Thunderbird Club

[GBassNorth]

I was a process engineer for a couple years. For a guy with no advanced schooling... I found the actual job itself, not to be as difficult as I expected. I actually enjoyed it for the most part. I had a rather unorthodox approach. I would take the existing drawings, and customer requirements, lay out a general foundation, then watch and consult with the people out on the line that actually performed the work, and dial it in to minimize waste & maximize efficiency. Folks on the lines loved it! I had people requesting me as their PE. It seems that most engineers have a fairly healthy ego, and believe that their way is the best way, the right way, and the only way. For the most part... it seems like they don't wanna leave their desks too. I did well at engineering processes... not so well at office politics...

Yeah, unfortunately most Schools don't really cover office politics and how to thrive or even survive in that environment. And as a general rule, many Engineers are a bit book heavy and personal interaction light which makes the entire social environment a bit of a challenge for some of them. You strike me as a very social person with the rare ability to humanize engineering solutions while having little tolerance for petty hierarchy games. Very admirable, those were some of my best engineers and group leaders, but I always had to carefully pair them with a handler (one up manager or strong admin assistant) as a politics buffer for their own career protection.

 

[GBassNorth]

Office politics, the slow death for any company.

In large corporations it's the norm, you learn how to navigate it or leave. In smaller companies it's a death nail in the coffin. Unless it's brought into check it will impact the bottom line.

 

[theFixer]

Yeah, unfortunately most Schools don't really cover office politics and how to thrive or even survive in that environment. And as a general rule, many Engineers are a bit book heavy and personal interaction light which makes the entire social environment a bit of a challenge for some of them. You strike me as a very social person with the rare ability to humanize engineering solutions while having little tolerance for petty hierarchy games. Very admirable, those were some of my best engineers and group leaders, but I always had to carefully pair them with a handler (one up manager or strong admin assistant) as a politics buffer for their own career protection.

WOW!!! It's almost like you had video footage of my old office!

 

[dukeorock]

Messed around with that dang yba 200-2 until the wee hours after practice last night. Tried a few things for fun.

If the pre tube swap doesn’t yield great results, I may still take it to a tech to see what can be done. It’s almost really cool and for some things, it’s super cool...a few tweaks could put things right. If not, it’s still a great recording option. Was really hoping it could work. Only 40lbs for an all tube amp is kinda neat.

 

[JJR58]

In large corporations it's the norm, you learn how to navigate it or leave. In smaller companies it's a death nail in the coffin. Unless it's brought into check it will impact the bottom line.

Agreed. I've learned to live with it through the years. I just don't put my nose in it at all. I work for a nonprofit organization, and it just seems to run rampant there. The checks and balances there are far and few between.

 

[JJR58]

Messed around with that dang yba 200-2 until the wee hours after practice last night. Tried a few things for fun.
View attachment 2865393

If the pre tube swap doesn’t yield great results, I may still take it to a tech to see what can be done. It’s almost really cool and for some things, it’s super cool...a few tweaks could put things right. If not, it’s still a great recording option. Was really hoping it could work. Only 40lbs for an all tube amp is kinda neat.

How do you like that Empress para eq? Have heard a lot of good things about it.

 

[GBassNorth]

WOW!!! It's almost like you had video footage of my old office!

I spent an entire career managing a global engineering and technical services organization with hundreds of employees and thousands of contractors. Office politics exists in every region and interestingly enough differs quite a bit from region to region. What was important to my Asia (China, Japan and Singapore) employees was not even on the radar of my Latin American (Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Brazil and Peru) employees. And the European gang was always a treat to deal with considering the Works Councils and other key influence actors in the region. The North America region was a cakewalk compared to the other regions. I'm so glad to be retired now!

 

[Larry V]

Agreed. I've learned to live with it through the years. I just don't put my nose in it at all. I work for a nonprofit organization, and it just seems to run rampant there. The checks and balances there are far and few between.

I've worked in an engineering office since I was a sophomore in HS as a co-op student. Damn near 28 years at GM. I just ignore the office politics and go about doing my work and let it speak for itself. It has worked for 32+ years so I'd say it has been a good approach.

 

[JJR58]

@dukeorock, this gets me where I want to be. Probably looks a bit complicated and redundant, but it really isn't. And lots of tonal options on tap.

 

[Gaolee]

Thanks for the warm welcome! It's a 2001 with ebony fingerboard - previous owner must've been a metal-head because the strings are dragging on the frets, lol. Gonna do a setup tonight and get to rockin'. Yeah, it's crazy-cold down here at the moment - we're not used to this!!

2001 is a good year for 'Birds.

 

[Jakeman]

2001 is a good year for 'Birds.

You had mentioned that in my other thread - definitely took that advice! Thanks!

 

[theFixer]

I spent an entire career managing a global engineering and technical services organization with hundreds of employees and thousands of contractors. Office politics exists in every region and interestingly enough differs quite a bit from region to region. What was important to my Asia (China, Japan and Singapore) employees was not even on the radar of my Latin American (Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Brazil and Peru) employees. And the European gang was always a treat to deal with considering the Works Councils and other key influence actors in the region. The North America region was a cakewalk compared to the other regions. I'm so glad to be retired now!

Damn dude! That sounds like a nightmare! I'm glad to see you're enjoying that retirement!

 

[dukeorock]

How do you like that Empress para eq? Have heard a lot of good things about it.

It’s pretty good for subtle tweaks, especially removing what you don’t want. I wanted to put it in the loop on the Traynor, but no go. Something ain’t right with that loop.

@dukeorock, this gets me where I want to be. Probably looks a bit complicated and redundant, but it really isn't. And lots of tonal options on tap.
View attachment 2865414

I’ll bet that’s a terrific setup! I love my Reiner tube pre and use it all the time with one of my amps, or even just a poweramp. I think I’m just being a bit nostalgic for all tube rigs and old stuff lately. You know how it is when you get that itch that you can’t quite scratch
Just having fun trying different stuff lately!

 

[JJR58]

It’s pretty good for subtle tweaks, especially removing what you don’t want. I wanted to put it in the loop on the Traynor, but no go. Something ain’t right with that loop.



I’ll bet that’s a terrific setup! I love my Reiner tube pre and use it all the time with one of my amps, or even just a poweramp. I think I’m just being a bit nostalgic for all tube rigs and old stuff lately. You know how it is when you get that itch that you can’t quite scratch
Just having fun trying different stuff lately!

I hear ya big time on that. The SVP really adds something to it. I recently took it out of the loop. Didn't sound the same. All the yark and bark went away. Put it back in and walla! There it was in all its glory. Been a long time since I've had an all tube rig. Kinda miss it, and kinda don't. These days, the only thing I'd switch up at this point is my cab. Have a love/hate relationship with the 810.

I'm curious as to why the Traynors loop isn't playing nice.....

 

[theFixer]

I've worked in an engineering office since I was a sophomore in HS as a co-op student. Damn near 28 years at GM. I just ignore the office politics and go about doing my work and let it speak for itself. It has worked for 32+ years so I'd say it has been a good approach.

I avoided what I could, but I was green. It just seemed like part of the job. There was this one engineer that repeatedly went over my head to bitch about my manor of dress in the office. I tended to dress "appropriately"... but towards the lower end of the scale. While the "pretty boys" sat at their computers and went to meetings... I was out on the line, or building fixtures, or putting out fires. It is my belief that my proactiveness put a bullseye squarely in the middle of my back. I took my lunch break in the break room with the "commoners" instead of in the board room. I socialized with the folks in production and the IT guys, instead of the office "elites". This was a big one... I failed to join the other engineers on their golf league If I woulda known about all that... I probly woulda put an expiration date on the job application

 

[dukeorock]

I hear ya big time on that. The SVP really adds something to it. I recently took it out of the loop. Didn't sound the same. All the yark and bark went away. Put it back in and walla! There it was in all its glory. Been a long time since I've had an all tube rig. Kinda miss it, and kinda don't. These days, the only thing I'd switch up at this point is my cab. Have a love/hate relationship with the 810.

I'm curious as to why the Traynors loop isn't playing nice.....

Me too! I should have a tech give it the once over anyway. Just not completely sure it’s gonna stay around or not yet. Time will tell. There is some magic in the tube power section, but with this amp, it’s coming at the expense of clarity. Tough for me when low end starts to mush out too much. Sag Yes. Mush No!

 

[kat888]

If you don't count the wireless receiver/tuner, my board currently has two - the HPF and ToneHammer. Does the HPF even count? "Mine's smaller!"

What?

HPF doesn't count. So yours IS smalller.

 

[JJR58]

Me too! I should have a tech give it the once over anyway. Just not completely sure it’s gonna stay around or not yet. Time will tell. There is some magic in the tube power section, but with this amp, it’s coming at the expense of clarity. Tough for me when low end starts to mush out too much. Sag Yes. Mush No!

I'm gonna be one of who agrees on tube power. And big difference between sag and mush. No doubt. Kinda surprised though on the Traynor. Maybe cause of no mondo power section, big iron. Idk. I'm certainly no expert.

 

[BklynKen]

Lucky, my eyes hurt when I read backwards.

Speaking of which, you've got some dark circles around them. I think you need more sleep.

 

[JJR58]

@kat888, took your advice on mushed up ginger, lemon juice and honey. Asked my neighbor if he were to go shopping. Would you be so kind to get me a few things. Great guy and knew I had been feeling nasty. He said sure. It's working like a charm. Best I've felt all week.