which amp building books are better: O'Connor or Fuchs?

[banjoze]

For anyone who has seen both, which amp building books would you recommend more?

The TUT (The Ultimate Tone) ones from Kevin O'Connor / London Power

OR

The ones from Richard Kuehnel (not Fuchs) via http://pentodepress.com/tubes/vacuum...rcheology.html.

Which are better and why?

I already have the Dave Hunter book and have consumed it. Looking to add to my library, but they are expensive so am wondering which folks like better?

Thanks,
-Gerald

[doctord02]

What books by Reinhart Fuchs? The Pentode Press link you gave is for Richard Kuehnel's series of books analyzing various amp topologies. Kuehnel's books are very academic/engineering analysis type studies; while very thorough and detailed, they really are not for someone just looking to build an amp. Unless you are already an engineer and algebra and equations float your boat.
O'Connor is my hands down choice for generalized amp building info; they are expensive, quirky, have lots of Kevin's opinions and his odd hand drawn schematics... But they are really the only series of books truly devoted to building and tweaking guitar amps. I own O'Connor's TUT#1, #3, and #5, and constantly refer to them. I own one of Richard's books and seldom picked it up after it arrived and I read it thru... Again, a great scholarly work, but not useful to me really. I'll likely be buying the latest book from O'Connor when funds allow.

[banjoze]

well crap... you're right of course.. I accidentally copied the wrong name from another book on the same website...

It's Richard Kuehnel. Sorry for the confusion. I wonder if I can change the thread title?

[banjoze]

Thanks for the excellent feedback btw.... I know which ones to get now.

[jay42]

Originally Posted by banjoze

Thanks for the excellent feedback btw.... I know which ones to get now.

Just get the first one. It'll keep you busy for a while. I have 1, 2, 4, and 5. I'm not sure I'd recommend 2. Bear in mind that 1 has some errors (at least arguable errors) and Kevin has not seen fit to do a 2nd edition. He has some ideas that don't float well with a lot of techs and some of his books wander off into areas that are not necessarily all that useful. ymmv