How Tube Amplifiers Work, Part 1: The Power Supply

Comments · 2.5K

• AT

  @AtOddsAlways · 7 years ago

  I was a US Navy Tradevman (Training Devicesman) from 1965 to 1969 and attended almost a full year of electronics training to qualify for my rating. This is, by far, the BEST explanation of vacuum tube theory I have ever seen, anywhere! Kudos for your insightful and fascinating work!

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• JA

  @jasonlmusic · 3 years ago

  I cannot overstate what a tremendous asset you are to the YouTube, amplifier, guitar and electronics community.  If only my science teachers in school were 1/2 as good at explaining this as you are.  And if only someone who have explained it to me this way 30 years ago.  Very grateful for you!

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• DA

  @davidferrara1105 · 3 years ago

  This is gold. Went to engineering school and none of the teachers could be bothered to talk triodes

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• WY

  @wynandvanreenen2612 · 1 year ago

  October 2024 and I finally found a 10 year old video explaining exactly what I needed explained. You deserve a medal and lots of money for your service to all perplexed diyers. Thank you so much!

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• ME

  @ME16510 · 11 years ago

  Thank you so much. This is probably the most helpful and best explained video made by an individual on any topic that I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot). I know you're probably making little to no money off of this, but this is honestly hugely appreciated.

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• DA

  @danlampton · 12 years ago

  &quot;Making the simple sound complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, Awesomely simple, that&apos;s creativity.&quot; <br>-Charles Mingus

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• GR

  @gregpeterson4348 · 10 years ago

  Doug,<br>@ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5SSKX74DKg&amp;t=975">16:15</a> of your explanation: You seem to indicate that scopeing the center tap (which is hooked directly to ground) of the transformer will show you the bottoms of the AC waveform. I guarantee that scoping anything directly hooked to ground will only show 0 VDC and 0 VAC, unless there is something seriously wrong in the circuit. If you want to see the bottoms of the waveform, scope each plate of the tube. When it is reverse biased, you will see your waveform bottoms, which the tube is conveniently blocking for you. Scopeing the filament would show the positive waveforms from both halves of the tube, but you will see that waveform smoothed by any filtering capacitors on the B+ line. So it will be more or less a high DC voltage, with some ripple. You will not see the sum of the positive voltage waveforms, the filter caps will swamp that out.<br>Pete

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• HA

  @Harvester-Azriel · 2 weeks ago

  I can hardly express how well-articulated this presentation is and how much I appreciate you creating it for us. After playing guitars for 20 years, I&apos;m finally starting to try learning about tube amps. <br>This video is fantastic, and I&apos;m excited to see the rest of this series. <br>Thank you so much for your courtesy in sharing your expertise.This is an invaluable educational experience.

• AN

  @andrewmills8545 · 7 years ago

  I wish Uncle Doug would have been one of my professors in college. His ability of explaining electrical circuit behavior surpasses many of the instructors I&apos;ve dealt with. Although I am an electrical engineer now, I review these videos to solidify my knowledge by giving my brain a different viewpoint. Thanks for your work.

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• MY

  @MysterSpooky · 1 year ago

  God Bless you Uncle Doug! I can&apos;t believe this video is 11 years old and only now I am seeing this. Have been wanting to understand this for decades and FINALLY someone as dear as you made it make sense. Thank you so very much.

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• PA

  @PatrickjazzguitarBro · 7 years ago

  I have looked for a presentation that teaches me a foundational understanding about tubed amplifier theory. I am a teacher who has had to deal with dyslexia for almost 60 years and I have only known of my deficit for about 20 years. I am also a guitarist who loves tubed amps and have worked only at a rudimentary level on amplifier building and repair. Studying books on the subject is slow and helps some, but your presentation with verbal and visual cues is illuminating for me. You break down concepts (of which I have never been able to master nor gain fluency) into simple bite-sized (accessible) ideas and make them &quot;visible&quot; for me. That, sir, is a breakthrough I have not been able to experience on the subject. You are a rare talent and a true teacher of the sort I aspire to become! You not only teach electronics, but you also teach &quot;teaching.&quot; You have made a difference to me. Thank you.

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• JO

  @john-zw9rw · 6 years ago (edited)

  Being a retired Electrician .......and a musician since youth..... This is as Perfect of an explanation of Tube Amps you could ask for....<br>Reminds me of sitting in class again, listening to my Instructor change my life forever...I didn&apos;t know it at the time..... What a fun career, made a great living in Santa Cruz, in the 70&apos;s , I got on neil youngs crew and did my electrical thing with full respect from the crew... Kid&apos;s , Electricians have fun lives.......keep a log on the fire young Bucks.... &nbsp; &nbsp;critics...find fault in your own pile......

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