Trainwreck.com change

Express, Liverpool, Rocket, Dirty Little Monster, etc.

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Allynmey
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Trainwreck.com change

Post by Allynmey »

How funny! www.trainwreck.com used to have a page specifically dedicated to denouncing this forum, myself and other people making TW style amps.

I just went there and the page is gone and in it's place is a page about John Mark (the guy who is making amps at ken's bench for $5,000). Apparently, now that Ken is gone for a few years, enough time has elapsed for the rewriting of history to begin for the family hot on cashing in on Ken's name.

Rewriting you say? Most people who are interested in TW's, have read the Ken Fischer articles and his columns in various magazines. No where in anything I've ever came across mentions this mysterious JM. The articles I, and most people have read mention Caspar McCloud as the inspiration for the first wreck (prototype) and Ginger, the first of the amp we all know as Trainwrecks. Ginger was owned by Caspar and played by Caspar for years.

I will take what Ken himself wrote in the articles and columns as being what he considered the truth. Now, along comes the mysterious JM who himself has not peeped a single word but instead, has had the Fischer family minions create a buzz about this amazing man who taught Kenny everything he knows, Lives in Kenny's basement, has his "secret" book :lol: , and will make a "Family authorized" Trainwreck for $5K.

Maybe Ken's mom is making him magic sandwiches with magic mojo dust for lunch (crust removed, just like Kenny).

I for one could care less if they made a million amps and ten million bucks. Why I write this post is I, like many people here have been attacked online, in person, etc. by the Fischer family cult machine. They said no one can make a wreck except Kenny. Kenny said no one can make a wreck but him. I have letters from the family after they treated disgracefully the people like Soldano, Reinhardt, Dana Hall, Billy Yates, Bob burt and countless others who had a hand in the Ken Fischer Memorial Amp (which was made to sell with the proceeds going to Ken's mother after the family through Hogy put out a call for donations after Ken's death) saying The Trainwreck name died with Kenny and no one can and ever will make TW amps!!!!!!

I spoke to Caspar for a while yesterday and let him know whats been going on and he couldn't believe his ears. He said it's a shame. I seemed to me if the stories about JM had Caspars name instead of JM's, they probably would be closer to the truth...at least Kenny said so in many articles that are still available to read...I encourage you to read them.

Just really blowing off steam...but it does seem with Kenny gone, the family has streamlined their propaganda machine and have many minions spreading disinformation everywhere.

Thanks for listening.......
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ampmike
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Post by ampmike »

Wow,5000 bucks for a rocket.Built by this JM,And isnt the rocket the least expensive to make.I agree.I enjoyed reading this with my coffee today!Thanx Man
Gibsonman63
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by Gibsonman63 »

I have been hanging out here for a few months. The comradery and the willingness to share information and help each other is enough to make me believe that the internet isn't such an evil place after all.

I saw the Trainwreck.com site when I was initially doing research for my build and even as a layman, it all seemed like a bunch of hype and smoke and mirrors... and there is a lot of that sort of thing for anything related to the creative arts. You guys have a great community and I, for one, have learned a great deal and have a great amp to show for it.

I am sorry to hear about the personal attacks. Living well is the best revenge as well as it's own reward.
NitroLiq
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by NitroLiq »

Awesome! When's the KF/Trainwreck energy drink due out? :D
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M Fowler
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by M Fowler »

Here is a discussion I had about this subject on Z-talk after someone had posted about it.

Funny how some of the guys that worked with Ken and some of his customers stated they never heard of JM until this came out. This actually came out about 7 to 8 months earlier on Ampgarage they were asking some of us about our thoughs about coming out with a Reissue Rocket. So far JM has not built the Express which is a heck of alot harder to build and tame than the Liverpool or Rocket. Ceriatone actually builds good products but I build my own.
Snooty (M Fowler)
A good friend of mine was personal friends with Kenny, and he knows JM, and knew he worked with Kenny.
Don
A friend of mine has a Rocket and an Express. He knows JM helped with the voicing of his Rocket. I asked him about the new reissues and he says they are as legit as you can get. He has a Liverpool getting made for him. $4000 is way better than $35000 if the tone is there. I'll get over who built it.
Mike Slegimen
You can build your own for $800 so why pay $4000. A TW cab cost $300 professionally made or build your own.

I know JM is building Trainwrecks legally by Ken Fischer's family there was discussion with a friend of JM on a builders forum to let us know this was going to come about.

What many of you maybe don't know is that Ken gave his blessing to build amps based off his designs, just don't make a profit off his hard work and amp line.
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by tubedogsmith »

Allyn, who cares. It's way past time to move on.
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selloutrr
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by selloutrr »

for $5K are they made with origianl parts of the same parts the forum uses? I wonder if he has Ron's BOM and book along with TAG's layouts posted on the wall above the work bench :wink:
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selloutrr
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by selloutrr »

looking at the NEW Clones I mean Reissue I mean Wrecks? At least they have a different faceplate lettering and style so they wont be mistaken on the market.
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Allynmey
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by Allynmey »

It's not the amps that bother me at all. really.

It's the family's attitude towards any of us and anyone else that uttered the holy name "Fischer". They were classless losers after Kennys death. It truly was an attack machine. The letters from the family came out, threats of lawsuits to Vintage Guitar, Trainwreck.com was edited to attack, and the minions appeared on all diy websites to stir it up.

The rewriting of history to negate Capars role (which Ken himself talked about many times and wrote about in articles).

Remember, John Mark (JM) has not come forward to clear up these BS stories shows his complicity or at least his willingness to enjoy basking in the light at his "good friends" expense.

I know quite a few people who were actually around during that time. Most know who he was. He was a guy that soldered a few boards for Ken but, Ken couldn't use him due to either the quality or speed of his work. He never finished an amp to the best of my knowledge.

Like I said, I'm not really talking about the amps but, the family right now. Someday when I get on a good rant, I'll post some letters from the family addressed to me. I wish JM all the luck building amps. I wish he would come forward and tell some of the minions to cut the crap.
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selloutrr
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by selloutrr »

It's pretty sad what greed brings out in people.

I understood when they were trying to protect the history and integrity, but I see your point completely.

I'm wondering if the children got control of the estate, Other then the new TW's does the estate make any sort of profit off of the TW name? I guess in paper press from articles? I'm wondering with all the legal fees of preventing clones if TW is not a financial burdon. Did they need to go back in to production to protect patents?

$5k is a steep price for a $650 amp but if JM is really that slow it might actually be only a couple hundred in profit :wink:
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by ampman1961 »

selloutrr wrote:It's pretty sad what greed brings out in people.

I understood when they were trying to protect the history and integrity, but I see your point completely.

I'm wondering if the children got control of the estate, Other then the new TW's does the estate make any sort of profit off of the TW name? I guess in paper press from articles? I'm wondering with all the legal fees of preventing clones if TW is not a financial burdon. Did they need to go back in to production to protect patents?

$5k is a steep price for a $650 amp but if JM is really that slow it might actually be only a couple hundred in profit :wink:
Nice reply.
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selloutrr
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by selloutrr »

fill us in freedom sounds good I'm feeling caged.
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M Fowler
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by M Fowler »

Billy you guys have some good looking and sounding tweaked TW type of amps, only heard them on video I need to get to an amp show to test.

Mark
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by ampman1961 »

The truth, is in the simplicity of design and implementation. Execution.
Testing and tweaking is a matter of lead dress and tube selection and perception of hearing.
I think what a lot of people get caught up in, is the myths and unknowns behind the individual instead of the amps themselves.
We are all characters and individuals...Ken was one just like us.
His amps reflected what he sought. So do we. No different but at the same time not exactly the same because we are not him.
That's not to say we (builders) can't replicate or even improve (which we have)
upon his designs. Why people get so hung up on this is beyond me...they are just guitar amps, not a cure for cancer.
I will point out that I have heard and played through 2 real Wrecks. One sounded like shit and the other sounded very nice. Obviously there are very valid reasons why this was...TUBES! And, filter caps...they do get old.
I am all for remembering Ken and his contributions in a positive light and everybody has there own reasons and ways. So be it and let it go.
I was personally devastated, not only by his passing, but the way people behaved when the bullets started flying, much of it coming from people who had no connection, interest or commonality with him and his family and our project to memorialize a very wonderful human being.
None of you will ever know that and I will not bore the hell out of anyone with my grief about that.
I do know, that we in the building community have a mutual respect and support structure that is second to none. We also know when to call bullshit.
I will watch to see what happens and wait to offer my perceptions then.
BTW, my avatar is an oxymoron and is in jest. It also describes my absolute disdain for the siblings of Ken and a couple of his purported "best friends" who showed themselves to be classless beyond description, all of which has been meticulously noted in fine detail.
"Life is too short for Solid State"
Billy Yates
"Life is too short for Solid State"
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Re: Trainwreck.com change

Post by KellyBass »

ampman1961 wrote:they are just guitar amps, not a cure for cancer.
But they did cure my depression... :)
This message has been printed using 100% recycled electrons.
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