Book about amps??

jmv

jmv

New member
Can anyone recommend a book that delves into how amps work, how everything interacts with everything else, and all the electronic shenanigans that take place in amps, specifically older style tube amps??

I'm getting interested in the idea of building an amp, likely from a kit, but some easy-to-read background on everything would be a definite plus.

Thanks,
Jason
 
Re: Book about amps??

People slam him alot out of jealousy or something, but I'm a big Gerald Weber fan. Between my brother Bruce Collins and also from reading Gerald's books, that's pretty much where I learned everything I know about working on amps.
 
Re: Book about amps??

Lew, you do realize you linked to the same thing twice?? Was that just for emphasis?? lol

I appreciate the suggestion though. I have read some negatives about Gerald Weber, but i'll soak up any knowledge i can get!
 
Re: Book about amps??

jmv said:
Lew, you do realize you linked to the same thing twice?? Was that just for emphasis?? lol

I appreciate the suggestion though. I have read some negatives about Gerald Weber, but i'll soak up any knowledge i can get!
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Sorry about that: http://www.amazon.com/Tube-Amp-Talk-Guitarist-Tech/dp/0964106019/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

I've met Gerald. He's a good guy near as I can tell. Bruce and I had a space right next to him at the Dallas Guitar Show a year or two ago and spent the whole weekend hanging out with him. He knows his stuff. And like anyone who really knows his stuff, that makes some knuckleheads jealous. Especially those who learned much of what they know from reading his books but would like you to believe they discovered it all on their own...
 
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Re: Book about amps??

Go find the P1 Theory document on the AX84.com site - here That's a great starting point.

Here are some other helpful websites & references:
http://www.tone-lizard.com/
http://www.duncanamps.com/
Fender Amp Field Guide
Here's a classic text available for download: http://www.pacificrecone.com/JackDarrBook.html
http://www.geofex.com/gtramps.htm
http://www.geofex.com/gtramps.htm
http://www.aikenamps.com/TechInfo_2.htm

As far as books go, I found Kevin O'Connor's "The Ultimate Tone" volumes 1 & 3 really helpful and intend to buy volume 2 shortly (available at tubesandmore.com). Volume 1 walks you through how an amp circuit is put together and what changing component X does. Volume 3 goes into the mechanics of laying out and building amps, then goes into detailed analysis of 8 or so classic amp circuits. Just like Gerald Weber, some guys trash KOC but I really like his books. It seems like most of the amp gurus present some opinions as fact (like "Illinois capacitors are total garbage and you should never use them").

Other useful sites include 18watt.com, sewatt.com, Hoffman Amps forum, and many more.

Hope this helps.
 
Re: Book about amps??

i have all three of geralds books and the dave hunter book. all are great but daves book is really easy to understand and starts simple. i would start there.
 
Re: Book about amps??

yeah i think the main thing i'm looking for in a book is readability. While a book that lists all sorts of equations and complex theories etc may be INCREDIBLY informative and accurate and something i will probably look into in the future, right now i really just want something that begins to break down everything in a manner thats easily read.
 
Re: Book about amps??

jmv said:
yeah i think the main thing i'm looking for in a book is readability. While a book that lists all sorts of equations and complex theories etc may be INCREDIBLY informative and accurate and something i will probably look into in the future, right now i really just want something that begins to break down everything in a manner thats easily read.
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Then Dave Hunter's book is just the ticket.
 
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