Recitifer tube?

[Eye Banez]

Hello out there.

I was wondering if someone had a simple explanation of what the rectifier tube does. I've got a Traynor YBA-2 which has 2, 6V6 power tubes and 2, 12 AX7's. I saw a photo on another sight which shows the exact same chassis, but with a 5Y3(or something like that) rectifier tube as well. Both amps are within a year or two in manufacture date. Mine's a '67 and the other is a '66. Is this a mod that might make a big difference in my amp?

Kim

[brad347]

very simple!

It converts alternating current (AC, or wall power) to a pulsing direct current (DC, similar to battery power) by chopping off half of the AC wave. Then the "gaps" (in between the 'pulses' of the pulsing DC) are "filled in" or smoothed-out by the choke and charging/discharging filter capacitors to make a 'smooth' DC, more like battery power.

[brad347]

PS you say that one amp had a rectifier tube. The other probably had a solid state rectifier made out of diodes. Both accomplish the same function. They do respond differently and sound different from one another even though not in the audio path at all.