I am a 62 year old vacuum tube lover both for my audio and guitar amps. For the first time in my life I started to understand how the tube amps function and what they do. You are a great teacher!!
@mgb9617 жыл бұрын
this was fantastic pitched perfectly for me as a novice with electronics knowldge....love that you are so generous with your time and expertise...keep going! Mark
@必松古3 жыл бұрын
649
@comradedank16185 жыл бұрын
Best technical video series i have ever watched!
@steveseifer67844 жыл бұрын
Your tutorials are very well done. I am a former electronic technician and watch your videos to sort of reminisce. I may have understood more if I had these tutorials back around 1960
@TristanHarward4 жыл бұрын
Extremely good video and series for someone with basic electronics experience, but who wants to learn tubes in depth! Thank you so much for such great teaching.
@ThatMicro43Guy3 жыл бұрын
Really useful. I was trained as an electronics engineer by the Royal Air Force in the UK 40 years ago. I haven’t worked in the field since 1992 so I’d forgotten most of what I knew. I have a Fender Prosonic tube (valve to me as I’m British lol) guitar amp head which was faulty so I did a search and found your videos. Everything came flooding back. Result, 1 new electrolytic capacitors and 1 resistor between two halves of a 12ax7 tube and a fully working amp. Cheers
@rickscheck5330 Жыл бұрын
Studied electronics in 70s - this brought it all back. Haven't touched a tube since then, but you've sparked my interest. p.s. I almost skipped watching this "boring" power supply episode because I'd always thought that if I cooked up an audio tube amp that I'd just use a solid state power supply. Glad I watched though since understanding the PS is necesary to understand a tube amp functions e.g. biasing, 5v and 6.3v filiments.
@mogulsmoke24286 жыл бұрын
Your video on understanding Vacuum Tube Amplifier Schematics-Power Supplies is fantastic. I am a beginner and thank you for the walk thru, showing all the symbols and nuances with the circuits. I am learning a lot due to your patience and in depth analysis. Usually we get a string of letters, numbers etc. with no explanation--not with your detailed instruction. Thank you. I look forward to more of this type of basic training. Ron
@sincerelyyours75385 жыл бұрын
Glad I took the time to look at this one. Never heard of a "death capacitor" before but it makes perfect sense. Reminds me of an old 50s era refrigerator that I bought for $10 off a friend during my freshmen year in college. One day I opened its door with one hand and touched a grounded metal shelf with the other hand and got treated to a full AC electric shock. I quickly realized that the old non-polarized two pronged plug it had needed to be reversed so did that and from then on got no more shocks, but it taught me that grounded outlets and plugs can be lifesavers. Even kitchen appliances can be shock hazards if you're not careful.
@davidhigginbotham51985 жыл бұрын
Thanks a bunch. As a newbe I really appreciate your style of teaching...
@fredjohnson98563 жыл бұрын
I really enjoyed part 1. I worked with electronics years ago but never got into tubes - great starter...thank you
@marklem15746 жыл бұрын
Hi Mark, I have been watching your videos and have to say you are stand-up guy. You share your knowledge and ideas like no other. I have learned quite a bit from you and just want to say thanks for being a great person!!
@jkjome4095 Жыл бұрын
I love watching this seven part series and am on my third time through it. Very informative, and you did a fantastic job of explaining it to someone like me, a beginner.
@lovinglife3675 Жыл бұрын
absolute blast … binge watching your Tube Series .. didn’t make sense 40 years ago … and after watching your channel … clear as mud ! fantastic … also helps me out as i run Valve HF gear and my Guitar amp is Valve … learnt lots and in retirement , i might have to set up a work bench 👍. Thanks a million and i have subscribed !!! regards from Adelaide Australia
@fibberscloset4983 жыл бұрын
I'm watching out of order, but I've enjoyed each one, and learned from them all. Thanks!
@donaldcharlong95866 ай бұрын
I pretty much knew this stuff and the previous video but your description really helps to lock it in,
@bobvines006 жыл бұрын
Another great video going into the detail needed by hobbyists learning to troubleshoot, repair, and even design our tube amps. Thank you!
@AliKiani78874 жыл бұрын
great video...i mean one of best videos in tube amplification in youtube
@ReyciclismoMTB3 жыл бұрын
For sure I learned something today, never ever heard of the Sams tech guides. Awesome video.
@Tavnott10 ай бұрын
Wow! I learned so many new things from this! Thank you!
@anthonyvolkman23386 жыл бұрын
For a person that works with this stuff, I really like your videos. Excellent and very informative.
@arthurwilson19663 жыл бұрын
Most informative and educational video on this subject that I've yet come across. Explains it all in clear and simple terms, very comprehensive when you have a bit of basic electrical knowledge. Especially now that I'm looking at getting my Hot Rod Deluxe repaired. Grateful thanks to the poster.
@bradgoggins66832 жыл бұрын
From a fairly basic understanding of circuitry with my HVAC experience with schematics and wire diagrams i have tried for a long time to fully understand sound, tubes, and layout function when it comes to my music equipment but just couldn't jump the gap. Thank you! this little series in such a short time helped a incredible amount. Fantastic job covering not only image and symbols but their common combinations and sequence, sharing this with all my musician friends 🏆🤘
@AndySpicer4 жыл бұрын
That was fantastic! It connected a couple of big concepts for me and filled in a bunch of holes. Thank you!
@oimate4201 Жыл бұрын
Very good once again, sir! I’m grateful this is still up!!
@AndySpicer4 жыл бұрын
That was fantastic! It connected a couple of big concepts for me and filled in a bunch of holes. Thank you!
@ekbanjosworld4926 Жыл бұрын
Really enjoying your channel ! Excellent series ! I wanna jump the gun and learn how to convert the schematics into or onto a board and how to etch ! I'm eatin this up ! I'm an ST70 Bottlehead ! Ya know I restored my first one way back in the early 90's before everyone sold all the kits and boards. I could follow the instructions and build it, but I was aggravated because I didn't fully understand how it worked ! I made one small mistake, I'd reversed polarity on one of the small caps on the driver board. Was using a Variac to do the initial power up. It popped and smoked about halfway up! I flipped it over and giggled when i figured out what I had done. I had another one, stuck it in there and it fired right up ! Thank you for what you have taught me!
@llwonder3 жыл бұрын
wow this is quality info. Luckily I have an engineering degree but holy cow if I didn't have my knowledge from college, I'd be lost! College taught me a lot of theory but I'm seeing a lot of practicality here. Thanks
@yakacm7 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this series, as others have said it strikes a great balance between being too basic and really dumbing it down without being too hard, I have been looking for something like this for a long time, looking forward to the rest of the series, I can imagine myself watching these videos again and again, cheers.
@jatza075 жыл бұрын
Best channel , best content. Not an easy topics for semi beginner so many many thanks for making those videos and sharing so many knowledge. Thank you !!
@robertbarker24586 жыл бұрын
Thankyou for your time you put into the videos and yes lm learning heaps lm 54old so with the right instructor your never to old
@tonymicallef14882 жыл бұрын
This is a really great tutorial with a great explanation.
@hakanberg86706 жыл бұрын
I have now watched the first two episodes of this series, and I have probably learned more about tubes than I have done for months trying to read the book by Morgan Jones - it's simply too advanced for me yet. Thank you for your very simple and clear explanations of how tubes work, I am in progress of watching through all your other videos now :-)
@TheBladepolisher4 жыл бұрын
Great video ! ! Well taught with a great teacher vibe ! ! A beginners video with a shop tool list with electronic bench testing equipment included with suggestions as to which is best for two or three price ranges, electronic safety tips, basic trouble shooting techniques would be a great way to prepare for basic repair work.
@lifeandhobbies44136 жыл бұрын
you have a great videos and great teacher Sir Mark... please never stop.
@gcaligula66537 жыл бұрын
You are doing very good. I am learning a great deal of information. Thank you. Keep up the good work
@xXBocephusXx7 жыл бұрын
Great video Mark! You helped me understand the filter section after rectification, it was a little confusing before. I really hope you get back to this and continue this series!
@duken37675 жыл бұрын
Very good explanation and excellent schematic drawings.
@cajuncoinhunter2 жыл бұрын
I have something to add on the multiple OHM taps starting at 27:15 I am sure that most people know this already , but in case some folks don't know here it is , you can add switches on the back of the amp near the speaker jack and label them 4 ohm , 8 ohm ETC ETC .... The most commons are 8 and 4 ohms for band amps .... Guitars and such....A lot of small 4 watt amps power a separate speaker box..... Larger amps like Peavey and Marshal's have the speakers built into the amp box .....
@unboxedtravels3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the video, it was very informative and helped me understand PTs a whole lot better !
@rickr73337 жыл бұрын
Nice tutorial. One additional note, Howard Sams Photo Facts schematics were actually independently derived by actually ringing out products with an ohm meter. In a nut shell, most manufacturers that provided a schematic, provided the, "As designed document" Sams provided the more valuable, "As built" document. In fact when ever a manufacturer changed the revision level of a model number, Sams would re-evaluate and if necessary produce a new schematic.
@faustogomes37232 жыл бұрын
This is extremely helpful. Thank you
@vascharis4 жыл бұрын
Very nice videos, I would like to build a tube amp and I think your videos are a great start. I am grateful!
@michel3331004 жыл бұрын
Hi, just thought that I'd comment on your video. I find these kind of videos of yours and uncle Doug's videos extremely interesting and very informative. I would give anything to go to an electronics school to learn amp building from a guy like yourself. I'm a musician for years and I would love to have the knowledge to fix my amps. Thanks Michael Newell from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
@christianbarker66363 жыл бұрын
Back for part 2! Brilliant
@tashpaug7 жыл бұрын
Mark, Great video! I am really enjoying this series and have picked up a lot of helpful understanding. Keep up the great work.
@emilstola45722 жыл бұрын
Great explaination
@VOLTS-tc3bz3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Really easy to understand!
@tonytaylor50873 жыл бұрын
Awesome explanation!
@lanterno7 жыл бұрын
Great tube, will need to watch again , but I have learnt soo much, burnt my lunch .
@playloudplayoften89385 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for this. Fantastic presentation and very thorough.
@robgrune32842 жыл бұрын
Pretty good intro to explain why components are used/split. But not how things are done.
@jordanrenaud-pq7rx3 жыл бұрын
You covered my MK III specs and diagram. Great!
@MarcelOoms7 жыл бұрын
Thanks, nice overview ! You asked for input on subjects: I would really like more a indepth review of looking at feedback loops, and the effects of resistor and capacitor values in this. Why this affects the output impedance. And causes and remedies for oscillations.
@mamulcahy Жыл бұрын
Thank you! Excellent video!
@mychalsimka48234 жыл бұрын
These videos are awesome
@nicktube3904 Жыл бұрын
Wonderful channel!
@mohamedbenzemam12517 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your videos. Will watch all of them.
@Spiderelectron7 жыл бұрын
Great stuff! Thank you!
@carltrummer91033 жыл бұрын
Very interesting. Thanks for you time.
@d.buchko4270Ай бұрын
Thank you! Great videos 😊
@toomanyhobbies81194 жыл бұрын
This is very informative
@TheDesertRat313 жыл бұрын
That Duncan amp page has a nice tone stack simulator to try different component values
@bundylovess6 жыл бұрын
Love this series big thumbs up mate
@lydiapawlak42297 жыл бұрын
Please cover the 1964 Scott 200 Integrated tube amp schematic; I have one, and I am sure there are places to upgrade, etc.... This little gem of an amplifier, is one of the best sounding ever made for a push-pull vintage piece... Mine is completely restored and I love it!
@leohobbleohobb37813 жыл бұрын
By the way great video,s.Always more to learn i find!!!!.
@lydiapawlak42297 жыл бұрын
If building your own tube amplifier from scratch, May I suggest you cover load lines, choosing bias resistor's and calculating output transformers. Power supplies Schematic would be nice If you can cover that.
@paulperriman91443 жыл бұрын
pretty cool video. I learn a lot Thanks
@silasfatchett56936 жыл бұрын
In your discussion of transformers, you implied that an air gap was required because an amp operates in Class A. However, it is because the amp is single ended (which of course means it must operate in Class A) that the air gap is required. DC current is constantly flowing one way in the primary which means that an air gap is required to prevent core saturation. It is possible design a double ended amp to operate in Class A, but since DC currents flow in opposite directions in the center tapped primary they induce magnetic fields of opposite polarity which cancel so that no air gap is required.
@DelusionalVoice4 жыл бұрын
I know this video is ancient in internet years, but a step by step series, or one in-depth video on the Marshall 1959 Super Lead circuit would be incredible
@DelusionalVoice4 жыл бұрын
By the way these videos are divine
@peteleoni9665 Жыл бұрын
Really really nice.
@DZig5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the great series! Would love to see you go through a 5e3 circuit Tube Amp
@douglasRbrown4 жыл бұрын
GREAT VIDEO!!!
@bertytrek7 жыл бұрын
Great video. I´m going to google some power schematic and study them to master it. Thanks
@20thcenturyboy854 жыл бұрын
EXCELLENT VIDEO!!! THANK YOU !
@ertreri3 жыл бұрын
could you make video going in more detail into all typical capacitor application patterns to consolidate and give a few examples of solid state as well as valve amps using this patterns. eg pattern 1 Resistor and capacitor in input transformer... purpose making DC curve of B+ as constant as possible. pattern 2 coupling capacitor from plate output to grid input... etc capacity in cathode biasing circuit... there seems to exist 100 different patterns for using capacitors . typically seems to be always a game of let ac pass fix dc etc ... many thanks for the great video
@williswet7 жыл бұрын
Thanks for part 2!!!!!!
@blave5493 жыл бұрын
One thing I've always wondered is why (at least in these circuits) the rectifier heater isn't 6.3V like all of the other tubes'. Seems like a little $ could be saved by not having that extra 5V winding.
@1959Berre6 жыл бұрын
Very well explained. You have a lot of patience going through all of this. I would like to ask if you can elaborate on how exactly a tube rectifier works. I am used to solid state diodes, I simply don't see how AC in a tube becomes DC. Another big mystery to me is how a "choke" works. How can a coil filter a ripple ? I always thought this is what capacitors are supposed to do.
@silasfatchett56936 жыл бұрын
A tube diode, just like a solid state diode, will only pass current when its plate (anode) is positive with respect to its cathode, when it is said to be 'forward biased'. An AC voltage applied to its plate will result in pulses of current at its cathode during the positive excursions of the AC. A transformer with its center tap connected to ground produces AC voltages which are 180 deg. out of phase, i.e. one voltage is positive while the other is negative and vice versa. If these out of phase voltages are fed to the two plates of a rectifier tube, each diode will conduct during the period that the other is not conducting, resulting in a series of positive pulses of current at the cathode. Each dropper resistor in the B+ supply not only reduces the voltage, but acts as an RC low pass filter in conjunction with the following capacitor, reducing ripple. A choke is an inductor which has a property known as 'reactance', a resistance to AC that depends on its frequency. The Hammond choke in example circuit #4 has a reactance of 7.5k at the 120Hz frequency of the ripple current but only 82 ohms of resistance to DC. This means that it can, in conjunction with the following 100uF capacitor, efficiently filter ripple current while allowing the majority of DC voltage to go to the rest of the amp.
@GL646 жыл бұрын
Great video, very helpful. Thanks!
@henryxavj3 жыл бұрын
Interesting and nicely made but I seem to be missing an essential point on the diode operation: where does the magic B+ (400 or 500V) comes from? I undertand that for the diode to operate, the plate (anode) voltage has to be higher than the cathode. But how does one establish what the cathode voltage is from those diagram? You state this as if it was the most natural expectation but does not come as such to me. Is there another video that I haven't stumbled upon yet to establish this basic fact.. Thanks anyway for an otherwise very accessible material!
@ernestogarcia915010 ай бұрын
Ty so much I am new to tube amps and I am fascinated by your wealth of knowledge. I want to build the Sansui Q-50 Tube Amplifier Monoblock 50 Watt 117v push-pull. Can you go over the schematics if you can Again Ty
@bucyruserie12116 жыл бұрын
Hi Mark, Very good information.. Maybe you could do a video on actual formulas to arrive at a desired voltage on a tube plate, or screen.. For instance, if you were building your own amplifier and not following a schematic exactly. I know most amps are basically laid out the same (as shown in this video) but what if you wanted to use different pre-amp tubes which required more or less voltage? There must be math formula's for this. Thanks, Tom
@uhoh0075 жыл бұрын
Really excellent. Hammond AO28, I'd love to see, and Leslie 22H with 2-speed mod: there are several.
@efrank27146 жыл бұрын
Just found your series on the single ended amp build and now schematics. Thanks so much great info. I recently repurposed a Conn organ console with surprisingly nice results. I actually began with AM tube radios and have always struggled with the concept of ground. Especially when a chassis is not directly connected to ac source or line third wire ground. Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.
@silasfatchett56936 жыл бұрын
In an amp with a three wire power cord, the chassis is connected to the safety ground (or earth) at the wall socket. The negative side of the power supply is also connected to the chassis, which makes it the 0V point from which other voltages in the amp are measured. In a vintage amp with a two wire power cord, or if the amp is battery powered, the chassis is still the 0V point in the amp, and is still referred to as ground.
@rafaeldelrivero80005 жыл бұрын
I would like to see the schematics to build an orange tiny terror amp.
@tomaskey68445 жыл бұрын
Very good information! I was wondering about center taps. I understand they can pull current off of the transformer but am not clear on why they can be grounded without causing a short. My guess is that grounding it is not a short and instead nulls the CT? But why not just cap the lead? Also, when using a CT, wouldn't that reduce the current from the other legs? Sorry if I am using current where I should be using voltage. I'm going to take a break from these videos and go learn about ohms law and do some breadboarding to further my learning. It has become clear I need to understand that before I can move ahead.
@jakeowsley6552Ай бұрын
What purpose does the CT of the 6.3V have? -- if the replacement X-former secondary doesn't have a CT for the 6.3V, is there a class of tubes' filaments that wouldn't work?
@vintageaudio75187 жыл бұрын
Great series. Would you elaborate on the AC/DC in the schematics? Most schematics do not indicate AC/DC component which was the biggest confusion for me when I was learning. For example, a 5u4 tube, the 5VAC from the transformer is connected to filament and it is also where the 5U4 output B+ (high VDC voltage). For future videos, please consider the topic of tone circuits, rolling off high or low frequencies, or a narrow band boost or cut in frequencies, RIAA equalization for vinyl, NAB, IEC playback equalization reel tapes in a preamp, sharp cutoff tubes used for signal compression, the challenges for using small signal tubes, SRPP circuits, using voltage regulator tubes OA2, OD3, and solid state rectifiers using Schotky diodes. how to generate negative voltage for bias if you don't have a separate winding, capacitor bypass vs diode, LED. What do you think of the new dual triode Nutube from Korg? Thanks.
@Blueglow7 жыл бұрын
LOL, you want a 4 year degree in electronics via a youtube video. Hold tight, I'm sure over the years, I'll cover all that. I will hit the AC/DC thing soon.
@mikkabrightheart2268 Жыл бұрын
I understand that when the tubes are installed in an amp that load in conjunction with the internodal resistors in the power supply is what defines the voltage at the nodes and i know that when you pull the tubes those voltages go up but why do they not all come up to full b+? If the ps isnt referenced to ground thru the tubes to define the voltage drop why is there still a voltage drop and how do the volts know how much to drop?
@pstock494 жыл бұрын
Learned a lot, clarified a lot. Thanks. Questions: How does using DC regulated five volts on the filament of the 5U4 or 5AR4 change the output ripple if at all? Would there be any benefit to feeding the rectifier filament from a separate transformer; does using a separate transformer for filaments take some of the load off the main transformer? Does the power supply program you used allow you to substitute dc to the filament?
@oswaldwabbit89867 жыл бұрын
Ok Thanks for the Video was informative for me. The Inductor symbol section cleared up the types of materials used for their cores and the symbol representation, Can I assume that ferrite core is also referred to as powdered iron??. - I did not know that they wound transformers in both directions on the same unit and that the dot was a representation of the direction, I do now. - The CLC & CRC filter thanks for explaining that. - With the Dynakit amp the bias tap and the diode orientated in that way would represent a negative bias feed?? and would this mean by adjusting either of the 2x 100R resistors that this would also alter the bias of that particular tube even though it has a resistor on the cathode and a pot to adjust the bias ?? - Thanks for the duncan's app and explaining it a little should be able to get some value from that.
@mortenrolsing71377 жыл бұрын
Fantastic video, thanks a lot, realy learned something here :-)
@charleshoward356 жыл бұрын
Great Video
@arnoldrimmer80087 жыл бұрын
I'd be interested in how McIntosh's Unity Coupled output stage differs from the other output stages discussed.
@WarrenRoddy6 жыл бұрын
I'd love to see a run down of a McIntosh MC225 or one of their mono blocks MC30/60.
@TekCroach9 ай бұрын
Thanks for the nice videos. However I don’t think your explanation in the video at around 19.40 is not accurate enough. The transformer core tends to saturate because of the constant quiescent plate current in the class A I think.
@vincentseaman5912 жыл бұрын
Great video, I have a heathkit w5 amp that is having what I think is a tranny problem( 5r4gy red plating). Have not did any measuring. Where would be a starting point?
@JethroBoDean4 жыл бұрын
Hope your still taking,requests I am very new trying to,absorb all I can I have several older tube radios and feel I have enough parts between tubes resistors transformers etc.. Could you do a scabbed together with what you got thanks your series is very informative
@christopherthumm43482 жыл бұрын
What would you do in my situation? I have received some old vacuum tube equipment some that are military others possibly handmade and I haven't a clue what they are or to be used for despite searching the internet .