Aug 02, 2004 building valve amplifiers is an indispensable book for an amateur learning to construct amplifiers on hisher own. Understanding tube amplifiers and getting great sounds, updated edition brings fresh information to the table to help guitarists understand everything about what makes their amps tick and how to use them to sound better than ever. Building valve amplifiers morgan jones isbn 9780750656955 as the title suggests, this book is about building valve amplifiers. I am a beginner at building but know a bit on tubes and amps. Building an amp can not only be a fun project, but a good way of learning about electronics, how amps work, and also how to service other valve amps you might already own. Building your own tube type hf amplifier, doing it the right way. Ok, any suggestions for a valve amplifier book, one for beginners. There are a few mistakes, i think they have been rectified in the new updated book. Theres no end of amazing books out there for building tube amps from scratch, but im struggling to find one that deals with professional standard. A bibliography of must have tube electronics books aiken amps. Basic theory a 21stcentury approach to understanding preamp, power amp, and power supply design fundamentals of guitar amplifier system design a structured methodolody for crafting an awesome guitar amplifier.
Feb 15, 2018 a brief discussion of the whys and whatfors of how i build amplifiers. Design, construction, faultfinding, and testing are all illustrated by stepbystep examples, enabling readers to clearly understand the content and succeed in their own projects. Fundamentals of engineering electronics, william dow, 1937, 617 pages courtesy of an anonymous donor. Following is a list of must have books for the serious tube amplifier designer. The companion volume to building valve amplifiers, morgan joness. I recently found an old mcintosh tube that was my grandfathers.
I would really like to know what every component does in lets say a basic 5f1 circuit, i cannot imagine building one without knowing what the resistor i am putting in is doing. Vacuum tube amplifier building thoughts and practices. The power vacuum tubes handbook is a great, detailed textbook on tubes. Get one or more of the following references note that these books are mostly old. Projects, mods, transformer diagrams, photos, sound clips. Fundamentals of amplification this chapter deals with the design and analysis of the basic triode gain stage, which is the main building block of a valve preamp. For the last month, i have been working on building a new guitar. The answer is that building a handwired tube amp is within the reach of. Some of this material is general and applies as much to hifi circuits as to guitar amps, but some of it is very.
This book gives great coverage to a much lacking topic the physical construction and testing of tube amplifiers or, for that matter, any tube gear. This 2nd edition builds on the success of selection from building valve amplifiers, 2nd edition book. It is beteween the dave hunter the guitar amp handbook or tube amp essentials by gerald weber. Building an amplifier is an important step in the experimental part of the project. I have also bought the new book, dave hunter has made the two stroke amp even simpler taking out a valve tube. Maybe you had an earlier edition of pittmans book that didn. It is strange that you never have heard of jack darr.
The answer is that building a handwired tube amp is within the reach of most players. I want to design and build an all tube amp but need specific technical design information. Show less building valve amplifiers is a unique handson guide for anyone working with tube audio equipmentas an electronics hobbyist, audiophile or audio engineer. Building valve amplifiers is a unique handson guide for anyone working with tube audio equipment as an electronics experimenter.
The first part of the book has a rather indepth treatment of vacuum tube operation, and details of amplifier circuit design. Diy audio books and manuals speakers, vacuum tubes, electronics. This book is by, and for, musicians that like tube amps. Seven readytobuild projects feature stepbystep instructions, detailed schematics, and layout tips. A tube amplifier chassis contains lethal high voltage even when unpluggedsometimes over 700 volts ac and 500 volts dc. There are hundreds of pages of tube amp information on my library page. Best amp buildingmoddingrepair books telecaster guitar forum. Understanding and building tube amps explains tube theory and circuit analysis. Your choices will surely be somewhat different but i hope this helps, in particular, the new builders. So im looking for a book on tube amp building in general not for a specific model or anything. As well as his other book valve amplifiers read as many books as you can on the subject. Selecting transformers or iron, as it is known to the tube audio doityourselfer, is usually the single most expensive category of parts required for any tube amp building project. This is the book that jumpstarted the boutique tube guitar amp business.
In building valve amplifiers, jones leaves out most tube circuit theory there are only about ten formulas in the book, for example. In addition to building oneofakind guitar tube amps, tonetron amplifiers specializes in repair, restoration, and modification of all brands of vacuum tube and solid state amplifiers as well as many other types of audio equipment. Output audio transformer design the output transformer in a singleended tube amplifier is the device which matches the highoutput impedance of the tube to the low input impedance of the speaker load 4, 8 or 16 ohm. Written instructions, basic amp building info, and the parts lists are all. This book describes the detailed construction of five vacuum. Some of them are long out of print, and can only be obtained from used book sellers, although they are occasionally seen for sale on the internet. I remember waaayyyy back when i was doing electrical engineering i. The schematics for many types of amps are listed in the hip tube amp book and the aspen pittman book on my booksvideo page. 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.
Building valve amplifiers is a unique handson guide for anyone working with tube audio equipmentas an electronics hobbyist, audiophile or audio engineer. At over 350 pages, this book is too large to have been tacked on as an appendix to valve amplifiers. As well as the design and build of new valve amplifiers, complete with constructional projects, morgan jones introduces the modification, faultfinding and repair of new and classic equipment. The tube amp library of information click the link above for tube amp info, schematics, board building information. It is the best work i have seen in this area, and is invaluable if you need it or are just interested in tube gear wiring and construction. The book presupposes no knowledge about electronicelectrical assembly at all and is an excellent introduction. Amp projects come complete with all the layout drawings showing how to wire the transformers, pots, tube sockets, circuit board, etc. Diy audio books and manuals speakers, vacuum tubes. The tube amp book deluxe revised edition book and disk package hardcover aspen pittman. Reviewed in the united states on november 17, 2014. I am looking at 2 different boks to help me n the learning of tube amp building and mods. Several different and very cool single ended class a 5 watt amps are here all the famous models from gibson, alamo, gretsch, supro, etc. The only handson approach to building valve and tube amps classic and modernwith a minimum of theory. The tab guide to vacuum tube audio, understanding and building tube amps jerry c.
It gives advice on how to plan layout, hints on metal working and wiring. By matt erickson kk5dr i have read in many articles, the lamentation over the lack of new hams that are building their own gear, and older hams who dont. Jun 08, 2004 the practical side of this book is reinforced by numerous clear illustrations throughout. Safety considerations are always to the fore, and the practical side of this book is reinforced by numerous clear illustrations throughout. The quality of the iron greatly affects the ultimate performance capability of the amplifier.
Building a dumble overdrive special 102 style guitar amp from. Building your own vacuum tube guitar or bass amplifier from scratch is truly an exciting experience. The amp sounds fine, i was learning as i was building. A very unassuming title for a 617page engineering book. Very thorough book on amps, i have six books on amps, this is the best. Beginners are encouraged to study volume 1 first before attempting the projects in volume 2. For classic amps i like to use mallory 150 polyester film capacitors now made by cornell dubilier cde for caps in the signal path. The book also features exclusively conducted, indepth interviews with leading figures in the tube amp building world including ken fischer, mark sampson, and michael zaite and even provides full instructions on how to construct your own highquality tube guitar amp from scratch. Apsen pittman doesnt just love the equipment, he went into a successful business building amps and as a tube supplier which naturally gets lots of air time here. One of the more difficult aspects of building tube amp guitars is figuring out all the different types of capacitors used in them. Never touch the amplifier chassis with one hand while probing with the other hand because a lethal shock can run between your arms through your heart. How to build a tube amplifier rob robinettes car and tube. Scratch building amps tube amp information, guitar amp.
Books, tutorials, and technology for guitar amplifier circuit design. Sep 12, 2010 now that understand the workings of guitars im interested in building a tube amp from scratch but my own design because amps are the other half of electric guitar and i would like to have an intimate knowledge of both. Ever wanted to build a highly dangerous, inefficient, yet awesomely retro piece of electronics. It builds on the popular original edition of the book, first published in 2005. Tonetron amplifiers tonetron ampshand built guitar tube. Understanding and building tube amps explains tube theory and construction practices for the hobbyist. The tab guide to vacuum tube audio, understanding and. Learn the truth about tube preamp design and modification. Vacuum tubes are old electronic components that act like transistors, controlling a lot of current. If you build tube amps or just want to understand on a core level how it all works then buy this book. Whitaker 2011, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Building valve amplifiers is an indispensable book for an amateur learning to construct amplifiers on hisher own.
Build your own audio valve amplifiers rainer zur linde. It does not go into the understanding or design of vacuum tube amplifiers. A bibliography of must have tube electronics books. Jones has a companion book called building valve amplifiers which covers all of the physical design considerations that go into building a good tube amp, including component layout, enclosure designconstruction, and performance testing and troubleshooting. In other words, both books complement each other and can be viewed as a twovolume set. Valve and transistor audio amplifiers john linsley hood.
This site supports the tab guide to vacuum tube audio in a number of ways, including the following. If you have not been trained to work with high voltage then have an amp technician service your amp. Please also see the mcgrawhill web site for more information on this title. Thats why i am looking for a book that explains how tube amps in particular work, how tone and gain is altered with the use of different resisitors and capacitors etc. Building vacuum tube guitar and bass amplifiers guytronix.
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