[codefox1]

I'l have to agree with all that has been said, I've built quite a few tube amps (guitar and medium-end stereo,) and generally don't use DC on the tubes, except for phono stages. There it really helps. The best way to keep hum and noise down is to use the star grounding technique, and locate the low level stuff as far as possible from the power transformer. This truly works.

I'll bet that many others have built amps from scratch and scrounged parts. Maybe we should have a contest for the ugliest working amp. I have a couple that are laughable in appearance but function very well. Something about a quad of 807's with blue flourescence bouncing around with the beat of the music is still fascinating after all these years.