When writing for a webpage or a blog it is sometimes very difficult to get a feel for your audience. You never really know if you’re talking to a few friends over coffee, standing in front of a classroom of twenty, or lecturing to an auditorium of two hundred. I know there are a few people with whom I regularly converse, but my web traffic suggests that there may be more. So in order to help me get a feel for all of you, I am proposing a CascadeTubes version of Groundhog Day. Allow me to explain.
Here in the United States, today (February 2nd) is “Groundhog Day”. Groundhog day is a curious holiday where, according to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow, then the spring season will arrive early, if it is sunny and the groundhog sees its shadow, it will retreat back into its den, and winter weather will persist for six more weeks.
This is simple. I am asking each of you to briefly pop out out your virtual burrow and say hi. If you regularly visit my web page or read my blog, I am asking you to post a short reply to this post. It can be anything from a simple hello, to a short introduction or list of interests, or to tell me what brings you back to the web page. This way I can tell if there a just a few people out there to whom I writing, or a larger audience. And maybe get a better feel for things abut which you’d like to hear. I probably won’t directly reply to most messages, but I would like to get a feel for my audience.
So what do you say?
Hello Matt,
Better late than never! I’m also on the DIYaudioprojects forum.
Hi Matt,
I just discovered your site, and I am absorbing your articles and your no-nonsense explanations. I really like your work! Keep on sharing!
I am a middle aged EE looking to kick start my decades old fascination with “glass”.
Thank You, I relly enjoy your site.
Hi Matt,
I’ve built the 6EM7 upright and I’m now awaiting parts for the Lacewood V2. Your website, blog and help on the DIY Audio Projects Forum are invaluable. Keep up the good work and many thanks.
Hi there! I’ve just stumbled upon your site today during another attempt to find new help in getting me from “kinda” building tube amp kits to truly understanding them. I have a completely unused BSEE from 1987 ( I wanted to be a rockstar so I graduated and never looked back) so while I have the basic knowledge of circuit design it’s in no way second nature and still fairly frustrating and just a collection of half-remembered ideas and terms.
I’m enthralled with your site and inspired to keep forging ahead. If there’s anything I can do or say to encourage you to keep going simply say the word. I’ll be avidly following.
Thanks.
Thanks for your continued involvement in the hobby -and taking the time to share it!
I usually reference your work when other like minded hobbyist start talking about tubes.
Hi Matt,
Thank you for your great site. I have built the universal preamp, I have found it very useful. I am working on the 6CY7 amplifier and I also intend to build the 6AS5 amplifier as well. I have a BSET and have recently delved back in to tube electronics as this is a great learning experience and it is always thrilling to build something yourself and have it work. The satisfaction is far greater then one would ever get from store bought equipment.
I can’t wait to see what you’ll come up with next. I’d like to see a higher output power amplifier, say 10-20 watts.
Hi Matt, good afternoon.
Very nice your site, well written and very informative.
You use the old electronics like me. Very simple and direct.
Now, lets make an amplifier from the thirties.
I made one with a 2A3 and a 1/2 6BL7 thats sounds very good.
There is almost no hum with everything AC and only motor run capacitors. And speakers are 100 dB/W/m Electrovoice Georgians.
But I used a separated 2.5 V filament transformer with center tap exclusively for the 2A3.
Now, I want substitute the 6BL7 driver by a direct heating triode tube.
Any ideas?
And, do you know why using that filament transformer with center tap exclusively for the 2A3 minimised hum?
Keep up the good work.
Hi Matt!
I stumbled upon your website after randomly finding the diyaudioprojects site.
Electronics as a major interest started for me around the time I took apart my family’s Television set (and proceeded to rebuild it flawlessly)….mum & dad were ‘very’ happy. Currently, I’m earning a crust as an IT specialist but deeply regret not following the electronics engineer path. As a musician and audiophile, electronics is still my ‘first’ love (although it sometimes has it’s shocking moments).
After devouring all of your project info, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is the right site for me 🙂
Very nice stuff your doing here Matt!
All the best, Ted
Hello Matt, just thought I’d let you know who I am.
https://galimaufrey.blogspot.co.uk/2016_11_01_archive.html
Hello Matt,
I am a tinkerer from a very early age (first project: a 5 band shortwave receiver, at age 11)…but I seemed to stop “tinkering” after college, career, wife/family all happened, and there was never time. In my photography years (early teens), I had an old tube amp (a monobloc, I now know:), tube receiver, and a single speaker in my closet/darkroom, and I LOVED the sound it made… I am now on the “back end” of my career, and have time to tinker again, and one of my first projects will be your 2nd generation 6V6 UL amp. I’ve already ordered many of the parts (I have many questions regarding parts selection I am reluctant to post, b/c I’m afraid they are a little too “basic”…), and my excitement is building. Your knowledge and willingness to share have been inspirational to me, and I clearly see many others as well. I appreciate what you do very much!
Hi Matt
I found your site looking for a tube preamp diy. I like yours because you can use the different 12’s.
I would also like to build one using parts I already have.
I am a guitar player and love the tube amp but I haven’t seen a 6L6 single ended
amp and would love to build one or find one and see how it sounds.
I’m working on:
’60 Gibson ga-5t skylark. It’s humming
’68 Plush P1000s. Repairing some previous work done on it and filtering.
’56? Hamond AO-35-I. Converting to guitar
’74 Fender PA 100. This is fun, it has the power of a Twin Reverb but wide open to mod for guitar.
’60 Magnavox stereo console it has the 196-10 amp.
‘? Heathkit condenser checker Mod. C-3
’65 Silvertone stand alone stereo amp(the reason for finding your preamp build)
Hi Matt, I click-thru and check out the blog about once a month.
Hi Matt,
I’m really drawn to your 6EM7 vertical amp design. I am ready to embark on that as my first tube amp build. I am still doing some preliminary research before starting the build, and hopefully you might be able to help me with a few brief questions if they come up. Thanks for all of the great info:-)
-Rob
Been reading for a year or so, the Lacewood is going to be my first major undertaking with an amp. Your detail and information is amazingly valuable. Thank you.
Matt, just stumbled on your site. Superb mate.
I intend to build the ‘Universal Preamp’, seeing how simple it is, with the minimal part count and great performance.
Hello,
I “tune in” about once a week or so.
Over time I have read all of your articles on this site. I read all of your blog posts as new ones come up.
Interesting stuff, I have built a few tube amps over the years, mostly with recycled parts – but that was many years ago. Getting ready to retire soon, so I might go into the dark recesses of my garage, dig up some stuff and put together a 6BQ5 SEP stereo amp just to see how it goes. For now I listen to homebrew discrete transistor stuff and am satisfied with what I hear, but would like to “revert to my youth” and give tubes another listen.
Dave K.
Heya. I have been trying to learn vacuum tube electronics for the past few years. Along with the countless PDFs I’ve found online and diyaudioprojects, your website has been wonderfully helpful. Keep doing what you’re doing and I’ll keep reading.
Again, thanks!
Love your page. First one I’ve found that gave me the confidence to start a build of my own. Working on it right now. The universal pre amp. Thank you so much.
Hey Matt, I find your site and blog to be extremely valuable, thanks for your work !