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Garrett Day & Jake Siegel Eng 202C Audience and Scope
The purpose of this technical document is to inform musicians, store owners, manufacturers, or anyone interested in sound amplification about tube amplifiers. Fundamental vacuum tubes have been around since the early 1900s and tube amplifiers have been used for audio amplification since the 1950s. Since then, tube technology has also been used in satellite transponders, military radar, and high power television transmitters. This document will explore the components of a tube amplifier from the basic principles of electricity to individual parts that combine to create tones that are unique to vacuum tube amplifiers.
The presence of the cathode, plate, and grid define the tube as a triode tube.
Preamp Tubes and Power Tubes The preamp tube receives the signal from
the guitars pickups and amplifies the signal so it can drive the power tubes.
When the amplifier is on, the cathode is heated and is ready to release electrons to the anode.
Modifying Voltages
An important process that occurs in tube amps is the conversion of 120 volt AC voltage (alternating current) from a wall outlet to 250 volt AC voltage, to DC (direct current) and finally the smoothing of the DC wave to create a stable current. This process uses the transformer, rectifier, and capacitors, and is pictured in figure 4.
1. The Transformer 120V AC 250V Converts 120V power from the wall to 250V power appropriate for the
amp and sends converted voltage to a rectifier tube
Supplies 6.3V AC to heating elements in the vacuum tubes 2. The Rectifier 250V AC Initial Direct Current Converts 250V power to a direct current ripple 3.
Tube Amplifiers
More expensive Require more maintenance Very heavy and fragile Unparalleled output and tone High power consumption Increased risk of electric shock
Conclusion
There are several components and processes involved in tube technology, but it all begins with the vacuum tube. The ability for the plate, cathode, and grid to control electrons within the envelope is the basis for amplification. As electrons are released from the cathode to the anode, the preamp tubes amplify the signal from the guitar using this flood of electrons. From here, the transformer, rectifier, and capacitors translate voltage from a wall outlet, to a smooth direct current. The output transformer uses this current to drive the speaker, resulting in the sound we here. Many of the best known guitar players, especially from the 1960s, predominantly used tube amplifiers, and still use them today. The most well known companies that produce iconic tube amplifiers include Marshall, Fender, Vox, and Orange.
Works Cited
"Choosing a Guitar Amp." GuitarHow. N.p., 2011. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://www.guitarhow.com/15_guitarhow_choosing_an_amplifier.html>. Formosa, Dan. "How Tube Amps Work." Premier Guitar. N.p., 15 July 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/17116-how-tube-amps-work?page=1>. Mills, John C. "What's The Deal With These Vacuum Tubes Anyway?." John Clarke Mills. N.p., 13 May 2008. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://www.johnclarkemills.com/2008/05/13/whats-the-deal-with-these-vacuum-tubesanyway/>.