[sdiy] Tube sockets, wear of tubes

[Thomas Hudson]

I buy from a guy on eBay, id is anthonywelsh. He's in the UK, but the  
sockets are shipped from Lithuania:

http://search.stores.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll? 
query=sockets&srchdesc=y&sid=32972019&store=ANTHONY+WELSH&colorid=6&fp=0 
&st=2&submit=Search

or shortened:

http://tinyurl.com/6takc

And you want the heaters to come on before applying voltage to the  
plates. Some tube rectifiers have current inrush limiting and do this  
for you. Guitar amps typically have a power switch which turns on the  
heaters, and a standby switch which turns on the B+. However, some  
believe it is overkill on just how much it is needed for guitar or hifi  
amps. The usage of power and standby I believe originated in the  
broadcast industry where the voltages are much higher, and was probably  
copied by the earliest guitar guitar amp builders unknowingly. The  
entire history of guitar amps is a lineage of copying, mistakes and  
all...

On Feb 10, 2005, at 3:54 PM, karl dalen wrote:

> Im looking for a supplier of cheap tube sockets,
> scandinavia or europa only! Thaks!
>
> I just realized that the wear of the tube can be reduced by turning on  
> the
> anode voltage before the heater supply!... Or was it the other way  
> around!!!
> Urgh!!!
>
> Reg
> KD