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I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 9:21 am
by slashsound
Hi Guys, I know very little about tube amps other than I love the sound of them and that is all I use. I have a little bit of an engineering background, I'm still a student, but I would really love to learn how to design original amps and come up with mods to existing ones. I can see myself becoming obsessed with this subject very soon. Can you guys, especially the more knowledgable of you all please recommend me all the books and videos (specially videos) that I need to buy and in what order I should read them or view them please. I hope there are good books out there that can distill what you guys know, I just want to read the best ones. Learning how to design an amp from the ground up and coming up with original mods is my main interest. Thanks I look forward to becoming an active listener here.
Re: I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:31 pm
by Omn
Can you guys, especially the more knowledgable of you
Not consider myself among those, but I will take a bite anyway...
TUT seems to be a highly recommended work. Not having it myself, but will in the near future.
The Ultimate Tone, by Kevin O'Connor.
http://www.londonpower.com/catalog/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
And; Welcome, slashsound!
Re: I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 3:39 pm
by NY Chief
Gerald Webers stuff isn't too bad either. And Torres has some good tech info as well.
There is also plenty right here!!!
Re: I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 5:21 pm
by gutpile
http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Amp-Handbo ... 406&sr=8-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
this was my first book...
Re: I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:55 pm
by Kevin
I highly second "The Guitar Amp Handbook", which Gutpile has linked. You can often find it at Chapter's/Indigo. I don't know if you have those stores out your way.
Here is a neat little intro:
http://diystompboxes.com/pedals/tubedummy.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Learning resistor colour codes is helpful.
Once you have read a bit, it would be a good idea to pick a basic Marshall schematic - probably a 50-watt bass 1986 - and a nice clear gutshot of a corresponding amp and try to see how the schematic corresponds to what is in the amp.
http://marstran.com/Schematics.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://amparchives.com/album/Marshall/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I think that there is a handy diagram on this site somewhere, which indicates the common names of various components - e.g. bias splitters, slope resistor, etc. - which would be quite helpful in understanding the conversations which go on around here.
Re: I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:20 pm
by NitroLiq
Along with what others have said...
Here's the old out-of-print Jack Darr book as PDFs which is useful:
http://www.pacificrecone.com/JackDarrBook.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A few friends of mine swear by Dave Funk's Tubeamp Workbook but it's geared mostly towards fenders:
http://www.thunderfunk.com/WorkBook.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Here are some other online reads:
http://www.aikenamps.com/TechInfo_2.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.geofex.com/tubeampfaq/taffram.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/s ... targnd.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.ax84.com/home.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:07 pm
by slashsound
Thanks guys, but is there anymore? What do you think of that book by Aspen Pittman, any good?
Re: I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:58 pm
by thousandshirts
slashsound wrote:Thanks guys, but is there anymore? What do you think of that book by Aspen Pittman, any good?
Re: I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:48 pm
by demonufo
Which Mitchell book we talkin?
Audio Designer's Tube Register or How To Service Your Own Tube Amp?
Can't find the second one anywhere in the U.K. and I don't have either of these.
Yet!
Re: I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:57 am
by dtdionne
thousandshirts wrote:slashsound wrote:Thanks guys, but is there anymore? What do you think of that book by Aspen Pittman, any good?
Sorry about being so harsh with you before, Slashsound.
The Aspen Pittman book is a lot like the Dave Hunter book, IMO, in that they are both glossy picture books that are better suited for coffee tables than work benches or study sessions. The Aspen Pittman book has some good tech notes, but those pages are taken directly from the Tom Mitchell book, which is the best introduction to guitar amps for guitar players, again, IMO. The Pittman book has a lot of schematics, but those are all available online. After going through the Mitchell book, I'd suggest going to the Dave Funk workbook, which gets a little more detailed. The Funk book has a collection of Fender Schematics, which, again, are available online, but the tech parts of the Funk book are more intermediate than the Mitchell material. Between Mitchell and Funk you should be well on your way. After that, learn how to read a schematic, and your access to the internet will be wide open. If you don't understand what people are talking about after reading the Mitchell and Funk books, you will be at least equipped to ask the right questions that get you where you want to go. Pieces such as the Radiotron Designer's Handbook will be wide open, and you'll be able to have a conversation about this design element or that modification element with a functional understanding of what is going on. If you can afford to add in some amp building or tinkering along with a few books, then your understanding will be more than just technical, but realistic and pragmatic as well, with hands-on experience. A Metro kit, if you can afford it, to go along with those books, is the best possible option IMO for a person who loves Marshall tones. Maybe the new 2203 kit that George has on the launching pad will be your ticket?
+1
demonufo, the latter
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plan ... onics.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 10:34 pm
by slashsound
I am about to purchase one of the TUT books by Kevin Occonnor. Would you recommend I start with number 2 since it is basically about how to design...versus TUT1 which is about how to mod? There is plenty of mod info everywhere...but design info...well to be honest, not many people have the slightest clue how to design a tube amp from scratch. So, more to the point is TUT2 the best option or are any other of the TUT series better for a beginner? I have already read the Dave Hunter amp book...it really sucked in my opinion. Im currently reading through the Jack Darr book and the Radiotron book, but Im not happy with them. I will probably have to save up about 5 grand and have somebody like Bogner give me some design lessons face to face, because I dont want to learn all this stuff half assed and be full of misinformation and myths. I swear to you, if I ever become a good designer I will make some good videos and books, as I don't want anybody with my same spirit to have to go through all the hassles, insults, and classless characters I had to endure in order to get the smallest bits of truth about tube amp design.
Re: I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 1:55 pm
by demonufo
So you want to learn to design from scratch BEFORE you learn to mod?
I still say you need to build an amp first and play with it (mods) before you start reading up too much.
Practical experience helps things sink in far more than reading stuff cold.
Re: I want to learn what you guys know.
Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 11:35 pm
by slashsound
demonufo wrote:So you want to learn to design from scratch BEFORE you learn to mod?
I still say you need to build an amp first and play with it (mods) before you start reading up too much.
Practical experience helps things sink in far more than reading stuff cold.
I fully agree with you that practical hands on experience is good.