Solid State Guitar Amp Forum | DIY Guitar Amplifiers

I got to thinking that maybe they are like air hockey
Like DC is the air
You have to have it for the puck to ride on
And the signal is the puck

Or maybe not  xP  :lmao:

To take this a step 🪜 further  :loco

Make the transition to real ice hockey 🏑🏒 then the DC is ice

So if we need to fix the DC and get it in order then we need the Zamboni  :tu:

Got a problem with your amp ?

Summon the GREAT ZAMBONI  :dbtu:

Yes every time you look at a schematic you are actually looking at TWO circuits in One.
The Signal is AC and it kinda floats on the DC potential.
So the basic concept is to Set all the DC bias points First so that you get the best AC signal to pass through. For guitar amps messing with bias points can alter the outcome sometimes with good effect. (half wave clipping and like)

The old Valve and early transistor drawings often show the DC paths going from top to bottom while the AC signal passes from left to right.
Phil.

Yes sir thanks btw I downloaded some of your technical assistance yesterday I found this extremely helpful a person had posted a schematic and you highlighted some areas then advised to recognize and work in a locale of
nodes

yamahaG100-Schem.jpg

 :dbtu:

I think of it as the AC signal is waves on a lake, where the DC is the depth of the water.
Like Phatt said, the AC signal rides on the DC.

If it helps  :lmao: yeah right  :P I can tell you that (for me)  only recently the only distinction (or distraction  :grr ) between AC and DC was just a setting on the multimeter
As in "oh yeah that other electricity 🔌 stuff"

Quote from: g1 on January 04, 2026, 10:24:22 AMI think of it as the AC signal is waves on a lake, where the DC is the depth of the water.
Like Phatt said, the AC signal rides on the DC.

Hi G1, Brilliant, I love it. :tu:  :dbtu:  8)
That's even better than my analogy.
Phil.