The Audio Designer's Tube Register

[Structo]

I received this book today, The Audio Designer's Tube Register, by Tom Mitchell.
It is volume l subtitled "common low-power triodes".
It has 20 pages on the 12AX7.
Mostly tube characteristics and load line graphs.

It documents fourteen tube types from the single triode 6C4 to the dual triode 5751.
Most of it is over my head but I will try to absorb some of it.

I was surprised after I bought this book on Amazon that it lists for $118 for a used copy.
I guess I lucked out because I only paid $18.

P.S.
I stand corrected the used copies are going for $198 and as high as $213!!!

This book came from Powell's in Portland, which is a huge book store.
I wonder if they made a mistake when they listed this?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... ition=used

[M Fowler]

Today it shows $198.55 with $18 crossed out

[MCK]

And there is a disclaimer there :

When you buy this book now for $198.55 and sell it back later for a $0.90 Amazon.com Gift Card, it could cost you as little as $197.65.

Wow! That is some sales pitch now.

[Structo]

Yeah, when I bought it that said, sell it back for $.72

Really?

How about $200 on the barrel head!

Nah, I'll just add it to my technical library in the north wing.

The thing is, this book which is spiral bound could have passed for new when I received it.

[Teleguy61]

Sounds like you lucked out big time Tom.

[Gaz]

I used to live a block from Powell's, and would sit there and check out the tube books often in the technical bookstore near the main store. I looked at the books a few times, but never gave it enough to see why it'd be worth my 18 bones. They have a bunch of new copies there, and it's weird about $200 thing.

I wish I could find Dave Funk's book on the cheap...

[Structo]

Do you live in Portland Gaz?

[Gaz]

Hey Structo, yeah I was, but now I'm up in Washington. Hopefully back in Portland come summer. Where are you?

[Colossal]

I spent many an hour haunting Powell's, Washington Park, the Cup and Saucer, etc. Portland is a great city. I miss it often!

[Gaz]

Colossal are you in the NW too? Portland is great for many reasons: music, food, Forest Park, and that there's probably more amp builders there per captia than any other city!... although I'e never met any of them.

[passfan]

Some of the older Vacuum Tube Valley mag has tube shootout articles.......
Issue 14 12AX7 special edition
Issue 13 6L6 shootout
Issue 17 Rectifiers for Audio

Here is the link for back issues
http://www.vacuumtube.com/vtv.htm#VTV%20Issue%20#13

[Colossal]

Colossal are you in the NW too? Portland is great for many reasons: music, food, Forest Park, and that there's probably more amp builders there per captia than any other city!... although I'e never met any of them.

Used to live there dude. Wish I still did...Portland has such great culture...given a choice (e.g. good jobs for me and the missus), we'd move back. Great beer, music, skiing (Mt. Hood, Bend), people, all of it!

[Richie]

Tom also put out this video and book.
http://www.amazon.com/How-Service-Your-Own-Tube/


I would like to mention, back around 1988,a friend of mine was in a band that was opening up for REO speedwagan. I was there just hanging out before the show. Everyone was still running around adjusting lights,and getting things ready for a sound check.

I saw the guitar tech, stringing some music man guitars. So i started shooting the bull with him. We talked for a while and I felt like i might be annoying him with amp and gear questions while he was working. So i told him i'd get out of his hair so he could work.
He told me i was fine, and wasn't bothering him at all. He told me his name,but didn't really sink in till i saw that book. He did tech work for a few bands at that time. Dokken,Richard Marx, REO,etc.. super nice guy.

[Phil_S]

Last I passed through Portland was 1975. Nice city as I recall it. Sounds like it still is.

Books are a funny commodity. This one was an obvious mistake. I hope no one lost his job over a miskeyed price.

A while back I found a copy of RDH4 for $29, shipped. Typically this is a ~$90 book. The description of its condition suggested it might not be in the best shape, but I took a chance. I think the seller significantly under-rated the condition. He was looking at it as an antique, not a useful reference book. Everything about it looked pretty tip-top to me for a book that old. Yes, there is some "foxing" (look it up). The binding is intact, all the pages are there, and generally there is nothing wrong with it, except, due to age, it needs some TLC when handling it.

[Gaz]

"How to Service Your Guitar Amp" by Mitchell was my first tube amp book, and is a great introduction. I still use the troubleshooting flow charts from time to time.