so where does a newbie get general tube amp info

newbie · December 7th, 2003, 11:54 PM

been playing awhile. i've got a champ. i can work on my own gutiars, acoustic and electric. but i don't know beans about amps. i know about their relative values, i know about blackface, silverface, brown, tweed, etc, but i honestly don't know the difference between a 6v6 and an el84.

so, are there any good books (websites would be ok, but i'd prefer books) out there? i'm not wanting to get *too* technical, just round out my knowledge base, so that as i begin looking for an amp i have some basic technical basis for comparison. mainly interested in older *vintage* amps, but it doesn't have to be that specific.

JDO · December 8th, 2003, 12:10 AM

i think a good book that isn't too technicle is gereld weber's "desktop reference to hip vintage guitar amp". you might want to pick it up. i think there' a fender amp history book... something like "fender, the first 40 years" but from what i understand it's just history. if you're looking for some technicle, the g weber book is a good place to start. there are much better books out there that teach a lot more but i think this is what you're looking for.

joshigh · December 8th, 2003, 08:53 PM

If you can stand the BS of the harmony central fourms, look up a guy named Myles. He is very helpful, and I think he has links to his website with tons of information. He's very friendly, and informative.

www.harmony-central.com in the forums section, under amps. Do a search on his user name, and read away.

CC · December 8th, 2003, 09:15 PM

The PRS Gear Page (Amps and Cabs) has some of the most interesting discussions on amps. The majority of amps are boutique types which also use a variety of tubes (6V6, 6L6,EL84, EL34). They often post sound clips too, so you can get a general idea of their sound. That Myles fellow has been posting all sorts of info there too.

Be forwarned though...it's easy to get caught up in some of the hype. People have different opinions and some have admitted to changing their minds all the time as to which amp they like. If you can read everything with a grain of salt, you should be able to gain a lot of knowledge. The url below should take you to the page:

http://63.151.115.106/board/forumdis...p?s=&forumid=3

newbie · December 8th, 2003, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshigh

If you can stand the BS of the harmony central fourms, look up a guy named Myles. He is very helpful, and I think he has links to his website with tons of information. He's very friendly, and informative.

www.harmony-central.com in the forums section, under amps. Do a search on his user name, and read away.

http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/Primers.html

this is what i found at myles' site, and i believe it is exactly what i'm looking for, so i thought i'd post the link for anybody else that may be interested...

*edit*
http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/index.html

this is the main page which contains more info than anybody could possibly sort through at one time :D

dean · December 9th, 2003, 02:03 AM

Weber Vintage Sound Technology

http://www.webervst.com/vstbbs/bbs.html

There are also quite a few TDPRIers here. The guys are serious, but they are also very helpful and willing to suffer the newcomer. Lurk for a bit and see how it goes. Beyond the TDPRI, this is the place where you can learn a lot.

Dean

Jef · December 9th, 2003, 06:36 AM

I learned a lot over on the Weber VST boards but I learned the most while building a Mission Amps 5e3 kit.

December 7th, 2003, 11:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
newbie Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 226	so where does a newbie get general tube amp info been playing awhile. i've got a champ. i can work on my own gutiars, acoustic and electric. but i don't know beans about amps. i know about their relative values, i know about blackface, silverface, brown, tweed, etc, but i honestly don't know the difference between a 6v6 and an el84. so, are there any good books (websites would be ok, but i'd prefer books) out there? i'm not wanting to get too technical, just round out my knowledge base, so that as i begin looking for an amp i have some basic technical basis for comparison. mainly interested in older vintage amps, but it doesn't have to be that specific.

December 8th, 2003, 12:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
JDO Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Pittsboro, NC Posts: 601	i think a good book that isn't too technicle is gereld weber's "desktop reference to hip vintage guitar amp". you might want to pick it up. i think there' a fender amp history book... something like "fender, the first 40 years" but from what i understand it's just history. if you're looking for some technicle, the g weber book is a good place to start. there are much better books out there that teach a lot more but i think this is what you're looking for. __________________ clean as a whistle

December 9th, 2003, 02:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
dean Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Age: 60 Posts: 2,015	I've learned a lot here Weber Vintage Sound Technology http://www.webervst.com/vstbbs/bbs.html There are also quite a few TDPRIers here. The guys are serious, but they are also very helpful and willing to suffer the newcomer. Lurk for a bit and see how it goes. Beyond the TDPRI, this is the place where you can learn a lot. Dean __________________ "I used to be clueless, but I've turned that situation around 360 degrees."

December 8th, 2003, 08:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
joshigh Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Plant City, FL Posts: 185	If you can stand the BS of the harmony central fourms, look up a guy named Myles. He is very helpful, and I think he has links to his website with tons of information. He's very friendly, and informative. www.harmony-central.com in the forums section, under amps. Do a search on his user name, and read away.

December 8th, 2003, 09:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
CC Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfland USA, Hawaii Posts: 160	The PRS Gear Page (Amps and Cabs) has some of the most interesting discussions on amps. The majority of amps are boutique types which also use a variety of tubes (6V6, 6L6,EL84, EL34). They often post sound clips too, so you can get a general idea of their sound. That Myles fellow has been posting all sorts of info there too. Be forwarned though...it's easy to get caught up in some of the hype. People have different opinions and some have admitted to changing their minds all the time as to which amp they like. If you can read everything with a grain of salt, you should be able to gain a lot of knowledge. The url below should take you to the page: http://63.151.115.106/board/forumdis...p?s=&forumid=3

December 9th, 2003, 06:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
Jef Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Posts: 685 2 Photos	I learned a lot over on the Weber VST boards but I learned the most while building a Mission Amps 5e3 kit.