Amp lineages?

[odd]

I'm wondering if there's anything like a schematic of the history of amp types out there. Like blackface, tweed, 5e3 (or whatever) etc., showing how they branch off into plexies etc., cascaded gain stage models entering the fray, etc. Just the major brand names and inventors.
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[frquent flyer]

Interesting question;I'd like to know that stuff too. I know there is a good AMP book out mentioned on this forum. I can't recall the title.

 

[diagrammatiks]

ya it's on google.

 

[odd]

ya it's on google.

..look up Western Electric and Bell Telephone Labs.

Are you serious? Seems to be all about telephones and recording, not guitar amps.

 

[Timbre Wolf]

Check out Dave Hunter's The Guitar Amp Handbook - it is an excellent introduction to various guitar amp circuits, and how they interrelate.

- Thom

 

[WesKuhnley]

Are you serious? Seems to be all about telephones and recording, not guitar amps.

Who do you think invented all the technology guitar amps are based on? Leo ripped them directly from the RCA recieving tube manual, which is based entirely on Bell Labs research.

 

[solitaire]

Who do you think invented all the technology guitar amps are based on? Leo ripped them directly from the RCA recieving tube manual, which is based entirely on Bell Labs research.

This is true, I believe. I even have a memory of the early Fender amps having a label inside of the cab that said something about the circuitry being derived from RCA or to that effect.

I've also heard that the first amps were designed around the exemples found in the specs sheets for any valve of choice. That's basically why the amps distort quite easilly: they're of a crude design compared to hifi-amps

 

[odd]

bump!
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[WesKuhnley]

This is true, I believe. I even have a memory of the early Fender amps having a label inside of the cab that said something about the circuitry being derived from RCA or to that effect.

I've also heard that the first amps were designed around the exemples found in the specs sheets for any valve of choice. That's basically why the amps distort quite easilly: they're of a crude design compared to hifi-amps

The designs in the RCA tube manual are really quite elegant in nature...the problem (or beauty in the case of guitar amplification) is that those circuits were poorly adapted to MI applications. Most of Bell Labs research was done for telephone applications. Overtime, the drawbacks in these designs became the characteristics that musician's wanted.

 

[Trout]

The designs in the RCA tube manual are really quite elegant in nature...the problem (or beauty in the case of guitar amplification) is that those circuits were poorly adapted to MI applications. Most of Bell Labs research was done for telephone applications. Overtime, the drawbacks in these designs became the characteristics that musician's wanted.

Great Post,

I credit Western Electric for some of the most extensive and elegant implementation of audio tube design. They took the original RCA designs to practical audio use, Broadcast amps, movie theaters, speakeasy stages, ballpark stadiums and so on.

Google turns up loads of examples.


Now this is what I call a Mono-Block Amp LOL

 

[WesKuhnley]

2A3's or 300B's?

I really want to do an amp based around a 4x 2A3 output stage, but it would be SO expensive to re-tube! Anything based around a 300B would be even worse...

Cool pic there...

Great Post,

I credit Western Electric for some of the most extensive and elegant implementation of audio tube design. They took the original RCA designs to practical audio use, Broadcast amps, movie theaters, speakeasy stages, ballpark stadiums and so on.

Google turns up loads of examples.


Now this is what I call a Mono-Block Amp LOL

 

[Trout]

2A3's or 300B's?

I really want to do an amp based around a 4x 2A3 output stage, but it would be SO expensive to re-tube! Anything based around a 300B would be even worse...

Cool pic there...

Oh Man, a quad of 2A3's would totally rock!

If you do it, just keep in mind that NOS 2A3's are nothing like the newer versions being offered. I managed to pick a few up over the years buying up stuff at estate auctions.
Also, often you can get 6A3's very cheap if you do not mind the higher filament voltage.
http://tubedata.milbert.com/sheets/127/6/6A3.pdf

Every time I pass through a small town, I look for the old movie theaters, especially closed ones. Those old theater amps are often still sitting there collecting dust. One of these days I will sore ,,, Oh Yes, I Will !! LOL