Best technical books

[metulmykul]

I'm sure it's been asked before, but what does everyone consider as the must have books in regards to amp repair and building?

I can swing a soldering iron with regards to pedal and guitar repairs and mods but would like to get into an amp kit and have a little more respect for my health

[metropolis74]

The Guitar Amp Handbook by Dave Hunter. I got it a week ago and can't put it down. Very informative and great color pictures of inside some classic amp chassis. It even gives step-by-step instructions for building an amp that Dave designed called the Two-Stroke. One reason I got the book was for building the Two-Stroke because the instructions seem very detailed for an electronics novice like me. I was disappointed when I found out that the amp kit is only available from Victoria Amps for around $1000! Too much for me for a first time build.

[Scott S]

This is an awesome, awesome book for anyone that really wants to dig into the circuit analysis of an amp. Some of the math is over my head, but there is lots of info that isn't.



And this one needs no introduction!



- Scott

[DH82c]

If you know NOTHING Dave Hunters book is amazing.
Depite having been at this for years, I still know NOTHING so I loved Hunters book.
Once you are done that I would start a book that has nothing to do with guitar amps, more along the lines of a general electronics book.
Learn what a resistor is.. capacitance .. inductance.. etc. The math at that level isnt hard but you have to know it. Some amp books have a chapter on electronics basics but I really recomment the Amateur Radio Relay League handbook. At this point it is REALLY important that you learn the safety aspects (how to discharge caps.. probe with one hand.. and hopefully some soldering and test equipment techniques)

Once you have that under your belt (or while getting that under your belt) I like Gerald Webers Tube Guitar Amp essentials. I think they are reprints of articles from different magazines but with chapters like "What Guitar Players should know about speaker impedance" and "everything you wanted to know about capacitors" it puts the non-amp electronics you are learning into perspective.

From there the world is your oyster. The Radiotron Designers Guide (4th Ed) is great but way over my head. Princples of Power series by Kevin OConnor is expensive but interesting as well.

Remember : The internet is your friend. Tons of schematics online. Email manufactuers (if they are still in business) and take everything you read on the web with a grain of salt.

Bon Voyage!

[jefrs]

Morgan Jones, Valve Amplifiers, Newnes 1995, ISBN 978-0-7506-5694-8
Morgan Jones, Building Valve Amplifiers, Newnes 2004, ISBN 978-0-7506-5695-5
Not much specifically on guitar amps, but I know him. Everything you never wanted to know about valves and amps (tubes are just one type of electronic valve, also bottles and jam-jars).

[Shepherd]

Here's a site with a ton of free downloadable books.
http://www.pmillett.com/technical_books_online.htm

[RomanS]

+1 for Dave Hunter's book - very well written, very good explanations of the various parts of an amplifier and their effects on sounds, descriptions of the circuits of classic amplifiers, interviews with a few amp designers/builders, and a project for building the "Two-Stroke" (derived from a Princeton).

Unless you already know a whole lot about electronics stuff, this is THE book to get started...

[metulmykul]

Thanks all.

I was angling towards Hunter's text but wasn't sure it would give me what i needed.

I have his book on pedals and really enjoyed it.

[ne4tt]

Here's some Tech Resources. Jamie


Links for tube data:

US NOS Tube Data

Import Tube Data

Svetlana/Wing C

Tesla/JJ

Antique Electronics



Links: Books, Other Tech Sources:
Classic tomes for the tube enthusiasts.

Tech Books Online

Books, Manuals, and Software-Link

Radiotron Designers Handbook, F. Langford Smith, RCA, 1940.

Classic tome on electronics, and tube theory. Original copies of the book are also available on the Bay. Bought mine on the Bay for $10. There were 4 editions.

Downloads-

Radiotron designers handbook 3rd edition - 16 mb

Radiotron designers handbook 4th edition - 25 mb


The Navpers 10087-c Basic Electronics, is a Navy Manual that is a good resource for the novice. Available at bookstores.


The ARRL, Amateur Radio Relay League, has several books on basic electronics. Available at bookstores, or from the ARRL.

HAMfests and HAMS: Amateur radio operators, are a valuable resource for books, tubes, and other electronic components. Also Tech support.
Check the ARRL website for clubs and Hamfests near you.


NOS USA tubes can also be found at older TV repair shops in smaller towns.


If you live near a University that has an Electrical Engineering Program,
there should be older electronics books in their Library.
Get a non-resident library card to check out books.

NOTE: Electronic equipment contains lethal voltages. Follow all safety procedures.

[Scott S]

Tim, does this thread feel sticky to you?

- Scott

[Ben Harmless]

Another +1 for Hunter's book. The tone of the thing is great, and starts by breaking down a tweed Champ circuit so you can see very clearly that there are really a limited number of parts to an amp, and how designed simply built on the basics over time.

I also have a couple of Gerald Weber's books, but they're very nonlinear, so you've got to browse through them to find material that's going to speak to your level of understanding. Worthwhile though, and I pretty much get everything in them now. I don't actually subscribe to all his ideas, but I do get what he's saying.

As an added bonus, both Hunter's book, and Weber's "Hip Vintage Guitar Amp Handbook" have sections involving Ken Fischer of Trainwreck amps. The late Mr. Fischer was a true master of his craft, and while I don't subscribe to all of his ideas either, I would happily have worked for free in his shop for awhile just to learn a third of what he seemed to intuitively understand.

Oh, and a +1 for adhesion too!

[Shepherd]

Forgot to mention these by Kevin O'Connor, pricey but probably the best out there.
http://www.londonpower.com/catalog/i...d4ee92c4ccf5a9
tut240b.jpg tut2_240b.jpg

tut3_240b.jpg tut4_240b.jpg

tut5_240b.jpg

[Tim Armstrong]

Yeah, this has sticky written all over it. Let's call this a temporary bit of duct tape until Paul gives final approval...

Cheers, Tim

[metulmykul]

I have linked most of the online resources already but i still like to have something in my hands to read, you know?

Those "The Ultimate Tone" books look pretty serious Shepherd. Is volume 1 'newbie' friendly?

And thanks again guys.

[Shepherd]

I dont know about newbie friendly but you have to start somewhere. It is almost 400 pages so theres lots of info. Here's a link to the table of contents and you can decide.
http://www.londonpower.com/books/tut-cont.html

[Tim Armstrong]

Hey, I'm gonna un-sticky this thread, as after looking around the TDPRI, I realized that we don't have a big ol' pile of stickies clogging up the forums. A glance at our forums shows that isn't the way we do things...

I discussed this with Paul, and at some point we'll have a special content area for this kind of stuff, and I will make sure that this info gets into that place.

Cheers, Tim (the occasionally over-zealous)

[DavidP]

"The How and Why of Guitar Tube Amps as 'Gar' Sees It" by the late & great Winnipeg, Manitoba amp guru Gar Gillies, who designed and built Garnet Amps. Here's the link: http://www.garnetamps.com/book.htm.

[DH82c]

DavidP:
Didnt know Gar had a book
Ordering it now :) thanks for the HU.

metulmykul: The London Power books are not very newbie friendly but you have to start somewhere right? Excellent books.

[Little Ricky]

Hunt down the Hunter book. Best newbie book I've seen so far. Deep enough to engage you but easy enough to not scare you off.

The 'Fender Amps: 50 Years' book is more historical than technical, but for a Fender amp fan it is pure drooldom, and contains some frank quotes from a bunch of great sources.

[metulmykul]

Yep, definitely going for the Hunter book first. It will have nice colour pictures
The Gar Gillies book looks good too!

London Power books after (and if) i get a little more into it. The content looks heavy duty but extremely useful. Plus, they're about $90 out here.

[Scott S]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

Hey, I'm gonna un-sticky this thread, as after looking around the TDPRI, I realized that we don't have a big ol' pile of stickies clogging up the forums. A glance at our forums shows that isn't the way we do things...

I discussed this with Paul, and at some point we'll have a special content area for this kind of stuff, and I will make sure that this info gets into that place.

Cheers, Tim (the occasionally over-zealous)

That's cool. I think some kind of sticky (perhaps a one-post thread of links maintained by a mod) would be a good idea here, if for no other reason than to summarize PROPER SAFETY for the curious newbies.

- Scott

[Scottone]

The London Power series are the best ones I've seen. Old Tube manuals usually have a good overview of tube theory as well.

The Radiotron Designers Handbook is fun to flip through as well, but I wouldn't recommend that as an introduction.

When I first got into it, I learned some basic stuff from Gerard Weber's first book and Dave Funk's book. Pre-internet, I used to call Dave to order parts and pick his brain

[DH82c]

A little off topic.
I would love to see a Book Reviews section in TDPRI.
Some IT Certification forums I visit have them and it is is a great feature.
Not all the books have helpful reviews on Amazon.
I have 30 or so guitar/amp books and would gladly write a blurb/paragraph on them.
Just a thought.

[ne4tt]

ttt

[Telarkaster]

I'm slowly working my way through the Dave Hunter book, so far so good but it's a lot for my little head to absorb. I'm reading it for general knowledge, and maybe it will inspire me to start a build. Whatever sticks is a bonus, and it's nice to have as a reference if I do decide to build.

[Mat]

Hi MetulMyKul,

It's a slippery path but an interesting one. I've done exactly what you are doing at the moment. Basically devour whatever you can. There is no one book that will give you all. Dave Hunter's book is good for an overview and circuit specifics. Gerald Webers' are also great but not as linear in how they present info (I have all 3 and the DVD - very handy). Jack Garr's book is available as a download, you can often pick up the RCA Tube manaul on EBay under Vintage Electronics here in Australia. Also it's worth scorung all of the dicussion forums. I have a few folders of topics printed out at home as reference. You do need to verify any advice given in formes but generally the alrger ones are self monitoring i.e. if sopmeone puts up something way off beam there's usually a response from other posters, plus you get to recognise the regulars and their "value".

The Dave Hunter book is great and the Two Storke is not a bad first build. It's basically a Fender 5F2 circuit with a few tweaks and larger transformers. You can source the parts individiually or get a 5F2 kit from Weber etc and modify. Whatever way you go it'll still set you back AUS$500 - $600 probably. I have built both of mine from scratch and they are a great learning tool plus and fab amp when finished. My current Two Stroke runs a 12" speaker in a Deluxe size cab and sounds huge.

Happy to converse directly via email re sourcing supplies etc here in Australia

[metulmykul]

Cheers Mat.

Have a few mods to do before i start on a build. Talk to you re: parts when the time comes.

[DH82c]

Originally Posted by Telarkaster

I'm slowly working my way through the Dave Hunter book, so far so good but it's a lot for my little head to absorb. I'm reading it for general knowledge, and maybe it will inspire me to start a build. Whatever sticks is a bonus, and it's nice to have as a reference if I do decide to build.

You can do what I do and read it twice :D
The second time i still had questions so I kept writing them on post-its and sticking them on the page where I had the question. Went through after and googled for answers.