I have this crazy idea of doing a group buy for parts kits for those that are new to building tube amplifiers. And I'm compiling a list of resistors, capacitors and sockets one might need, This list is never done therefore im trying to focus on the essentials.
The idea was also to add a zip file full of eagle and kicad libraries for tubes. A collection of schematics and useful tubes. Some Gerbers for universal PCB's ect.
I will post the list for you to look at shortly. First i need to down half a liter of coffee
The idea was also to add a zip file full of eagle and kicad libraries for tubes. A collection of schematics and useful tubes. Some Gerbers for universal PCB's ect.
I will post the list for you to look at shortly. First i need to down half a liter of coffee
This if futile, I'm afraid.
I have a closet full of parts, and still have to buy something for every new build 🙂
I have a closet full of parts, and still have to buy something for every new build 🙂
Bingo! You never know what you need next 🙂
BTW, common parts like resistors and capacitors available at Farnell, DigiKey, and Mouser, so just order there and vice versa. In the EU parts from Farnell are being delivered the next day, at a flat rate of about 4 Euro no matter of size and weight.
Not at all! Every beginner wonders what minimum set of parts and gear would help them started. And if you have basic set of resistors and capacitors along with tubes and tube sockets you could easily breadboard amplification stage and see tube in action by your own eyes! And that is pretty cool! 😀
Except for one offs like chassis, I haven't had to buy anything for my last few builds but I have a stock of parts to the point I could open a minimalist store!
When I started out, it was a basic assortment of 1/2W resistors, and caps ranging from 0.01u to 220u. Now I have lots of parts and nothing to build LOL
When I started out, it was a basic assortment of 1/2W resistors, and caps ranging from 0.01u to 220u. Now I have lots of parts and nothing to build LOL
For prototyping, maybe.
But when it comes to the final build (unless you don't actually care how your device looks and handles), you always find that you're missing some screw or nut or standoff or washer or whatever 😀
Your idea is not bad, at least partially, I mean components like resistors, caps, ecc. can be found cheaper in local electronics retailer (unless one lives in small town). The things can be more interesting about aboout buying together specific tube parts, less available
Group buy can be usefull for specifics parts but shipping cost may alter idea. High voltage caps, transformers... are heavy.
After a year in this hobby I've learned that DIY doesn't save you money on the amp of your dreams. It's about the fascination of the hobby. I have enough parts to open a small store, but I over think my projects over revise and over engineer. I attempt to design on first principles but fall flat because I just don't have the theory and math down well enough. Having parts is great, but I wish I had the discipline to just build and fail, consuming my parts now. Because I'm convinced the book learning isn't getting me there. It's more important for newbys like me to consume madly their parts and fail a lot. Then one day make amps worthy of a nice chassis. In retrospect I should have started with kits. Now if all the great projects here were "kitted" for point to point building. I'd be alll over buying those kits rather than a set of "random parts". so if there were an initiative to kit up great projects here, instead of stockpiling random parts? Many of the project threads here are so long and convoluted, that it's very difficult to reproduce someone great amp or preamp. But if they kitted it up an d finalized the schematic, wonderful. I don't like
Pc boards though, just me, but a kit of parts would help beginners more I think, they are daunted by 300 post threads about a great project where they can't get traction.
Pc boards though, just me, but a kit of parts would help beginners more I think, they are daunted by 300 post threads about a great project where they can't get traction.
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Something like a Meccano set would be good. Tubecano?
I used to have this Philips set for learning electronics, with a basic chassis, and lots of interchangeable parts for different projects.
What we would need would be a tube sockets on simple pcb’s, with tag board or something similar for ease of change. Then a power transformer with maybe a center tap and a couple of secondary options, plus bias tap. Then a couple of output transformers with the possibility of being tapped for difference primary impedances, for both SE and PP, and standard guitar amp tubes.
Then simple to more complex projects, looking at different stages and coupling.
Maybe a PC scope card as well, to develop testing and optimization skills.
It would cost around $500, but you would have an amplifier to listen to after each project.
Then it could easily be cannibalized into a permanent amplifier when the learning gets boring.
I used to have this Philips set for learning electronics, with a basic chassis, and lots of interchangeable parts for different projects.
What we would need would be a tube sockets on simple pcb’s, with tag board or something similar for ease of change. Then a power transformer with maybe a center tap and a couple of secondary options, plus bias tap. Then a couple of output transformers with the possibility of being tapped for difference primary impedances, for both SE and PP, and standard guitar amp tubes.
Then simple to more complex projects, looking at different stages and coupling.
Maybe a PC scope card as well, to develop testing and optimization skills.
It would cost around $500, but you would have an amplifier to listen to after each project.
Then it could easily be cannibalized into a permanent amplifier when the learning gets boring.
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Oh, .xlsx! I dont have MS Office installed...
Didnt the GNU people have a whole paragraph to send folks who "propagate" MS products as a necessity? ;')
Didnt the GNU people have a whole paragraph to send folks who "propagate" MS products as a necessity? ;')
If you do go through with a group buy, you might be interested to know that Digikey will pack the components in kits for you. They do charge a bit extra for that, but it saves you all the hassle of stuffing itty-bitty parts into itty-bitty bags.
Tom
Tom
It's OK, just curious what's there. I have the LibreOffice on other machines. I got the extension wrong - the GNU guy was talking about .doc files - not .xlsx We Can Put an End to Word Attachments
- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation 🙄