Help this electrical engineering student get started

[windycityblues]

Hello all, Im an Electrical Engineering undergrad and a luthier(I do some guitar repair here and there but mainly focus on building custom guitars). Im interested in beginning an amp build but I dont want to just build straight off a schematic. I want to put in my own little flavor or possibly design some of my own circuitry (depending on how ambitious I get) but I need a few information resources. I obviously know about all the components and stuff, but I dont know much about signal electronics. I am wondering if anybody could give me some links to webpages that give explanations on the different cicuits withing different amps and how the components work together/affect the sound. I know that Im making a tall order here but anything that can tell me about the Technical aspects amplifiers would be greatly appreciated (regardless of how brief or ho in depth). Hope theres something out there like that! Thanks -Alex

[Tom Phillips]

Yes that’s a tall order. Given your request I suggest that you check out the following:

1. The TUT series of publications from London Power Tube Amp Kits, Tube Amp Books, Tube Amplifiers by London Power
2. Merlin Blencowe's books. Take a look at the sample articles on the Valve Wizard site How to design valve guitar amplifiers

These references are a good mix of theory and practical application of tube electronics. The information is tailored specifically to building and modifying guitar amp circuits.
Regards,
Tom

[loudthud]

There is a pdf book posted on another fourm. The Author, Teemuk, is a member here but I don't know if he wants a link posted here. It is a quite thorough examination of solid state circuits used in guitar amps. You may have to join the forum to see the link in the first post.

Book about solid-state guitar amplifiers

[Austin]

Technical books online

Free is good.

[windycityblues]

Beautiful. This is so much more than I had hoped for! Thanks for the help!

[printer2]

Pentode Preamp Design Tutorial - DC Operating Conditions

[jazbo8]

Living In The Past

John's Valve Page

RSGB Handbook

[WesPalladini]

I have 2 London Power Books for sale. Book 1 and 3, and also their speaker/cabinet design book

[J M Fahey]

I also add the suggestion that you should read Jack Darr's classic starter book:
Real short, straight and to the point.
No Math at all, but a practical all_in_one compact explanation.
As an advance: Some chapters from Jack Darr's classic book
You should buy the real thing at Electric guitar amplifier handbook: Jack Darr: 9780672208485: Amazon.com: Books
Beware this book has gotten cult status, so go for a regular price modern reprint, rather than a very expensive used but original 1971 one .
Content is the same

[defaced]

I put together a pretty good resource list for another forum which was just starting to get into tube amps late last year. In addition to links for theory related material it also has links for other tube related forums and where to buy parts.
Build Your Own Clone Message Board • View topic - Tube Related Books, Sites, Forums, and Parts Sources

So along my journey of learning about tube amps, I've run across several resources that have helped me greatly, and even more that I haven't had time to dig into, but know exist. With the release of the Champlifier, I figured it'd be helpful to jot these down so people looking for tube specific information could have some places to start. Since tubes have been around much much much longer than I have :wink:, this is just a teeny tiny sampling of what's out there. If you find something cool, post it up.

Often one reads about the dangers of high voltage, but not many tell you what the real threats are and how to stay safe. This is Colorado State University's High Voltage Safety Manual. It presents the dangers of working with high voltage and what you can do to keep yourself safe.
http://euverc.colostate.edu/safetyte...ety_Manual.pdf

Once upon a time, in a land far far away, tubes were common everyday items. Tube testers were in drug stores, and a youth could make a killing fixing old TVs and radios by replacing the dead tubes and re-selling them. During that time, much work was done to improve tubes and understand their behavior. Many classic tube texts are out of copyright, and as such are now in the public domain and can be distributed freely.
There is a plethora of classic texts which are out of copyright scanned and available for download here for free:
Technical books online

The two books I see most recommended are the Radiotron Designers Handbook, 4th Edition (RDH4) and the RCA RC-30 Receiving Tube Manual.
RDH4: RDH4 mirror
RCA RC-30: Tube Data

Most of those books above were printed 40+ years ago, and while tube technology hasn't done much since then, many people have presented much of the same information in their own (often more understandable) way. Others have broken down the tried and true techniques to help the DIY guy or musician build or repair his equipment.
R.G. Keen's GEO FX has several tube geared pages.
Guitar Amp Page: GEO's Guitar Amp Pages
Amp Debugging Page: Tube Amplifier Debugging Page
MOSFET Follies (snippets and ideas for using MOSFETs to replace tubes where it makes sense): http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folder...osfetfolly.htm

Randall Aiken has some very good technical information on his page. These often look at individual elements of an amp and the details of why they are done a particular way. He also has a bibliography of "must have" tube texts.
Tech Page: TechInfo_2

Merlin Blencowe has posted several "how to design" step-by-step pages on his site in addition to publishing a power supply and preamp design book. His presentation of the information is a nice addition to the classic tube texts.
Valve Wizard site: How to design valve guitar amplifiers

Richard Kuehnel has several calculators, part-by-part explanations of amps, and full on fundamental electronics tutorials available on his site in addition to his several tube related books.
Amp Books: Amp Books for Professional Builders

Kevin 'O Conner has published a series of books titled The Ultimate Tone which are often referenced online.
London Power: Tube Amp Books - Tube Amp Kits, Tube Amp Books from London Power

Now you've seen some pages, but want to read more "in the field" sort of stuff, or perhaps get some repair guidance, or see what other DIY guys are building, there are several amp focused forums that can help you out. I haven't frequented many of these, but they are referenced often so I present them for completeness.
Music Electronics Forum (reportedly the first music electronics page on the net, great resource for debugging a broken build or fundamental theory): http://www.music-electronics-forum.com/
AX84 (Tube amp projects focused on the 12AX7 and EL84 tubes): AX84.com - The Cooperative Tube Guitar Amp Project
Metro Amp (Forum focused more on Marshall style designs): MetroAmp.com Forum • Index page
18 Watt (Forum focused on Marshall style amps using the push-pull EL84 output stage): 18 Watt Community Center
The SE, PP, and 45 Watt family of forums: Cookie support required | Single-Ended Forums, Cookie support required | Push-Pull Forums, Cookie support required | JTM-45 / Bassman 5F6A

You need tube amp parts? Ok, here we go: (I have used some of these retailers, and have only hear of others, I have no affiliation with any of them)
(Listed Alphabetically)
Antique Electronic Supply: Antique Electronic Supply LLC
Apex Jr: Apex Jr.Home Page
Hoffman Amps: Tube amp parts, Guitar Tube amplifier parts, Tube amp information
Mojo: Amp Parts, Cabinets, Guitar, Bass, Pickups, Pedals - Mojotone.com
Triode Electronics: Triode Electronics Home Page and World HQ
Watts Tube Audio: Watts Tube Audio ~ Everything Tube Amps!
Weber: Weber Speakers - Making the world a bit louder each day.

And you need tubes for a tube amp right? (I have used some of these retailers, and have only hear of others, I have no affiliation with any of them)
(Listed Alphabetically)
Eurotubes: Eurotubes - Vacuum Tubes by JJ Electronic - ECC83, 12AX7, 6L6. 6L6GC, EL84, EL34, KT77, KT66, KT88
Groove Tubes: http://www.groovetubes.com/main.html
Ruby Tubes: Ruby Tubes
Tube Depot: Welcome to TubeDepot.com!
The Tube Store: www.thetubestore.com - Your online source for amplifier tubes!

And last but not least, some sites are just handy:
Duncan's Tube Amp Page (Tube Data, Tone Stack Calculator, SPICE and Schematics): Duncan's Amp Pages
Schematic Heaven (Schematics for many common amps): Schematic Heaven. Where All Good Amp & Effect Designs Await Resurrection...
DIY Audio Forum (More Hi-Fi Related, but loads of good info):diyAudio

[defaced]

This forums software could really use a tune up.

[markr14850]

Forum double posts seem to be tied to using the 'back' button in the browser. If you back up over the point at which you posted, it posts again. I try to always close my browser after a post. Big PITA.