[GreenKeys] Solder

[Gerry Block]

It all started with patchcords.  Old fashion recording consoles had patchbays.  
There was a real issue with dirt and dielectric issues with the patch cords, 
which could add distortion in the audio path because the plug and socket would 
be mated poorly.   It was easy to hear this phenomenon on low level signals.  
Exactly like a dirty wafer switch.  Then somebody discovered that they could 
hear the difference between patch cords made of different metals.  I think it 
was Doug Sax, and I have seen the blindfold demonstration.  It had more to do 
with the cleanliness of the surface.   This of course had nothing to do with 
solder.  But it went from there...

Then it was discovered that capacitors weren't neutral either - this was before 
the technique of biasing electrolytic coupling caps in audio circuits (and 
before most designers got rid of them).

So like a lot of things there was some truth behind the mysticism and insanity 
took over.

The preoccupation with class-A amplifiers (hence the preoccupation with Western 
Electric, the purveyor of such things) is real too.  Bob Fine was a big 
proponent of Class-A amplifiers - in the 1960's.  He and his wife did what are 
recognized to this day as the finest classical recordings ever made (Mercury 
Living Presence).  Guess what equipment was used?  Western Electric....  In his 
studios he removed all the class-B preamplifiers in the recording chain...

Good luck!

Gerry AD6MC





________________________________
From: Rokumon Cat <rokumoncat at yahoo.com>
To: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net; nagle at animats.com
Sent: Thu, November 29, 2012 4:34:50 AM
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Solder


The problem with audiophools is that they are so easily gulled. I have heard of 
a situation (maybe someone here told the story) that some audiophool after 
spending around 10K USD on gold plated outlets for his "audio auditioning room", 
then called the electric utility and demanded that they remove the buried 
aluminum drop from the transformer and replace it with copper to "preserve the 
purity of the electrons" coming to his house.

It would be funny, except that those audiophools with more dollars than sense 
have been responsible for the destruction of god only knows how much WECO 
telephone switch gear in their lust for 80 year old oil caps and load coils. As 
far as 60 / 40 rosin core goes, $54.00 for five lbs??? That is insane. I have 
numerous rolls of the stuff in different gauges.

Best,

Joe

--- On Wed, 11/28/12, John Nagle <nagle at animats.com> wrote:


>From: John Nagle <nagle at animats.com>
>Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Solder
>To: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
>Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2012, 12:45 PM
>
>
>On 11/28/2012 12:05 PM, greenkeys-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
>> From: "Frank Carraro" <kf9nz at sbcglobal.net>
>> Subject: [GreenKeys] Solder
>> 
>>     I was recently involved in the opening of a time capsule of Bell System
>> stuff.  Well, it wasn't intended as a time capsule, it just got forgotten
>> since 196X.  Among the rotary phone parts, boxes of "quad" station wire etc,
>> I spied a large roll of solder.  5 lb to be exact, with the name  NASSAU
>> "PEDIGREED" on it.   It is brand new - "NOS" I guess you'd say.
>> 
>>     I remember something about this stuff on the list, but I can't remember 
>why
>> it's so special.  I haven't heated up an iron to check it out yet.   There
>> may be more.  There are lots of things like drive rings, toggle bolts,
>> mountings for KTU's etc.  There may be more, but I don't own the stuff -
>> except for the roll of solder, so don't get excited.  If i had an idea of
>> what it's worth I might be able to get my hands on any more that may be
>> there.
>> 
>> Frank
>
>See
>
>http://www.ebay.com/itm/Western-Electric-NASSAU-pedigreed-solder-032-RARE-5-/230567970989
>
>
>Someone is asking $795 for a 5-pound roll of that stuff.
>It's ordinary 60/40 single core rosin core solder.  Compare
>
>http://www.amazon.com/Solder-Rosin-Core-60-5lb/dp/B004UI883E
>$59.95.
>
>
>                    John Nagle
>
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