Astronomical Equipment

Wrong. There is solid data as to why tubes are still preferred by many
musicians for guitar amps. It has to do with the harmonics produced by
tube amplification vs. solid state and the "smooth" clipping behavior
of output transformers in tube amps.

Being "still preferred by many musicians" is a good way to put it. Doesn't
mean the amps are better, rather it just means that many people like the sound.
Personally I like to play through tube amps. I wish I still had some of those
old beauties I sold, the single cabinet Fender Bassman with the 4 10's was a
pretty amazing sounding amp, I guess I needed the $50 at the time.

Other musicians seem to be OK with solid state and guitar players want an "all
tube" amp but are comfortable with solid state flangers, phasers and all those
things I have never seen.....

I wonder if the 13 SA ES 20 amps that are the heart of B.B. Kings Blues club
are tube, my guess is that they are not. Something to consider.....

http://mixonline.com/ar/audio_bb_king_blues/

Second harmonic distortion.....

jon isaacs

Wrong. There is solid data as to why tubes are still preferred by many
musicians for guitar amps. It has to do with the harmonics produced by
tube amplification vs. solid state and the "smooth" clipping behavior
of output transformers in tube amps.

Being "still preferred by many musicians" is a good way to put it. Doesn't
mean the amps are better, rather it just means that many people like the sound.
Personally I like to play through tube amps. I wish I still had some of those
old beauties I sold, the single cabinet Fender Bassman with the 4 10's was a
pretty amazing sounding amp, I guess I needed the $50 at the time.

Other musicians seem to be OK with solid state and guitar players want an "all
tube" amp but are comfortable with solid state flangers, phasers and all those
things I have never seen.....

I wonder if the 13 SA ES 20 amps that are the heart of B.B. Kings Blues club
are tube, my guess is that they are not. Something to consider.....

http://mixonline.com/ar/audio_bb_king_blues/

Second harmonic distortion.....

jon isaacs

Wrong. There is solid data as to why tubes are still preferred by many
musicians for guitar amps. It has to do with the harmonics produced by
tube amplification vs. solid state and the "smooth" clipping behavior
of output transformers in tube amps.

Being "still preferred by many musicians" is a good way to put it. Doesn't
mean the amps are better, rather it just means that many people like the sound.
Personally I like to play through tube amps. I wish I still had some of those
old beauties I sold, the single cabinet Fender Bassman with the 4 10's was a
pretty amazing sounding amp, I guess I needed the $50 at the time.

Other musicians seem to be OK with solid state and guitar players want an "all
tube" amp but are comfortable with solid state flangers, phasers and all those
things I have never seen.....

I wonder if the 13 SA ES 20 amps that are the heart of B.B. Kings Blues club
are tube, my guess is that they are not. Something to consider.....

http://mixonline.com/ar/audio_bb_king_blues/

Second harmonic distortion.....

jon isaacs

On 31 Dec 2003 20:49:26 GMT, (Jon Isaacs) wrote:

... the single cabinet Fender Bassman with the 4 10's was a
pretty amazing sounding amp, I guess I needed the $50 at the time.

Ouch! ;-)

Other musicians seem to be OK with solid state and guitar players want an "all
tube" amp but are comfortable with solid state flangers, phasers and all those
things I have never seen.....

I wonder if the 13 SA ES 20 amps that are the heart of B.B. Kings Blues club
are tube, my guess is that they are not. Something to consider.....

As long as an amp is not overdriven (such as sound reinforcement
applications), then semiconductors certainly can compete and are often
superior on the basis of reliability and portability. The realm of
clipping is where the tube is much more "musical".

Many of the classic rock recordings were done with overdriven tube
amps with the effects applied *after* the the raw overdriven sound was
recorded (and sometimes recorded with tube-based mics). Ideally it
would be nice to also achieve the same effects signal chain live --
but that is difficult to manage therefore most "all tube" snobs will
compromise in live situations to varying degrees. ;-)

For that smooth, overdriven, "on the edge of breakup" kind of sound,
tubes are still the best. What sound do you think all of the new
"modeling amps" are trying to duplicate?

---
Michael McCulloch

On 31 Dec 2003 20:49:26 GMT, (Jon Isaacs) wrote:

... the single cabinet Fender Bassman with the 4 10's was a
pretty amazing sounding amp, I guess I needed the $50 at the time.

Ouch! ;-)

Other musicians seem to be OK with solid state and guitar players want an "all
tube" amp but are comfortable with solid state flangers, phasers and all those
things I have never seen.....

I wonder if the 13 SA ES 20 amps that are the heart of B.B. Kings Blues club
are tube, my guess is that they are not. Something to consider.....

As long as an amp is not overdriven (such as sound reinforcement
applications), then semiconductors certainly can compete and are often
superior on the basis of reliability and portability. The realm of
clipping is where the tube is much more "musical".

Many of the classic rock recordings were done with overdriven tube
amps with the effects applied *after* the the raw overdriven sound was
recorded (and sometimes recorded with tube-based mics). Ideally it
would be nice to also achieve the same effects signal chain live --
but that is difficult to manage therefore most "all tube" snobs will
compromise in live situations to varying degrees. ;-)

For that smooth, overdriven, "on the edge of breakup" kind of sound,
tubes are still the best. What sound do you think all of the new
"modeling amps" are trying to duplicate?

---
Michael McCulloch

On 31 Dec 2003 20:49:26 GMT, (Jon Isaacs) wrote:

... the single cabinet Fender Bassman with the 4 10's was a
pretty amazing sounding amp, I guess I needed the $50 at the time.

Ouch! ;-)

Other musicians seem to be OK with solid state and guitar players want an "all
tube" amp but are comfortable with solid state flangers, phasers and all those
things I have never seen.....

I wonder if the 13 SA ES 20 amps that are the heart of B.B. Kings Blues club
are tube, my guess is that they are not. Something to consider.....

As long as an amp is not overdriven (such as sound reinforcement
applications), then semiconductors certainly can compete and are often
superior on the basis of reliability and portability. The realm of
clipping is where the tube is much more "musical".

Many of the classic rock recordings were done with overdriven tube
amps with the effects applied *after* the the raw overdriven sound was
recorded (and sometimes recorded with tube-based mics). Ideally it
would be nice to also achieve the same effects signal chain live --
but that is difficult to manage therefore most "all tube" snobs will
compromise in live situations to varying degrees. ;-)

For that smooth, overdriven, "on the edge of breakup" kind of sound,
tubes are still the best. What sound do you think all of the new
"modeling amps" are trying to duplicate?

---
Michael McCulloch

"Sirius" wrote in message
...
This was really prompted by the recent digital camera
vs. film discussions.

It seems to me that amateur astronomy (and other
hobbies as well) have been seized by what I
call "lastest-and-greatest-itis."

In any hobby, there seem to be folks who are only happy with the newest
stuff, and that is true of amateur astronomy. I do not, however, think this
applies to the majority of amateurs. In the collection of telescopes
members and guests bring to the public star parties we hold, the "latest and
greatest" are in a minority.

Clear skies, Alan

"Sirius" wrote in message
...
This was really prompted by the recent digital camera
vs. film discussions.

It seems to me that amateur astronomy (and other
hobbies as well) have been seized by what I
call "lastest-and-greatest-itis."

In any hobby, there seem to be folks who are only happy with the newest
stuff, and that is true of amateur astronomy. I do not, however, think this
applies to the majority of amateurs. In the collection of telescopes
members and guests bring to the public star parties we hold, the "latest and
greatest" are in a minority.

Clear skies, Alan

"Sirius" wrote in message
...
This was really prompted by the recent digital camera
vs. film discussions.

It seems to me that amateur astronomy (and other
hobbies as well) have been seized by what I
call "lastest-and-greatest-itis."

In any hobby, there seem to be folks who are only happy with the newest
stuff, and that is true of amateur astronomy. I do not, however, think this
applies to the majority of amateurs. In the collection of telescopes
members and guests bring to the public star parties we hold, the "latest and
greatest" are in a minority.

Clear skies, Alan

Hi, Rod,
I have the Sam Brown book too, as well as the Edmund Mag 5 Atlas, which I have
always felt is the best for absolute beginners. I also have the Edmund Mag 6
Atlas, in which the data facing the charts are superb, although the charts
themselves are reputedly not the best drawn charts you can find. I would love to
have a new copy of each of these atlases. Brings back memories,
A happy and peaceful New Year to you,
Bill Meyers

Rod Mollise wrote:

Yep, that was the pinnacle at the time of New Handbook of the Heavens. One
could
see more than one moon of Saturn with it, if one looked carefully, Bernhard,
Bennett and Rice felt.


Hi Bill:

I'm not immune to nostalgia. A few years ago I sought out and bought a used
copy of the same edition of the _New Handbook_ that came with my 4.25" Palomar
Junior. Edmund included that book, one of their planispheres and a copy of Sam
Brown's _How to Use Your Telescope_ (which I'm sure you remember well) with
every scope they sold. I'd lost _New Handbook_ in a move, but still have the
original Brown book, the planisphere, the scope and that 12mm ("1/2 inch")
Ramden and the Kellner that came with it.
;-)

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html