Best book for Amp electronics understanding and/or building for newb

[Clifford-D]

I want to understand amp electronics, you know, what this is and how
that works. Caps, diodes, electrical path etc.

I'm looking for a book or internet source to finally learn this stuff.
I want it brought down to earth.

Maybe build me an amp soon.

Any suggestions?

Thanks :munch

[Old Tele man]

...the "old" Jack Darr GUITAR AMPLIFIERS book is excellent and is both available as a reprint and also on-line scanned images (do a Google search).

[RomanS]

Dave Hunter, "The Guitar Amp Handbook" - easy to understand explanations about the various sections of an amp (preamp, tone-stacl, PI, etc.), and the components (resistors, caps, tubes, etc.); descriptions about a number of classic amp designs and how they work; interviews with some amp-builders; and a step-by-step project for beginners to build a small amp, the "Two-Stroke" (you can even get a complete kit for this project, if you want to: http://www.myspace.com/twostrokeampkits ).

This is exactly the book you're looking for!

http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Amp-Handbook-Understanding-Amplifiers/dp/087930863X/ref=sr_1_1/102-0692268-8498554?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186684544&sr=8-1

[AL30]

Dave Hunter, "The Guitar Amp Handbook"


I would have to recommend NOT getting that book. It's a great book but it doesn't explain electronics in the way Clifford is asking - quoted below. It does an excellent of breaking down tube amplifiers and the components in simple terms and I would recommend for that purpose. But it does not give a thorough understanding of electronics.


I want to understand amp electronics, you know, what this is and how
that works. Caps, diodes, electrical path etc.

[RomanS]

Have you read that book at all?

Explaining amp electronics is exactly what that book does:

About a third of the book is a section-by-section breakdown of the component chain (first by looking at a Fender Princeton part-by-part, then in more general terms), of how a tube amp works, from input to preamp to tone stack to PI to power-amp, what different types of construction there are (like different types od tone stacks, different PIs, class A vs. AB, single-ended vs. push-pull, etc.), and how those affect sound.
And then there's a LARGE section that explains the different types of resistors, caps, OTs and PTs, tubes, speakers, and how they change the sound.

I believe that is exactly what "Clifford-D" asked for, as I understood it, he wants practical explanations and descriptions ("I want it brought down to earth") of the components, not electronics theory (which isn't tube amp specific).
Dave Hunter's book is exactly that - a practical view at the various parts and components of an amp, what they do, and how they affect its sound! And it's exactly what "Clifford-D" will need if he wants to build a tube amp himself.

[AL30]

I will attempt to explain where I'm coming from. Here goes - I have an EET degree - Electronics Engineering Technology -(albeit I've forgotten too much of it since I really don't use it that much) so from my perspective the Hunter book is a good paint by numbers but not an in depth theory and explanation which is the way I understood the question. Obviously you understood it different. Regardless it is a very good book and I think a lot of people could benefit from having it in their arsenal.

And yes I have read the book. I own it and I think it's a great resource. It seems we have a different view on what Clifford meant by understanding electronics. So instead of getting into a debate about it (which would really be futile) maybe we should wait for Clifford to chime in. :BEER

AL

[Clifford-D]

Well, thank you both, Al and Roman. You're both right.

I need bonehead electricity understanding. So I got a bonehead book
that starts with reading circuit schematics. "Electricity Demystified".
Lots of tests. Ohms Law, definitions, practical ways of thinking it. Looks good.

After that I want to focus on tube amp circuits, so no time like now.

The Guitar Amp Handbook is just the thing I have in mind. Sounds like a good companion study.

Whatever it takes to get tone, right?

[Nick31]

Well, thank you both, Al and Roman. You're both right.

I need bonehead electricity understanding. So I got a bonehead book
that starts with reading circuit schematics. "Electricity Demystified".
Lots of tests. Ohms Law, definitions, practical ways of thinking it. Looks good.

After that I want to focus on tube amp circuits, so no time like now.

The Guitar Amp Handbook is just the thing I have in mind. Sounds like a good companion study.

Whatever it takes to get tone, right?

I bought the same book and it really helped me ... I'm a noob in electronics except for ohm's law that I've learned in my Engineering Mathematics class and basic stuff like that

[fyrwyr]

Dave Hunters book is also an easy and ENTERTAINING read:cool:!

The first one that comes to mind when thinking of a book to suggest to someone new to tube amps like yourself; enjoy!

[Mike T]

When I started more that 15 years ago my first book was Aspen Pittman's Tube Amp Book. That whet my appetite. Then I got "Service Your Own Tube Amp" by Tom Mitchell. Then I started writing letters to guys like Ken Fischer and Gerald Weber. You just have to start building your library and you'll find out what you need. A good one is Dave Funk's "Tube Amp Workbook", for Fenders, anyway.

[Chuck King]

When I started more that 15 years ago my first book was Aspen Pittman's Tube Amp Book. That whet my appetite. Then I got "Service Your Own Tube Amp" by Tom Mitchell. Then I started writing letters to guys like Ken Fischer and Gerald Weber. You just have to start building your library and you'll find out what you need. A good one is Dave Funk's "Tube Amp Workbook", for Fenders, anyway.

I haven't found a single book that covers all the bases perfectly, but the four books listed in this thread---Hunter, Pittman, Mitchell, and Funk---between them get the job done well. I've got all of them and while there is a fair amount of overlap each has something the others don't.

Of the four, I thought Mitchell had the best explanation of basic amp electronics. I'd recommend the first part of that book to a newb for electronics background. Funk and Hunter have more substance, but they will make more sense if you've read Mitchell's introductory material first.

If you hang out on some of the amp-building boards, you can pick up quite a bit by osmosis.

[Old Tele man]

...l-o-n-g before Aspin Pittmans book, Jack Darr was explaining how Guitar's and their Amplifiers both "worked" and were "repaired"...his books (3 editions) were all published by Howard W. Sams (now Butterworth).

[TheAmpNerd]

I have the basic electronics book which is what the Navy
used. This is the older edition Tubes and is the one you want.

Please PM me.

[Nick31]

are there books on digital amps ?

[Clifford-D]

are there books on digital amps ?
If you've looked inside digtal amps you see there ain't much.

In My line 6 Podxt the heart is a chip, that's not servicable.

You get an upgrade chip if available.

I upgraded my old Line 6 Axsys212 with a chip. The Podxt has the sharc
chip that is way more upgradable with downloads.

[Clifford-D]

Jack Darr's "Electric Guitar Amplifier Handbook". Is this concidered an easy or hard study?

It's available at Amazon

I think I'll be using lots of dictionaries.

Hunters book gets lots of praise here, so that is in my sights.

I was surprised Aspen Pittmans book "The Tube Amp Book" didn't get mentioned more. Maybe it's not a good beginners book??
One thing for sure , it's too big to lay down and read comfortably.

I understand Dan Torres has a book out.


...

[AL30]

The Darr book is excellent. It's more involved than the Hunter book. I wouldn't call it hard but it is definitely "harder" than the Hunter book. You should pick up both if you can.

I really like the Groove Tube book. It's another resource - never hurts to have "too many". It is a really good source for schematics as well. I think part of the GT book is taken directly from the Darr book.

I have no experience with the Torres book but a quick search for his "amp mods" will provide some information.

AL

[Popoon]

It's written like a man possessed.

Quickly skimming through the detail ,too quickly as some info is missing and i found myself rereading chapters to try and find it.

Another is the promise of more on this later,this had me rereading later chapters to try and find it.

The European version has a rather half hearted attempt to anglicise some of the detail.

As an example of the books worthyness the last chaper suggest you could build you own Champ clone but if you tried knowing nothing more than was written you would only get 3/4 the way there.

It is however more usefull than some book on general electronics.

[Old Tele man]

FWIW--the Jack Darr book assumes (and uses) very little mathematics, but nevertheless explains whats happening quite well...and, you can view (and download) *.PDF copies from various website hostings if you Google search for it...for free!

[LowellH]

Old Tele Man,

Thanks for posting about the Jack Darr book. :) I began reading it last night - what a valuable resource!

[daddyo]

Resurrected for those who care. Received the Dave Hunter book a week ago. A great book and read especially the interviews with gurus like Fisher, Mojave, and Dr Z, but this book does not go into tube theory. It either assumes you already know or don't need to know. The project amp is much the same as any amp project instructions - you assemble and test but no theory. Dave does spend a lot of time explaining how Princeton signal travels as well as other amps but no theory.

[jjasilli]

Clifford-D: you're actually asking 2 different questions here. Books on theory / books on amp modding. The theory is great but can take you away from guitar amps. On the other hand books on modding guitar amps will be a bit short on theory. This could be a years' long project, just acquiring the books and reading them. So decide where you want to start reading: straight forward recipes for immediate amp modding, or more theoretical stuff.

For modding, and at the risk of getting flamed, I think the best book is "Inside Tube Amps", by Dan Torres. It has enough basic theory for a start, plus a ton of practical mods that anyone can understand. The TUT series by Kevin O'Connor is great, but was theoretically over my head for years. Dave Funk's "Tube Amp Workbook" is very good for basic guitar amp theory, but short on pratical mods.

Gerald Weber's videos are fantastic for practical working on amps, but I haven't read his books; they must be good too.

Then there's the general theory of vacuum tubes and amps in general; again, not exactly germane to guitar amps, especially for the theoretical novice. The RCA manuals come to mind and are available on line.

[mark norwine]

I still like Morgan Jones about the best

[TheAmpNerd]

Clifford-D,

Based on what you asked do not ignore the Basic Electronics couse prepared by the Bureau of naval Personnel. This is the shit, and I'm
not a squid...

Please don't tell anyone but I salivate over these chapters:
Operating principles of the electron tube.
Introduction to transistors
Power supplies for electronic equiments
Tuned circuits
Introduction to electron-tube amplifiers
Electron-tube amplifier circuits
Audio power amplifiers
Ooscellators
Transistor circuits
....

There are 10 other chapters in this. Those listed will really give
you and understanding of it. AND you won't be tied to your puter...
take with you to the dentist office, when you get tires...waiting at
red lights, wating on coffee are all splended opportunities to read
a few paragraphs or pages and ponder what they mean!

Step right up folks, only 2 books left.

They are good!

PM me if you want one I've sold the other 2 that I had.



Jack Darr's "Electric Guitar Amplifier Handbook". Is this concidered an easy or hard study?

It's available at Amazon

I think I'll be using lots of dictionaries.

Hunters book gets lots of praise here, so that is in my sights.

I was surprised Aspen Pittmans book "The Tube Amp Book" didn't get mentioned more. Maybe it's not a good beginners book??
One thing for sure , it's too big to lay down and read comfortably.

I understand Dan Torres has a book out.


...

[TheAmpNerd]

I've sold all the others, even had an extra one too.
This is the last one that I have.

I sold the last one posted of that version,
I have the third revision of the course, 10087-C.

Which is great because it shows tubes and
transistors next to each other in schematics
and discusses test equipment and safety.

They are 505 pages plus appendecies.

There are 29 chapters (8 appendices) including the more relevant:
Introduction to eleectronic equipemnts
Safety
Basic test equipment
Characteristics of materrer and energy
PN Junction power supplies
Transistors
Electron Tubes
Electronic voltage regularors and meters
Fundamental of communication thneory
tuned Circuits
Introduction to Receivers
Detectors
Audio Amplifiers
RR Amplifiers
Oscillators
Mixers and Converters
Intermediate Frequency Amplifiers
...
plus 12 others


This is my favorite verson and the larger print
makes it easier to read. I should say this is the
normal print verson.

It is tough with out a speal check.

[soldersucker]

Print this off and sit it were a man does his best thinkin(on the crapper)when it sinks in it's a start.
http://www.pacificrecone.com/JackDarrBook.html

[Old Tele man]

..."UNCLE SPOT" to the rescue!

[BLC]

I will first recommend Dan Torres' book; then just start in the TUT books.

[jbever]

Manna from heaven! Jack Darr!! I got Hunter's book when I built my first Mission 5E3, it was a good read while building. But I quickly picked up other amps and wanted to know more specifics. I've been searching for Funk's book but it's no longer in print or available. I called Funk and he said there may be a reprint / update around the end of November. I haven't seen it available yet. It's on my xmas list.

Darr is exactly what I've been looking for next, and it's free!

I just made a contribution to the board in recognition of soldersucker and Old Tele man for that lead.

Thanks to all!!
Jerry

[HipKitty]

FWIW--the Jack Darr book assumes (and uses) very little mathematics, but nevertheless explains whats happening quite well...and, you can view (and download) *.PDF copies from various website hostings if you Google search for it...for free!

OTM, I can't believe you're not going to recommend the excellent works by a gentleman called Mccaul.....excellent reading there!

[Structo]

I would recommend a beginning book on electronic theory to get a handle on theory and terms.
Like, what is electric current.
It will go over properties like resistance, capacitance, inductance and how the combinations of these react.
It will familiarize you with components.

Then get one of the books recommended for tube amps.
I have a couple Gerald Weber books the better one being Tube Guitar Amplifier Essentials.
I have messed around electronics most my life and took some EE college courses but it was during the recession (80's) and after earning an associate's degree in electronics found that places like HP, Tektronix, Intel were wanting bachelor degrees for bench testing jobs starting at $8/ hr.
So I went back to my construction roots where I can make $30/ hr and have been stuck here ever since.

But I enjoy the heck out of building guitars, pedals, and amplifiers.
Outside of a class room it will be harder to learn this stuff on your own depending on what type of person you are.
I can read a book or go online and learn something new.
Some people have a difficult time with reading to learn. Like they are an audio (hearing) type, or visual type (show me how) so it just depends on how you learn.

One of the problems with learning on your own is you don't get that one on one type teaching and someone telling you, don't do this because.

Nothing like getting that first 400 vDC zap in the hand (hopefully one hand) to make you say, dang, why'd I do that!
Good luck with your education and stay safe.

[Old Tele man]

OTM, I can't believe you're not going to recommend the excellent works by a gentleman called Mccaul.....excellent reading there!...'tis a very wise man who "toots" not his own horn, for the peasants might object and in anger ram said horn down his throat...or up some other orifice (ouch!).

[HipKitty]

...'tis a very wise man who "toots" not his own horn, for the peasants might object and in anger ram said horn down his throat...or up some other orifice (ouch!).

Insightful and incredibly true.

What if a (said) peasant runs off with the horn and rams (said) horn into other peasants, or himself? And further, what if said peasant enjoyed the pleasure of said ramming? Points of ponder I say.:D

[Old Tele man]

...can you say "...JADED..."?

[HipKitty]

...can you say "...JADED..."?

Sometimes, yes, othertimes it comes out as a mumble......

[stratotone]

I'd get a variety of books, read em, see what you can use and can't use from each. The Gerald Weber books (with the excellent trainwreck pages from K. Fischer) have some nuggets, the book from Dan Torres is pretty simplified, might make a good intro (he fudges a LOT of the numbers and says stuff like "I could give you the math for this, but it's hard). I also have some old electronics textbooks from the 30s - 50s that have some good tube info also, and of course Kevin O'Connor's The Ultimate Tone series. The Jack Darr stuff is probably where I'd go first, since it's full of good info and most importantly, it's free online. Then if you still are curious, start buying books.

Pete

[Old Tele man]

...here's a reading list that'll keep you occupied for awhile:

Chaffee, E.L.: THEORY of THERMIONIC VACUUM TUBES, 1933, McGraw-Hill.
Terman, F.E.: RADIO ENGINEERS' HANDBOOK, 1943, McGraw-Hill.
Preisman, A.: GRAPHICAL CONSTRUCTIONS for VACUUM TUBE CIRCUITS, 1943, McGraw-Hill.
Smith, F.L.: RADIOTRON DESIGNER'S HANDBOOK, 1945(3ed), Amalagamated Wireless Valve Co/RCA.
Ryder, J.D.: INSIDE THE VACUUM TUBE, 1945, Rider Pub.
Spangenberg, K.B.: VACUUM TUBES, 1948, McGraw-Hill.
Geppert, D.V.: BASIC ELECTRON TUBES, 1951, McGraw-Hill.
Beck, A.H.W.: THERMIONIC VALVES, 1953, Cambridge Press.
Spangenberg, K.B.: FUNDAMENTALS of ELECTRON DEVICES, 1957, McGraw-Hill.
Landee, Davis & ALbrecht: ELECTRONIC DESIGNER'S HANDBOOK, 1957, McGraw-Hill.
Ryder, J.D.: ENGINEERING ELECTRONICS, 1957, McGraw-Hill.
Daley, J.L.: PRINCIPLES of ELECTRONICS and ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS, 1957, USN Institute.
Millman, J.: VACUUM-TUBE and SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRONICS, 1958, McGraw-Hill.
Seely, S.: ELECTRON-TUBE CIRCUITS, 1958, McGraw-Hill.
Henney, K.: RADIO ENGINEERING HANDBOOK, 1959, McGraw-Hill.
Strauss, L.: WAVE GENERATION & SHAPING, 1960, McGraw-Hill.
Slurzberg & Osterheld: ESSENTIALS of RADIO-ELECTRONICS, 1961, McGraw-Hill.
Ryder, J.D.: ELECTRONIC FUNDAMENTALS and APPLICATIONS, 1964, Prentice-Hall.
Gewartowski & Watson: PRINCIPLES of ELECTRON TUBES, 1965, Van Nostrand.
DeFrance, J.J.: GENERAL ELECTRONICS CIRCUITS, 1966, Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Whitaker, J.C.: POWER VACUUM TUBES HANDBOOK, 1994, Van Nostrand.
Reich, H.J.: PRINCIPLES of ELECTRON TUBES, 1995 (reprint), Audio Amateur Press.
RCA RECEIVING TUBE MANUAL, RC-26, 5/68.
RCA TRANSMITTING TUBES, TT-5, 10/62.
RCA (pocket) REFERENCE BOOK, 1964.
RCA ELECTRON TUBE DESIGN, 1948.
RCA VACUUM TUBE DESIGN, 1962.

[Chris Scott]

I'm just waiting for John Muir to send me a "How to Keep Your Fender Alive" from the afterlife- THAT would be "the" book to end all books ......:eek:

[mark norwine]

I still say Morgan Jones.....

[daddyo]

Anybody build the Two Stroke Dave has in his book? I understand that the latest version is a single 6L6 or whatever tube you may wish. I'd like to try it with a single EL34. Sounds like the THD Univalve? Opinions?

[gearscore]

I would recommend a beginning book on electronic theory to get a handle on theory and terms.
Like, what is electric current.
It will go over properties like resistance, capacitance, inductance and how the combinations of these react.
It will familiarize you with components.

That's a good place to start, I have also looked at, read, or reviewed many of the publications listed in this thread so far - most are either a) bogged down with a bunch of theory goop or b) so generically non-specific they are useless beyond the pretty pictures.

If there are are two books that every amp tech or wanna be amp tech or hobbyist should have, those would be two by Kevin O'Connor. One titled "The Ultimate Tone Volume 1" and the other tiled "Principles of Power". They are hands down the most practical, no nonsense, clearly written texts out there for tube amp hobbyists/techs or enthusiasts.

They can be found at London Power Press. (http://www.londonpower.com/books.htm)

[pula58]

Hey Old tele man,
Thanks for the tip on the Jack Darr book. I downloaded it and plan to spend a while reading it with great fascination!

Thanks!

P.