<< I just wish he would add a glossary to define the British-isms that appear throughout Building Valve Amplifiers!>>
Hmmmm, now how can I put this........
You want a list of Americanisms that occurred when you borrowed our language?
I hope I'm showing a correct degree of delicacy here!
Hmmmm, now how can I put this........
You want a list of Americanisms that occurred when you borrowed our language?
I hope I'm showing a correct degree of delicacy here!
Andy; um...how can I put this delicately? Charlie IS British, living in Arizona. : ) (He still talks funny though)!
Hi Charlie,
Lots of good options here. I like pretty much all the recommendations. I suggest you have a gander at a KT88 SE amp thread on AC, the one I started. That thread is more of a community build thread using a few designs mentioned here.
I point out some resources for parts, links to references, etc. Its basically the blind leading the blind as I haven't ever built an actual tube amp. I am mostly just helping some others take their first venture with me and pointing to where they should read up if they want to learn about actually designing the amp. I have sketched out most of the operating points on paper (but haven't shared yet as I am trying to get others to do the same).
Most of the builders are choosing George's SimpleSE, which is a very good choice, and there isn't a lot of questions to fill in. I wanted, for the sake of learning, to give a few options but without opening the flood gates.
I have spend the last few years reading/learning with the help of a lot of great resources like here as well as books by MJ, etc. I hadn't had the time to actually build an amp (just line amps) and thought it'd be fun to document the process while involving others. It may bomb as a learning thread, but usually they turn out to be a good learning source one way or the other.
You are probably further along on the journey then some other there (more likely you are near or further than myself), but since your journey is parralleling us at the moment you might find it useful or want to share your experience.
P.S. I am not sure the policy about linking to other forums, so I am not adding a link, but you know the site and I am sure you'll find it if you haven't already.
Lots of good options here. I like pretty much all the recommendations. I suggest you have a gander at a KT88 SE amp thread on AC, the one I started. That thread is more of a community build thread using a few designs mentioned here.
I point out some resources for parts, links to references, etc. Its basically the blind leading the blind as I haven't ever built an actual tube amp. I am mostly just helping some others take their first venture with me and pointing to where they should read up if they want to learn about actually designing the amp. I have sketched out most of the operating points on paper (but haven't shared yet as I am trying to get others to do the same).
Most of the builders are choosing George's SimpleSE, which is a very good choice, and there isn't a lot of questions to fill in. I wanted, for the sake of learning, to give a few options but without opening the flood gates.
I have spend the last few years reading/learning with the help of a lot of great resources like here as well as books by MJ, etc. I hadn't had the time to actually build an amp (just line amps) and thought it'd be fun to document the process while involving others. It may bomb as a learning thread, but usually they turn out to be a good learning source one way or the other.
You are probably further along on the journey then some other there (more likely you are near or further than myself), but since your journey is parralleling us at the moment you might find it useful or want to share your experience.
P.S. I am not sure the policy about linking to other forums, so I am not adding a link, but you know the site and I am sure you'll find it if you haven't already.
Yes, I have to admit to being considerably foreign over here, although I am have way to being non-foreign, I just have to fill out more forms and pay the new fees, oh... and take a quiz on the important stuff such as name the three branches of government? 
I don't want to be too critical of MJ's book as it is really good and enlightening and probably for sake of relative brevity, he has omitted some steps in his calculations. I have just ordered a copy of the 4th edition of the Radiotron book - it was something like $30. Printing out the PDF copies would likely cost almost as much. Anyway, being a ham (KC0INE) and owning an old Kenwood T530s tubed transciever means that I can learn a little about RF applications of tubes. PLUS, I am a self-confessed nerd and love old books and $30 for the Radiotron is good - what I really want is Karl Schumann's 1898 book of cactus classification, it's super nerdy and in German (at least I get paid for being a cactus / botany nerd). 😱
As for the 6AS7, I just found the HeadWize site and realized that I have the tubes and trafo for an OTL headphone amp that could drive my 32R Grados. I can mess about with the datasheet, set operating points, etc., then compare with the HeadWize project. It'll be even cheaper if I can get the PSU working without the need for chokes!
Bruce, it is good to hear from you. Do you want to listen to my Cornet2 phono preamp sometime? It has really burned-in by now and sounds amazing (IMHO).
Regards,
Charlie
I don't want to be too critical of MJ's book as it is really good and enlightening and probably for sake of relative brevity, he has omitted some steps in his calculations. I have just ordered a copy of the 4th edition of the Radiotron book - it was something like $30. Printing out the PDF copies would likely cost almost as much. Anyway, being a ham (KC0INE) and owning an old Kenwood T530s tubed transciever means that I can learn a little about RF applications of tubes. PLUS, I am a self-confessed nerd and love old books and $30 for the Radiotron is good - what I really want is Karl Schumann's 1898 book of cactus classification, it's super nerdy and in German (at least I get paid for being a cactus / botany nerd). 😱
As for the 6AS7, I just found the HeadWize site and realized that I have the tubes and trafo for an OTL headphone amp that could drive my 32R Grados. I can mess about with the datasheet, set operating points, etc., then compare with the HeadWize project. It'll be even cheaper if I can get the PSU working without the need for chokes!
Bruce, it is good to hear from you. Do you want to listen to my Cornet2 phono preamp sometime? It has really burned-in by now and sounds amazing (IMHO).
Regards,
Charlie
Hi Charlie
Yes, I would love to hear it and compare it to my Aikido phono. Right this moment I am moving into a new house in Queen Creek. I will get in touch when I have more "play time".
Yes, I would love to hear it and compare it to my Aikido phono. Right this moment I am moving into a new house in Queen Creek. I will get in touch when I have more "play time".
Bruce,
Queen Creek is a nice area, what will be your major cross-streets? It'll certainly be easier to get to your place from Apache Junction, although getting to Tempe really isn't all that difficult. Now, if you'd said you were moving to Buckeye!
Charlie
Queen Creek is a nice area, what will be your major cross-streets? It'll certainly be easier to get to your place from Apache Junction, although getting to Tempe really isn't all that difficult. Now, if you'd said you were moving to Buckeye!
Charlie
Bruce,
EASY! All I need do is drive south - I can't drive more than 1/8 mile north on Ironwood before it dies totally.
Anyway, once you get settled, I'll bring the Cornet2. Now huch much weight of vinyl are you moving?
Charlie
EASY! All I need do is drive south - I can't drive more than 1/8 mile north on Ironwood before it dies totally.
Anyway, once you get settled, I'll bring the Cornet2. Now huch much weight of vinyl are you moving?
Charlie
Wow, my old nieghborhood... Lived in Phx then Chandler for 30 years... You guy's were only a few degrees warmer than us today😀
Sorry for the O.T.
Sorry for the O.T.
I bet you don't miss summer!
BUT, I do miss winter! Although I did have to scrape a little frost off my windshield yesterday morning.
Charlie
BUT, I do miss winter! Although I did have to scrape a little frost off my windshield yesterday morning.
Charlie
ya, summers were pretty brutal. Although, we got hammered here with snow the other day. I had to snowblow the driveway three times in one night.
Please don't rub it in! We used to love those Iowa winter storms. The snow would fly for a couple of days and shut down the town of Ames. Then we'd wrap-up, get the dog on leash and walk the quiet, snow-filled streets - the dog loved it. Then either to a great pizza restaurant or home to a good stiff glass of port. OK, so the one winter when we had over 100 days with snow on the ground got a little tiresome!
Charlie
Charlie
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