The Ultimate Amp?

[charlyg]

I have just been introduced to Trainwreck amplifiers. I feel like a complete novice after hearing the tone. I suppose a lot of you know about these things, but I never have. Live would be exquisite!

I will link the amp page and you can ewead about the man behind the amp, and I will include the myspace page of a guitarist who knows how to use one. I recommend a decent stereo! Check out the youtube stuff at the bottom of the myspace page. He does a couple of numbers with a Strat and a couple with a Les Paul.


http://www.trainwreck.com/index.html

http://www.myspace.com/glenkuykendall

[1965]

Really sounds fantastic with that strat in the first video. It's a shame the thing is ugly, but I guess that's a moot point.

[sloop_john_b]

Never heard of them before. I think they're cool looking, actually!

It does seem to clean up really nice, without switching channels, in the video where he's using a '59 Les Paul. However, he is using a '59 Les Paul...

There are other boo-teek amps that can do what this one can. Stuff like BadCat and Matchless immediately springs to mind.

[sloop_john_b]

I'll add that my ultimate amp would have to be two amps - an a/b/y setup with an AC-30 for cleans and an Orange AD-100 for dirt.

[charlyg]

You did notice that they go for upwards of twenty grand?

[sloop_john_b]

You did notice that they go for upwards of twenty grand?

I did not. Now I see why they're the holy grail!

However, I think that title has and will always go to the mythical Dumble amps. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumble_Amplifiers

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

Yeah, I've heard of Trainwrecks and Ken Fischer since the mid-1990s. Never played one, though.

There was a time where Gerald Weber (Kendrick) was supposed to collaborate with Fischer to re-issue some Trainwreck-like amps... but I think the deal soured somewhere along the line and it didn't quite materialize (if memory serves). Towards the end, Mike Zaite (Dr. Z) got some insight from Fischer; e.g., the Air Brake.

He certainly knew his stuff.

[1965]

There are other boo-teek amps that can do what this one can. Stuff like BadCat and Matchless immediately springs to mind.

I'd dig me a Matchless, but I'm sticking with my Orange for now. Real boutique is a tad out of my price range

[kenposurf]

Trainwreck is a great amp...that said....all the best sounding amps to my ears at least are tube driven and 30 watts or less...I just picked up a 1968 Fender vibro champ that is remarkable..the old Gibsons, Airline/Supros and Maggies are also great....for big sound..another ball game..I like the dual showmans best..a dimed plexi is earthshattering also. Neil Young and ZZ Top both use huge amounts of wattage on stage but have little Fender tweeds at the front of the chain...nothing like an overdriven low wattage amp....

[johnallg]

I had forgotten about old Gibson amps! My first band (9th grade) all played through a Gibson 400 - both guitars, my bass, and the mic! And it took it and begged for more.

[kenposurf]

I had forgotten about old Gibson amps! My first band (9th grade) all played through a Gibson 400 - both guitars, my bass, and the mic! And it took it and begged for more.

A 1950's Gibson GA-20 is a grail....

[johneek]

I'll add that my ultimate amp would have to be two amps - an a/b/y setup with an AC-30 for cleans and an Orange AD-100 for dirt.

Great combination JB. I would only add that the clean sound from an AC-30 is not the only thing I like about it. IMHO an overdriven AC-30 is awfully sweet.

[blueflamerick]

Check these amps out: http://www.trilliumamps.com/

[sloop_john_b]

Great combination JB. I would only add that the clean sound from an AC-30 is not the only thing I like about it. IMHO an overdriven AC-30 is awfully sweet.

Absolutely John. Since we're talking about dream setups, i'll toss a Twin Reverb into the mix for the real sparkly cleans.

[johneek]

....Absolutely John. Since we're talking about dream setups, i'll toss a Twin Reverb into the mix for the real sparkly cleans.

I'm with you....no lack of headroom in that setup