I'm a college professor (electrical engineering technology). I'm really into fitness and working out, mountain biking, rock climbing etc. I'm also a pretty decent guitar player and singer too. I've written a few college textbooks too. If you are interested in programmable logic devices or transistor circuit analysis drop me a line.
Hey, here's something cool (in a geeky sort of way)... I've gotten a few number sequences published on the "Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences." Here is a link if you'd like to see one:
Click here to see the positive root of x^2 = sin(x)
I think this number (and several other closely related ones) may be transcendental. I'll add more when I figure out the proof :-)
I recently got my hair cut like Jethro Gibbs on NCIS. You know, real tight around the sides and back, sort of normal length up top... It's different, that's for sure. Nobody else has a haicut like it (maybe for good reason!!!) But anyway, I'll post a picture soon and I'd be happy hear your opinions, good or bad :-)
ATTENTION AUDIOPHILES AND GUITARISTS: Boutique Amplifier Stuff
I've been kind of bored with semiconductor circuit stuff of late (especially microcontrollers and microprocessors... ugh), so I decided to immerse myself in vacuum tube theory for a change of pace.
It's no fun just designing on paper and doing PSpice simulations, so for my first project I designed and built a really sweet sounding, class-A, single-ended, tube amplifier. Power output is about 1 W (rms) which doesn't sound like a lot, but you really have to hear it to believe it. The basic design uses 12AU7's thoughout, although I've also designed in a a switch that allows you to use a 6FQ7 as the output tube as well.
For the next project, I designed and built a stereo, 15 Wrms/channel amp using EL84s in a Class A1 push-pull configuration. This is a very nice HiFi amp, crystal clear over the whole audio range. Not really suited as a guitar amplifier though. I should have a photo posted sometime soon.
As of March 2008 I have designed and built two more guitar amplifiers. The first is a Class A1 push-pull using a 6BX7 dial triode output stage for about 3 W output. The input stage is your basic LM741C biased up for single supply operation using a 30 V zener diode to derive Vcc from the 280 V tube B+ line. This drives a 12AU7 used as a class-A driver followed by a simple phase-splitter. Not a bad sounding little practice amp. I gutted my crappy old Crate 8" practice amp and built this circuit using the Crate chassis. A definite improvement in sound!!!
Last but not least, I just finished a very sweet 15/22 Wrms guitar amp using 12AV5GTs in a push-pull class-A1 cathode-feedback bias configuration (I really like the ease of design and self-regulating characteristics of cathode feedback). I've never seen an audio amp that uses 12AV5GTs before and that's why I decided to do this design with them. This turned out to be a wise choice because they sound absolutely awesome!!! Anyway, this amp has some very cool features: switchable triode/pentode operation, Fender-type tone control section, and switchable input-stage tubes (12AU7/6BQ7). In the triode mode the amp outputs about 12 Wrms and sounds very mellow and sort of "Eric Johnson-Like" if that makes sense. In pentode mode it can still play clean but distorts in a more intense, but still sweet, smooth manner. Power output in pentode mode is about 22 Wrms. I also built a nice quad 8" speaker cabinet to go with it. You really have to hear it to appreciate it!!! I promise to have pictures up soon. I got a lot of the parts from Antique Electronic Supply. Check them out for any vintage tube amp parts you might be looking for. I think my next project is going to be a 25 W, class-A single ended guitar amp. I'll keep you posted.
I am also designing a high-performance pre amp for simultaneous use with both magnetic and piezoelectric pickups in acoustic guitars. This is in conjunction with an NSF grant in which I'm working with some colleagues from my school and Purdue University. It's a very cool project.
I've been designing a lot of guitar effect circuits for many years, and I've done so much really successful tube-based design lately that I've decided to start writing a new book tentatively titled "Analog Electronics for Guitarists." It's going to cover the basics of everything including power supplies, small- and large-signal solid state amps, waveshaping/distortion, phasers, flangers, etc., and basic tube amp design. I'm including a fair amount of (optional) math, for those that really want to know what the hell is going on in these circuits, but not so much that you need to be an engineer to follow it. I have built (permanentt or breadboard) every circuit I will present. I just oredered about $500.00 in assorted parts to prototype even more circuits. I hope to be done with it in a year or so. I'll try to keep you posted.
If you have any questions about any of this stuff, my e-mail addresses is:
djd1497(at)aol(dot)com
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MORE ABOUT ME - A Survey
Name: Denny
Birthday: June
Birthplace: PA
Current Location: PA
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5'10"
Right Handed or Left Handed: Left
Your Heritage: English/Irish/Scottish
The Shoes You Wore Today: Nike
Your Weakness: Women Bodybuilders :-)
Your Fears: Bureaucracies
Your Perfect Pizza: Anchovies
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: Get a date
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger: LOL
Thoughts First Waking Up: Maybe I'll meet a nice girl and get a date sometime soon.
Your Best Physical Feature: Arms
Your Bedtime: 12:00
Your Most Missed Memory:
Pepsi or Coke: Neither
MacDonalds or Burger King: Neither
Single or Group Dates: Single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Neither
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee: Coffee
Do you Smoke: NEVER
Do you Swear: Occasionally
Do you Sing: Yes. Pretty darn good too.
Do you Shower Daily: Twice a day
Have you Been in Love: Yes
Do you want to go to College: Yes. I think I'll go back again when I retire from being a professor!!
Do you want to get Married: Sure, if the right girl comes along. :-)
Do you belive in yourself: Most of the time
Do you get Motion Sickness: No
Do you think you are Attractive: Fairly attractive
Are you a Health Freak: Yes
Do you get along with your Parents: In small doses
Do you like Thunderstorms: Not if I'm flying
Do you play an Instrument: Guitar
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol: Yes
In the past month have you Smoked: No Way!!
In the past month have you been on Drugs: No Way!!!
In the past month have you gone on a Date: No
In the past month have you gone to a Mall: No
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos: No
In the past month have you eaten Sushi: YES
In the past month have you been on Stage: No
In the past month have you been Dumped: Probably
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping: No
In the past month have you Stolen Anything: No
Ever been Drunk: Yes
Ever been called a Tease: I don't think so.
Ever been Beaten up: Nope
Ever Shoplifted: Once, when I was very young. Never since.
How do you want to Die: Quickly
What do you want to be when you Grow Up: Naval Aviator
What country would you most like to Visit: Japan
In a Girl..
Favourite Eye Color: Doesn't matter
Favourite Hair Color: Doesn't matter
Short or Long Hair: Doesn't matter
Height: Doesn't matter
Weight: If it's muscle, the heavier, the better.
Best Clothing Style: Casual
Number of Drugs I have taken: None
Number of CDs I own: 50
Number of Piercings: None
Number of Tattoos: None
Number of things in my Past I Regret: Not sure.
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!Your results:
You are Spider-Man
Spider-Man 85%
Robin 75%
Superman 70%
Green Lantern 70%
The Flash 60%
Supergirl 55%
Hulk 55%
Iron Man 55%
Wonder Woman 40%
Catwoman 35%
Batman 30% You are intelligent, witty,
a bit geeky and have great
power and responsibility.
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test
.. Ask your doctor if you're healthy enough for sexual activity... If he says "no" then ask him where he keeps the bullets.
If I knew as much about science and math as (insert name of politician/hollywood celebrity here), I'd be selling used cars or possibly teaching poetry classes.
World View
..
Existentialist ..
.. 75% .. ..
Modernist ..
.. 69% .. ..
Materialist ..
.. 63% .. ..
Cultural Creative ..
.. 56% .. ..
Postmodernist ..
.. 44% .. ..
Idealist ..
.. 31% .. ..
Fundamentalist ..
.. 31% .. ..
Romanticist ..
.. 31% ..
Results of a quiz that supposedly ranks one's philosophical world view.