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It’s really great that datasheets for historical vacuum tubes are so readily available online, so that we can bias and evaluate tube circuits using the original plate and grid curves. However, the curves are fairly low-contrast and low-resolution, so reading them carefully can be a pain in the eyeballs. To make the curves more comfortable to read and annotate, we’ve vectorized the curves, varied the lines of the background graph, and added color contrast between the curves and the graph. Plus, we’ve also added space in the margins for note-taking.
These vectorized plate and grid curves for the 12AX7 are available as printable PDFs. We’ve included the curves in two sizes: full-page and half-page.
Our vectorized graphs are accurate to the originals, but remember that graphical solutions to vacuum tube circuits are always an estimate. We’ve made the graphs larger so reading and annotating them is easier on your eyes, but the size of the graph doesn’t imply any additional accuracy that isn’t present in the originals. Remember also that vacuum tube circuits have high voltages, and any repairs or modifications to tube circuits must be undertaken with the appropriate safety precautions and knowledge of circuit fundamentals.
