Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Forum and Web site Stuff => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: GAStan on March 03, 2023, 01:25:25 pm

Title: Hello from El Paso, TX
Post by: GAStan on March 03, 2023, 01:25:25 pm
Hello all.  Found this board recently and have enjoyed reading it so thought I'd join and hopefully be able to make some worthwhile contributions.

I have been doing electronics since the mid 1980's when I received component level training while in the USMC.  Worked on high power ground based radar with up to 2 MW (yes MEGA Watts) transmitted power.  These used some big tubes for the final amp stages.  But it's been 30 years since I touched one of those...

Recently I got interested in tube amps.  Thought I'd lost my tube theory but it's coming back, thankfully.

I've got a Crate GT-50 tube amp that was purchased off EBay in the 1990's.  It's been in storage most of the time I've had it.  My son started playing the guitar not too long ago so we got it out, cleaned it up and checked it out.  I got an O'scope off Amazon so I could show him the various stages as well as clean vs. distorted.

 The amp has a minor issue I troubleshot. While looking for info for it online I discovered this and several other sites which piqued my interest...

Currently I'm building a kit from Mojotone. Their Studio One, a 2 channel one watt amp.  Already I'm thinking about the next amp I'll build, think I've caught the bug.

I've rambled on enough for now,
Glenn
Title: Hello from El Paso, TX
Post by: EL34 on March 03, 2023, 01:25:25 pm
Welcome to the Hoffman Amps forum

There are many different boards on this forum for different topics.

The Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs board is where you can post amp questions.

That board is listed here.
https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?board=13.0

Thanks,
Doug Hoffman
Title: Re: Hello from El Paso, TX
Post by: shooter on March 03, 2023, 01:56:24 pm
there's a few of us worked on radars, mine were petite though, just kilowatt'rs :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: Hello from El Paso, TX
Post by: GAStan on March 03, 2023, 03:27:36 pm
Yeah my main one was KW, but I got to work on the big one too for a while before it was retired.
Title: Re: Hello from El Paso, TX
Post by: sluckey on March 03, 2023, 04:03:20 pm
What was the name of the radars you worked on?
Title: Re: Hello from El Paso, TX
Post by: GAStan on March 05, 2023, 11:32:54 am
32, 59 & 63
Title: Re: Hello from El Paso, TX
Post by: shooter on March 05, 2023, 12:09:37 pm
 :l2:
military!
I worked on the 51-D
every large US company had a slice, Raytheon, GE, Singer, Univac, Speary(sp?), and 12 brother-in-law engineers  :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: Hello from El Paso, TX
Post by: sluckey on March 05, 2023, 12:42:01 pm
32, 59 & 63
Did those numbers have a prefix? Like FPS, MPS, TSP?
Title: Re: Hello from El Paso, TX
Post by: GAStan on March 06, 2023, 12:18:23 pm
:l2:
military!
I worked on the 51-D
every large US company had a slice, Raytheon, GE, Singer, Univac, Speary(sp?), and 12 brother-in-law engineers  :icon_biggrin:

...Westinghouse, Litton, ITT.... :laugh:
Title: Re: Hello from El Paso, TX
Post by: GAStan on March 06, 2023, 12:23:09 pm
32, 59 & 63
Did those numbers have a prefix? Like FPS, MPS, TSP?

AN/TPS __, all 3 had this same prefix.  The 32 was retired while I was in, not sure if the other two are still in service or not.  :dontknow:
Title: Re: Hello from El Paso, TX
Post by: sluckey on March 06, 2023, 12:32:22 pm
Mobile radars. I've worked on the TPS-43, 44, and 48. We pronounced it tipsy 43, etc.
Title: Re: Hello from El Paso, TX
Post by: GAStan on March 06, 2023, 04:37:03 pm
Yes, mobile.  We dragged them through the desert, forest, jungles, islands, up mountains (actually a helicopter carried us up so technically we didn't drag this one) all over the globe.  Had a blast.

We didn't have any cute names for them, mostly called 'em POS's  :cussing: