What Would Ken F Do?

[koffee_iv]

Did Ken use the various components of his Twrecks because they were:

1. the best bang for buck?
2. the best components for that aspect of the amp?
3. what he had there on his bench available to use?
4. suitable with no opinion one way or the other?

In regard to board material, resistor composition, cap brand and type, pots, etc.

Did he use flea clips because they would make "less an intrusion" on the circuit than turrets, or because he happened to have a large wad of them? Why a board rather than PTP?

Enquiring minds want to know.

[Structo]

Have you ever read the Trainwreck pages?

I believe you can find them on the internet.

He does talk in depth about why he chose a lot of things but some seem to think that he was having fun at our expense on a lot of them.

[koffee_iv]

He does talk in depth about why he chose a lot of things but some seem to think that he was having fun at our expense on a lot of them.

You mean like deliberately misleading?


Dennis

[koffee_iv]

I see the pages at angelas instruments.

[Kregg]

I cannot speak for Ken, though I have read his pages. I grew up around a grandfather who loved to tinker. When it came to electronics he used what was around. Quality wasn't as important as quantity/cost; in other words if he ran out of resisters, caps, or tubes he bought another bulk. Being that my grandfather could fix ANYTHING, if it went kaput he'd repair it. If he experienced multiple failures with like components he'd change their values or change out to a different component manufacturer.

P.S. I wish I knew what happened to all those tubes when he closed up shop. His stockroom was huge.

[Structo]

He does talk in depth about why he chose a lot of things but some seem to think that he was having fun at our expense on a lot of them.

You mean like deliberately misleading?


Dennis

Well I don't know how blatant he was but from what I read in those pages and in other text about him. He didn't like people cloning his amps, but then again he would say I don't care if people want to build one of these for themselves because it ain't gonna sound like mine anyway.
He definitely didn't like people cloning his work for money.

But for example, he goes on and on at one point how the color of the PCV jacketed wire (red I think it was) could alter the tone of the wire.
And how all wire have a polarity and should be ran one way, etc.
I imagine him having a big smile on his face if he could see people scratching their heads while reading some of that.
I have read he had a good sense of humor.

Don't know if he was serious but it sounds a bit far fetched to me.
And, even if it was true, will the average person be able to tell the difference?
Me thinks not.

[Kregg]

... he goes on and on at one point how the color of the PCV jacketed wire (red I think it was) could alter the tone of the wire.

If they used red oxide to color the wire!?

[doctord02]

Have you ever read the Trainwreck pages?

I believe you can find them on the internet.

The Trainwreck pages are in the files section...

[LeeMo]

I've heard it stated that the electrons flow on the skin of the conductor. The pigments in the various colors of insulation would have different chemical make up and thus exhibit different semi-conducting properties. There could be some type of capacitance caused by the dyes.

Or...

As with the Cherokees on the Trail of Tears, when the big city reporters asked them how they made arrowheads, they told them that first you heat the rock in a roaring fire, then while it is still very hot you slowly drop cool water on it to chip the rock. They were laughing to themselves as they imagined the hot rocks shattering and throwing shards in all directions.


LeeMo

[stevlech]

The story of the red PVC wire is pretty famous, as are the stories of being extraordinarily picky about parts, but then some people say he used whatever he could get and that he could make a good sounding amp out of anything.

I think what Ken F. would say is:

Draw your own conclusions

[rooster]

Science aside, I think Ken could make a lot of shite happen with a gtr amp - any gtr amp. But then, returning to science, he designed his circuits.

If you think they are not unique and just a hobgob of designs/parts that were borrowed from other circuits, then this is one camp.

The other camp says the designs and parts were unique. (I'm in this camp). And here is where things get interesting, I think. If Ken could create something unique, it seems he needed to prove to himself and others that it was also uniquely repeatable. And here, again, I think he succeeded in this.

So then, as he built these 'repeatable' amps, are the parts all random? Is the layout different? If the parts are the same, and the circuit is the same, does this mean he carefully chose the the original parts used in the original circuit?

Yeah, sorry to turn this around and have a go at it from the backside, but this may be the only way to answer your question. To me, to see the consistancy from amp to amp, is to see the thoughtfulness of the original intent. If he only made one amp, one time, then what could you know? It could be a fluke then. But these amps are consistantly good sounding and I think this is not to be ignored. The fact that David Funk has built 'a few' TWs for Ken back in the day when Ken's health was failing - and these amps repeated the look and the sound of the original creation - speaks volumes to me.

So I think Ken was dilberate in the final design and build of the TW amps. Did he experiment? Well yeah, before he was happy with the final design and build, of course.

Is wire important? Hmm, I am not the guy to ask. I can tell you that Ken has caused me a lot of thought on the subject. That's good isn't it?

[Kregg]

There could be some type of capacitance caused by the dyes.

Length, gauge, circuit placement, and component values are the key. I venture to say that one could replace all of the wire (with any color) in a TW original, all things being of equal value, and end up with the same result.

But then again ... I think that electricity is color blind. If improving capacitance was really an issue with wire, then the purity/type of the wire not the color of the jacket might have been Ken's main concern. That part's like listening to Santana wax philosophical. But hey, his music is still cool and Ken's amps are still terrific.

[UR12]

Dave Funk put this whole wire thing to rest in his last thread. He said and I quote......

" Ken didn't believe in wire. He used low temp solid wire because that's what they had at the store when he went to buy some. Oh well. Another myth busted?

Dave "

So it would appear that IF Dave is right then Ken was having a good time sending people down the wrong path.

[billyz]

This appears to be a philosophical discussion. I wonder what type of components Ken would use today. Since some of the holygrail parts are no longer made. Knowledge has expanded as well. Would Ken be stuck in a rut?

I can see where Ken was coming from on the color of the wire. I mean if you take it to nth degree every single thing makes a difference, theoretically. But , practically no one can hear it or measure it. The idea is to be selective and know where you want to go, what you want to achieve. All of the little decisions you make add up.

Ken was also a repair guy, He wanted the amp to be reliable and serviceable. I am also sure he was practical as well and used what worked and was available. If the type and brand of part he used became unavailable what would he do? Why did he use flea clips and vector board, maybe it was more readily available and easier to work with for him, maybe he was more comfortable with them than drilling and setting turrets. And he could experiment easier with that type of construction.

Did he stock pile all the critical parts because nothing else would do? If so, Someone should contact his estate.......just kidding.

[Structo]

Ken also mentioned that he had somebody helping him build his amps when his health got bad enough that he couldn't really do the work any longer and the person couldn't do it.

I wonder who he was referring to?