Mic Kaczmarczik's TubeInformation - The Blue Guitar

From mcjimi@aol.com Fri May 12 12:40:58 CDT 1995
Article: 1195 of alt.guitar.amps
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From: mcjimi@aol.com (McJimi)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.amps
Subject: Re: Query,Does anyone know a good book about making an amp??
Date: 11 May 1995 20:43:27 -0400
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TUBE AMP BOOK FAQ
This really isn't a tube amp book FAQ, just the bare beginnings of
one. It's woefully incomplete. I'd like very much for people who really
know this stuff to put a REAL tube amp book FAQ together. The newsgroups
seem to be getting a lot of questions about where to get information on
learning about guitar amps, so such a FAQ could prove useful. Until then,
here's something to get people started.
MODERN BOOKS for Guitar Tube Amps:
1. The Ultimate Tone, by Kevin O'Connor.
This is the only true guitar tube amp design book I've seen. It
really is a guitar tube amp cookbook, and it is packed with info on power
supplies, preamp modifications and design, power amps, effects loops,
reverb, switching (91 pages!) and more. I've seen nothing like this until
now, though I've talked to several amp designers who've talked to me about
putting out such a work.
TUT is far from perfect, but if you're more into creating your own
designs than just learning what Leo Fender did, I recommend you check this
book out. While it does cover Fender and Marshall type topologies, if
you're primarily a fan of old Fender and early Marshall amps, I suggest
you look for another book. Those are fantastic amps, but this book is
simply more forward looking. The main problem is that it isn't available
in stores in the U.S., so you have to take a chance by ordering direct
>from Canada. I know this sucks, but I can tell you that three very
knowledgeable people I've talked to who've seen this book like it a lot. I
hope Guitar Player does a review of it soon, or that you can see if
someone in your area has picked up a copy of it.
Maybe whomever picks up on this Tube Amp Book FAQ idea could include
reviews (by several people, with different backgrounds, interests, and
levels of experience) of this and other books.
Anyway, here's what you need to get ahold of your own copy:
U.S. price until March 31, 1995: $40. includes shipping
U.S. price after March 31, 1995: $55
Power Press Publishing
P.O. Box 1777, Stn.B, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5H9
tel:519-668-3132
fax: 519-660-8992
2. The Tube Amp Book ( Volume 4 is the most recent-765 pages.).
This is put out by Groove Tubes. It has chapters on the history of
several major amp companies, including Fender, Marshall, Ampeg, Gibson,
Hiwatt, Vox, and Orange, among others. I've just got volume 3, and I've
heard Volume 4 has more on tube mics.
There are pages on tube specs, trouble shooting, some common mods
(master volume, power tube changes, capacitor changes for fuller tone ),
and some beautiful color shots of amps with guitars. The best part about
the book is that is has several hundred pages of schematics for amps. Most
of these are for older amps-you won't find more recent offerings by
Mesa-Boogie and Soldano, for instance. Very few high gain monsters. But
there's a great deal to be learned from studying the schems of older amps,
and having them in one book is quite convenient.