Decent tube amp educational publications??

[Ambugaton]

I have built a few amps with very little knowledge of electronics and how a tube amp actually works... and I think I have proven to myself that this is something I want to continue doing, but I need some type of education starting from the basics. Any publications that someone would recommend? What I need is a basic course on electricity but to somehow keep it relatable to tube amps... otherwise I lose interest. Any help is appreciated!

[Ambugaton]

I have heard a lot about Merlin's books and website. Is that where I should start? Aiken amps have a lot of articles but they seem to be over my head.

[Willabe]

 


It's at the bottom of every page in this forum.

http://el34world.com/schematics.htm

[Willabe]

And Merlin has some info free on line;

http://www.valvewizard.co.uk/index.html

[VMS]

Lots of free info on this site:

https://ampbooks.com/

and some older books for free here:

http://www.tubebooks.org/technical_books_online.htm

[casssax]

https://www.youtube.com/user/Stratosaurus1

Check out the videos on 'Uncle Doug' YouTube channel.

Lots of very straight forward videos explaining how each component of tube amps work.

https://youtu.be/x5SSKX74DKg

Here is a good place to start.
"How Tube Amplifiers Work, Part 1: The Power Supply"

[vibrolax]

Here is a link to Jack Darr's "Electric Guitar Amplifier Handbook" (1965)
http://www.trinityamps.com/ForumGallery/trinity/resources/Jack_Darr_Handbook.pdf

[PRR]

> starting from the basics.

http://www.tubebooks.org/technical_books_online.htm
Inside the Vacuum Tube, John F. Rider, 9MB PDF

Way-kewl 3-D images.

Don't take the lessons too seriously. But a good way to get your head "in" the tube.

Remember that MOST parts in an amp are NOT tubes. Half are resistors. You MUST be able to rough-solve voltage current resistance problems, about like you can on-the-fly transpose a melody or change the lyrics so the wedding you are playing is a smashing success.

> I lose interest.

Decide what you WANT to do. There is no shame in just fixing factory amps, applying mod recipes, or buying kits. No electronic insight needed. If you truly want more than that, be ready to open wide and chew-chew-chew. Even the dry bits.

Take your time. Some things don't make sense until you sleep on it (maybe months), some things don't make sense until other things have sunk-in.... if you aren't taking a loan to pay tuition, there's no graduation-day deadline you have to hit.

ALL!! TubeBooks.org posted some new books August this year.

[HotBluePlates]

In addition to what's been posted, if you want to gain understanding of electronics, read NEETS. Modules 1 & 2 at a bare minimum, as they present basic concepts for D.C. and A.C. Modules 6, 7, and 8 are okay as well.


There are lots of good old tube books at the link PRR posted, and he steered you to the readable first book. Some are not too reader-friendly, unless you really already know the information being presented.

[kagliostro]

+ 1 for HotBluePlates

NEETS modules are really usefull for base knowledge

before you have the bases may be difficult to read books that are specific for guitar amps

I consider Merlin's books a must, but you must have a base knowledge on the argument to read it

K

[Ambugaton]

Thanks everyone! I definitely have to start with the basics. I guess its not a lack of interest just a lack of context so I thought learning the basics while keeping the information related to amps would help me. I have more than enough to keep me busy for a while. Thanks again for your time.

[HotBluePlates]

... I definitely have to start with the basics. I guess its not a lack of interest just a lack of context so I thought learning the basics while keeping the information related to amps would help me. ...

You can do both, which I recommend.

People can and do read/learn about how tubes work and what effect each component in a gain stage has without picking up electrical/electronic fundamentals first (like Ohm's Law, or how series & parallel circuits behave). However, you'll run into roadblocks in your understanding, and things will take longer to sink in if you skip past some of the drudgery of the fundamentals.

... I have more than enough to keep me busy for a while. ...

If you go to the site PRR mentioned, there's enough reading to keep you busy for at least a decade...