The Ultimate Amp?

[charlyg]

It seems most have missed the point of the trainwreck. A trainwreck clone built by someone else is going for $450 on craigslist . One built by the REAL guy go for $27.000, without anyone famous ever owning it. It''s gotta sound a LOT better for that kind of markup.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/msg/628672927.html

[sloop_john_b]

It seems most have missed the point of the trainwreck. A trainwreck clone built by someone else is going for $450 on craigslist . One built by the REAL guy go for $27.000, without anyone famous ever owning it. It''s gotta sound a LOT better for that kind of markup.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/msg/628672927.html

Well, you can get a '57 Strat for about $30,000, or you can get a Custom Shop "clone" for $1500. I'm not sure that the '57 would be 20 times better than the new one, but there's a lot of hype in those old guitars.

[bitzerguy]

Interesting view on the Trainwrecks from Brad Paisley in November GP: http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/gea ... v-07/32329. He owns a Liverpool that he brings out on special occasions. He also owns the original Z-wreck talked about on the Trainwreck site (collaboration between Mike Zaite and Ken Fisher. Cool article.

[sloop_john_b]

Great read, Dean - Paisley is a serious gear head!

[bitzerguy]

Paisley is a serious gear head!

He sure is John. And a SERIOUS guitar player. I was never was much into country music as other types, but his style of play is just unbelievable. I have become a fan over the last 5 years. The magazine article (not the internet version) had photos of him with his 2 Dumble Overdrive Specials as well!! The man has got some seriuos invesment going in amps and guitars.

[charlyg]

It seems most have missed the point of the trainwreck. A trainwreck clone built by someone else is going for $450 on craigslist . One built by the REAL guy go for $27.000, without anyone famous ever owning it. It''s gotta sound a LOT better for that kind of markup.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/msg/628672927.html

Well, you can get a '57 Strat for about $30,000, or you can get a Custom Shop "clone" for $1500. I'm not sure that the '57 would be 20 times better than the new one, but there's a lot of hype in those old guitars.

These trainwrecks are from the 90's not really the same thing, IMHO.

[blue330]

May I suggest the Carr amps? The models are all quite different from each other, and Steve Carr's descriptions of his designs are useful. If there's a Fender (or whatever) reference someplace, he says so, but he's not making knockoffs. These are reasonable and practical boutique amps, not cheap but not ridiculous. I think you're paying for quality here, not mojo or snake oil or some association with some famous person. Needless to say you will enjoy your Rickenbacker through these amps, along with everything else!

[whojamfan]

I remember Trainwreck amps from the 90s. They were very expensive and took well over a year to get. If you called up asking how much longer it would take to get,Bam,back of the line you went. Apparantly they were very rare and cool, but very expensive.

IMHO, the whole boutique amp thing is a freaking joke. 4000 bucks for a 15 or 30 watt amp with 1 channel, especially if it is a clone of something else,is insane. If the amp is it's own deal, then maybe,but still,it had better sound as good as the price.

[wmthor]

IMHO, the whole boutique amp thing is a freaking joke. 4000 bucks for a 15 or 30 watt amp with 1 channel, especially if it is a clone of something else,is insane. If the amp is it's own deal, then maybe,but still,it had better sound as good as the price.

I do own a boutique amp, a Victoria Victoriette. It's not a knockoff of anything else and I do consider it to sound every bit as good as the price I paid (which was very reasonable).

[whojamfan]

I can understand the ones where an amp designer builds something of his/her own design, it's the ones that take schematics off the internet and make a clone of something, change 1 component and claim it's their own, that make me say "foul". I have nothing against boutique amps, or the people who buy them, and if you got an amp that you're happy with, congratulations.

[blueflamerick]

I do own a boutique amp, a Victoria Victoriette. It's not a knockoff of anything else and I do consider it to sound every bit as good as the price I paid (which was very reasonable).

Is it a left-handed amp?

[charlyg]

The knobs are on the other side!!