Eclectic Reference

[Fresh_Start]

Here's an electronic "book" Merlin posted a link to over on AX84.com:
Designing Vacuum Tube Amplifiers
Please note that it's a weird link.  The first page to show up says "Acrobat is Loading" but the book shows up eventually.  If anyone knows a better way to link to the document, please have at it.

A really quick skim through revealed a brief history of vacuum tubes, the author's background as a jazz guitarist and retired EE, basic tube circuit theory, amp design approach, test equipment, guitar setup, speaker comparison and much more.

I figure that if it has Merlin's seal of approval it can't be all wrong   There are plenty of interesting opinions (e.g. re-capping an amp is voodoo) along with what appear to be good explanations of how to use tube data sheets, etc.  (I'm not qualified to argue with any of it.)

Anyway, please let me know if this is a useful reference so I can add it to the "sticky" if it is.  In any event, it's a hell of a lot of work this guy has offered to all of us for FREE.

Cheers,

Chip

[simonallaway]

I'm 16 pages in and enjoying it.  It's got some fascinating history/background.

I didn't realise that the need to rebias output tubes is not only a recent thing, but due to inconsistent manufacturing of tubes.

Thanks for destroying any chance of me writing any useful code at work today 

[Geezer]

Thanks Chip........I downloaded a copy to my hard drive for easier access in the future.

G

[jojokeo]

Very Cool - thanks Chip

[jjasilli]

Thanks Chip........I downloaded a copy to my hard drive for easier access in the future.

G

Very Cool - thanks Chip

DITTO!

[Rev D]

 Gracias, downloaded and perusing as we speak.

Regards,

D.

[RicharD]

Thanks for the link.  His diagrams were drawn with CircuitMaker and that made me smile.

[PRR]

Sticky it.

I see some personal opinion, and a few things which I would say differently, but overall an impressive work. He knows his stuff.

[Fresh_Start]

Sticky it.

I see some personal opinion, and a few things which I would say differently, but overall an impressive work. He knows his stuff.

Yes sir!

[HotBluePlates]

Well, I think I found the source of the book over on the PlayJazzGuitar forum. I was reading this link to try and download the spreadsheets mentioned, however, I can't access them. EDIT: Same guy, newer post, newer link, however the download link has expired. Maybe if we ask randyc nicely, he'll make the spreadsheets available again some way.

[Fresh_Start]

I'm in the registration process at PlayJazzGuitar.com and will ask RandyC as politely as possible if he can make the Excel workbook available to us some way or another.

Thanks for finding the link HBP!

Happy Independence Day Weekend to All!!!

Chip

[HotBluePlates]

I read some of the book in detail and scanned other parts. After basically finishing it, I find it impressive that he wrote it all out.

I disagree with some of his views on screen voltage, and believe I have some solid technical reasoning and examples to back my perspective. But wow... Mr Couch did a great job!

[Fresh_Start]

The author, Randy, has been kind enough to give me permission to post a link to the Excel workbook HERE

Please note that you have to wait 60 seconds before the download is available.  Scroll down and look over to the right to find the timer and appropriate button in a grey box for the Excel workbook download.  Whether you look at the ads during that time is your personal choice

Please note that Randy added the following:

A few words of caution: the spreadsheets are not protected so it's possible to inadvertently over-write some of the calculations. (My practice is to use blue text to indicate user entries.) Also, since the spreadsheets were devised for personal usage, no particular care was used to make them friendly to others.

Randy also asked me to send him a reference to where I posted the links.  He is interested in any feedback on the book.  If you ask me, we would be really lucky to have him join our community here.

Cheers,

Chip

[HotBluePlates]

If you ask me, we would be really lucky to have him join our community here.

Cheers,

Chip

I couldn't agree more. I've read a number of his posts on amps/electronics on the jazz guitar forum, and he has some excellent and well-executed ideas. A definite wealth of knowledge that would be an asset in any electronics discussion!