[NJARC] Those pesky Bumblebees (Was Hallicrafters SX-111 Mk. 1)

[john ruccolo]

Hi Dave,

I guess you're right....at least that's the theory. I
agree that a leaky old cap in tone control service may
be OK.

But if those old caps are used in coupling or
decoupling, where there is HV DC on one side, I
suspect that there will soon be HV DC on *both* sides
-- or a B+ short to ground.

Found this little gem while searching for something on
the web:

Why tubes?  A tube is a true valve.  A transistor is a
switch.  Tubes let the music flow, while transistors
are incessantly turning your music on and off by their
very nature.  Ever notice how the water flows smooth
from conventional shower heads while it pulsates from
massage heads?  The on-off pulses feel good on your
back, but they're harsh on your music and add to
listening fatigue the same way your back gets numb to
the water pulses after a while.

Ugh....

--- Dave Sica <davesica at juno.com> wrote:

> Visit our web site - See http://www.njarc.org
> _______________________________________________
> 
> On Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:03:32 -0700 (PDT) john
> ruccolo <jr6v6gt at yahoo.com>
> writes:
> > All kidding aside, SAVE those used Bumble Bees.
> When
> > you clip them out, try to leave as much lead on
> them
> > as you can. Why, you ask??? Because there's a
> market
> > for USED ones on ebay! I know it sounds ridiculous
> > (and it *is*), but that's the truth. Certain
> values
> > were used in vintage classic electric guitars and
> amps
> > and command real money. 
>  
> I have to wonder if dealing with the mere millivolts
> output by the pickup
> might mean that even a potentially leaky cap
> wouldn't be stressed enough
> to matter. If the cap is rated for a couple of
> hundred volts, no matter
> how deteriorated it was, it seems like it might
> continue to work just
> fine at such a low voltage. If it leaked "linearly"
> then it would affect
> the signal, but if the deterioration lowered the
> breakdown voltage, then
> it shouldn't have any effect at all. And if it did
> leak, I wonder what
> would the "real world" effect on the signal be?
> Maybe it imparts a
> pleasing "patina" to the sound ;-)
>  
> --Dave
> _______________________________________________
> NJARC mailing list
> NJARC at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/njarc
> 



      ____________________________________________________________________________________
Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect.  Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us. http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7