Who is Mark Hammer?

frequencycentral · October 19, 2008, 08:03:28 AM

Another biog thread............sorry couldn't resist after the R.G. thread.

Maybe one day there will be a 'Who the hell is frequencycentral' thread....!

B Tremblay · October 19, 2008, 09:15:47 AM

Prime Minister of Canada. I saw a photo on the internet, so it must be true.

Naz Nomad · October 19, 2008, 10:08:39 AM

He's the devil-spawn of the fleeting relationship between M.C. Hammer and Jan Hammer.

... maybe

Boogdish · October 19, 2008, 10:13:49 AM

Quote from: Naz Nomad on October 19, 2008, 10:08:39 AM
He's the devil-spawn of the fleeting relationship between M.C. Hammer and Jan Hammer.

... maybe

And named after his uncle Marky Mark.

alanlan · October 19, 2008, 10:17:40 AM

He is a man of many analogies (and maybe some digitalies also)

R.G. · October 19, 2008, 10:23:14 AM

After almost two decades of corresponding on the net, I'm still trying to figure that out.

Mark is one of those rare ducks, a non-techie by formal training that can walk right into the electron's den and tease the beast with impunity. He's been building effects for about as long as I have, and had a magazine/schematics file of things I hadn't found yet; this back from the days when these things got shared on paper. Characteristically, Mark shared.

In fact, this is one of Mark's defining characteristics - he's always willing to share. And explain, which he does with a skill that no native speaker of Technoese can. Mark is perhaps the best thinker about how people relate to effects, how to use them, what's good and useful in effects that I've run across. And knows far more about electronics than he properly ought to.

Parenthetically, Mark has already achieved one of my life-goals, and did so early on. He found a vintage Fender Bassman combo at a garage sale for - what was it Mark? $50? - and with some tubes and cleaning, it worked fine. I hate him.

slacker · October 19, 2008, 10:25:03 AM

He's a man of many words, all of them worth reading

rogeryu_ph · October 19, 2008, 11:17:05 AM

Geez

A veritable Adonis, that's what he is...
Pair with R.G. both are the dynamic duo, just like Batman and Robin.... What more we can't ask to the two of these, they are like wikipedal to me

Dragonfly · October 19, 2008, 11:37:37 AM

He invented the internet.

Well...it was either him or Al Gore....

Whichever.

Mark Hammer · October 19, 2008, 12:47:43 PM

Well, you're all too kind....and inaccurate. It was $30, R.G........Canadian.

BTW, I am NOT this Mark Hammer: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0358481/
...nor am I this one: http://www.markahammer.com/
...or this one: http://www.amazon.ca/Supply-Pollution-Control-Warren-Viessman/dp/product-description/032101460X (though my older son will be pleased to know there is another Hammer in Civil Engineering)
...or this one: http://www.seri.at/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=112&Itemid=34
...or this one: http://www.healthgrades.com/directory_search/physician/profiles/dr-md-reports/Dr-Mark-Hammer-MD-09F5BECA.cfm
...or this one: http://www.facebook.com/people/Mark_Hammer/220749
...or this one: http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&applicationContextPath=%2Fgp%2Fsearch%2Fconstruct-application-context.mi&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Mark%20Hammer&page=1
...or this one: http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?zip=02138&last=Hammer&first=Mark

Just someone who likes to write so he got better at it over time, likes music gear, could never really afford to just walk in and buy stuff new at a music store, and learned how to fake stuff, and wastes far too much time posting when he should be doing the work he is paid to do.

And yes, for 20 sweat-filled seconds, I sat in the Prime Minister's desk, in the summer of 2001, back when you could know somebody who knew the security guard and that's all it took to have your picture taken there. Nice office...and cleaner than mine will ever be.

But enough worship of false idols. Get back to work!!

The Tone God · October 19, 2008, 01:39:02 PM

You know I have been thinking about this for some time but I had an idea that we should have a section in the wiki for the more popular members here so newbies can know whos who.

Andrew

liddokun · October 19, 2008, 01:53:21 PM

Yep, when I see a post by Mark or R.G. or Tone God or Firefly (Andy), I know it has to be a good one. I know there are a few other members on here that always provide very good information, but for now they slip my mind.

EDIT: off the top of my head I can probably also add Aron (how could I have forgotten) and Frequency Central (Rick), and for all things PCB, John. And of course Mick for being the wizard at making enclosures.

frequencycentral · October 19, 2008, 01:56:33 PM

I remember someone posted a while back about reading through ALL the posts of R.G., Mark and the other 'big hitters' on the forum - if you were to do that it would be 'Stompbox 101' - there is such a wealth of information. Quite frankly, I'm amazed and grateful that such a superb resource as this forum and it's contributers exists. It's why I try to 'put back in' in my own little way.

liddokun · October 19, 2008, 02:39:11 PM

Yep, best thing I can do is be active on this forum. I'm just learning, but I try to participate as much I can.

aron · October 19, 2008, 03:07:51 PM

Well a big congratulations to everyone that has helped others for so many years... Incredible!!!!!!!!

LMJS · October 19, 2008, 03:21:55 PM

"The Great Glebe Garage Sale", Mark?

Mark Hammer · October 19, 2008, 07:42:37 PM

Nope, a pawnshop in Moncton. I love this story.

This was a place about 100 yards from the best music store in the region. I walked in and saw it. Looked every bit its age but I couldn't believe my eyes. It only had one power tube so nobody could try it out. The owner had it for $40. I looked around back, and noticed that one of the original P10Rs was missing, with an empty spot where it used to be. I mumbled something about it, just in passing rather than dickering, and the guy did some quick mental math. He figured, 3 out of 4 speakers, drop the price by 25%. So, I convinced myself out of having a seizure, plunked down the money (AND sales tax, of course), lugged it to the car, and drove out of that city so fast you would have thought I had sold fake drugs to the Hell's Angels.

I finally recapped it, bought a 4th P10R a few years ago, and brought the amp to the late Doug Brash, a guy in our region who is renowned for his amp restorations and tuneups. Doug made me a replacement for the missing back panel that was so cosmetically perfect, I could have sworn that he either had put a contract hit on somebody who had a tweed Bassman, just to steal the panel, or else he locked himself in a closet with a couple of cartons of smokes and a pair of two-fours, and just gone medieval on the thing. You would not know it was not the original unless I told you.

I still like the story someone told here about a decade back regarding the amp ad they responded to where this little old lady was selling a "7-ender" amp.

rogeryu_ph · October 19, 2008, 08:28:03 PM

Quote from: The Tone God on October 19, 2008, 01:39:02 PM
You know I have been thinking about this for some time but I had an idea that we should have a section in the wiki for the more popular members here so newbies can know whos who.

Andrew

Yes Andrew, great idea... how about adding their picture too...so we can totally figure out who's we're talking to.

Roger

MikeH · October 19, 2008, 09:20:08 PM

Quote from: R.G. on October 19, 2008, 10:23:14 AM
After almost two decades of corresponding on the net, I'm still trying to figure that out.

Mark is one of those rare ducks, a non-techie by formal training that can walk right into the electron's den and tease the beast with impunity. He's been building effects for about as long as I have, and had a magazine/schematics file of things I hadn't found yet; this back from the days when these things got shared on paper. Characteristically, Mark shared.

In fact, this is one of Mark's defining characteristics - he's always willing to share. And explain, which he does with a skill that no native speaker of Technoese can. Mark is perhaps the best thinker about how people relate to effects, how to use them, what's good and useful in effects that I've run across. And knows far more about electronics than he properly ought to.

Parenthetically, Mark has already achieved one of my life-goals, and did so early on. He found a vintage Fender Bassman combo at a garage sale for - what was it Mark? $50? - and with some tubes and cleaning, it worked fine. I hate him.

Once again, you forgot "Snappy-Dresser"

The Tone God · October 20, 2008, 02:22:52 AM

Quote from: rogeryu_ph on October 19, 2008, 08:28:03 PM
Yes Andrew, great idea... how about adding their picture too...so we can totally figure out who's we're talking to.

If the member wants to its up to them. I do think that each entry should be written by someone else who may ask the member questions. Sometimes it is hard to know what information or what perception people have of a member and may need to understand more. Having a third party write up on that member would give a better perspective I think.

Just some thoughts.

Andrew

News:

Who is Mark Hammer?