Trainwreck clones

[racerx23]

I think there have been a little over 100 Ken made originals out there
so i wonder how many clones are out there now
any guesses???

[sliberty]

Not counting boutiques and brand names that copied the circuit?

Maybe 500. I built 5 myself, although 2 of them are not total clones.

if we add in real companies, I'd say closer to 1500.

These are total WAGs.

[ampmike]

I would love to hear Glenn K's demo his clones.His real TW's are amazing!!!Mikey

[Bob S]

A clue would be the 14,000 members here.
A lot of them hit & runs for sure.
But there again, lots of us have built a few.
Some of us have lost count...

[M Fowler]

I know guys living near me that have built TW clones and I don't think they are even members or at least don't let me know they are.

I keep saying I'm not going to build any more TW clones but then I end up building another. I blame it all on you guys and gals.

Mark

[ampmike]

I built the 3 wrecks,I got them stacked together and call the "The Three Kings"I got to do some tweeks to smooth out the LP and the Rocket.My express dont sound half bad through a 4x12.The express thing is intimidating,You need special parts,special speakers,and a twenty foot cord.Even your guitar pots have some input on it.The part about the "Howling Mess" if the lead dress is off.That is true.All in all i really enjoyed building it.Ken Fisher has left quite a legacy behind. Mikey

[Bob S]

@ Mark
We all blame you.

[redshark]

@ Mark
We all blame you.

Yes I think Mark is guilty!!!

Seriously, I had built 3 trainwreck style amps. 2 express and 1 rocket and I would like to built a Liverpool but I will only do it if.....

a) I get 2 original vector boards and flea clips
b) If I get all the PVC caps I need
c) If I get Mallory TC filters.
d) If Allyn has another run of pacifics and chassis.

I should add good tubes but I already have that!!

It's a good idea to always buy parts when available. Just saying....

[Mark]

Very True Redshark, I'm seeing a lot of parts disapear.

[RJ Guitars]

Seriously, I had built 3 trainwreck style amps. 2 express and 1 rocket and I would like to built a Liverpool but I will only do it if.....

a) I get 2 original vector boards and flea clips
b) If I get all the PVC caps I need
c) If I get Mallory TC filters.
d) If Allyn has another run of pacifics and chassis....

I wouldn't be above contributing some parts toward a Liverpool build if it was to result in a well documented and shared project on TAG. My ultimate motive would be to provide something that could serve us as a build guide for the pure Liverpool clone.

Most folks know I'm not much of a cloner but I do believe that all the work done in cloning has educated us all in the basics of Ken Fischer thought and methodology. I also greatly respect the folks that are able to clone with meticulous attention to detail, something I am not able to claim personally.

As far as the number of Wrecks clones out there... loosely defining what is a clone, I made over a dozen of them. I would expect the total number of clones out there to be several thousand. I probably know of a dozen guys building a Wreck clone for every one I see posted on the TAG form and very few folks only build one...

[redshark]

Are those boards for sale RJ?????



I wouldn't claim I'm a great cloner but I do my best to do a good job and I have a few parts that I thing are VERY CRITICAL like the ones I mentioned above.


This is a pic of an express I'm very proud of.....and when I say I'm proud of it I mean performance...

[RJ Guitars]

Are those boards for sale RJ?????

Yup and I'll make you a super deal especially if it leads to a play by play of the Liverpool build. I came across a bunch of Vectorbord and Flea Clips this past year and I'd like to get a couple sets into the hands of the guys who will do justice to a true clone build... and share the build photos.

That is a good looking clone, I assume from your comments that she must sound good.

send me an email if you want to work something out for the boards.

thanks,

rj

[jeff12]

That is a real good looking amp.
My builds don't come close to what they are supposed to look like.
But that is what make it yours and mine and anyone else's amp.
Bottom line is like you said, does it sound good? Does it make you happy to know you built it? If so it is a great amp.

[redshark]

Thanks for your comments guys.

Thanks RJ, I will contact you if I put together enough parts to build the amp and this time I will be happy to document with pics all the process of putting it together.
Thanks Jeff, I have read here before your amps sound great so yes, it is the performance what really matters.
The "cloning" in this amps really means the use of certain parts and some OCD positioning of wires and components so it looks as close as posible to an original.

Still, it is performance again what matters the most and to achieve that, the most important thing is to make a desicion of what parts have good replacements and the ones that NEED to be there or it is not worth building the amp.

Many things we have read about Ken not building a rocket is he didn't have a good reliable old Mullard GZ34 of an specific era.
I know he was very picky with electrolytics as well.