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25th Oct 2021, 10:03 am | #1 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Bedfordshire, UK.
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Beginners guide to valves
https://spartanmusic.co.uk/blogs/smb...-in-amps-audio
I found this very useful as an entry into information into the world of Valves for me at this stage |
25th Oct 2021, 10:48 am | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 559
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
Hello and good morning.
Thank you for posting this site i have enjoyed it. kevin |
25th Oct 2021, 12:21 pm | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Morden, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 1,552
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
"ECC83 is just a product code"
It appears that he is completely ignorant as to the information carried in the numbering of European valves..... |
25th Oct 2021, 1:13 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
He said the 12AU7 is a seven element tube and a triode is a three element tube.
This is the one I have recommended in the past for begineers: https://worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSH...Rider-1945.pdf Lawrence. |
25th Oct 2021, 1:19 pm | #5 | |
Octode
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 1,642
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
Quote:
“The reason brand Y sounds better is because they're newer. And new tubes sound better than old worn out tubes.” “It’s best to think of tubes not just as amplifiers, but also means of adding distortion. Distortion and tube amps are practically inseparable.” “It’s actually the purpose of the filament to create heat, and therefore light. Not just something to make it look cool (I’ll admit that I used to think that’s what it was for).” “The cathode is an element located next to the filament so they can best work together. It is negatively charged.” I think the whole thing needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, and with a handkerchief and bottle of smelling salts within easy reach.... |
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25th Oct 2021, 1:38 pm | #6 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Yorkshire, England.
Posts: 1,294
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
So much misinformation it's ridiculous.
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25th Oct 2021, 2:01 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
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Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 8,809
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
Well yes, it's common practise to rip apart any source of information that is anything less than perfect. What a fine bunch we are. Pause for breath... erroneous as it is, principally this is meant as a primer for guitarists to understand more about the valves/tubes they use in their amplifiers, and yes they are meant to distort in this application. It's not meant for egg heads or those taking a degree in tube theory, it is what it is, don't get too hung up about it, refer to another source if 100% technical accuracy is the order of the day. I think anyone wanting to get onto the first rung of the tube technology ladder would come away a lot wiser and the faux pas would affect them none, or not much at least.
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25th Oct 2021, 4:58 pm | #8 | |
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
Quote:
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25th Oct 2021, 5:55 pm | #9 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2017
Location: St Austell, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 1,018
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
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25th Oct 2021, 6:41 pm | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 8,809
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
For example, remember the angst that the thread about the Repair Shop caused because people mockingly ripped apart the technical accuracy of the programme, completely missing the point. What's your view on my "interesting comment".?!
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A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever.. |
25th Oct 2021, 6:47 pm | #11 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Aberdare, South Wales, UK
Posts: 403
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
"Electrons work like a magnet - a positively charged electron is attracted to a negatively charged electron and vice versa. After being released from the cathode, the electrons flow to the next component – the anode, due to this charged attraction."
WHAT?
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Richard |
25th Oct 2021, 7:35 pm | #12 |
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
Find any ARRL or RSGB handbook of the valve era, and you'll find good explanations aimed at someone starting right at the beginning and without any technical background. They will take them gently through what's involved up to whatever level they can use.
Their content has been checked and is free from misleading errors. The material just pointed at contains some schoolboy howlers, and they don't look to be there for fun. I'd suggest any beginners give it a wide berth. The handbooks also cover radio applications and don't look at the world through audio/guitar goggles. They are a lighter entry than Scroggie, Terman, and Langford-Smith. David
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25th Oct 2021, 8:40 pm | #13 |
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
Good explanation of how valves work here:-
https://www.vintage-radio.com/repair...lves-work.html I think I must have been one of the last students to have been taught valve theory before it was dropped from syllabuses. It was taught alongside transistor theory. I still have my old text books more than 50 years later.
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Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron. |
25th Oct 2021, 8:54 pm | #14 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Morden, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 1,552
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
There was a valve question in my O level physics exam - I answered it though we had not covered it on the course.
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25th Oct 2021, 9:39 pm | #15 | |
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
Quote:
Apart from that, the link does give nice easy "very brief" explantaions and with a bit of study should prove quite helpful to beginners. Joe |
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25th Oct 2021, 10:28 pm | #16 |
Dekatron
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Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
Hmm, I wouldn't fancy being too close to positively charged electrons meeting negatively charged ones.
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25th Oct 2021, 11:39 pm | #17 |
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle says that if you know where the oppositely charged electrons meet (!) you can't be certain what will happen. But Murphy's law says that you can be quite certain who it will happen to.
Any text that goes on about 'positively charged electrons' blows away any credibility and can only serve to confuse beginners. David
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Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done |
26th Oct 2021, 12:22 am | #18 | ||
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Surrey, UK.
Posts: 4,385
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
There's a whiff of Spinal Tap to it- maybe that was the intention?
Anyone older than about 4 knows that the internet is awash with chaff (polite euphemism), keeps the salt cellar close at hand and searches out multiple sources on a subject with the weary acknowledgement that they may actually end up being more bewildered by its tsunami of contradictory didacticism than they were to start with.... Quote:
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26th Oct 2021, 3:12 am | #19 | |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 2,315
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
Quote:
http://www.r-type.org/articles/art-170.htm I found Valve Wizard written in a helpful style, as well as my Van Valkenburgh, Nooger and Neville books. http://www.valvewizard.co.uk/ |
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26th Oct 2021, 7:37 am | #20 |
Dekatron
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Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK.
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Re: Beginners guide to valves
One could do a lot worse than check out “Uncle Doug” on You-Tube. Although predominantly a guitar amp channel( don’t let that put you off), his explanations of how “ toobs” work are excellent, so good in fact that even I understand them. I think he is a former school teacher, and it shows.
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