Amplifier repair reading material??

[jr_vw2]

So I am novice when it comes to amplifier circuts. And I want to change that. Does anyone have any suggestions for books to read to expand my knowledge. I have a basic electronics understanding, as far as parts ID and knowing what they do. Any info would be great. 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. Thanks alot

Jeremy

[WaltC]

All off Gerald Weber's stuff (you can get them at www.hoffmanamps.com and www.tubesandmore.com) and Kevin O'Connor's books (also at tubesandmore), Jack Darr's book (at tubesandmore) and/or just about any of the other books listed on this site (google is your friend)
http://www.amptone.com/booksamps.htm

that ought to keep you busy <G>

[SatelliteAmps]

And take all of them with grains of salt. Talk to people, in person as well as online. And check out some websites like http://www.tone-lizard.com/

[WesKuhnley]

One thing I've learned in the last 5 years of building/repair is to take ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING you hear from "gurus" with a massive grain of salt. Try not to learn electronics from a guitar amp point of view, instead, learn electronics from a general point of view, and you'll be able to pick out the "mojo" BS from the legit practices. There are literally thousands of dudes out there regurgitating the same tired crap that several revered gurus made up 20 years ago.

Take things slow, practice on your own gear, and don't buy Spragues just cause everyone else does, and you'll do just fine.

[drgonzoguitar]

One thing I've learned in the last 5 years of building/repair is to take ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING you hear from "gurus" with a massive grain of salt. Try not to learn electronics from a guitar amp point of view, instead, learn electronics from a general point of view, and you'll be able to pick out the "mojo" BS from the legit practices. There are literally thousands of dudes out there regurgitating the same tired crap that several revered gurus made up 20 years ago.

Take things slow, practice on your own gear, and don't buy Spragues just cause everyone else does, and you'll do just fine.

:agree


Look to your local tech college for a good solid basic electronics course. And never try to order parts from Mouser @ 2AM for an amp you are building after drinking all night. You might forget to order resistors.... :)

[jr_vw2]

Yeah I am starting classes for Electronics Engeneering next month. I figured I would learn all I can there and read as much as I can and buy cheap broken amps along the way and see what I can do with them. I picked up an old Custom Kraft off of ebay and did some poking around with it. Found some bad caps and I got it running again...I was pretty proud of myself. I know its not much for someone who has been around for awhile. But for me it was a nice start.


It is also nice to finally find a forum where I can get ACTUAL advice and not just get hazed for asking questions. So thanks alot fellas!!

[Old Tele man]

...try GOOGLING "Jack Darr" and you'll discover what you're after...readable, reliable, information about how & why guitars and amps work, and how to troubleshoot and repair them.

[drgonzoguitar]

...try GOOGLING "Jack Darr" and you'll discover what you're after...readable, reliable, information about how & why guitars and amps work, and how to troubleshoot and repair them.

Very cool! Thanks for posting!

[RedMan]

And take all of them with grains of salt. Talk to people, in person as well as online. And check out some websites like http://www.tone-lizard.com/

:roll:rotflmao

[donnyjaguar]

Dare I say it, I'd spend at least as much time learning solid state circuitry too, particularly low-voltage electronics which are everywhere nowadays. I generally split electronics into three domains: digital, analogue and RF. You need to become comfortable working in all three as you can apply knowledge from one to the others and save a lot of time chasing your tail when designing.

Agreed on bullshit terms like mojo, warm, strident and all these which are created by people who don't understand the underlying technologies, or are used to play on the ignorance of same.

[paulg]

All the above.. Plus, assemble a kit. Bassman or Plexi are a good place to start. Play around with values, mods, tubes etc.

[MikeMcK]

...try GOOGLING "Jack Darr" and you'll discover what you're after...readable, reliable, information about how & why guitars and amps work, and how to troubleshoot and repair them.

Hey, didn't some of that stuff re-appear later in the Tube Amp Book? I don't mean the same basic info, but look at Fig. 4-1, for example.

[RedMan]

Great info here, backed by ohms law unlike the lizard dudes poppycock:

http://www.aikenamps.com/

[trey85stang]

Can anyone recommend any reading regarding building, creating, & tweaking the tone stack?

[Groovey Records]

free downloads

http://www.pmillett.com/technical_books_online.htm

Basic Audio, Norman Crowhurst, 1959 - Thanks to Keith Carlsen!
This is a 3-volume set on, as the title implies, basic audio. The best introduction to tube hi-fi I've seen, the first volume starts with the nature of sound, and covers the basics of speakers and microphones. Volume 2 continues with amplification, covering the basics of amplifier design. Volume 3 covers a little more advanced topics like feedback, power supplies, and recording. If you're a beginner, READ THESE BOOKS!

Volume 1 (114 pages) Download full text with index, 4.2MB PDF file
Volume 2 (122 pages) Download full text with index, 4.1MB PDF file
Volume 3 (113 pages) Download full text with index, 3.2MB PDF file

This book below is a classic primer
it is Electric Guitar Amplifier Specific in basic easy to understand language (courtesy Uncle Spot)

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

That should get you started and give you more to read then you have time to!

EnJoY ThE MuSiC
GrooVey Records