Yes sir thanks I admit the part about the carbon went over my head

Maybe it's like a variable resistor? Idk

 

Seems like later they used ribbons maybe they are obsolete now too

Hard to believe that people were able to make intelligible phone calls with handsets using carbon powder compressed by a diaphragm for a microphone. It's one of those things that once you learn how it works, you only believe that it works because you experienced it working before learning how it works.

Even more :

Wikipedia Microphone page:

Unlike other microphone types, the carbon microphone can also be used as a type of amplifier, using a small amount of sound energy to control a larger amount of electrical energy. Carbon microphones found use as early telephone repeaters, making long-distance phone calls possible in the era before vacuum tubes. Called a Brown's relay, these repeaters worked by mechanically coupling a magnetic telephone receiver to a carbon microphone: the faint signal from the receiver was transferred to the microphone, where it modulated a stronger electric current, producing a stronger electrical signal to send down the line.



If they had only used magic pixie dust instead of carbon granules, studio quality hi-fi could have been achieved.

Quote from: Chorch Cluni on August 15, 2026, 05:04:46 PMAlso, I hooked it to an unbranded (probable Argentinian-made) 12" speaker and it got way bassier and kinda compressed.

Post a picture from the front to see the cone, one from the back to see frame
 and magnet, if Argentine I may recognize it.

Quote from: Den. on August 15, 2026, 07:07:37 PMThe cable from amp to cab should be anything special or just a guitar cable is ok?.

Anything BUT a guitar cable.
2 x .075 to 1.5 mm speaker or 220V cable is fine.

The attenuator is the real thing, it is flat, sends to speaker an attenuated but accurate version of amp output but most important, it preserves power tube distortion which is warm and full.

Master volume does not, power amp works clean contributing little, all distortion you have is preamp distortion, thin and buzzy.

Besides, attenuator keeps power pentode distortion, MV keeps Triode distortion, very different.

Then... The wires to the speakers inside the cab should be the same gauge...

Hi all.
I guess I know how an atenuator works, so my question is how in real life does the master volume compare?.

I think a master volume pot works like, say, an EQ through the FX loop, so it can lower the level of a maxed out preamp into the power section, right?.

I plugged it into a 2x12 with V-type Celestions and it was strange: first time I didn't notice much of a volume increase.
The second time, it was very loud.
The cable from amp to cab should be anything special or just a guitar cable is ok?.

Tomorrow I'll upload the schematic that came with the amp.

Also, I hooked it to an unbranded (probable Argentinian-made) 12" speaker and it got way bassier and kinda compressed.

Thanks!

Thanks.
I bet both versions are basically the same, Fender probably introduced some minor changes, maybe the Aux input, maybe better grounding or now they comply with some EU regulation, but basic schematic remains the same.
All these simple practice amps are actually very good, but all suffer from a cheap tiny speaker inside an open back shoebox.
Plug them into good speakers and stand back.

Btw only now did I notice I messed up the title of this thread

It should be "making some negative DC to watch ELECTRON FLOW CURRENT

Not CONVENTIONAL CURRENT