Hey guys,
I'm completely new to amp making and I was wondering if anyone had any good books/websites to read. My knowledge of electronics is not amazing but I really wanna learn.
Any ideas where to start would be great.
Cheers
Emre
gotta start somewhere
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: gotta start somewhere
Hi Emre,Emrek wrote:Hey guys,
I'm completely new to amp making and I was wondering if anyone had any good books/websites to read. My knowledge of electronics is not amazing but I really wanna learn.
Any ideas where to start would be great.
Cheers
Emre
What are your goals in terms of amp making? Are you interested in construction or design? Is troubleshooting something you want to be able to do well?
To start with just making an amp from a schematic with no practical knowledge of amp construction, I suggest 'The Ultimate Tone Vol 3' by Kevin O'Connor and 'Building Valve Amplifiers' by Morgan Jones. The latter is actually about HiFi amps but there is some very good practical information in there. Reading the former will keep the HiFi ideas in check. One does not need to be so fickle in MI.
Brown.
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CaseyJones
- Posts: 856
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2006 1:29 pm
Re: gotta start somewhere
I'd go for books rather than websites. With the exception of Amp Garage websites may not be a source of reliable information, over here we have Mark Huss to make sure tall tales don't become urban legend.
Even at that a lot of books go right over the heads of beginners. If you want to strip it down to the basics buy the simplest amp you can can find and look at that. Identify the various tube elements (filament, cathode, grid, screen grid, plate) and become familiar with their functions. Learn to trace signal path. Learn to read schematics and start to relate the schematic to the amp itself. You'll start to see the same things over and over like 100k plate resistors and 1.5k cathode resistors.
At first it's all very confusing so don't try to take on too much right away. Save the web search and the heavy reading for six months from now, it helps to have questions before you search for answers.
Even at that a lot of books go right over the heads of beginners. If you want to strip it down to the basics buy the simplest amp you can can find and look at that. Identify the various tube elements (filament, cathode, grid, screen grid, plate) and become familiar with their functions. Learn to trace signal path. Learn to read schematics and start to relate the schematic to the amp itself. You'll start to see the same things over and over like 100k plate resistors and 1.5k cathode resistors.
At first it's all very confusing so don't try to take on too much right away. Save the web search and the heavy reading for six months from now, it helps to have questions before you search for answers.
Re: gotta start somewhere
AX84.com is a well known place for beginners to hang out. Of course, I'd be hard pressed to disagree with Casey Jones, so take what you read on a web site with a grain of salt. Even here, well intended folks make misstatements.
It is best to pick a simple first project. This will give you an opportunity to hone your wire tying and soldering skill. In time, you will start to see things that a beginner is oblivious to. In particular, I think lead dress (wire length and placement) is an important learned art that takes time to acquire.
Warning: amp building is addictive.
It is best to pick a simple first project. This will give you an opportunity to hone your wire tying and soldering skill. In time, you will start to see things that a beginner is oblivious to. In particular, I think lead dress (wire length and placement) is an important learned art that takes time to acquire.
Warning: amp building is addictive.
Re: gotta start somewhere
Go here...http://www.phy.davidson.edu/instrumentation/NEETS.htm. It's what they use to train the Navy. Module 6 is an excellent intro to tubes! If you need more basic electronics background then look at the earlier modules.
Another good source for books ... http://www.pmillett.com/technical_books_online.htm. The Crowhurst books are great. The Briggs book is also good. Lots of good stuff in there. You just need time.
Another good source... http://www.audioxpress.com/resource/aud ... /index.htm
And here's my post asking this forrum for recommended reading... https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=4640
I'm going through the same thing you are. I do have an EE background, so I'm not completely starting from scratch. Oh I wish they were teaching tubes when I went to school.
Happy reading!
-FunkyE9th
Another good source for books ... http://www.pmillett.com/technical_books_online.htm. The Crowhurst books are great. The Briggs book is also good. Lots of good stuff in there. You just need time.
Another good source... http://www.audioxpress.com/resource/aud ... /index.htm
And here's my post asking this forrum for recommended reading... https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=4640
I'm going through the same thing you are. I do have an EE background, so I'm not completely starting from scratch. Oh I wish they were teaching tubes when I went to school.
Happy reading!
-FunkyE9th
Re: gotta start somewhere
Big +1 on the NEETS Module 6.
Do be aware of the convention they use for current; NEETS does with the direction of electron flow. It is the only way that makes sense for tubes, but the standard electrical/electronics industry current flow is the other direction. But that's another story.
Do be aware of the convention they use for current; NEETS does with the direction of electron flow. It is the only way that makes sense for tubes, but the standard electrical/electronics industry current flow is the other direction. But that's another story.