Question about stages

[jckid649]

I am fairly new to the amp building game, but I would like to know more about how to identify stages in an amp circuit. There is lots of talk about Gain stages, pre-amp stages, phase inverters, etc. How do I identify those stages in the circuit? What am I looking for? I've included the schematic from Nik at Ceriatone and wonder if someone can tell me where each stage is located.

[overtone]

Take a look at a real schematic, it will be simpler to follow for what you are after. Go to the trainwreck files section and look at the schematics there.

By convention the stages read from left to right.
To find your stages look out for this:
each stage will be separated by a coupling capacitor which has to block the DC / B+ at the plate of the tube and only pass the AC signal on to the next stage.
Those coupling caps are like the doors to your next stage and the pF / uF value of those coupling caps can really impact the sound and performance of the amp too,

best,
tony

[xtian]

Fully awesome beginner thru intermediate book: The Guitar Amp Handbook by Dave Hunter.

[jckid649]

Actually I don't know how to read real schematics very well and only find them confusing. I guess I was hoping someone could label them on this layout so I could get a rough idea.

[jckid649]

Been reading that book and have learned tons, but still I don't know how to identify the various stages of an amp just by looking at it. I can see where the preamp stages are and the power stages but where is the phase inverter in a given stage or identifying a plate resistor?

[NickC]

Been reading that book and have learned tons, but still I don't know how to identify the various stages of an amp just by looking at it. I can see where the preamp stages are and the power stages but where is the phase inverter in a given stage or identifying a plate resistor?

Phase inverter in the Ceriatone layout you posted is right before the output tubes, which is typical. From left to right, count over to the third noval (nine pin) tube socket ...... it's closest to the octal (eight pin) output tubes.

[jckid649]

Thanks. Is there any kind of info out there that can help a novice identify each part such as a plate resistor or a cathode bypass capacitor in any circuit in laymens terms?

[jckid649]

Daves book is great but he still uses a vocabulary that is a little beyond a novices reach on some topics

[Jana]

You really need to learn to read a schematic. A layout tells you how to physically place the parts; the schematic tells you what is happening electronically. Until you can read a schematic and understand it, you will never progress past the paint by numbers stage. Find a book or tutorial on basic electronics--there should be tons of that on the web. Once you start to learn it, then some things--like plate resistor--will become self-evident.

[M Fowler]

Yes here is some info.

[M Fowler]

Also we have a sticky in the Tech section called reading material on steriods.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=9023

[jjman]

Get a 5F1 schematic and sleep with it. No PI but learning every component on the 5F1 will give you a foundation to start from. Usually "stages" are from left to right. Plate resistors connect directly to plates which are almost always drawn as the upper-most symbol in the tube-stage. Plates are drawn as a line or a rectangle. Cathodes usually an upside-down L and usually on the bottom.

http://www.el34world.com/charts/Schemat ... _schem.pdf

[Reeltarded]

I learned by having

1. Clear gutshot
2. dead on layout
3. schematic.
4. That graphic Mark posted of the JTM board components names