Dave Funk's Tube Amp School

[Thunderfunk]

Hi-di Ho!

Well, it's official. I'm starting a Tube Amp School located at CPE Sound located between downtown Chicago, and the United Center. Classes start January 30th, 2009.

You can find out more at:

www.thunderfunk.com/tubeampschool.html

Thanks,

Dave

[bnwitt]

Congratulations Dave and good luck. I guess the new responsibility won't allow you to post as much in this forum as you have been since you joined huh?

[Jana]

I hope it goes well for you Dave.

That 100 watt Thunderfunk OT I bought from you about 10 years ago is still working fine. In fact, it is the sweetest sounding transformer I have had.

For what it's worth, Dave has probably forgotten more about tube amps than most of us will know.

[bnwitt]

For what it's worth, Dave has probably forgotten more about tube amps than most of us will know.

Yeah, and now we can all learn some of that for a small fee. Too bad he hasn't spread some of that knowledge around this forum in the last 11 months. That would have been really great. Oh and maybe this post should have been placed in the for sale or trade section.

[Jana]

What's wrong with charging a fee for a workshop?

The music instructors at the local music store charge for their time. Or should they do it for free?

Why does anyone get paid for their time? Or should they?

[bnwitt]

What's wrong with charging a fee for a workshop?

Nothing at all. What I take umbrage with is how Dave joined our lovely little forum back in January of this year, made not one single post from then until now (though I'm sure he did his share of downloading) and then uses his very first post in this forum to advertise his new business endeavor in the wrong damned forum. Dave is in the house.....but nothing zippo nada. How about saying "Hi guys, love the forum."

On top of that, I know of no instance of Dave sharing his tube knowledge for free ever and frankly that is what the tube community has always been about since it began. Doug Hoffman, PRR, HotBlueplates, and many many more. Everything I know about tubes has come from people who asked for nothing in return. Most of what I've read in books I bought (like Dave's) was miniscule for the price paid. People like him who think they must profit from sharing anything at all with this community make me ill. I have never seen a single informational post from Dave in any of the major forums that was just helpful. But you seem to love him. Don't let me change your adulation.

I'm very glad you got a wonderful transformer from him for a fee though. That qualifies you to take up his banner and argue with my stupid belief that we should all share for free. I perform service work and amp construction for money. I give away my tube knowledge for free though. And why do I do that? Because I know that even with a fistful of knowledge it takes real dedication to make it in the tube amp business and I'm not worried about the competition. It really bums me out when old school tubies and new comers think they will get rich by hoarding information. Kind of reminds me of the seagulls in Finding Nemo.....mine, mine, mine, mine.... And when they say "I worked hard for this knowledge it makes me sick. Worked hard doing what, asking questions, copying others work? Working hard is going to engineering school and discovering these concepts first not just copying them. Sir Isaac Newton said if I have seen farther than other men it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants. Brilliant man and humble too. That doesn't exist any more. Come to my school for a fee. Don't wait for me to share for free. Oh, oh, I'm soap boxing again in a world where get rich quick, who wants to be a millionaire is the attitude of the day. Screw hard work. If I could just sell a million copies of one book or make a hit record..... Leo Fender worked his butt off until the day he died. Dave is not Leo.

I want everyone to get a leg up because I don't want this business to die. I'm not a failure in the business who hopes to get rich selling snake oil pretend Holy Grail state secrets or by patenting other peoples inventions like Randall Smith. This knowledge has been handed down for free for too long for these types of unscrupulous individuals to sell like it was recently discovered. Will I ever get rich from selling my knowledge of tube amps. I hope not. I don't want to be perceived to be a scum bucket for profit like Governor Blagojevich. Will I ever make a first post in the wrong forum 11 months after I join to simply hawk my wares? Nope.

Ok, I've rambled on and on......but to sum it up, one post in 11 months in the wrong forum for self promotion. Character defined.

[Thunderfunk]

What's wrong with charging a fee for a workshop?

...I know of no instance of Dave sharing his tube knowledge for free ever. ...one post in 11 months in the wrong forum for self promotion. Character defined.

Five years writing for Vintage Guitar Magazine and you learned nothing? Was it because the magazine wasn't free? And not one phone call from you asking for information, so I don't know what you're complaining about. This forum seems to have figured out most everything about Trainwrecks. The only snake oil I know of is actual experience building real Trainwrecks using parts, instructions, and documents from Ken himself. Have I ever sold that information? But you're mad because I don't give it away? I take it you've already donated money to Ken's family?

I went to Northwestern the other day and they said I had to pay to get an education. I told them, "No thanks! Education was too expensive and I was going to try stupidity first."

Omar writes: "Go ahead and post it in the Trainwreck section and/or For Sale section." I guess I should also post it in the for sale section. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll do that now.

[benoit]

Really? You're that upset? If you don't want what he has to offer, whatever, but I don't see a problem with joining to let people know about this class he's doing. Viagra and african princes, sure, that's a bit much, but if I had a little more money and time I'd be up for checking out the class. He may not know everything there is to know but he's certainly been around long enough to have a few tricks to pass on. This forum and the people on it are great and I appreciate every one of them, but what I get from them, and what I try to give back are gifts, and access to the knowledge of others is a privilege, not a right. In any case offering something for a price is a step better than what I did when I came here, which was first to lurk and learn, then to ask questions and learn, for which I gave nothing in return. If you spend your money on the class, you get something in return. If you don't want that thing, don't spend the money. Give the guy a break. I have never dealt with Dave other than once attempting to buy his book from ampwares (big mistake, but that's another story), nor do I plan to take his course. You want everyone that posts here to give you something for nothing? Let the owner/mods worry about who can be here or not be here. He apparently asked permission so who are you to tell him off? Maybe if he got treated right he'd stay a while.

What's wrong with charging a fee for a workshop?

Nothing at all. What I take umbrage with is how Dave joined our lovely little forum back in January of this year, made not one single post from then until now (though I'm sure he did his share of downloading) and then uses his very first post in this forum to advertise his new business endeavor in the wrong damned forum. Dave is in the house.....but nothing zippo nada. How about saying "Hi guys, love the forum."

On top of that, I know of no instance of Dave sharing his tube knowledge for free ever and frankly that is what the tube community has always been about since it began. Doug Hoffman, PRR, HotBlueplates, and many many more. Everything I know about tubes has come from people who asked for nothing in return. Most of what I've read in books I bought (like Dave's) was miniscule for the price paid. People like him who think they must profit from sharing anything at all with this community make me ill. I have never seen a single informational post from Dave in any of the major forums that was just helpful. But you seem to love him. Don't let me change your adulation.

I'm very glad you got a wonderful transformer from him for a fee though. That qualifies you to take up his banner and argue with my stupid belief that we should all share for free. I perform service work and amp construction for money. I give away my tube knowledge for free though. And why do I do that? Because I know that even with a fistful of knowledge it takes real dedication to make it in the tube amp business and I'm not worried about the competition. It really bums me out when old school tubies and new comers think they will get rich by hoarding information. Kind of reminds me of the seagulls in Finding Nemo.....mine, mine, mine, mine.... And when they say "I worked hard for this knowledge it makes me sick. Worked hard doing what, asking questions, copying others work? Working hard is going to engineering school and discovering these concepts first not just copying them. Sir Isaac Newton said if I have seen farther than other men it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants. Brilliant man and humble too. That doesn't exist any more. Come to my school for a fee. Don't wait for me to share for free. Oh, oh, I'm soap boxing again in a world where get rich quick, who wants to be a millionaire is the attitude of the day. Screw hard work. If I could just sell a million copies of one book or make a hit record..... Leo Fender worked his butt off until the day he died. Dave is not Leo.

I want everyone to get a leg up because I don't want this business to die. I'm not a failure in the business who hopes to get rich selling snake oil pretend Holy Grail state secrets or by patenting other peoples inventions like Randall Smith. This knowledge has been handed down for free for too long for these types of unscrupulous individuals to sell like it was recently discovered. Will I ever get rich from selling my knowledge of tube amps. I hope not. I don't want to be perceived to be a scum bucket for profit like Governor Blagojevich. Will I ever make a first post in the wrong forum 11 months after I join to simply hawk my wares? Nope.

Ok, I've rambled on and on......but to sum it up, one post in 11 months in the wrong forum for self promotion. Character defined.

[Allynmey]

Actually Barry, Dave and I have traded e-mails a few times over the years and Dave has been very helpful with an amp design I was working on. I saw something interesting in his book a few years ago and e-mailed him some questions and he e-mailed me right back.

Dave is welcome here on this forum. Many guys here are probably too advanced to sit through a course like his but many aren't. I bet it would be a great weekend.

Congrats and welcome back Dave.

Allyn

[Nigel Tufnel]

What's wrong with charging a fee for a workshop?

Nothing at all. What I take umbrage with is how Dave joined our lovely little forum back in January of this year, made not one single post from then until now (though I'm sure he did his share of downloading) and then uses his very first post in this forum to advertise his new business endeavor in the wrong damned forum. Dave is in the house.....but nothing zippo nada. How about saying "Hi guys, love the forum."

On top of that, I know of no instance of Dave sharing his tube knowledge for free ever and frankly that is what the tube community has always been about since it began. Doug Hoffman, PRR, HotBlueplates, and many many more. Everything I know about tubes has come from people who asked for nothing in return. Most of what I've read in books I bought (like Dave's) was miniscule for the price paid. People like him who think they must profit from sharing anything at all with this community make me ill. I have never seen a single informational post from Dave in any of the major forums that was just helpful. But you seem to love him. Don't let me change your adulation.

I'm very glad you got a wonderful transformer from him for a fee though. That qualifies you to take up his banner and argue with my stupid belief that we should all share for free. I perform service work and amp construction for money. I give away my tube knowledge for free though. And why do I do that? Because I know that even with a fistful of knowledge it takes real dedication to make it in the tube amp business and I'm not worried about the competition. It really bums me out when old school tubies and new comers think they will get rich by hoarding information. Kind of reminds me of the seagulls in Finding Nemo.....mine, mine, mine, mine.... And when they say "I worked hard for this knowledge it makes me sick. Worked hard doing what, asking questions, copying others work? Working hard is going to engineering school and discovering these concepts first not just copying them. Sir Isaac Newton said if I have seen farther than other men it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants. Brilliant man and humble too. That doesn't exist any more. Come to my school for a fee. Don't wait for me to share for free. Oh, oh, I'm soap boxing again in a world where get rich quick, who wants to be a millionaire is the attitude of the day. Screw hard work. If I could just sell a million copies of one book or make a hit record..... Leo Fender worked his butt off until the day he died. Dave is not Leo.

I want everyone to get a leg up because I don't want this business to die. I'm not a failure in the business who hopes to get rich selling snake oil pretend Holy Grail state secrets or by patenting other peoples inventions like Randall Smith. This knowledge has been handed down for free for too long for these types of unscrupulous individuals to sell like it was recently discovered. Will I ever get rich from selling my knowledge of tube amps. I hope not. I don't want to be perceived to be a scum bucket for profit like Governor Blagojevich. Will I ever make a first post in the wrong forum 11 months after I join to simply hawk my wares? Nope.

Ok, I've rambled on and on......but to sum it up, one post in 11 months in the wrong forum for self promotion. Character defined.

Wow, quite reactionary. Relax man, it does a body good.

[Tubetwang]

Wait a minute Barry my good man...

You are against Universal Health Care/Universal Education but, you believe Tube Amp Classes in and around Chicago should be free ?:roll:

Have a green tea and think this one over bud...

I like Dave's book and wish him well on his classes...

[pureoldsound]

I have no part on this or taking any sides...BUT I think about 2Yrs or 1 1/2 ago I contacted Dave for some TW info and he willingly helped me nothing asked in return...

Good luck with the classes Dave...Barry you are a good guy and have help this forum in various ways including the Asteroid amp schems and info....Although I've never asked for that info, I thank you for sharing and helping the forum out....

[benoit]

Barry you are a good guy and have help this forum in various ways including the Asteroid amp schems and info....Although I've never asked for that info, I thank you for sharing and helping the forum out....

Just to put what I said earlier in the thread into perspective, I agree with pureoldsound. You're a cool guy. I just think Dave's helping more than he's hurting and doesn't deserve the welcome he initially got.

[bnwitt]

Well maybe I was a little gruff. For that I apologize. But yes, vintage guitar magazine is not free nor obscure like these forums are. Though I'm sure you didn't get paid for your articles, there was a personal benefit of notoriety from writing articles in a well known magazine. So, I'd still like to see a more public sharing of knowledge from our community's supposed gurus without any intent for personal gain. Bruce Collins of Mission Amps is someone who walks the talk in that regard and that is what I am talking about. I have been sharing and receiving tube knowledge on forums for almost 14 years and would never pop into a topical forum and say, "here is my latest business endeavor" so for your first post ever, I found it annoying. I don't know you from Adam other than your writings (the $61.99 book)and I have never seen a forum post from you in any of the major forums before. Maybe I jumped to an unjust conclusion and you're just not aware of forum etiquette. It'd be nice for you to start making me look really foolish for jumping to that conclusion by sharing your knowledge publically in "for free" venues. As far as the "education is not free" example you gave above, it can be when people share knowledge instead of charge for it. But that is a personal decision we all have to make. Advertising isn't usually free either unless one takes advantage.

At least (in part due to my evidently unwarranted attack on you) you now have two posts. I'd like to see you break 100 in this forum. Now that would show me and others that you believe in public sharing of knowledge without consideration for personal gain or return. Assuming that is the kind of person you are, welcome to this forum. I hope to hear more from you beyond what you have for sale.

Again, my apology if I misjudged you. Did I? If so, show me. Make me look like an idiot. Others will surely benefit from my embarassment. And that will make me very happy. I don't have much of an ego. I know I'm pretty stupid.

[pureoldsound]

Barry, you did nothing wrong, this is an open forum and you expressed what you would like to see from people that join in, which is contribution. You are an active contributor to the forum so I undestand were you are coming from..In the future it would be cool to read more post from Dave and learn from him.....but FWIW I have exchange PMs and emails with him through the page and he has not hold back to help...perhaps he will make it more openly through this forum....Happy Holidays to both and all and thanks for all the help when asked for....