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Reading at my site Paul’s narrative about his fight with ML2’s tube and the ML2’s tube sockets I need to confess that I always was suspecting that he is some kind of odd wacko with bizarre and sick approach to the subject of amplifier tubing. Too much of what he said just did not make sense to me. Well, until the last night…

Disclaimer: (wherever I say ML2 I imply the Lamm ML2.0 version not the ML2.1, about which I do not case)

I own two pairs of ML2 that I bought new and used them dally since then. I know dozens of ML2 heavy users who never had any problem with those amps. In fact ML2 were very stable and very secure in operation amps. The Lamm’s ML1, the preamps were with operational “issues” but M1.1 and ML2 were very stable.

Anyhow, I have this week a local friend of my brought to me a pair of ML2 and he need a help with inner-amp filter. The amps he brought were not used for a while and were sitting in storage for 5 years. I did the necessary things with filtration and desired to listen them. I have no way to drive Macondo full-range but I have my MiniMe prototype…

The plate currant on both of amps was too high. The further inspection showed that ML2 regulators stopped working. The B+ was not eaten by regulator tube and ML2 had 230V at .6A on plate – it is over 130W anode dissipation – bye-bye the 6C33C… Actually, I was rung the 6C33C like this for a whale, when I was searching the problem, the tube did not failed. The ML2 regulator is too simple and cannot work without a load. 

Anyhow, chasing the problem in the ML2 belly I was wondering why the regulator was down… on BOTH AMPS. The das tune was on, the error pentode was on the regulator tube was on. The design was very simple and very straight forward… I measured and confirmed that the right voltage was given to all tubes but it looks like the error amps did not corrected the voltage. I test the error amp’s pentode it was perfect. I went to my storage and brought my own WE 6AK5 – the same result. What the hell I was wondering…. I pulled my dummy loads to substitute the output tubes as it was glowing with 130 on plate like crazy and then the regulator … kicked in!!!

OK, guess what was the problem? The problem was the fucking frugality of Mr. Vladimir Lamm. This guy makes 30.000 worth amps with none-treated steel tube sockets. It was juts ridicules – the tube sockets on 6AK5 were rusted to the point of no contact with cathodes. The sockets were cleaned and the amps were working flawlessly… I wonder if Lamm would use not $.15 tube sockets but $1.15 then would it lead to extra $10.000 of the retail price… Anyhow, the idiotic economy on such a mall things in a flagman amp that cost $30.000 (the amp was made in end of the 90s with serial number in 40s) appears to me… to idiotic. It is not something that saves money to Vladimir and it is not something that Vladimir do because of his ignorance (his is a brilliant technologist). Those things that he does are because his attitude and he learned that his customers and his revisers are deaf idiots and he can go away with it. if not then how can in such case one explain that in early prod action of ML2 Lamm used Cube 950 caps for inner-stage coupling – the phenomenal-sounding Polypropylene foil caps. In the amp that I was fighting with regulator all coupling was made by bypassed Cube 935 that are Metallized Polypropylene and with very different, less sophisticated sound. It was $7.35 for Cube 950 vs. $5.11 for Cube 935 – I am sure it was well worth it… I was wondering how much Lamm “saved” in more important thing – on output transformer for instance. I wonder how far Lamm electronics sound off from the level as it MIGHT sound if the electronics was made with respect. I remember a few years ago Lars Fredell let me to listen his M1.1 that Lamm custom-made (just with better parts) for him. It was WAY more interning then the production M1.1. Well, I presume that if Lamm wish to kiss somebody else ass with sound then his is perfectly able to get better sound of his design. I wonder why it shell be a condition? Does Lamm’s series production is just the Lamm’s attempt to eagerly spit on somebody ass? Well, if you understand what I mean then you understand what motivated me to design Melquiades and do not be subordinate of that “subordination”.

Anyhow, the Paul’s suffering with tube sockets was understood now, at least…

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