Knowing some theory and practice in the use of vacuum tubes to amplify musical instruments, we didn't just think the term "Thermionic", referring to an electron discharge in a vacuum tube, was a cool term. We thought it would be a cool name too.

From Wikipedia:

"Thermionic emission is the heat-induced flow of charge carriers from a surface or over a potential-energy barrier. This occurs because the thermal energy given to the carrier overcomes the binding potential, also known as work function of the metal. The charge carriers can be electrons or ions, and in older literature are sometimes referred to as "thermions". After emission, a charge will initially be left behind in the emitting region that is equal in magnitude and opposite in sign to the total charge emitted. But if the emitter is connected to a battery, then this charge left behind will be neutralized by charge supplied by the battery, as the emitted charge carriers move away from the emitter, and finally the emitter will be in the same state as it was before emission. The thermionic emission of electrons is also known as thermal electron emission.

The classical example of thermionic emission is the emission of electrons from a hot cathode, into a vacuum (also known as the Edison effect) in a vacuum tube. The hot cathode can be a metal filament, a coated metal filament, or a separate structure of metal or carbides or borides of transition metals. Vacuum emission from metals tends to become significant only for temperatures over 1000 K. The science dealing with this phenomenon has been known as thermionics, but this name seems to be gradually falling into disuse."

We could say that we're on a crusade to "get the world using vacuum tubes again", but this would be inaccurate. Today, there has emerged a renaissance in the use of vacuum tubes for amplifying electric music. While we happen to be along for the ride, we are, by no means, against the use of other technologies.

We just happen to be tube enthusiasts who think that musicians that share our ethos of heavy, well performed music deserve as much support as we can offer.