Rectifier
The part of an amplifier's power supply that converts alternating current from the mains transformer into the direct current the valves or transistors need.
The rectifier is either a valve, which supplies voltage softly and sags under load, or solid-state diodes, which supply it stiffly and immediately. That difference is the reason valve-rectified amplifiers feel spongier and compress when they are pushed, while solid-state rectification gives a tighter, more immediate response. Rectifier choice is a genuine part of a design's character rather than a detail, and some amplifiers let the player switch between the two.
Example: A small vintage-style combo that feels loose and yielding when played hard most likely uses a valve rectifier.
See also
Related
- PageValve
- PagePower transformer
- PageSolid state
- PageAmp in a box
- PageAmp stand
- PageAttenuator
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley