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Subject: Re: [motm] OT: DIY tube electronics

From: jwbarlow@...
Date: 2000-03-16

In a message dated 3/15/2000 12:46:26 PM, PaulBr@... writes:

>There is a significant ammount of tube interest on the SynthDIY mailing
>list, including a few folk who have built tube modules. Eric from Metasonix
>(all-tube gear, great stuff if you believe word-of-mouth) chips in from
>time
>to time. I don't know if anyone there's done any amps, but that would
>be my
>first recommendation.

Eric Barbour is a really smart guy. He can, however, get a bit irritated
(especially if you mention the word "nonlinearites" anywhere near the word
"tube"). I don't think he likes guitar amps too much, but he does know quite
a bit about them, as one would expect.

I know nothing about your idea of a protobaord type arrangement for tubes,
interesting idea, but probably not good for a stooge like me since I'd
probably change out one part, without changing the other (poof!). I've never
done anything with tubes (too close to Larry's scary voltage levels), but
I've always thought those circuits to be so simple as to not really need a
protoboard type device (hey! Isn't this where the term breadboard comes
from?).

I have been somewhat tempted to do something with tubes though. As Paul said,
some people are using tunes to build synth modules. But I'm more interested
in building a 50 watt amp head, and I seem to remember a book that had plans
for an amp like this, maybe even a kit was associated with it. I can't
remember the book's title though.

I will, however, recommend the book "The Tube Amp Book: 4.1th Edition" by
Aspen Pittman. It has a huge collection of schematics (like several different
schematics for Fender Deluxes with maybe only a couple of resistor changes in
each).

And I always recommend Antique Electronics in Arizona -- a great place for
tube (and associated guitar amp, and antique radio) resources, and great
people too!

I'd like to hear how this goes Dave.
JB

>
>--PBr
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Dave Bradley [SMTP:daveb@...]
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 11:32 AM
>> To: MOTM List
>> Subject: [motm] OT: DIY tube electronics
>>
>> I have a friend that wants to experiment with building tube guitar amps
>> ala
>> vintage Fender Vibroverbs, etc. He wants to experiment with building
>a
>> test
>> bed that he can plug various transformers and tubes into.
>>
>> Any user groups and sources of parts that I can point him to?
>>
>