Did you guys read this?

[Krinkle]

Speaking of flame wars, let's go easy on people who can't spell and don't preview their posts!

[Guitarfetish]

Well first of all I totally disagree that Kenny was a lousy teacher- because he could not teach anyone to build Trainwrecks- Bullshit.

Nice first post! So why do you think Kenny couldn't teach others to build his amps for him?

I think by "build" you're really referring to "wire"- Anybody could build a Trainwreck circuit- Kenny tweaked them and messed with them and got them right. I think he did have a few wired by others- but it was always his hand and his ears that dialed them in.

Look everybody here can and probably HAS built a Trainwreck- but I'm not sure that everyone is 100% convinced that they've nailed the magic- if such a thing exists-

I've played probably a dozen trainwrecks over the years- And out of curiosity i bought a Ceriatone clone- Out of the box sounded NOTHING like a trainwreck- loud, cold, brutal- not what I expected at all. After a month of subtle tweaks, few component changes and many, many, many boxes of NOS tubes- I think it's probably about where a decent Express is- The magic wasn't in the parts- because they all have different parts- It was in the TWEAK- getting them just right. And of course the brilliant circuit idea in the first place.

[dartanion]

Hey Folks,

I did not know Ken either, but feel that many of us share a similar spirited approach to building amps.

Ken used his knowledge of circuits and design to create amps that captured HIS tonal preferences. Like most other builders, when you set out to build, you start with a schematic, sketch out a layout, build a prototype, then tweak to taste. Even with circuits that you have built before, you still need to tweak as most parts vary and lead dress is never EXACTLY the same with human hands. Why Ken was so special was that he could tweak his almost unstable amps and make them sound great. Anyone here who has toiled with oscillations knows how challenging it can be to tame them. Ken knew just exactly where each wire needed to be for his amps to work and sound great. He had the patience and persistence to keep working on something until is was "right" by him. This is what made him a bit nutty and eccentric. He wanted every amp to be insanely great by his ears.

With all the above said, anyone can build one of Ken's designs, but not that many people have the skills or the patience to tweak and troubleshoot these amps. One first needs to understand what is going on in the circuit, why it was done this way, and how it should sound. Any rookie builder can buy a kit, or follow a layout, but it really takes a knowledgeable builder to dial them in. There are many builders knowledgeable enough to do this that hang out here and on other amp forums. It's been done and will be done again.

Where I diverge from Ken (and I am in no way claiming that I am of Ken's caliber) is that I build and tweak to my clients' tastes. I'm not going to tweak a 5E3 (which is a favorite of mine) for someone who wants modern metal tone. I'll ask a whole mess of questions, listen to samples of music that they like the guitar tone on, and then come up with some proposals for them.

Ken designed some very interesting and GREAT sounding amps, and there are also numerous GREAT sounding TW inspired amps and clones out there too. Who knows where the next Ken will arise from?

[Tubetwang]

Well first of all I totally disagree that Kenny was a lousy teacher- because he could not teach anyone to build Trainwrecks- Bullshit.

I've played probably a dozen trainwrecks over the years- And out of curiosity i bought a Ceriatone clone- Out of the box sounded NOTHING like a trainwreck- loud, cold, brutal- not what I expected at all.

Let's not forget that a Ceriatone clone is 655 greens...
Any proletarian can get one and tweak it till the cows come home.

"When tweaking's the mood"... 655 is not a bad start...

I don't know a thing about Ken other that i have his desease...never played his amps nor heard them live.

I have no intention of buying any of his amps...only too happy to have built an Express clone and currently finishing a Liverpool. But that's me...i enjoy building/tweaking/playing tube amps. I don't gig either, i only play along cd's.

May not be what Ken had in mind soudwise...but...if i like the amp...that is all that matters right?

I know i'm not worthy...

[blaren]

At first, reading this thread, I thought...yeah...if you cant teach people something, either you're explaining it wrong or the people are stupid (which I dont agree with...you can teach ANYONE something if you can "speak their language"...SO...it really MUST be BS that Ken COULDNT teach ANYONE how to build a tw.
BUT....then I read that other post that explained the difference between "building" or wiring or putting-together an amp...and actually making one do what you want.
Kinda like trying to teach someone "feel"...no...maybe even THAT can be done.

More like...if you use talent more than technical theory...well you cant teach God given talent. That'd be like me tryint to teach guitar. I've been playing professionally for 30 years but I know absolutely NO theory and dont really have a clue what I'm doing. I'm pretty much just "singing" on it. For some reason..if I want the guitar to say something, I can make it sing it. It's a combination of years of experience and a pinch of talent. If/when someone asks me how to do something I kinda just have to say...."I dunno...just DO it". Not saying I wouldnt be a better player if I DID know theory cause I WOULD.
I'm sure Ken had both. Theoretical knowledge and pure talent. Build an amp that is technically correct then use your EARS and talent to make it di what ou want. You just cant teach that.
Unless of course you were Ken's Grasshoppah for 30 years. I "think" that talent has a tendancy to "rub-off" on people after a few decades.

Hey guess WHAT!!!!...right in the middle of typing this the doorbell rang. It's Sunday. I wasnt gonna answer but I went to look and I saw someone carrying a box away . I've got a strange amp comming (shoulda been here last week) and it's SUNDAY!!??
I hollered out the door "HEYY". Guess what. The post office is delivering today...MERRY CHRISTMAS.
It's a weird amp (havent opened the box yet). It's in a Germino headcase (block logo) and is INCREDIBLY built. There's a sticker on the chassis that says "Proto '03 G.G.". Greg has seen photos of it and says it isnt his (but he too says it's BEAUTIFUL). It's kinda like a JTM45 but only has 1 input and all the pots go to "eelevin".
Woohoo....here I go!!

[jaysg]

Welcome to the forum Mr. A. When you have time, please tell us what you've been up to since Bedrock.

[CaseyJones]

I did not know Ken either, but feel that many of us share a similar spirited approach to building amps.

Ken used his knowledge of circuits and design to create amps that captured HIS tonal preferences. Like most other builders, when you set out to build, you start with a schematic, sketch out a layout, build a prototype, then tweak to taste. Even with circuits that you have built before, you still need to tweak as most parts vary and lead dress is never EXACTLY the same with human hands. Why Ken was so special was that he could tweak his almost unstable amps and make them sound great. Anyone here who has toiled with oscillations knows how challenging it can be to tame them. Ken knew just exactly where each wire needed to be for his amps to work and sound great. He had the patience and persistence to keep working on something until is was "right" by him. This is what made him a bit nutty and eccentric. He wanted every amp to be insanely great by his ears.

The best art is a communication between an artist and their audience. Lame art IMHO is where the artist garbles the communication due to ego, the message becomes "You're not cool enough to understand me."

Having said that Trainwrecks were never intended to be art by themselves, they were meant to be very capable musical instruments in the hands of very capable musicians. It's only now that people like us understand that the amp itself borders on a work of art.

It's art because by design it had to be tweaked by the artist himself. It's not a design that lends itself to mass production, there are aspects of the design that approach the edge but don't fall off. With a tweak here and a tweak there the design could be made better suited to mass production but it seems that was never the point.

It's a weird amp (havent opened the box yet). It's in a Germino headcase (block logo) and is INCREDIBLY built. There's a sticker on the chassis that says "Proto '03 G.G.". Greg has seen photos of it and says it isnt his (but he too says it's BEAUTIFUL). It's kinda like a JTM45 but only has 1 input and all the pots go to "eelevin".
Woohoo....here I go!!

Post a gutshot, from your description I may know what it is.

[Guitarfetish]

Welcome to the forum Mr. A. When you have time, please tell us what you've been up to since Bedrock.

Thanks Man-

Spent a while running an ad agency in the Boston suburbs- doing mostly high tech work and a lot of catalog stuff. Built a few dozen guitars and amps over that period- wound a few thousand pickups in the basement- Light bulb went on over the head- Started the GFS pickup line about 4 years ago- and now Guitarfetish.com is among the leading online retailers of parts and pickups.

A daily struggle to keep my guitar and amplifier MANIA in check- even though I'm in the business I support my local guitar shops and can't stop looking for the "perfect" tone. I've had the chance to play practically every great guitar and amp over the years. I played through Stevie Ray's Dumbles and Clapton's Bassmans- Dave Sharp of the band The Alarm had the greatest AC-30 I've ever heard. Played through at least a dozen Trainwrecks- every Matchless, Bad Cat, Fuchs, Two Rock, 65, WHATEVER- and it's never enough. I still can never recreate the tone Brian May had playing through a 15 watt Session solid State amp in the Guild factory in the mid 80's. Cause sometimes it IS in the fingers!!

But I've managed to put together a decent collection of British and American amps- and I'm lucky enough to have a day job that REQUIRES that I play AT VOLUME every single day. I guess there's worse ways to make a living!! So This seems like a fun place to be- cause like you I can't help messing with anything. My wife's one rule is no soldering on the kitchen table anymore- As long as I honor that I can do what I want!

[doctord02]

Hi Jay A-

Glad to see you here - guitarfetish seems to be quite the hit - I know I just bought a set of overstock humbuckers from you and tho they are not your handiwork, they were a killer deal. You wrote me back about them just a few days ago; funny how it's a small world... Now finding out your history with Bedrock is even funnier - I've got a Bedrock Royale Deluxe chassis I bought new and unused from a fellow that apparently had purchased some of your unused inventory. At some point I'll build some sort of wreck inspired amp inside it...

Best of luck with Guitarfetish, I know I'll be doing more business with you down the road.

Dave Nix

[hairyandy]

Welcome to the forum Mr. A. When you have time, please tell us what you've been up to since Bedrock.

I second that welcome. Good to have you here Jay!

Andy

[mac0611]

this guy stephen, and anyone else who puts down a bunch of guys trying to find the tone are way off base. Ken taught everyone how to make a great amp. It is called USE YOUR EARS. With the documentation of Fransesca, a valid starting point to achieve these goals was established- nothing more nothing less. From this point, we have been able to achieve alot through discussion and experimentation, remebering that our ears are the important tool in building a great amp. I like many others on this forum have absolutely no intention of making money on Ken's name. We are only trying to become better at building amps for ourselves, and then sharing our knowledge with others. This is the spirit which makes the hobby we love so much all the more enjoyable. Some folks that own real TW's think that we are all some type of vultures. They like to look at things and worship them. We like to take the lessons learned by others and advance them to the next level, if possible.

To those that abhor us: We are the ones who will make sure Ken's legacy is never forgotten.

[Structo]

While I know very little about Ken and his legacy I have read the rumors.
Probably many are unfounded.
I read that he could hear the difference between types of insulation, PVC and or PTFE.
Or the difference between conductor types, solid, stranded, silver, tinned copper, etc.
Hype?

[Tubetwang]

While I know very little about Ken and his legacy I have read the rumors.
Probably many are unfounded.
I read that he could hear the difference between types of insulation, PVC and or PTFE.
Or the difference between conductor types, solid, stranded, silver, tinned copper, etc.
Hype?

That was Leo...

[Structo]

Leo who?
Kottke?

[gearhead]

While I know very little about Ken and his legacy I have read the rumors.
Probably many are unfounded.
I read that he could hear the difference between types of insulation, PVC and or PTFE.
Or the difference between conductor types, solid, stranded, silver, tinned copper, etc.
Hype?

That was Leo...

AFA insulation, I don't think he ever came out and said that he could hear the difference between PVC and PFTE. In an interview, he did say that he wouldn't build a Trainwreck with PFTE that was silver coated; too bright. The Komet guys wanted to use it, so he tuned the Komet amp design to use it. Now whether this was a function of different manufacturing techinques vs the PFTE/Silver coating, don't know.