Giving away info you are entrusted to keep.

[vibratoking]

I understand both sides of this. In an ideal world, there would be no secrets. In reality, the secrets will probably be outed. It just takes time. The bottom line is that everyone will handle this in their own way. End of story.

[Zippy]

I understand both sides of this. In an ideal world, there would be no secrets.

In an ideal world, there would be no greed.

[brewdude]

Keeping common technology secret seems silly to me.
This stuff is mostly antique by nature of tube electronics.
There is very little that is innovative and worthy of proprietary secrecy especially in a community of DIY'ers.
The real value isn't in the circuit, it's the marketing and branding.

That being said, I would be happy to learn the secret handshake or password to gain entry into the speakeasy so that I may gain a better understanding of how to implement the circuits of previous origin into my own designs.

...if I were to posses any secret info whether entrusted to me by someone else or stumbled upon accidentally, I would be delighted to share with this community. It's a shame that I have few resources besides TAG to draw upon. Thank you to all of the generous knowledgeable people here.

[RJ Guitars]

It really comes down to money. There's talk about the secrets of the commercial builders needing to be secret to protect their livelihoods--uh, funny thing is that the people of this said inner circle--aren't they mostly people who build clones for money...

"Money makes people act funny..." HE Rogers (it's doubtful you know him). I might add that so does ego, anger, selfishness, and any number of human character issues... many of which come into play in the holding and disclosing of secrets here on the TAG forum. Not sharing can also be good thing... depends on the reason. I routinely ask people not to share bits and pieces of info because it's not compete or accurate and in the wrong context it might cause confusion and harm.

Then there is that element of capitalism... the gathering and holding of intellectual property can be rather rigorous work and each individual has to decide for themselves whether they want to share what they know for love, money, barter, or not at all. It's a public forum and personal behavior is an unccontrolled variable.

I will suggest that if you are openly helpful when is possible to contribute, be honorable in your off screen sharing and distribution, then all you could ever possibly use in amp secrets will be given to you.... FWIW - never offer to sell anything or ask for any technical info until you've made a few posts and learned how to use the search function.

Personally, I find that very little tube amp technology is very secret and if it is the holder off that info spends all their energy looking over their shoulder and cannot be looking ahead to explore new ideas.

[RJ Guitars]

YMMV

[VacuumVoodoo]

If I understand this correctly, some individual obtained a piece of secret black magic under condition of confidentiality? Ok. Whoever was the first to feel the urge to break this promise of confidentiality is a dishonest attention seeking weakling. At least in my book.

There are only that many tube amplifier basic building blocks and their variations. Then you have combinations and permutations which allow a pretty big number of possible unique circuits. The "secret" is knowing which of these will work and perform the way you expect. And that is not free information but knowledge and experience. Why should it be free?

[NickC]

If I understand this correctly, some individual obtained a piece of secret black magic under condition of confidentiality? Ok. Whoever was the first to feel the urge to break this promise of confidentiality is a dishonest attention seeking weakling. At least in my book.

There are only that many tube amplifier basic building blocks and their variations. Then you have combinations and permutations which allow a pretty big number of possible unique circuits. The "secret" is knowing which of these will work and perform the way you expect. And that is not free information but knowledge and experience. Why should it be free?

Exactly! Knowledge and experience to successfully implement "combinations and permutations" is what separates amateurs (like me) and DESIGNERS. Huge distinction!

As RJ implies, sometimes it's best to withhold secrets. A little bit of knowledge can be dangerous in the hands of those lacking the requisite knowledge and experience ...... deadly even.

I don't have enough knowledge and experience to be of any use to the power-users hereabouts. I guess that makes me a "wannabee" (a term I read in a different thread at TAG yesterday ..... has a bit a a sting to it). I'll never be a pro amp designer/builder. Not interested in a futile attempt to compete against the brilliant folks here that are in that game. But I do try to help folks as my limited skill-set allows, and I try to offer a bit of comic relief from time-to-time. That's about the best I can do to give back to the community.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Knowledge and experience to successfully implement "combinations and permutations" is what separates amateurs (like me) and DESIGNERS. Huge distinction!

Just because something is "designed" doesn't mean "well designed." A quick listen to any early Buggera will confirm this.

Some of the best designs were - copies. Marshall empire founded on Fender's 5F6A for instance - an excellent sounding amp in all its permutations.

Amateur to me means "someone who loves what he's (she's) doing" and not necessarily someone who's technically inept.

I can even have respect for novices, as long as they can follow directions and ask for help when they need it.

Hacks, well that's another thing, not so good, and some hacks have made themselves famous to the point they're considered geniuses by those who haven't figured them out yet. I think you know who I mean.

I don't have enough knowledge and experience to be of any use to the power-users hereabouts. I guess that makes me a "wannabee" (a term I read in a different thread at TAG yesterday ..... has a bit a a sting to it). I'll never be a pro amp designer/builder. Not interested in a futile attempt to compete against the brilliant folks here that are in that game. But I do try to help folks as my limited skill-set allows, and I try to offer a bit of comic relief from time-to-time. That's about the best I can do to give back to the community.

Nick I don't take you as a wannabee. You're working within your limits and expanding those limits as you learn more. As are most TAGsters including me. All totally respectable. And a big thank you to those TAGmeisters who know more than most and/or can figure it out and pass it on to the rest of us.

[talbany]

Fortunately, some of the inner circle over the years got tired of the secrecy and realized if they gave the info to a third party, no one would know where the info came from.

I've been that third party on occasion.

You have to be very careful when you do this type of thing..As this will usually piss off the persons who originally drafted the info causing them to stop the sharing of any info here and in a PM and do more damage...I know it happend to me..

From
Inner circle

[matt h]

(deleted)

[M Fowler]

Hello my name is Mark and I'm an information hoarder.

Oh wrong forum

[talbany]

Hello my name is Mark and I'm an information hoarder.

Oh wrong forum

Mark.....I KNEW IT!!..

Tony

[boots]

Secrets?! You mean there are Secrets??? Is this the elusive Mojo I've heard so much about? I must learn these proprietary secrets so that my builds will have the Mojo!

[matt h]

(deleted)

[passfan]

Most of what I've experienced here in that regard occured in the Dumble forums. People tend to sit on some of that stuff if they have commercial interests involved.