'Tube Amps For Dummies' book?

RodeoTex · March 23rd, 2008, 01:26 AM

I've recently become very interested in tube amps and a lot of guys here seem to know so much about them but I was wondering where I might start reading and learning about tubes.
I know solid state electronics fairly well but know nothing about tube technology. Is there something akin a 'Dummies' book for tube amps?

David Barnett · March 23rd, 2008, 01:28 AM

Aspen Pittman's "Tube Amp Book" is a decent place to start.

WisconsinStrings · March 23rd, 2008, 06:54 AM

The Soul of Tone has a few good chapters.

Telelicious · March 23rd, 2008, 11:10 AM

AES has a good selection of amp books. Ive got a few from them.

http://www.tubesandmore.com/

Click on the books link on the left and there are 20+ to check out.

"The Beginner's guide to Tube Audio Design" looks to be a good place to start

G-P · March 23rd, 2008, 01:04 PM

by Dave Hunter.

I have Aspen Pittmans Tube Amp book. It's okay, a bit over priced IMO. Hunters book walks you through the signal path, component by component, stage by stage.

Very accessible information.

FiddlinJim · March 23rd, 2008, 01:10 PM

+1 on both Dave Hunter's book and the Aspen Pittman book. I'd suggest Hunter's if you really want to start at the basics. Then build yourself a Champ or Princeton. That's really the best way to learn.

Scott S · March 23rd, 2008, 01:51 PM

And if you're an EE who needs something more challenging, there's the 5F6-A book by Richard Kuehnel: http://www.pentodepress.com/contents.html

thepassivevoice · March 23rd, 2008, 02:55 PM

+1 on the Hunter book. It's a very basic book that covers a wide range of designs and focuses on the important differences between SS and tubes. If you read this book and then build a simple amp, you can pick up a lot of knowledge about tube amps in a short amount of time.

Guitarslinger1 · March 23rd, 2008, 08:02 PM

Gerald Weber's books (of Kendrick Amplifiers) have a lot of good info, and he's got a DVD out as well about servicing guitar amps.

Guitarslinger1 · March 23rd, 2008, 08:02 PM

and another with good info is Dave Funk's 'Tube Amp Workbook'

Seafoam Green · March 23rd, 2008, 09:17 PM

another +1 for Dave Hunter's book. It got me started.

FirstBassman · March 23rd, 2008, 10:50 PM

RodeoTex, it depends.
What do you want to know?
What to buy?
How to modify them?

Poppatwang · March 24th, 2008, 08:48 AM

+1 for Dave Hunter's.

RomanS · March 24th, 2008, 03:08 PM

...and another +1 for Dave Hunter's book! A must-have if you are just starting to learn about the guts of tube amps!

RodeoTex · March 24th, 2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstBassman

RodeoTex, it depends.
What do you want to know?
What to buy?
How to modify them?

I'd ideally like to be able to build, mod and maintain a tube amp. If nothing else I'd like to at least be able to follow the conversations you guys have. I never would have thought there would be so many amp builders!

Looks like the Hunter book is getting the most mentions. I'll probably try to get some of the others too.
Thanks guys.

UPDATE
Ok so I just went to half.com and got the Hunter, Pitman and The Beginner's guide to Tube Audio Design books. All for only $85. Can't wait.

FiddlinJim · March 25th, 2008, 09:25 AM

Nice Score!

March 23rd, 2008, 01:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
RodeoTex Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,075	'Tube Amps For Dummies' book? I've recently become very interested in tube amps and a lot of guys here seem to know so much about them but I was wondering where I might start reading and learning about tubes. I know solid state electronics fairly well but know nothing about tube technology. Is there something akin a 'Dummies' book for tube amps? __________________ Turn it on, turn it up, turn me loose.

March 23rd, 2008, 01:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
G-P Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PDX Posts: 144	“The Guitar Amp Handbook" by Dave Hunter. I have Aspen Pittmans Tube Amp book. It's okay, a bit over priced IMO. Hunters book walks you through the signal path, component by component, stage by stage. Very accessible information.

March 23rd, 2008, 01:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
FiddlinJim Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Seattle, E-merica, Earth... Age: 49 Posts: 160	+1 on both Dave Hunter's book and the Aspen Pittman book. I'd suggest Hunter's if you really want to start at the basics. Then build yourself a Champ or Princeton. That's really the best way to learn. __________________ --- "Speak English Doc, we ain't scientists!" ---

March 24th, 2008, 08:48 AM	#13 (permalink)
Poppatwang Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 1,854 13 Photos	+1 for Dave Hunter's. __________________ The Dieselfitters http://www.dieselfitters.com Roy Hubbs http://www.royhubbs.com

March 24th, 2008, 03:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
RomanS Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Age: 36 Posts: 2,671 14 Photos	...and another +1 for Dave Hunter's book! A must-have if you are just starting to learn about the guts of tube amps! __________________ http://www.pbase.com/romans http://www.myspace.com/romans212

March 23rd, 2008, 01:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
David Barnett Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: LIttle Rock, AR Age: 52 Posts: 5,287	Aspen Pittman's "Tube Amp Book" is a decent place to start.

March 23rd, 2008, 06:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
WisconsinStrings Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arcadia, Wisconsin Age: 37 Posts: 640	The Soul of Tone has a few good chapters.

March 23rd, 2008, 11:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
Telelicious Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Seattle Age: 44 Posts: 403	AES has a good selection of amp books. Ive got a few from them. http://www.tubesandmore.com/ Click on the books link on the left and there are 20+ to check out. "The Beginner's guide to Tube Audio Design" looks to be a good place to start

March 23rd, 2008, 01:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Scott S Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW CR IA US NA PE Age: 28 Posts: 1,421	And if you're an EE who needs something more challenging, there's the 5F6-A book by Richard Kuehnel: http://www.pentodepress.com/contents.html

March 23rd, 2008, 02:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
thepassivevoice Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: los angeles Posts: 109	+1 on the Hunter book. It's a very basic book that covers a wide range of designs and focuses on the important differences between SS and tubes. If you read this book and then build a simple amp, you can pick up a lot of knowledge about tube amps in a short amount of time.

March 23rd, 2008, 08:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
Guitarslinger1 Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 966	Gerald Weber's books (of Kendrick Amplifiers) have a lot of good info, and he's got a DVD out as well about servicing guitar amps.

March 23rd, 2008, 08:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
Guitarslinger1 Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 966	and another with good info is Dave Funk's 'Tube Amp Workbook'

March 23rd, 2008, 09:17 PM	#11 (permalink)
Seafoam Green TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 22	another +1 for Dave Hunter's book. It got me started.

March 23rd, 2008, 10:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
FirstBassman Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,024	RodeoTex, it depends. What do you want to know? What to buy? How to modify them?

March 25th, 2008, 09:25 AM	#16 (permalink)
FiddlinJim Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Seattle, E-merica, Earth... Age: 49 Posts: 160	Nice Score! __________________ --- "Speak English Doc, we ain't scientists!" ---