Is this a builders forum or the gear page??

[ampdork]

Edited so I can build amps today instead of engaging in flame wars.

[briane]

+1. well said funk.

lets keep to dumbles and twrecks please.

We could require a picture of you holding a soldering iron if we need an entry req., but it is a nice place to learn when your just starting. Then again its probably a silly idea to make a dumble your first build if you have no experience.

And while I love fenders, this aint the fender forum.

ok, enough, off to tweak the new dumbleator.

[kleinm]

To me, one thing appears certain - new ideas or questions, be it newly-degooped amps, a new idea for voicing, new clips, new combinations of modifications, a strange unsolvable problem, a newly shared tidbit of information, etc., will be critical for this forum to remain vibrant.

For example, if we're all sitting around trying to build the exact same amp, there's only so much detail that can be done, and there are certainly members here that have it down to a beautiful art form. That information is *somewhat* established due to some members' gracious sharing, and we know who we need to ask for the right info. Unfortunately, with this sort of singular focus as a forum, some of the same questions can be asked, over, and over. Its the nature of the beast.

Personally, I'd like to see people put themselves out there more. This is what I built. I like this network in my amp, and this is why. This is the guts of Dumble #___. This is why I prefer HRM. This is why non-HRM sounds teh bawlzorz. This is my amp and it sounds like trash. This is where I'm getting stuck, and I need your help. This is the clip I just made, and I don't know what to think of it. I had this idea, and I wondered what you guys thought before I order the parts.

I think this is an absolutely incredible resource for building amplifiers, obviously 'Wrecks and Dumbles in particular. I'd love to see it stay that way, and not grow into a pissing contest about gear or between builders. The sentiment here has fallen a bit lately, IMHO, and I've noticed a significant decrease in participation in a few of who I view as some of the most contributing members. Its a sad situation, but perhaps equally inevitable.

However, I'm always prepared to be wrong regarding anything I think or say.

Sunshine and puppy dogs,
- mk

[Funkalicousgroove]

BTW this topic should probably be in the "Garage talk" forum
OK that was lame...

...but still a duck... What else floats on water? (Burn 'er anyway!)

Who are you that is so wise in the ways of science??

[sergio]

Hi , I want to say this forum is big helper for amp builders.

I'm new here(2 month) and not more expert in tube amp , but here there are person gentle and qualified , I'm learning more about this amp.
THANKS ALL VERY VERY MUCH . FROM ITALY

SERGIO
My English is not perfect but I hope you understand me

GREAT FORUM

[anyone]

BTW this topic should probably be in the "Garage talk" forum
OK that was lame...

...but still a duck... What else floats on water? (Burn 'er anyway!)

Who are you that is so wise in the ways of science??

[Buschman]

I think that I have three of the best sounding amps in the world. I owe two of them completely to the AMP GARAGE! The other to 18 watt. The shared wisdom of building & especially tweaking are the reason. My amps do what I want them to because I had help figuring out the tweaks. I wish that I could add more. I step in when I can. I someone wants to know how to still gig at age 50, raise teenagers & still have fun, I could help them! The next amp will also come from here-junkyard LIVERPOOL!

Thanks Gentlemen!
Kenny Wiebusch

[nickt]

EXACTLY!! If you are here because you want to learn WELCOME!!

If you want to talk about how great your $9K amp is go to the Gear page!

Funk, can understand where you're coming from but as a very part-time builder get a bit worried when "the pros" want to make things more exclusive. I read and often post here as I slowly gather knowledge and parts and eventually make decisions. Perhaps I'm part of your problem, I don't know, I kid around a bit but that's just me. Folks are here for all sorts of reasons. Pinpoint focus on #124 or Ginger or Franchesca isn't usually the main one - should it be? Topics and participants wax and wane. If you get too restrictive even the pros will get bored and leave.

My 2c anyway - no offence intended.

[Luthierwnc]

I find what I'm looking for.

There is a schism between some of the old guys and the newer kit builders. When I started, you'd hack butcher an Eico monoblock and see if you could make it sound good. Parts had to be scrounged at surplus stores and swap meets. They usually didn't look very good (by today's standards) but you learned a lot about living with the limitations of the chassis.

In the era of pre-fab, I'm sure amps look and sound better. But I also understand why some of the questions seem so rudimentary. If you followed the directions to the best of your ability and it has a problem, you can't recall a "I know that noise!" experience and systematically go through your troubleshooting protocol. Plus, you probably didn't order a bunch of extra resistors and caps in nearby values just because you knew you would need to dial in a certain response.

That is one of the reasons I posted oh, a year or so ago, on why Dumbles aren't a good first amp. It is better to make an amp than not make one but until you can make a good amp sound great it is hard to make a great amp sound great. Build a JTM or 5E3 and make it sing. By then you'll know how to do the heater wires, check solder joints and all the stuff you need to do on every quality build so it doesn't catch fire.

Cheers, Skip

[doveman]

I've been playing for >30 years and always wanted to build an amp. Finally built my first amp this January ... a Brown Note D'Lite 22. I think it's a fine amp. I searched for weeks for information to prepare for this new experience ... including here. It was helpful. Everyone here had a first amp build ... even the old hands.

I've only posted 12 times in 4 threads ... starting 3 of them. I'm still not sure if you guys really want me asking my questions. But I think that asking you guys about speakers for a Dumble-ish amp ... for example ... might be helpful to me. How do I get the most out of playing this type of amp is important to me as building it. I'm more player than builder.

There are obviously seasoned builders here. Kind of intimidating actually ... there's not a D'Lite category ... I'm not even sure where to post. I kinda like participating here though.

[Bob-I]

SERGIO
My English is not perfect but I hope you understand me

GREAT FORUM

Your English is FAR better than my Italian. No problem understanding you.

[Bob-I]

I think it is a fine place for new members who are interested in gathering information, whether they use it to build amps, or whether they just want general knowledge. I think there are other places to "Peacock" your gear.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Peacock" an amp. If you mean show off your work, I'll respectfully disagree. I've learned a ton by seeing other guys builds, good or bad.

If you mean show off what you bought... I.E. "Ain't my new Purple SLO pretty" then I agree.

[snider]

Sheesh Brandon, I bet are a total of three guys from TGP who have posted here that don't build . I thought that "Dumble Discussion" meant just that. I have learned a bunch hanging out here as a lurker and only posted when I felt it was something I had to offer that was from personal experience regarding a Dumble, Clone , or builder. I have played lots of Dumbles over the years and been inside a bunch as well. I had a Dumble modded bandmaster that had the Ultraphonics mod that when I peeked inside was blown away by the perfection in the application of the goop. The symetry was amazing . Looked like a kitchen sponge and had a nice handwritten badge embedded warning off amp pirates. John Mayer has that amp now and it has a good clean sound for sure but not extraordinary. Did not take pics (should have) as maybe then I could put them up and have some worth.

I have also played a couple very old Steel String Singers, several 70s and 80's ODS's, pheonix mods, modded bandmasters that he was doing out of True tone in Santa Monica, HRM 100 watt 90s ODS and lots of clones, which include Two Rocks , Fuchs and Carol Anns among others. I have a good tonal reference for these and am interested in learning more about the various circuits at hand as someday I hope to have the time and patience to build my own but it's probably wishful thinking.

The fact that you want to bar people from coming here seems odd since many are your potential customers. No need to come off abrasive and arrogant.

I think I will stick around anyway at least as a lurker unless Omar or others feel I am doing something that is counter productive by lurking and an ocassional post if relevant.

[Dai H.]

if someone stated that a Bogner Ecstacy didn't sound like a Marshall I suppose that might drive me a little crazy also...

"peacocking" I think is more about showing off a purchased amp (preferrably the latest greatest "in", etc. amp of course) and not builds.

[LooseChange]

I ignore the stuff that is off topic. (Although I did read this one)
It appears most of you do the same thing.

Moderators should move the off topic stuff out and be done with it.