Engineering help on Amplifier Design

[Bob Savage]

He still walks into walls now and then but overall he's been well trained

He's a dude that walks into windows but nonetheless, he's a dude.

 

[LukeCurd]

Hi Luke,

So you know, I was only posting to clear up something you were saying about me. I wasn't hoping to create any confusion about you. I have no hard feelings against you, I'm not trying to run you through the mud or anything, so I hope you understand.
.

Read the italicized portion at the start of this post, he explains exactly why he decided to chime in...

I've been following this thread and honestly wasn't quite sure why there was so much hate towards your ideas. It started becoming clear once you started calling out James. You're completely out of line on this matter.

I've spoken with James on the phone about previous models that I was possibly going to pick up on the used market. Looking back, he could(and probably should) have been a dick to me or offered way less help than he did, but he gave me all the info and recommendations with a happy tone and with a very personable demeanor.

Have you ever noticed that right before someone makes a backhanded comment they say with all due respect

Peter Diezel did the same with me. Offered to me a good used one is a better solution for me. I asked him about mods based on his amps and he told me to start reading and get a old marshall. I took the advice and have slowly been making headway.

Amp builders are very secretive of their designs for various reasons. In the end Fender has layouts and schematics of all their amps. How many folks make money on S style guitars?

What if I posted on the Suhr forum about building a partacastster that is like a Suhr. No body gets upset but there is so much voodoo behind what goes into a amp. Its more profitable for amp companies to keep you in the dark. Maybe you won't hear the small differences in quality.

I bought a $500 car once. Drove it with the t-tops off, radio up, car felt great. Paid the man and drove home with Dokken blasting. I wake up the next day to fire up the car only to find a wicked horrible engine knock I didn't notice since I was distracted. I also bought a used marshall 4x12 cab off craigslist once. Dude cranked it up with a shitty peavey. The sound was ok but i figured it was the shitty amp. Got it home to find one speaker was blown and two of the speakers where made by some off brand company. I drove back to the dudes house. Got my money back. Simple, you get ripped off a few times you aren't going to take anyone at their word.

I have played 20 or so amps since talking to James on the phone. Bottom line is I won't buy anything new without playing it. Let alone used. Gotta know how the amp feels, sounds in a room, sounds in a mix, reliable. All that reputation comes after the amp has been in your hand a while and can trust it.

I paid $1600 each for my OD-100's, Traded one for a Uberschall, Sold that bought two Fuchs Vypers, sold those for a profit and got into old ampeg for a while.

See I play bothgenre's which call for very different amps. I originally called Peter on behalf of my friend who was looking for a amp. I too amp looking for a new amp.

I have never changed my mind about wanting a VH4 CH3 style el34/jmp amp or a SLO style 6l6 or a Fortin Cali with KT-88's, Friedman Naked, for my hard rock tastes.

For bloogie old rock I like a stock JTM-45/100 el34 mixed with Ampeg 6L6. Add fuzz and Overdrive with pedals.

I thought I would save the trouble and find a amp to bridge the gaps.

 

[guitarmike]

The design a little too complex for my grasp. That's why I wanted to start up simple with a gained up plexi mod. But after playing about 20 type plexi amps. I just wanted to ask for guidance from the builders first on which version to settle on. Someone asked me why would i want my own design I have thrown out a couple of names of builders I seriously talked to. My overall impression was that most small amp builders get into it for the fun of it. It's one of those jobs one gets happy to get. Its a job I don't want and was looking for a short cut.

You do not value other peoples time and talent, many here are calling you out on it. You believe what you offer has high value and what others bring to the table not so much.

Case in point: You posted people should pm you if they were interested in road cases. I did and you want $325 for a Marshall head case. Not sure what kind it is but that is in the range of high end of cases. 2 of your cases are more valuable than a working amp design???

Amp designers design as a hobby? Sure, but from your post that's not who you asked for help.......wow

 

[Cflat96]

LOL. Pay close attention, folks. HE is the reason why it's always a good idea to not quickly jump on a bandwagon of any particular retailer getting criticized. A lunatic with a distorted perception of reality. Now he's attacking James Peters, who was just clarifying and hasn't even said anything bad about him.

What would be funny, is actually hearing from all the builders he's had discussions with. Something tells me they would all have an interesting conversation about it.

 

[tfridgen]

Hi Luke,

So you know, I was only posting to clear up something you were saying about me. I wasn't hoping to create any confusion about you. I have no hard feelings against you, I'm not trying to run you through the mud or anything, so I hope you understand.
.

Read the italicized portion at the start of this post, he explains exactly why he decided to chime in...

I've been following this thread and honestly wasn't quite sure why there was so much hate towards your ideas. It started becoming clear once you started calling out James. You're completely out of line on this matter.

I've spoken with James on the phone about previous models that I was possibly going to pick up on the used market. Looking back, he could(and probably should) have been a dick to me or offered way less help than he did, but he gave me all the info and recommendations with a happy tone and with a very personable demeanor.

Have you ever noticed that right before someone makes a backhanded comment they say with all due respect

Peter Diezel did the same with me. Offered to me a good used one is a better solution for me. I asked him about mods based on his amps and he told me to start reading and get a old marshall. I took the advice and have slowly been making headway.

Amp builders are very secretive of their designs for various reasons. In the end Fender has layouts and schematics of all their amps. How many folks make money on S style guitars?

What if I posted on the Suhr forum about building a partacastster that is like a Suhr. No body gets upset but there is so much voodoo behind what goes into a amp. Its more profitable for amp companies to keep you in the dark. Maybe you won't hear the small differences in quality.

I bought a $500 car once. Drove it with the t-tops off, radio up, car felt great. Paid the man and drove home with Dokken blasting. I wake up the next day to fire up the car only to find a wicked horrible engine knock I didn't notice since I was distracted. I also bought a used marshall 4x12 cab off craigslist once. Dude cranked it up with a shitty peavey. The sound was ok but i figured it was the shitty amp. Got it home to find one speaker was blown and two of the speakers where made by some off brand company. I drove back to the dudes house. Got my money back. Simple, you get ripped off a few times you aren't going to take anyone at their word.

I have played 20 or so amps since talking to James on the phone. Bottom line is I won't buy anything new without playing it. Let alone used. Gotta know how the amp feels, sounds in a room, sounds in a mix, reliable. All that reputation comes after the amp has been in your hand a while and can trust it.

I paid $1600 each for my OD-100's, Traded one for a Uberschall, Sold that bought two Fuchs Vypers, sold those for a profit and got into old ampeg for a while.

See I play bothgenre's which call for very different amps. I originally called Peter on behalf of my friend who was looking for a amp. I too amp looking for a new amp.

I have never changed my mind about wanting a VH4 CH3 style el34/jmp amp or a SLO style 6l6 or a Fortin Cali with KT-88's, Friedman Naked, for my hard rock tastes.

For bloogie old rock I like a stock JTM-45/100 el34 mixed with Ampeg 6L6. Add fuzz and Overdrive with pedals.

I thought I would save the trouble and find a amp to bridge the gaps.

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmm.... is that response directed to me? If so, I'm confused about what the fuck you're talking about If you're confused as to what I'm saying, let me sum it up; you are completely out of line with your bashing of James, he took his time to talk to you and shoot the shit and nothing he has posted here has even remotely resembled a slight to you.
Like I said before, I initially didn't understand why everyone was down on you, I guess I missed something. Reading these posts, especially the ones directed at James, has made it quite clear that you're either a raving lunatic or have severe reading comprehension issues.

 

[LukeCurd]

The design a little too complex for my grasp. That's why I wanted to start up simple with a gained up plexi mod. But after playing about 20 type plexi amps. I just wanted to ask for guidance from the builders first on which version to settle on. Someone asked me why would i want my own design I have thrown out a couple of names of builders I seriously talked to. My overall impression was that most small amp builders get into it for the fun of it. It's one of those jobs one gets happy to get. Its a job I don't want and was looking for a short cut.

You do not value other peoples time and talent, many here are calling you out on it. You believe what you offer has high value and what others bring to the table not so much.

Case in point: You posted people should pm you if they were interested in road cases. I did and you want $325 for a Marshall head case. Not sure what kind it is but that is in the range of high end of cases. 2 of your cases are more valuable than a working amp design???

Amp designers design as a hobby? Sure, but from your post that's not who you asked for help.......wow

I have a few other people other than your self interested in road cases just to clarify. You thought the price was high in relation to junk cases. I didn't ask for a deposit, I was just testing to waters to see what type of case people wanted. The price is reflected in $175 of the $325 is in materials. The rest I charge is my personal overhead. Including $25 in packing costs, whatever paypal gets, my tool repair costs and my labor wage. It take me a full day in the garage to build a case that would last 20 years.

I figure that is a value for everyone involved. If you don't wish to pay my labor costs and have the tools I will email you a drawing of the case. Links to source the parts, everything you will need.

Its no skin off my back, I already did the research and like to help. Too bad other's don't feel the same.

Its easy for me to justify a road case that cost a percentage of my amp. I don't ever seeing owning a 4,000 amp but that didn't stop me from playing one. 2k is the most I would spend on a new amp. That's what I value the time,effort of the builder. Now this is in the context of a hand wired jmp style amp that is very simple, no effects loop, ch switching but just sounds great.

Pretty much if I built a stock plexi and sent it off to be modded. After that I would build a duplate to offset my costs. Now rather be shaddy about it I just thought I would throw out the idea to see if I could get some replies. I got more replies than I was hoping for obviously!

 

[LukeCurd]

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmm.... is that response directed to me? If so, I'm confused about what the fuck you're talking about If you're confused as to what I'm saying, let me sum it up; you are completely out of line with your bashing of James, he took his time to talk to you and shoot the shit and nothing he has posted here has even remotely resembled a slight to you.
Like I said before, I initially didn't understand why everyone was down on you, I guess I missed something. Reading these posts, especially the ones directed at James, has made it quite clear that you're either a raving lunatic or have severe reading comprehension issues.

Would it help if you knew the backstory.

I don't like James because he hung up the phone on me last time we talked. I can only speculate why.

That's why I was so surprised to see him post on my thread months later with sudo help and more to talk about his amps.

It was that reason I am hostile towards him today.

I didn't want to bring any of this up since I didn't want to hurt his sales. However since I am getting attacked for my workmanship on the mere relationship to this thread and mud slinging.

Every derogatory post to me from other's you can read in my post history before it gets deleted! You can also read my fuck you responses. Its the way I speak with some members of rig-talk that have a good time bashing my posts.

 

[LukeCurd]

LOL. Pay close attention, folks. HE is the reason why it's always a good idea to not quickly jump on a bandwagon of any particular retailer getting criticized. A lunatic with a distorted perception of reality. Now he's attacking James Peters, who was just clarifying and hasn't even said anything bad about him.

What would be funny, is actually hearing from all the builders he's had discussions with. Something tells me they would all have an interesting conversation about it.

Call them up and ask if they remember me. I always identify myself as Luke or Lucas Curd on the phone.

I don't know who you are or what your name is but since you own 3 of James's amps and are saving for another I would say your views are biased!

 

[glpg80]

You remind me of some of the women i have dated

drama baskets or dead quiet but never in between

 

[JamesPeters]

Luke,

I did not hang up on you the last time we spoke. As a matter fact, you decided to end the conversation with me. From my recollection, you were upset with me because I did not like your speaker cabinet design idea. (For those keeping track on this thread, that makes the third design idea I spoke with Luke about.) Perhaps I was supposed to take your speaker cabinet design idea more seriously? Enough perhaps to want to build it for you? Even though I don't make speaker cabinets?

Why don't you explain to everybody here with that speaker cabinet design idea is. I'm sure they'd love to hear it!

And yes Luke, I did entertain your design ideas, and give you far more professional courtesy than you deserved. And yes Luke, I actually didn't mind spending the time discussing these things with you, until now. If you don't want to believe me, and actually stop trying to read things into my posts, that's your problem not mine.

As for asking others if they remember you… Yes, they do. I've already spoken to someone.

 

[rockify]

 

[Bob Savage]

Would it help if you knew the backstory.

I don't like James because he hung up the phone on me last time we talked. I can only speculate why.

That's why I was so surprised to see him post on my thread months later with sudo help and more to talk about his amps.

It was that reason I am hostile towards him today.

I didn't want to bring any of this up since I didn't want to hurt his sales. However since I am getting attacked for my workmanship on the mere relationship to this thread and mud slinging.

Every derogatory post to me from other's you can read in my post history before it gets deleted! You can also read my fuck you responses. Its the way I speak with some members of rig-talk that have a good time bashing my posts.

This post almost made me shed a tear. Poor victimized Luke.

 

[rupe]

Would it help if you knew the backstory.

I don't like James because he hung up the phone on me last time we talked. I can only speculate why.

That's why I was so surprised to see him post on my thread months later with sudo help and more to talk about his amps.

It was that reason I am hostile towards him today.

I didn't want to bring any of this up since I didn't want to hurt his sales. However since I am getting attacked for my workmanship on the mere relationship to this thread and mud slinging.

Every derogatory post to me from other's you can read in my post history before it gets deleted! You can also read my fuck you responses. Its the way I speak with some members of rig-talk that have a good time bashing my posts.

This post almost made me shed a tear. Poor victimized Luke.

 

[LukeCurd]

Luke,

I did not hang up on you the last time we spoke. As a matter fact, you decided to end the conversation with me. From my recollection, you were upset with me because I did not like your speaker cabinet design idea. (For those keeping track on this thread, that makes the third design idea I spoke with Luke about.) Perhaps I was supposed to take your speaker cabinet design idea more seriously? Enough perhaps to want to build it for you? Even though I don't make speaker cabinets?

Why don't you explain to everybody here with that speaker cabinet design idea is. I'm sure they'd love to hear it!

And yes Luke, I did entertain your design ideas, and give you far more professional courtesy than you deserved. And yes Luke, I actually didn't mind spending the time discussing these things with you, until now. If you don't want to believe me, and actually stop trying to read things into my posts, that's your problem not mine.

As for asking others if they remember you… Yes, they do. I've already spoken to someone.

As for speaking with other amp builders about whom I have spoken with, you have my permission to make it public.
I am interested to hear what they said.

I also called the president of Rat Sound about my passive radiator idea. I thought it would be a good way to cut down stage volume.
Do you know what he did? Told me it was a stupid idea and to keep moving! Oh well I have thick skin.

For the record:

I called up James to talk about his preamps, Not many people are building high gain preamps and I thought it would be a good solution for my buddy that might be going all rackmount. James listened to the clips I emailed him and said My buddies tone sounds fine as is. We kinda went back and forth and talked about using ceramic vs carbon comp. ETC for about over a hour.

I called him up the next day with a power amp design, to go with one of his preamps. He told me to strip down a amp just to to power section would still cost around $1600. I asked him if the price can come down stripping the cosmetics or whatever, he told me that is the least he would build a amp for. I told him that I would rather pay the 2k and have a power amp in option to run different preamps in the same power section. We also talked about Carvin TS100, as James wanted to know how they sound, and since I have played one I told him they are junk. He told me from his experience he likes the use of heybors in his amps. James also turned me on to a effects loop to try in my buddies marshall and the solder he now uses after trying out 20 different kinds.

Third conversation we talked more about my designs than his. Passive Radiators, Laptop preamp in to tube power amp, etc.

Now as to who hung up on who first is up in the air. Could have been a dropped call but I didn't call him back and neither did he. I guess we both decided end the communication on what I thought was ok terms.

Spring forward 3 months or so and we have this THREAD!

James,

If you we're under the impression that I did hang up on you, that tells me you had every intention of being a dick to me in your posts. I think your posts clearly show that. I think my post clearly show that I dislike you as well. So if that's the case why don't you leave me alone and I will do the same for you.

 

[jerrydyer]

oh my god what happened here. ?

 

[lester]

 

[glpg80]

...that tells me you had every intention of being a dick to me in your posts. I think your posts clearly show that. I think my post clearly show that I dislike you as well. So if that's the case why don't you leave me alone and I will do the same for you.

In all actuality James has bent over backwards for you. If anything there is not a single person here who believes James is any less of a business man before or after your attempt to drag his name and business through the mud. It just goes to show you're a pathetic know it all teenager telling other companies how to run their business while demanding to be helped foot and knee at the same exact time.

Good luck with your amplifier. With a single thread you have sealed your deal with getting any help from anyone involved so far. The sad part is that your head is shoved so far up your own ass, you still believe to see the light of day.

 

[tc8849]

wow i wasted 20 mins reading this crap, man find an amp you like more than all the rest and then get it modded to how you want it... i would think that would be much simpler than wasting your time arguing with all these well know amp designers/mod and rigtalk members. we get you want a custom super amp to your specs but damn, know when to quite bro..

 

[Deleted member 10619]

I'd love to hear clips of you and your buddy playing

What are you currently using LukeCurd?

 

[311boogieman]

Pretty much if I built a stock plexi and sent it off to be modded. After that I would build a duplate to offset my costs. Now rather be shaddy about it I just thought I would throw out the idea to see if I could get some replies. I got more replies than I was hoping for obviously!

Would you share some of your drugs with me so I can see what this is like?