recommend an amp theory book

GibsonUSA · 03-04-2010, 11:31 AM

hey everyone, i have seen some awesome build threads of amplifiers on here and definitely want to tackle one in the future. i am aware that yall model other amps when design your own and sometimes add lil tweaks to make it better.

i want some questions answered like

what are these tweaks?
why do you use that value of capacitor/resistor there?

and many more....

so does anyone know of a good amplifier design book? definitely technical based and it would be great if yall knew of an effect design book also....

TeleDog · 03-04-2010, 12:02 PM

Value of caps and resistors?
V=IR, Ohms law.

Best thing you can do is get a book that teaches you step by step how to build a little amp. You'll learn about the parts of the amp.... power supply, preamp, power amp, speaker. You'll learn about rectifiers, current, voltage, wattage.

In HS we had this teacher who spend an entire year on Ohms law. lol... I remember these huge circuits with caps and resistors and we had to determine voltage drops and stuff like that. It is pretty fun to do after you get used to it.

That helped me a lot, but also opening up an amp and finding out what the hell that thing was.

Funny you mention pedals. Pedals, in a way, are similar. They use transistors as opposed to tubes most of the time, but the principles are the same more or less. I can't do a PCB even if my life depended on it! lol

The GT2 is a very complicated pedal, I have the schematic for it, and because I don't do PCBs it'd take me a shoebox to house the pedal! HUGE!

broke_player · 03-04-2010, 12:07 PM

Check out Tubes and More, they have a good selection of books. Click on the 'Books and DVD' link then on the 'Guitar amp' link. Hope this helps.

Antique Electronic Supply

***b-squared*** · 03-04-2010, 12:12 PM

Go here:

Kendrick Amplifiers Online Store: Books, Videos & DVDs

I've been to Gerald's seminar...he's an amp guru, and his books and DVDs explain things for the guitar player. Like me.

BB

Liam · 03-04-2010, 01:52 PM

The Torres book is OK as a starting point for mods. Not entirely reliable, but written in language that non-techy people can understand, and you'll have a much better understanding of how amps work by the end of it.

If you want to get serious, Kevin O'Connor's The Ultimate Tone series is regarded to be the finest writing available.

I really like Aspen Pittman - The Tube Amp Book, if just for the vast range of schematics in there. Once you've got your head round how the various parts of the circuit work from the books above; it's fascinating to see how designers have taken different approaches to achieve what they saw as a great amp.

Liam

Cygnus X1 · 03-04-2010, 04:23 PM

Gerald Weber and Aspen Pittman both have known (some serious)
flaws in their books.
And some the modding tricks are downright ignorant.
Not all, just some.
If you know how to read between the lines they can be good resources.
Handy for the old schematics that are supplied as well.

One of the best is Jack Darr, now available gratis online:
Some chapters from Jack Darr's classic book

monkeyboy · 03-04-2010, 05:19 PM

I picked up a copy of "The Tube Amp Book" and it is pretty cool. It's not so focused on building, but is full of useful info that you will want. It also has a cd in the book with TONS of schematics for a huge variety of amps and manufacturers.

Big John · 03-04-2010, 05:42 PM

Kevin O'Connor's books are a must.

hipofutura · 03-04-2010, 05:49 PM

"Valve Amplifiers" by Morgan Jones. This book is pretty much the bible in home audio tube amp world. Everything in it is relevant to guitar amps, but it is a book about hifi amps. Full of theory, circuit designs, and build information. It's the one and only tube amp book I own. However, I am a light weight in this area!

tazzboy · 03-04-2010, 06:07 PM

Dave Hunters books is really easy to understand.

ApostleTone · 03-05-2010, 12:12 AM

Amazon.com: Guitar Amplifier Handbook - Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds (Softcover) (9780879308636): Dave Hunter: Books

Amazon.com: All About Vacuum Tube Guitar Amplifiers (Book) (9780964106031): Gerald Weber: Books

Amazon.com: Dave Funk's Tube Amp Workbook, Volume 1--Fender: Books

GibsonUSA · 03-05-2010, 12:36 AM

hey thanks for all the feedback guys, ill definitely be getting some of these. i am an electrical engineering major so i really want a technical book for amp building.

and yes teledog Ohm's Law ftw, but what i mean by "why that value there" is more directed towards if I want a certain sound, what values do i use here and there and details like that so that maybe one day, i can build an amp from scratch to my specifications and desires. it will be a long way away but its achievable.

i have been trying to find other forums and googling like crazy but it seems like it is all in the books, which is fine. i have only had the basic level electrical engineering courses so i am definitely still a noob.

03-04-2010, 11:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
GibsonUSA Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 51 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	recommend an amp theory book hey everyone, i have seen some awesome build threads of amplifiers on here and definitely want to tackle one in the future. i am aware that yall model other amps when design your own and sometimes add lil tweaks to make it better. i want some questions answered like what are these tweaks? why do you use that value of capacitor/resistor there? and many more.... so does anyone know of a good amplifier design book? definitely technical based and it would be great if yall knew of an effect design book also.... __________________ Gear: 2006 Gibson Les Paul Studio Peavey Valveking 112 Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2 Contour Wah DigiTech JamMan Wanted: Malekko Ekko 616 Delay SansAmp GT2 Tech 21 Tube Amp Emulator

03-04-2010, 12:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
TeleDog V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United States Posts: 8,773 Thanks: 78 Thanked 193 Times in 57 Posts	Re: recommend an amp theory book Value of caps and resistors? V=IR, Ohms law. Best thing you can do is get a book that teaches you step by step how to build a little amp. You'll learn about the parts of the amp.... power supply, preamp, power amp, speaker. You'll learn about rectifiers, current, voltage, wattage. In HS we had this teacher who spend an entire year on Ohms law. lol... I remember these huge circuits with caps and resistors and we had to determine voltage drops and stuff like that. It is pretty fun to do after you get used to it. That helped me a lot, but also opening up an amp and finding out what the hell that thing was. Funny you mention pedals. Pedals, in a way, are similar. They use transistors as opposed to tubes most of the time, but the principles are the same more or less. I can't do a PCB even if my life depended on it! lol The GT2 is a very complicated pedal, I have the schematic for it, and because I don't do PCBs it'd take me a shoebox to house the pedal! HUGE! __________________ “Teledog. Telecasterus Fanaticus Dogius". Got a Mac or iPod? Join our Apple Dogs group!

03-04-2010, 12:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
broke_player Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: AZ Posts: 2,912 Thanks: 2 Thanked 37 Times in 8 Posts	Re: recommend an amp theory book Check out Tubes and More, they have a good selection of books. Click on the 'Books and DVD' link then on the 'Guitar amp' link. Hope this helps. Antique Electronic Supply __________________ Jonny "2 bags" Wickersham on playing his 1950's Fenders and Gibsons live on stage: "I’m only going to do this thing once, so why not play the shit—that’s why Leo and the guys at Gibson built them, right?"

03-04-2010, 12:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
*b-squared* MLP Pacific NW! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northwest WA Posts: 20,567 Thanks: 626 Thanked 701 Times in 100 Posts	Re: recommend an amp theory book Go here: Kendrick Amplifiers Online Store: Books, Videos & DVDs I've been to Gerald's seminar...he's an amp guru, and his books and DVDs explain things for the guitar player. Like me. BB __________________ Life's too short to deal with bad tone!

03-04-2010, 01:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Liam V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom Posts: 5,183 Thanks: 87 Thanked 105 Times in 24 Posts	Re: recommend an amp theory book The Torres book is OK as a starting point for mods. Not entirely reliable, but written in language that non-techy people can understand, and you'll have a much better understanding of how amps work by the end of it. If you want to get serious, Kevin O'Connor's The Ultimate Tone series is regarded to be the finest writing available. I really like Aspen Pittman - The Tube Amp Book, if just for the vast range of schematics in there. Once you've got your head round how the various parts of the circuit work from the books above; it's fascinating to see how designers have taken different approaches to achieve what they saw as a great amp. Liam

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03-04-2010, 04:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cygnus X1 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,865 Thanks: 110 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	Re: recommend an amp theory book Gerald Weber and Aspen Pittman both have known (some serious) flaws in their books. And some the modding tricks are downright ignorant. Not all, just some. If you know how to read between the lines they can be good resources. Handy for the old schematics that are supplied as well. One of the best is Jack Darr, now available gratis online: Some chapters from Jack Darr's classic book

03-04-2010, 05:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
monkeyboy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Pa Posts: 2,502 Thanks: 19 Thanked 25 Times in 11 Posts	Re: recommend an amp theory book I picked up a copy of "The Tube Amp Book" and it is pretty cool. It's not so focused on building, but is full of useful info that you will want. It also has a cd in the book with TONS of schematics for a huge variety of amps and manufacturers. __________________ Current Gear Gretsch White Penguin 1957 ES175D 1996 Epi LP Custom Martin Custom Shop 016 Kauer Daylighter Standard Fryette Deliverance 120 Fryette 4x12 Splawn 4x12 Fender Champ 600 Orange Micro Terror Boss TU-2 SPF Ego-Booster Modified Tubescreamer clone (homebuilt) Vintage MXR 6-band EQ

03-04-2010, 05:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
Big John Size Matters Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: up and left Posts: 3,944 Thanks: 9 Thanked 115 Times in 29 Posts	Re: recommend an amp theory book Kevin O'Connor's books are a must.

03-04-2010, 05:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
hipofutura Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maine Posts: 6,995 Thanks: 42 Thanked 347 Times in 72 Posts	Re: recommend an amp theory book "Valve Amplifiers" by Morgan Jones. This book is pretty much the bible in home audio tube amp world. Everything in it is relevant to guitar amps, but it is a book about hifi amps. Full of theory, circuit designs, and build information. It's the one and only tube amp book I own. However, I am a light weight in this area! __________________ Don Unencumbered by Knowledge Trapped inside this old man's body, is the mind of an old man www.dcsysinc.com www.seatrakinc.com

03-04-2010, 06:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
tazzboy Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 12,053 Thanks: 407 Thanked 239 Times in 93 Posts	Re: recommend an amp theory book Dave Hunters books is really easy to understand. __________________

03-05-2010, 12:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
ApostleTone Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 221 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: recommend an amp theory book Amazon.com: Guitar Amplifier Handbook - Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds (Softcover) (9780879308636): Dave Hunter: Books Amazon.com: Guitar Amplifier Handbook - Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds (Softcover) (9780879308636): Dave Hunter: Books Amazon.com: All About Vacuum Tube Guitar Amplifiers (Book) (9780964106031): Gerald Weber: Books Amazon.com: All About Vacuum Tube Guitar Amplifiers (Book) (9780964106031): Gerald Weber: Books Amazon.com: Dave Funk's Tube Amp Workbook, Volume 1--Fender: Books Amazon.com: Dave Funk's Tube Amp Workbook, Volume 1--Fender: Books __________________ Ignorance+Ego+Insecurity+Technology=funny

03-05-2010, 12:36 AM	#12 (permalink)
GibsonUSA Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 51 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: recommend an amp theory book hey thanks for all the feedback guys, ill definitely be getting some of these. i am an electrical engineering major so i really want a technical book for amp building. and yes teledog Ohm's Law ftw, but what i mean by "why that value there" is more directed towards if I want a certain sound, what values do i use here and there and details like that so that maybe one day, i can build an amp from scratch to my specifications and desires. it will be a long way away but its achievable. i have been trying to find other forums and googling like crazy but it seems like it is all in the books, which is fine. i have only had the basic level electrical engineering courses so i am definitely still a noob. __________________ Gear: 2006 Gibson Les Paul Studio Peavey Valveking 112 Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2 Contour Wah DigiTech JamMan Wanted: Malekko Ekko 616 Delay SansAmp GT2 Tech 21 Tube Amp Emulator

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