What the heck is bias anyway?

Here is some reading for you :

http://www.lynx.bc.ca/~jc/bias.html

For more info, google it

Bias is the power put into a tube to push the electrons across the vacuum in the tube. Too little and the tube is weak, too much bias and the tube may be damaged.
(and for you experts out there, STOP! he wants real simple explanation. not your twelve page essay.)
The real tubes needing a careful watch on bias are power tubes.
Preamp tubes usually can be OK with a fixed bias. And almost never need to be checked for bias.
So you DO have to learn how to adjust the bias IF you are buying a tube amp without any autobias.
Or you will have to pay regular visits to your local tube guru.

I'm biased against tubes, does that count?

Bias is simply the amount that the device is turned on(a % of max current) without signal(music) passing through it.

So it's basically adjusting the current to the tube to make sure the appropriate amount of juice is getting in and out of it. Not too much, and not too little. I think I have it.

Thanks Elizabeth!