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Hi Bob,
No need to beg my pardon, I didn't intend to come down hard...it's just that Gerald has specifically mentioned the importance of shielding the back panel (& ensuring good contact with the metal chassis) in the past, so I am just assuming (which I probably shouldn't do) that he applies to same philosophy to this amp as with any other. It is conceivable that the plexiglass panel IS a permanent fixture, with Gerald's approach to layout & construction issue may not arise...but it just seems unlikely to me.
I have several amps without any shielding on the back panel (or top panel for a tolex style chassis - many folks on this forum will have) and have never encountered any problems in that respect...as with many things, you might get away with it, but that doesn't mean that it's best practice.
In Gerald's approach function takes precidence over form/appearance...if it just happens to look good too, then so much the better.
Over the last 15yrs I have undoubtedly spent over $8K on amps (that doesn't make me unusual in my immediate circle of friends)...& at least $2K was on amps that turned out to be attractive, but expensive "doorstops" that required remedial work & were sold at a loss...I can appreciate that some folks can get to the point where they thin down their collection to own one, new, trouble free amp that they can enjoy playing, looking at...& bragging to their friends about! :-)
Whether Gerald's amp fits that bill for everyone is a different question...but there are plenty of options with amps over $4K, some that are >$3K more than the Kendrick amp.
Obviously, many on this board (inc. me) would be more inclined to build their own idea of what the ultimate amp is (so perhaps an amp in that price bracket is always going to cause some dropped jaws in these circles) , but if you took off all budget restraints & did so, what would you realistically have to sell it for, would you really make a profit (think of the Bugatti Veyron in the car world)? Gerald is also a shrewd business man & offers much more (comparatively) affordable amps. He wouldn't build the GWSA if he didn't know he could sell them. I see plenty of amps that may be less expensive, but market price is far less justified.
Whilst I have found Gerald to be very knowledgable, generous with his time (he doesn't seem to be able to resist any opportunity to talk amps), insightful & occasionally a throw away comment from him has caused me to look at things from a different perspective, inspire me to pursue a totally new angle...there are also other builders who have done the same, as have contributors to this forum...and I would hope others would give them all the freedom to express their ideas & opinions as freely (not specifically aimed at you Bob). I don't agree with all his ideas...but then who do we know that has universal agreement on all fronts?
At the end of the day you can always vote with your hard earned $.
Best regards, Mark.
No need to beg my pardon, I didn't intend to come down hard...it's just that Gerald has specifically mentioned the importance of shielding the back panel (& ensuring good contact with the metal chassis) in the past, so I am just assuming (which I probably shouldn't do) that he applies to same philosophy to this amp as with any other. It is conceivable that the plexiglass panel IS a permanent fixture, with Gerald's approach to layout & construction issue may not arise...but it just seems unlikely to me.
I have several amps without any shielding on the back panel (or top panel for a tolex style chassis - many folks on this forum will have) and have never encountered any problems in that respect...as with many things, you might get away with it, but that doesn't mean that it's best practice.
In Gerald's approach function takes precidence over form/appearance...if it just happens to look good too, then so much the better.
Over the last 15yrs I have undoubtedly spent over $8K on amps (that doesn't make me unusual in my immediate circle of friends)...& at least $2K was on amps that turned out to be attractive, but expensive "doorstops" that required remedial work & were sold at a loss...I can appreciate that some folks can get to the point where they thin down their collection to own one, new, trouble free amp that they can enjoy playing, looking at...& bragging to their friends about! :-)
Whether Gerald's amp fits that bill for everyone is a different question...but there are plenty of options with amps over $4K, some that are >$3K more than the Kendrick amp.
Obviously, many on this board (inc. me) would be more inclined to build their own idea of what the ultimate amp is (so perhaps an amp in that price bracket is always going to cause some dropped jaws in these circles) , but if you took off all budget restraints & did so, what would you realistically have to sell it for, would you really make a profit (think of the Bugatti Veyron in the car world)? Gerald is also a shrewd business man & offers much more (comparatively) affordable amps. He wouldn't build the GWSA if he didn't know he could sell them. I see plenty of amps that may be less expensive, but market price is far less justified.
Whilst I have found Gerald to be very knowledgable, generous with his time (he doesn't seem to be able to resist any opportunity to talk amps), insightful & occasionally a throw away comment from him has caused me to look at things from a different perspective, inspire me to pursue a totally new angle...there are also other builders who have done the same, as have contributors to this forum...and I would hope others would give them all the freedom to express their ideas & opinions as freely (not specifically aimed at you Bob). I don't agree with all his ideas...but then who do we know that has universal agreement on all fronts?
At the end of the day you can always vote with your hard earned $.
Best regards, Mark.
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