Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: 1blueheron on January 11, 2019, 02:47:11 pm
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I the last two organs I have salvaged, I encountered some neon tubes or bulbs. Curious as to there use I have been doing some research.
The Conn organ used a A03 tube, the Baldwin has a section jam packed with miniature neon bulbs. I believe the use may have been as the oscillator generator but I could be wrong. I know the A03 is primarily used as a voltage regulator. My question is, would it be possible to use a neon tube or bulb as the means of creating a vibrato or trem effect for a guitar amp similar to that produced in an organ. I am attaching pictures of the neon section I removed from the Baldwin last night. I believe the incandescent bulb is used as a light source to trigger a lower strike point for the neon bulbs. This was inside the chassis and completely hidden from view. It was definitely not any kind of visual indicator.
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All them Neons are *probably* the Tone oscillators.
Musical tones should have harmonics. Often it is cheaper to be over-rich on harmonics and filter-down to the desired timbre. The alternative is fuzz-guitar- mellow string and distortion to add overtones. Musically these give different effects.
The output of a Neon is a Ramp wave. Sudden jump and slow recovery.
Tremolo is doors in front of organ pipes and a foot-rocker to open/shut the doors. The usual foot action is gradual open and close. Triangle or Sine wave.
Finally: the Neon oscillator is weak. You mix and filter a bunch and then amplify-up. The common Fender term oscillator is that amplifier, self-oscillating, with a nice waveform.
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Here are two low end Magnatone amps that use a neon relaxation oscillator in the trem circuit...
https://el34world.com/charts/Schematics/files/Magnatone/Magnatone_mp1.gif
https://el34world.com/charts/Schematics/files/Magnatone/Magnatone_mp3_5.jpg