Danger of helping Single Post members

[John!]

Hello, this is my first post.

I have been reading this forum for a long time as a guest. While my day job is working with computers, I like tinkering with electronics. Back in the Seventies I built a few things from the Craig Anderton book, and have recapped a few Fenders, the first being my BF Showman that I inadvertantly insatlled a cap backwards so I got to troubleshoot a blown PS. Right now I have a Sunn 200S that I bought to fix for the learning experience. Googling the symptoms does produce links to this site.

That reminds me, when my 300t died I ran across a post of Enzo's metioning service bulletins for that amp, which he kindly sent me, and I have yet to thank him, so Thank You Enzo. I fixed the 300t on the kitchen table because it is too big and heavy to carry to my basement workbench. )At least for this old fart.)

Normally, I don't post much to the forums I join. Even in person I don't talk much unless I have something to say, so no "+1" posts from me. You really can't judge someones experience by their post count, every one is different. I've always tried to figure things out for myself, I suspect there are a lot of "guest's" who like me enjoy reading the technical stuff, but have nothing to say, but there are also those impatient ones that want answers right now.

But getting back to the original topic. The kind folks in this forum who answer the questions and help newbies troubleshoot their problems are very good with the safety warnings. It does pay to be careful. Keep up the good work!

OK, now that is done. My first post won't be a question and/or call for help.

[John!]

I am concerned that this site is (through some word of mouth phenomenon) becoming the place for players with no electronics training whatsoever to come and ask for information they think will help them fix their amps and avoid paying the local tech, but in their effort to save $100 they may put themselves in harms way.

Like it or not, that phenomenon is Google.

[blckmynnse8]

Like it or not, that phenomenon is Google.

I'm already seeing posts that I just made a couple of days ago turn up in google searches.... That seems EXTREMELY fast. All someone has to do is look up an amp model and this forum might turn up.

[52 Bill]

I've been here for awhile now and before ever posting, I read and learned and found all sorts of information here, some of it helpful and some of it not. But what drew me here was the open discussion and distribution of information on a high level without a lot of idiocy.

I've been to a few other boards and have passed on ever wanting to join, as there are way too many members only out to cause trouble. We've had a few around here, but luckily they don't seem to last too long.

Maybe it's all because of Enzo's influence on the style and substance here and in his "lead by example" ways, but I think that there is no better place to learn about this stuff than this board.

There has to be a concern that someone can do something stupid with the information that is posted here, but I hope that it doesn't change the essence of what we have here.

[blckmynnse8]

I've been here for awhile now and before ever posting, I read and learned and found all sorts of information here, some of it helpful and some of it not. But what drew me here was the open discussion and distribution of information on a high level without a lot of idiocy.

I've been to a few other boards and have passed on ever wanting to join, as there are way too many members only out to cause trouble. We've had a few around here, but luckily they don't seem to last too long.

Maybe it's all because of Enzo's influence on the style and substance here and in his "lead by example" ways, but I think that there is no better place to learn about this stuff than this board.

There has to be a concern that someone can do something stupid with the information that is posted here, but I hope that it doesn't change the essence of what we have here.

I've decided not to tell anyone about this forum after discovering it for the exact reasons mentioned above. I can already see the strain being caused by the traffic in here.

And I must say that this place has influenced me to finally begin typing with proper capitalization once again. It doesn't take much effort to hit the shift key with my pinky finger and it looks a heck of a lot better.

[Enzo]

And gud 4 u, we appreciate it.

[bob p]

It seems to me that recently there are lots of single post members asking for help fixing problems with their guitar amps.

i think that the "new" software might have something to do with it. visually, the board seems a lot more like other sites on the internet, while the old Ampage software was unique, and perhaps a bit less inviting to new users. i think that to some degree, the "familiarity" of vBulletin encourages more new people to drop in now.

when I first came to Ampage, i think it was probably 1993. i had ages of book learning, having taught myself electronics by reading books for many years, without doing much of any real work on amps. the closest that i came to real practical experience started wtih buying a copy of Anderton's EPFM back in the 1970s and buiding a headphone amp and some DIY stompboxes. i had no tube experience at all when i first arrived here. i'm proud to say that i learned a lot of practical tips during my time here. thanks everyone.

[Enzo]

I'd vote power of google. When you start looking for "classic 30 reverb problem" or something, I think you are more likely to find us than maybe 5 years ago.

[tim]

And of course the single most important thing I know:

When putting wood or sheetmetal screws back into the hole, always turn them backwards until they drop into the old threads. That prevents cutting new ones.

So very true!

[acatasus]

You are all discussing me!

Yes, I am that guy you are all writing about. I'm the one with little experience and a problem amp. Stick with me though.

By posting my problem, I have accomplished the following:
I have begun to learn about some of the possible problems my amp may have. I have discovered that some of the possibilities have been handled by the previous owner's amp tech. I've learned some things about amp circuitry, speakers, tubes, caps and about amp vocabulary. I know what I should not be messing with but now, if I need to go to an amp tech, I can speak with him or her intelligently and clearly and that can only contribute to the success of my repairs and/or mods.

So please don't cut me off. I have been very impressed by the generosity of your (or, since I am a registered member, our) fraternity. Perhaps an occasional word of wisdom regarding safety or the advisability of taking the DIY approach would be a positive thing, but merely saying "go to an amp tech" is not enough. Tell me to go to an amp tech by all means, but do not deny me information. Help me understand that I need to go to an amp tech and tell me what I need to know so that I can tell the amp what he needs to know and so that I can understand what I am told. Knowledge is power.

[rockon1]

Well I'd just like to thank those who have helped me with thier knowledge. Im a certified transmission specialist (31 years) and love fixing things. I do try to find out as much as I can before I dump my stupid questions here. As a noob to amp troubleshooting and repair it can be frustrating for me. I need to read more. At any rate it is wonderful to be able to learn on the web. It the past couple of years Ive learned a lot ( but only a fraction of what Id like to know) about amps. Ive learned biasing techniques, cap replacement,of coarse how to drain (and check that they are drained ) caps and some simple mods. Like I said a beginning. Anyhow there are noobs like me who truely appreciate the help afforded here! Bob

[mstang01]

Just thought I'd add my two cents for my first post (so that when I have a question I won't be a one-poster . Personally, I've hit this board from time to time when googling (I didn't really know I kept hitting the same site until I realized I've read a lot of Enzo's posts). I used to work in electronics (avionics) but somehow over the years I ended up as a programmer of sorts. I started fixing amps about a year ago for fun (mostly SS stuff) but was hoping to start building a few projects of my own. This site was attractive (beyond the pretty format) because there seem to be a number of people with a lot of knowledge who like to help us "tube noobs". I can't promise I will speak the language with fluency right away, but I will try to read enough on my own to ask intelligent questions.