Amp Builder Ego

[PWE Amplification]

Looking around the forums lately has me wondering why some amp builders have egos so big that they can't even acknowledge that they were influenced by someone else.

That's all. Had to vent.

[Cygnus X1]

Aaaah....shuddup.



Yes, true...LOL.
The home or amateur community has been generous beyond description in my short (4 year) experience though.
I give stuff away, I get stuff given to me...I do work for free along with paying jobs.

I guess my attitude would change if I were trying to put food on the table or protect a product...but not much.
I can name some that have dedicated a lot to helping others...Aiken, Hoffman, Paul Ruby, Merlin just to name a few.
The ones that aren't that way really stand out though and spoil the perception of amp builders in general.

[selloutrr]

In my experiences the ones who are anal or hiding something / ideas probably didn't come up with the idea or have full rights to use the idea in the first place.

The builders, designers I know who have been pioneers of the industry have never been anything but willing to share the knowledge and excitement. (Rissi, Krager, Epperson, Bennett, Soldano, Neve, Manley, ClearMountain) - not dropping names just saying the one's who have done something they are proud of, are proud to share, and if you have a common language they will talk your ear off.

[Andy Le Blanc]

there's nothing new with tubes or guitar amps except the package or the features

Its fun to watch when you know better

I had a chat with the chair of the local library comity a while back.
she had this lady who was always trying to insert herself into the process
making meetings impossible and arguing all the unimportant points.
Too the point where she was shaking her head and talking to me about it.

I said that's easy... give the lady a responsibility see if she's capable of anything

she did, and the offending woman hasn't been seen or heard from again...

blowhards are fun to poke, just ask them to really own something...

[VacuumVoodoo]

The bigger an ego the smaller the...
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[dreric]

I good friend of mine is doing a video on current and past production amps, guitars and pedals. Manufactures have loaned him hundreds of thousands of dollars of gear to check out in the hopes of being in the video. He says guitar makers offer an instrument as say "Check this out, see if you like it"

Amp makers say "This is the best amp ever made"

A guitar maker would never say that their strat sounds and plays like a les paul yet make makers consistently say the their fender type circuit can produce marshall sounds etc.

Ultimately it comes down to the buyers. A guitar is a pretty simple thing conpared to an amp. You can figure out a guitar by holding it, playing etc. The learning curve is much longer on an amp peticlualry some of the more complicated ones. I think buyers are more willing to listen to the hype because they don't have an innate understanding of the device.

And when the buyers listen....................

Eric

[vibratoking]

The bigger an ego the smaller the...
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Perhaps a minor modification? I would change that to "The more overinflated the ego is..."
I have known, and do know, some extremely intelligent people with very big egos. There is nothing wrong with that IMO. I think the problem occurs when the size of the ego is not proportional to intelligence.

I would say that this particular affliction applies to many amp builders. Many of them seem to share the misconception that they are creating something new when the reality is very different. In order to make a good guitar you have to be a craftsman. The level of woodworking, fit, finish, frets, etc must be high to make an impression. The craftsmanship required to build a guitar amp is lower IMO. The fit and finish are still important but the inventiveness of the circuitry is usually not that high. Most, if not all of it, is copy/paste of prior art.

[JamesHealey]

Chris Merren
Rockstah (metroamp forum)
JFL Amplification
Merlin Blencow
Randall Aiken
Randall Smith
Howard @ Matamp
Dave & Kee @ Hiwatt
Larry @ Larry Amplification

All the above have been a massive help in my learning curve and big shout! to these guys! My electrical influences haha!

[ampmike]

I know a amp builder who picked up a co. after the owner died.What I hate is when he says every other Co. is crap.Oh "their junk, They suck"I feel that is really unfortunate that type of thinking.It all comes down to the fact that sound is subjective.Thats just my 2 cents.I do feel this site is very special.Its a place to really learn and the guys here have great sence of humor,Ive never gone back to 18 watt.TAG is #1,Mikey

[dartanion]

Don't even get me started on 18watt.com. They jumped the shark a few years back.

I don't understand why some builders claim other builders stuff is crap. There a so many talented builders that build great stuff that this kind of mindset is just pure nonsense. Give credit where it is due, and support other builders when it's reasonable.

[ampmike]

AMEN to that Bro.

[Weathered]

I would say that this particular affliction applies to many amp builders. Many of them seem to share the misconception that they are creating something new when the reality is very different. In order to make a good guitar you have to be a craftsman. The level of woodworking, fit, finish, frets, etc must be high to make an impression. The craftsmanship required to build a guitar amp is lower IMO. The fit and finish are still important but the inventiveness of the circuitry is usually not that high. Most, if not all of it, is copy/paste of prior art.

I would say that luthiery and amp building (can we come up with a fancy phrase for an amp builder? tube-iery?) require somewhat different brains and approaches, not necessarily more or less craftsmanship. Many of the truly successful amp builders have done something innovative to justify their higher prices and higher demand. Yes, the paint-by-numbers guys are probably 10-to-1, but most of them are bound to flame out at some point when someone comes in with the same product at a lower price point.

I can tell you from my standpoint, I will switch on any amp in a guitar store for at least a quick strum, but there has to be something magical in order to keep me playing - and I've been REALLY pleasantly surprised by some off-the-wall stuff. Same with guitars, but instead of feel/playability, the wow factor comes in the form of tone, feel, and the other intangibles that we all try and capture with our builds. I know in my case, I've tried to build guitars, but my brain does not work in that manner - I don't like the thought of the build being a one-shot deal. I need to be able to tweak, adjust, and change at my whim.

For every TGP-type buyer who will spend money based on the prestige of the nameplate, I like to think that there are just as many who want to be wowed by something that not every other guitarist uses.

[RJ Guitars]

...Had to vent.

In this context, that could only have been said better as "H.A.D." to vent.

[buildafriend]

yeah man. this stuff is very complex and takes a lot of time to learn. thats why its called a technical skill. imagine everyone was really just out to help each other. how awesome would that be?

[piperbob]

While surfing the net for info on Dumble I came across this site:
http://gretschpages.com/forum/billy-zoo ... 287/page1/
Someone even mentions Duane Eddy! Interesting opinions being expressed.