Funny observation. Made me chuckle for a moment. But, actually, there is a fair amount of co-operation and friendliness amongst the more mature players\producers\participants in tube audio.

Just on our forthcoming projects alone we have worked with a host of companies, designers, consultants and etc. From Gordon Rankin (who gave me the initial good direction to go in preamp wise) to Steve Eddy of Q-audio, to Kevin Carter of K&K audio, to Bottlehead, to Paul Joppa, to VoltSec, Richard from Leeds Electronics, and others who I am probably going to miss naming.

This can be a really fun industry to work in. The mature folks realize that killing each other benefits no one... not themselves, not other producers, not the consumer.

are we all partisans of our own products, market niches, and favor our own "approaches"... of course... but the neat guys in the industry none-the-less co-operate with others and then everyone ultimately benefits.

And, Kevin in particular is one of my fave people to talk to, gossip, and just shoot the poop.

cheers,

msl

So here is to everyone benefitting from pleasant and honest cooperation between the neat guys. Since the published list is quite short and centered about a well-defined way of doing things and co-operating, I should remind everybody that there are other ways. Many other ways.

For instance, as the list of 'neat guys' was quite short of TX winders, Jack Elliano and Heyboer TX, along with a whole host of others are out there.

So, 'scuse me, my Citation II and Heath W6 are calling me!
cheers,
Douglas

:::Since the published list is quite short...:::

apologies for the brevity... the danger in extending thanks, gratuities, and recongnition by name is that, invariably, you always forget to name someone and often times multiples of others who have contributed or etc...

for instance I could also mention Jeff Lessard of Pantheon-Audio, Terry Cain, Michael Pischetto of Progressive Engineering turntables (who has done all of our CAD drawings), Jeffrey Jacson of Experience Music, the good Dowdy Llama (Jim Dowdy) who has provided much inspiration...

and, still, invariably... even an extension of the list is bound to fail by leaving off someone else...

I don't keep a written list or anything... so it depends on the state of my memory.... and at my age the memory bank is shrinking.

the point being addressed is that 2wo mused and was (apparently) gleeful that someone like Kevin (who imports Lundahls and has some say in the product line development) and I.... who some might on the surface view as likely to be "fierce competitors" can in fact form
very productive "co-operative" relationships built on trust, respect, and good will. And I am all for that when and where it is warranted.

2wo's post made me smile and I thought it very polite and kind... so I just wanted to tell him that this really can be a fun industry to participate in... and that creativity is the by-product of much co-opertive effort... and cheers to all the neat folks in the tube world.

cheerios,

msl