Amp Book?

telel6s · April 29th, 2004, 04:33 PM

Weber or Pitman or Other?

I'm looking for a good primer to give me the basic skills/knowledge to maintain my SFSR and to play with cheap, funky old amps (like the '65 Epi I picked up recently).

I have simple wiring and soldering skills. I can rewire and swap pickups on a tele; I can hang a new ceiling fan in the house. But not much beyond that. But I'm usually a quick but careful study.

Theory is cool but I'm more interested in the how-to side of things. Pictures/diagrams are good for me with this type of thing.

Searching TDPRI and other sources it seems like either the Weber or Pitman books would be the best but since I can't pick them up and browse at the local bookstore, I thought I would pose the question to you folks.

Thanks in advance.

dean · April 29th, 2004, 04:49 PM

This was posted on the "Amps Mods . . ." section of the FDP. I have downloaded it, but haven't had time to do much with it - looking forward to finding some extra time. Here's the download site:

http://www.pacificrecone.com/JackDarrBook.html

Here's the FDP thread:

http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.htm...-04-2812:13:37

Good luck!

Dean

Tremo · April 29th, 2004, 04:50 PM

The Weber book is better than Pittman's, but both are LOADED with marketing hype and advertising. Funk's book was good. What about the Darr book?

AtomicMassUnit · April 30th, 2004, 01:12 AM

I like Jack Darr's book, and Dave Funk. Overall though, Gerald Weber's books are easy reading and focus a lot more on the tone of things, as long as you can spot the advertisement and errors. Overall, I'd recommend starting with that one.

Atomic

Lance · April 30th, 2004, 08:13 AM

Don't expect the Weber or Pittman book to be a step by step how to guide with pictures. It wasn't until I built my Mission 5E3 that I started to really follow the discussion in those books.

Jerry J · April 30th, 2004, 12:14 PM

At least with Weber's second book, you have to pick through a lot of extraneous bs to get to stuff you can actually use. A lot of marketing hype...

Try the Darr book which you can download, that book was current when they were actually making this stuff!

April 29th, 2004, 04:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
telel6s Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,180 80 Photos	Amp Book? Weber or Pitman or Other? I'm looking for a good primer to give me the basic skills/knowledge to maintain my SFSR and to play with cheap, funky old amps (like the '65 Epi I picked up recently). I have simple wiring and soldering skills. I can rewire and swap pickups on a tele; I can hang a new ceiling fan in the house. But not much beyond that. But I'm usually a quick but careful study. Theory is cool but I'm more interested in the how-to side of things. Pictures/diagrams are good for me with this type of thing. Searching TDPRI and other sources it seems like either the Weber or Pitman books would be the best but since I can't pick them up and browse at the local bookstore, I thought I would pose the question to you folks. Thanks in advance. __________________ Mama always said, "A little tone is good for the soul."

April 29th, 2004, 04:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
dean Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Age: 60 Posts: 2,042	Here's one that some think is quite good This was posted on the "Amps Mods . . ." section of the FDP. I have downloaded it, but haven't had time to do much with it - looking forward to finding some extra time. Here's the download site: http://www.pacificrecone.com/JackDarrBook.html Here's the FDP thread: http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.htm...-04-2812:13:37 Good luck! Dean __________________ "I used to be clueless, but I've turned that situation around 360 degrees."

April 30th, 2004, 08:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,197	On those books... Don't expect the Weber or Pittman book to be a step by step how to guide with pictures. It wasn't until I built my Mission 5E3 that I started to really follow the discussion in those books. __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

April 30th, 2004, 12:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jerry J Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NoVa Posts: 660	I agree! At least with Weber's second book, you have to pick through a lot of extraneous bs to get to stuff you can actually use. A lot of marketing hype... Try the Darr book which you can download, that book was current when they were actually making this stuff!

April 29th, 2004, 04:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tremo Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,803	The Weber book is better than Pittman's, but both are LOADED with marketing hype and advertising. Funk's book was good. What about the Darr book?

April 30th, 2004, 01:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
AtomicMassUnit Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 153	I like Jack Darr's book, and Dave Funk. Overall though, Gerald Weber's books are easy reading and focus a lot more on the tone of things, as long as you can spot the advertisement and errors. Overall, I'd recommend starting with that one. Atomic