he'd punt you to the bottom of the list. That sort of thing.

Unlike chiropractic... your patient shows up, you do your thing, they go home... musicians seem to think amp building is a highly interactive process. There are only so many hours in the day, only so many days in the week. Sure I sit here and BS when I should be workin', the part that gets me is when the customer wants me to email him or her pics every step o' the way. Do a solder joint, take a pic. Do another solder joint, take another pic. Email, call, call, email, "When's it gonna get done? Huh? Huh?"... Like that. I find that disrespectful.

Dumble has it exactly right. If he can do that more power to him.

[rooster]

docsmith - Yeah, welcome. I too talked with Cesar a few times and emailed, as well. He was so interesting and I think his liver desease and Portuguese background caused a lot of his verbage skills to suffer. So I look past all of that and it sounds like you do, too. The straight talk I got from him about the In Step album session was priceless and insightful. To the average listener it may seem that Cesar would really wish to be king of the world, but I think it was just a matter of him wanting to be appreciated. A friend has one of his first 'Twin in a Princeton box' and I have to say it sounds great and truly looks like the work of someone who loved what he was doing.

As to Ken, I talked with him as well, much like you did it seems. He also urged me to get on 'the list' and I simply had to tell him I just didn't have that kind of money. He still said I should get on the list and, when the delivery day comes, things may change. Man, I appreciated his optomisim, but I still declined. He sent me a few things, an autographed Rocket ad and a small note, along with a color photo of some Express that I cannot identify. You know, just being the nice guy that he was.

Anyway, I have my Express now (clone) thanks to those who have publicly shared their observations, insights, and love of the circuits Ken designed. It has been an interesting full circle journey somehow. I for one, really appreciate the fact that I called Ken and that we talked. For me, that small connection means a lot personally, as I'm sure it will for you in the days ahead. Thanks for your stories, BTW, and nice to meet you. Good luck on getting that TW.

[M Fowler]

Hello Doc and welcome,

I am one of those guys CaseyJones talks about a playing gigging musician that on weekends raised my family, learning electronics in solid state before the internet and ventured into tube territory doing my own work on Bassman, Tremolux and other odd ball amps. I am not a technician, I follow the layouts well and I am learning more as I go. Hopefully CaseyJones will continue to give me and others tips and answers until we hopefully become better at diagnosing.

I like your idea about having all three trainwreck amps.

Mark

[rooster]

Follow up: The Express photo Ken sent me was of 'Genevie', I can see it is the identical photo used in the TW picture files, chain link fence and all. Anybody know who owns this amp right now?

[drhulsey]

Well, hell I didn't get to talk to anybody
But I have communicated with guitar and amp people from all over the world on this here internet– you know, the one Al Gore invented
You'll get to converse with some of the most talented amp builders around on this forum I predict you will enjoy the experience.
Welcome

[koffee_iv]

Combine a committee and engineering, you'll get a mutant jackass from yer petri dish, a mule on the hindquarters, a sow up the middle complete with engorged pig nipples, a komodo dragon at the head. Musicians know what they want but they're frequently not aware of what does and doesn't work well together.

It's especially true today. We got our current crop of Website Wonders, guys who can follow a layout drawing but who are entirely screwed when they run into a problem. It's simple, know who you are and know yer limitations.

Good grief! You nailed me on the head! But on the other hand, how many combinations were tried before yer light bulb worked? I know my limitations.... I'm a mediocre musician, a nothing at amp building, but I can make a good peanut butter sandwich and aspire to something better.

Puke up the Internet Urban Legend du Jour and tell me I have to work to that template... Take a hike, Bucko. I ain't got the time for that.

I always believe the stuff when they say they checked snopes and they say it really is true.