Please visit my tube amplifier forum heres the place you can go to ask tube amplifier questions. Classa or b, cathode, fixed bias, and pushpull and singleended designs are covered, as are many frontend circuits. The guidance these giants of the golden age of hifi gave us was received with great admiration for their pioneering accomplishments. Vintage fender amp repair modifications, repairs and.
Covers theory, and concentrates on amplifier quality distortion, noise, etc. Uncovering the mystery behind an unusual resistor in the magnatone model mp3 how the mesaboogie dual rectifier switches grid bias to support el34s or 6l6s. Jun 01, 2015 dave hunter is a writer and musician who has worked extensively in the usa and the uk. The basics of tube amp upkeep and maintenance reverb news. I find it difficult to learn from a book or dvd without handson experience and being able to ask questions and be warned of pitfalls by an experienced amp master. Instrument building, maintenance and repair books, plans and. Theres no arguing that tube amps still set the standard for tone modern solid state and digital amps merely emulate the tube amps of the past.
He takes you through each section of the guitar amp and shows you how it works and how to change or improve the circuit. This book offers a simplified method for designing tube power amps for audio. The following guidelines should be taken into account. There is something about the glow of hot glass and the imposing sight of weighty iron through the grille that seems to sum up so much of whats cool about the electric guitar. Already known as the bible of tubes and tube amps, the tube amp book is now even better. Remember, tube amps can store up serious voltages, and messing with power supplies could shorten tube life. Need an amplifier modded or upgraded we can do that too. Instrument building, maintenance and repair books, plans and dvds 45 items.
A high quality reprint of the 1973 rca receiving tube manual technical series. Expert stereo tube amplifier repair and restoration. This page is designed to lead you through debugging a problem with a tube type guitar amp. Oct 07, 2008 a class d amplifier is defined as one in which the output device is conducting for the minimum amount possible. Call us at 404 6003696 with any questions about your gear. We also fix most other vintage electronics and high end stereo equipment. I know you read a book that said otherwise, but the book is wrong.
I have read how to service your own tube amp by tom mitchell it was helpfull but i dont feel that i have learned enough to venture out on my own. A much better book with a more complete set of troubleshooting charts is how to service your own tube amp. For this reason it is called a switching amplifier in a class d amp, the input is compared to a high frequency 100khz ramp waveform. Tube amps mainly the tubes and sockets dont typically deal with bone crushing shocks very well. Already known as the bible of tubes and tube amps, the tube amp bookis now even better. You may get by with dropping your keyboards road case off the back of the truck though we dont recommend it, but your tube amp is not likely to survive that kind of impact, even if it is in a padded road case. Learn basic amplifier electronics, servicing skills, maintenance tips, troubleshooting. Figure11 connect the speaker wires to the speaker terminals on the back of the b1 main unit by. The free shipping option allows tubedepot to choose the most appropriate carrier and service. Bg195 these books cover solid state, tube, design, theory, repair, practical applications. This was at the time a general purpose amp used for phono, radio, tape recorder, amplification to. A practical manual for every guitar player paperback common by author ritchie fliegler on.
Repair and sales of vintage and modern vacuum tube audio. Player repair guidesound advice from gerald weberthe tube amp bookdave funks tube amp workbooktube guitar amplifiers volume 1guitarists guide to. Jul 30, 2018 if you dont have much experience with basic user maintenance of the things, tube amps can be enigmatic boxes full of glowing, hissing trouble. Figure with the f1 audio cable, connect a digital audio device, etc. Dec 08, 2017 remember, tube amps can store up serious voltages, and messing with power supplies could shorten tube life. If everything you know about tube amps came from the internet, you might want to prepare for a shock. Perfect for someone interested in guitar amps, gadgets. It will walk you through all stages of design so that you can create your own wonders. Personalized vintage tube amp repair shop poster 12x18 the finest your name here gifts canvasloco.
Some will recommend the tube amp book by dave hunter, for me it does not cover basic electronic stuff like the mitchell book well enough. Jul 29, 2008 does anyone have any suggestions for books to read to expand my knowledge. My 20 lesson correspondence course is the fast track to learning vacuum tube guitar amp basics. I have his understanding tube amps video and think it sucks personally. Shop instrument building, maintenance and repair books, plans and dvds at stewmac. A class d amplifier is defined as one in which the output device is conducting for the minimum amount possible. So, i got a job working on amps at a local tube amp repair shop. Tube amp parts, guitar amp parts tube amplifier parts. Recommended books for audio and stereo repair and design.
Learn the power of openstring country guitar licks in the style of vince gill, brent mason, and albert lee open strings mean tonal power and fretless convenience, and they help you put some zip into your licks. Acorn amplifiers is also a full service repair and restoration shop. The amp is completely dead if the amp is completely silent no speaker hum or hiss at all then the problem can be just about anywhere in the amp but you should suspect a bad tube, blown fuse or the power supply in that order try a new rectifier tube. To get the most out of your tube amp, which can be a hefty investment, here are some easy to follow handling and maintenance tips. This is for tube amp techs to help each other out and share tips and tricks. Packed with concise, clearly written tips on troubleshooting and repairs, this guide teaches the secrets of maintenance and fixing it yourself, with straightforward, stepbystep instructions using simple, affordable, readily available tools. Try plugging in a guitar cable, turn up all the amps volume, gain and master volume controls up a little and touch the tip of the guitar. Acorn amplifiers custom tube amplifiers, boutique amps. The fender bassman 5f6a knows this, and pays homage to this template of tone like no other book on the market. Most modern amps are designed around 12ax7 preamp tubes, which have a very high gain factor, and generally the brands that tend to be fitted. The most popular highend tube amps top tube amplifier. Volume 2 of the most complete and practical modern reference on tube guitar amplifiers.
A well organized and easytounderstand approach to guitar amplifier repair. Pictured on the right is the 50 w stereo amplifier undergoing performance tests on the bench. A valve amplifier or tube amplifier is a type of electronic amplifier that uses vacuum tubes to increase the amplitude or power of a signal. I retired at age 40 to play the stock market full time. A guide to basic tube amp maintenance image credit. A bunch of guitar amp repair books and reference guides the. It is better written, better illustrated, better editted, and more practical. A guide to basic tube amp maintenance guitar world. Covers amplifier circuits as well as tone controls, mic and pickup preamps, and power supplies. Florida tube amp provides repair, mods and servicing for tube and solid state guitar amps. Of the dozen or so books i have read from cover to cover this is by far my favorite, and its because it.
Of the dozen or so books i have read from cover to cover this is by far my favorite, and its because it starts with the most very basics of electronics. Im extremely interested in learning to service tube amps, and one day design and build them. Aug 06, 2012 in aspen pittmans tube amp book 4th edition that you used for learning tube amp repair there are ten pages that are reprinted from darr. Diy audio books and manuals speakers, vacuum tubes. Tube amplifier heathkit amplifier model w3m 15 watt. This session we get an old 70s era tube amplifier working. The amp is completely dead if the amp is completely silent no speaker hum or hiss at all then the problem can be just about anywhere in the amp but you should suspect a bad tube, blown fuse or the power supply in that order. I read many popular books about tube amplifier repair. Cindy moorhead written by don stick on behalf of bands for hire. The tube amp library of information click the link above for tube amp info, schematics, board building information. Jan 07, 2014 the valve amplifiers book is widely recognized as the most complete guide to valve amplifier design, modification, analysis, construction and maintenance written for over 30 years. This deluxe revised edition contains 40% new material, with a comprehensive az section covering all the great tube amp manufacturers, with histories, photos and information. If you have a head and cabinet set up, make sure that your amp head is always plugged into a speaker cabinet using only speaker cables to avoid damaging the output section of your amp.
The truth about vintage amps skip simmons amp repair. Some electron tube devices rely on the properties of a discharge through an ionized gas. Z takes us through the maintenance procedures for insuring your amp stays in top form and continues to work without issue. Tube operation is explained, as are circuit principles. Best amp buildingmoddingrepair books telecaster guitar forum. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. Gerald weber is a master amp builder who has shared his great knowledge in this book. The sound that emanates from any guitar amp is more than the sum of its parts, and only a detailed analysis of exactly how your signal is shaped along the way can reveal just how that. Master the basics of preamp, power amp, and power supply design design your amp using a structured, professional methodology know it works by measuring performance at every point in the amplifier. How to service your own tube amp, a complete guide antique. The book is jampacked with theory, circuit analysis and diy basics.
This page fits older fender and marshall amplifiers best, especially in the sections relating to amplifier specific things like preamps, reverb and tremolo. Recommendation for good amp repair manual the gear page. This page includes supporting information for elements of the projects described in the tab guide to vacuum tube audio, focusing on workbench practices and construction techniques. I am still a newbie and have found these two to be easy entrance. Just a collection of books ive used over the years that would. Great book for a reasonably short introduction to tube amp design for the nonengineer. Dave is also a regular contributor to guitar player and vintage guitar magazines. There are hundreds of pages of tube amp information on my library page. I have a basic electronics understanding, as far as parts id and knowing what they do. Instrument building, maintenance and repair books, plans. A very well written book on the subject of tube amps. Do it yourself 4 watt amplifier vintage book part 2 guitar amp. This book gives you enough information to begin to understand how a tube amp works in plain language that most people with just a little bit of electrical knowledge to start with can build upon. Diy audio books and manuals speakers, vacuum tubes, electronics.
Sold i am selling a bunch of amp books and thought i would start here on tgp first. We specialize in vintage guitar and bass amplifiers as well as solid state guitar amps and speaker cabinets. Most guitarists are fairly fanatical about the tube amp. Get this book for the extensive collection of schematics and cool amp pictures, ignore the sales pitches and especially the tech info, as much of it is incorrect. Includes designs using offtheshelf transformers and current production tubes. The device can be used as an electronic amplifier, a rectifier, an electronically controlled switch, an oscillator, and for other purposes.
A well organized and easytounderstand approach to guitar amplifier repair covering basic electronics, reading schematics, understanding tubes and. There are a lot of simple preventative and upkeep measures that most players can perform for themselves, though, while several other bigger jobs should definitely be left to a pro. Maybe you had an earlier edition of pittmans book that didn. This book is a stepbystep tutorial for simulating vacuum tube guitar amplifiers using ltspice, a free spicebased electronic circuit simulator for windows and macos. Want to learn everything you need to know about the basic fundamentals and basic electronic principles going on in a vacuum tube guitar amp. I felt i was really getting to know how tube amplifiers worked and at a molecular level even.
The book walks you through the basics of developing a schematic, setting up a simulation, integrating vacuum tube models, and interpreting the results. Just click on the appropriate links, making the appropriate tests as needed. This page fits older fender and marshall amplifiers best, especially in the sections relating to amplifier specific things like. Do it yourself 4 watt amplifier vintage book part 3 amplifier. Best books specifically on tube amp troubleshooting and repair.
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