Tech Tips

Tech Tip#1

Service Leads and Sockets

Can you imagine what your poor leads go through? They are trodden into beer-soaked carpets, handled with your fingers still covered in Gyro juice and then shoved into your guitar, pedals and amp sockets. All of that s**t is transferred into your sockets and adds to corrosion and the goo that I clean out of your sockets that deteriorates your tone.

Grab a clean cloth and some isopropyl alcohol (methylated spirits will do) and get to wiping the ends of your leads. If you are game, grab a few strong cotton buds and clean your input sockets…but just the part you can easily access. I mean the sockets in your guitar, pedals and amp. Don’t probe too deep and snap off the end of your cotton bud inside your amp or guitar….especially if you own a modern amp with the plastic sockets. It may be best if you have black plastic input jacks to leave it to me during your next service.

“Warning: Don’t risk your life based on what is written here. Proceed at your own risk. Remember what the Ancient Greek philosopher Taraksoneus (that’s me) once said:

“One man’s 50v kick in the chest is another man’s Cardiac Arrest”.

Be aware of the voltages in a valve amplifier, even when turned off and unplugged. It has enough electrical energy stored in those big capacitors to kill you extremely and permanently DEAD.”

Tech Tip#2

What’s the difference between a “tube” and a “valve”?

None. The Brits call a valve a “valve” because it acts like a valve…just like a tap. You turn the tap handle and more water comes out. With an amp valve, you increase the tiny voltage on the “control” connection and more current will flow. Smart, right?

On the other hand, Americans call a valve a “tube”, because all the valve guts fits inside a glass tube. Its sort of like calling a tap … a “brass”. Apologies to my American friends!

So why do I (an Aussie) often refer to a valve as a tube? Well, there are more Americans than Brits and Aussies and I lazily slip into the common vernacular. 😊

Tech Tips

Tech Tip#1

Service Leads and Sockets

Tech Tip#2

What’s the difference between a “tube” and a “valve”?

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