Valve - alright 'tube' review on Premier Guitar Magazine

[stevesuk]

Our favourite online magazine is reviewing Power Tubes this month.
I think they are intimating that an AC30 is class A ? again.

And according to them the EL84 is 'most commonly' used in class A amps ?

http://digital.premierguitar.com/premierguitar/200902/

Steve UK

www.valvepower.co.uk

[Phil_S]

Gosh, Steve, they must know...

[bradleyt]

Many SE amps use the EL84, those are Class A circuits. Guess it depends on how one interprets the text. But please for the sake of sanity lets avoid the whole Vox AC30 and Class A discussion.

[Travst]

That's the first time I've ever really flipped through the magazine. Not much there...

[Alexo]

To be fair, they talked about amps that are "marketed as class A..." Which is true - you almost never see EL84's in fixed bias amps, and cathode bias is usually erroneously marketed as being class A.

[martinw]

Fender Blues Junior?
Mesa Subway Rocket?
Marshall DSL401?

All fixed bias.

[guitarmike2107]

I have seen the 1974x marketed as class A in some advertising/you rube vids.... most pleb guitarists dont know what class A means anyhow...

Steve , maybe you should e-mail them for job as editor!

[kedsinger]

It is funny how some people interperate "class A". It's not only how it's biased it's also where it's biased. Only a scope truly knows!

[stevesuk]

I had an enquiry from a potential customer who enquired whether my 18W amps were class A or not.
When I told him no, he decided he didn't want it and would find a 'class A' amp instead

Steve UK

www.valvepower.co.uk

[Alexo]

I had an enquiry from a potential customer who enquired whether my 18W amps were class A or not.
When I told him no, he decided he didn't want it and would find a 'class A' amp instead

Steve UK

www.valvepower.co.uk

I really think it's just an unfortunate choice of terminology... If you knew nothing else about a product, wouldn't you think one that was certifiably "Class A" would be better?

You could have told him "It's not class A, but it is classey!" Nyuk nyuk....

[zaphod_phil]

I hope you then asked him what kind of amp he had in mind as a "Class A" amp, when you could have told him that it's actually a Class AB, just like yours.

Personally, I would have said, "Yes, this is indeed what is often called a Class A amp, as is a Vox AC30, although technically that's incorrect in both cases." Mr. Ignorant guitarist will immediately relegate it in his mind to being some technical mumbo jumbo, and be satisfied that your amp is what he wants, or maybe even decide to remember that piece of trivia to impress his band mates with, next time they're down at the pub.

[morcey2]

(this is me waiting for a long technical discussion on determining whether a particular output stage is Class-A or Class-AB and whether an SE amp can be Class AB. ZP will shoot me if that discussion actually starts. )

[Travst]

The almost-a-customer has probably been reading all the marketing on the newer low-watt amps and is hearing Class A repeatedly so he's assuming that it has to be better than the "Class Z" amp that, in his mind, exists in an amp showroom somewhere. Those of us who have worked retail have all met this Expert Customer who cannot be dissuaded from his assumptions or opinions, no matter how nonsensical or misguided they may be.

[Plexi]

Fender Blues Junior?
Mesa Subway Rocket?
Marshall DSL401?

All fixed bias.

Also the Fender pro jr. The amp in the clips in the zounds section, under Richies.. is an adjustable grid biased amp. I posted here somewhere a long time ago how to wire it up. very simple..
I've built quite a few of the 18s like that,and like them better than the cathode biased amps. faster pick attack,and seems to be a touch more head room,and sounds like it has just a wee bit more power or loudness.

Not many have tried it.. if not, you should..
Not the best clip, but you can hear one used live. This place would not let him turn it up [95db house rule].. and he was playing against a 300 watt fender PS300!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XI3p8Yn ... re=channel

[RWood]

you can hear one used live.

That was good as hell. Thanks for posting, Richie.