If I may...
Long time lurker.
Electronics is much more than a hobby for me in general, but building amps is not really possible for many wrong reasons. Yet.
You guys are a wonderful bunch. I enjoy every minute of my reading time here.
I interjected in a few discussions, when thinking (more hoping in fact) that this could bring a little something to the group... In retrospect, I might have come across as a bit of an annoying lurker. But that is a different story... and a lame attempt at getting some positive reinforcement
My point is: there are not so many things in life that are more productive than benchtime to learn about tube amps, since what we seem to look for is well outside of the standard textbooks in terms of organic functions (think controlled feedback across a complete fingerboard, on a clean setting...). This place is. And more.
In fact, and I will say this 3 times as a mantra: This place is invaluable. This place is invaluable. This place is invaluable.
You guys are way more than a mentor. You are like an academy. No joke.
It is however my job as a pupil to learn how to discern the wheat from the chaff. I take it as my personnal drill exercise.
I hope to be able to contribute sometime in the future, even if it only has to be with silly questions... or silly attempts at an answer...
My humble suggestion: I would never be offended if a thread I started was moved to the garage talk section. I would, on the other hand, be very disapointed to see such a great place disappear.
I trully believe in straight talking and dialogue as a way to resolve conflicts. Clarifying your positions in a year long thread, voicing opinions and concerns and stimulating a debate seems like a very healthy thing to do. And so far it visibly took only a very little chunk of the bandwidth.
So, in short:
1- This is a *great* place to learn.
2- The discussions and all are a good pointer at the way things are done and gives a few hints of the local culture.
3- I am very comfortable with the current way things are handled.
4- Dunno yet how and if I can contribute.
5- Feel free to not read this post!
6- Please let me read more!!!
...