>>>Tom,
>>>
>>>>Yah know, we might just have to go back to archaic technology to defend ourselves like, SAGE, Pine Tree, and BMEWS.
>>>
>>>Beyond you or me, where are you going to find anyone that knows what a vacuum tube is, or how to fix anything made of them ? ;-)
>>
>>rofl!
>>
>>They still make vacuum tube audio amplifiers, which have lower distortion than solid state devices. Old technology is not always bad! It just works better! :)
>
>One local company is still at it, McIntosh. Use their Search for "tube" and a number of preamps and power amps are still in their line. And there is nothing like that soft glow peeking in through the louvers. Almost magical.

I have an ART TPS two channel preamp that I use for recording my flamenco guitar music. It does an outstanding job. Our son has a tube amp for his guitar and it is outstanding!

The subject of solid state vs vacuum tubes is a bit like software tools. Use what is best for the job! Some will laugh but they are clueless as to what reality is. They read the latest copy from Microsoft or a PC mag and "know it all"! :)

It helps to keep an open mind. If it happened yesterday it should not be dismissed as "too old" and "not with it", if you know what I mean.

By the way I designed and built my first transistor radio in April of 1958 when I was 15. It worked from VLF to VHF. That was a fun project.