
INTERESTING WEB
LINKS
The following is just a
partial list of web links that I believe make my life a little easier
and a lot more fun. You should have quite a bit of fun yourself
surfing these sites. Keep in mind that all but one or two of these
sites will provide a 'links' page of their own, leading you on an all
day journey for tube 'stuff'. If you have a personal favorite that is
not mentioned, or if you spot any link that is non-functioning,
please let me know. Lastly, remember that specific links (to
find out more about Hickok tube testers, as an example) were
listed in their respective 'Lessons'. These are 'general'
interest links. With that out of the way, let's do some surfing!
- Antique Electronics
Supply All of the electronic parts and supplies like
resistors/capacitors/transformers you'll need. Plus NOS tubes (if you must
have them), as well as a vast library of reprinted tube theory books.
Get a catalog TODAY! Very close to one-stop shopping, and an
indispensable resource, with other tube related magazines such as Vacuum
Tube Valley for sale.
- The Blue Guitar is
the massive website of Steve Ahola. He seems very
knowledgeable/experienced and genuinely interested in sharing
schematics/mod ideas/etc. with everyone who 'drops by'. Hours of
surfing fun, and definitely the first place to check for any
schematic you need.
- Effectrode.
They're British, and they use 'valves' to make effects pedals including
the PhaseomaticTM, which
boasts a power supply of +300VDC! The Lemon SqueezerTM is another offering; a high-voltage
compressor. When a simple Boss pedal just won't cut it, think about
these imports.
- The Fender Amp
Field Guide is for those folks who are very anal about the
itty bitty details pertaining to their vintage Fender
amplifier. It does have a ton of great pictures, and is worth a look
even if you don't really worry about whether your 'Blackface' Deluxe
Reverb was made in July 1964 or August 1964 (as if you couldn't
differentiate from the tone).
- Garnet Amps is a
website developed by fellow Winnipeger Pete Theissen. Goes the extra
mile by providing production numbers, stylings, and photos for the BTO,
Sessionman, Herzog, and others. Also has a Garnet
amplifier 'Registry'! Check this one out if you are a serious Garnet
fan.
- Guitar Player
World is dedicated to free online guitar lessons for
aspiring guitar players of all levels. Man, in my day I would take a 33
1/3 RPM vinyl record and play it on a Garrard turntable at 16RPM just
to try and steal licks from my parents Les Paul records. This is just
so much easier. If I had this, along with YouTube lessons and magazines
giving away lesson DVD's, I could have been a half-decent guitar
player. Instead I'm a hack tube amplifier repair technician with a web
site. Don't be like me. Learn as much as you can, from as many sources
as you can.
- Just Radios
is a lot more than the name implies. They sell capacitors, specifically
high-voltage units for your vintage tube-audio gear. If you need a
630VDC film capacitor or a 450VDC electrolytic, this is a good place to
check out. They are in Canada, which is a bonus for people like me.
Also a 'Capacitor Tips' page, which advises you on the proper
selection of capacitor type, based on the application.
- Loudspeaker Components LLC
supplies all of the raw speaker components to 'regular' speaker
manufacturers, and will also supply the amplifier manufacturer with a
very custom speaker featuring a plethora of options. If you can swing a
fair sized order throughout the year, this could set you apart from
everyone else who is just ordering Celestion Vintage 30's.
- The Marshall Amp Forum
is strictly for all the Marshall owners. Now you can all gather
around to discuss your Marshall amplifier whilst finding like
minded blokes. Tips on where to find vintage parts, which
tubes/speakers are recommended by others, and the like are regularly
talked about.
- MaxiMatcher make a
plethora of high-end 'tube-tester' type equipment. There is a preamp
model for checking the balance of that 12AX7 if it is intended for
critical phase inverter applications, but it also checks gain, noise,
and transconductance. The power tube model measures amplification
capabilities and compares Plate current and transconductance up to four
tubes simultaneously. They also sell adapters to test 'non-standard'
amplifier tubes as well as a burn-in station! This is all done at real
world voltages. Buying any of these will lighten your wallet
considerably, but for the truly fanatical tube jockey, you will know that tube you are about to put
into your amplifier.
- Mojo has everything
in parts, plus the best selection in Tolex, Tweed, and
prebuilt amplifier/speaker cabinets to match/replace your vintage
piece. You could even build an entire 1959 tweed Bassman yourself,
from 'scratch', with just one phone call!
- Oplink
Solutions is one of a few companies specializing in the repair
and refurbishing of electronic test equipment. Thankfully, no vacuum
tube dinosaurs here, but 'modern' oscilloscopes, LCR (impedance)
meters, power supplies, and signal generators. The prices are
surprisingly reasonable, and although not as 'cheap' as finding this
stuff at your local TV repair shop, it's still a sensible option for
the impatient.
- Plexi-Palace
is another place to discuss all the intricacies of your vintage
amplifier, but this site has all the British offerings such as Burns,
Hiwatt, Orange, Selmer, Sound City, Vox,
WEM, and others! The first place to check out if you own one
of these rarities, as few local 'Yankee' technicians will have much
experience with them.
- Radio Craft will, according to
their website, ".....service and repair HF solid state and tube
amateur
radio transceivers,
transmitters, and receivers manufactured by Yaesu, Kenwood, Icom,
Collins, and Drake..... repair all major brands and types of HF solid
state and tube amplifiers - Alpha, Acom, Expert, Yaesu, OM Power, Tokyo
Hy-Power, and Ameritron." They
also " ..... restore,
repair, and align antique tube radios..... provide repair services
ranging from simple maintenance tasks to major overhauls and
alignment." Did I mention they were also Canadian? If you
don't feel like restoring that old Zenith floor model yourself, they
also have a few for sale, lovingly and expertly made as good as new.
Check out their website!
- Sovtek or New Sensor More parts than
you can shake a stick at. Everything but Tolex. I buy most of my parts
for building/restoring here. New Sensor also carries many tube
brands other than Sovtek, for those who are fussy or don't like
Russian tubes.
- Stewart MacDonald Guitar building parts, as well many
books on woodworking, guitar repair, etc. They even sell tubes and
Tolex! Toll free phone number, too.
- The 'new' Svetlana pages are a 'work in progress' that for
now features specifications on many of their tubes. Supposedly there
will be more 'resources' pages added, which makes it worthwhile to
check out, as the 'old' pages certainly were. Just a hint; don't
'enter' in the USA/Canada portal.
- Triode Electronics
You can learn a helluva lot about tube electronics by checking
out how the audio 'old-timers' did things. Sure, they sell tubes and
parts, but they also have a few audio projects that will expand your
knowledge far more than you'd think. Click HERE for their 4
tube push-pull amplifier that has no
phase inverter!
- The
Unofficial History of the Mesa/Boogie Mark Series. The are
sadly only a small handful of very intelligent, astute, and
knowledgeable tube guitar amplifier technicians around today. Gil Ayan
is one of them, and his website looks at the shortcomings (that's what
I said) of the Mesa/Boogie 'Mark' amplifier line. With input
from Mesa/Boogie personnel, admitting what the magazine reviews
didn't dare point out. If you own a Boogie, visit this site, and then
decide if guitar magazine reviews are completely truthful.
- Vibroworld These
guys sell all sorts of amplifier parts, books, etc.
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