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Manufactured electronics were really different in those pre-robot, pre-SMD days. As a musician, I have old amps and synths that are really fascinating internall
by beat 12y ago
Manufactured electronics were really different in those pre-robot, pre-SMD days. As a musician, I have old amps and synths that are really fascinating internally. My favorite guitar amp is a 1977 Mesa/BOOGIE. There are a couple of "gimmick capacitors" wired into the circuit here and there to control oscillations in the high-voltage, high gain circuits (tube amps have 400+ volts in them!). Someone did those manually, in the shop. Really handmade.
- beat 12y agoA "gimmick capacitor" is just two strands of insulated wire twisted together - very little capacitance, but it works.
- tacos 12y agoLook at the Hammond Novachord in the 1930s if you want to have your mind blown. And of course Western Electric. Both those companies achieved scale far beyond what most people can imagine today.
- plug 12y agoI just looked it up on YouTube. There's a great video showing the guts of one here[0]. I concur, pretty mind blowing. So many tubes! [0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BNvemnifWc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BNvemnifWc