Books

Many would say the Fender Deluxe design reaches its peak with the narrow-panel 5E3, becoming the ultimate tone machine for public performance and recording. The 5E3 is also the most cloned guitar amp of all time. It has an elegantly straightforward signal chain that maximizes tone and minimizes parts count, making it a favorite for kit makers and kit builders alike. In fact, there is perhaps only one other amp design that can compete with the 5E3 in terms of popularity, particularly among working musicians. Ironically, it also carries the name "Deluxe" - the blackface AB763 Deluxe Reverb.

Fender designed the Bassman in 1952 to be an amplifier for its new Precision Bass. The amp had a 15-inch speaker with a closed back and used a pair of 5881 beam power tetrodes for lots of volume. Throughout the decade it would be modified and improved until culminating in the model 5F6-A.

The classic Ludwell Sibley book is now available in this wonderful second edition. Tube Lore II contains a wealth of knowledge and information on a wide variety of tube types. Any tube collector or radio aficionado will find the contents of this book to be an invaluable reference.

Have you ever wondered if there is a better way to build a Bassman, Champ, Plexi, an 800, AC-30, Bulldog or Portaflex? Or you wanted to build an SVT with off-the-shelf parts? How about a master-volume amp that doesn't change tone with the master setting? Everything you need to know is right here, including: proper grounding techniques, wiring methods, and mechanical considerations. Eighteen chapters cover the "iconic" amps everyone knows and loves, with schematics and layouts for each, along with the technical history of the product.

Books about guitar amplifier electronics usually focus on individual circuits: preamp stages, tone stacks, phase inverters, the power amp, and power supply. Fundamentals of Guitar Amplifier System Design presents a structured, top-down approach to crafting a complete guitar amplifier.

Every part of your system contributes to your Ultimate Tone, so every part is important. The Ultimate Tone, Volume 5 delineates, in clear language, the function of each electronic component in a circuit, and how alterations to the value of each part affect the final sound. Gain stage voicing, interstage attenuator optimization, sustain restoration for clean and distorted tones, power amp and preamp "tone generators", simple boost pedals, amp selectors and power conditioners are all covered, with designs using off-the-shelf parts. Like TUT3, this is a "project book" presenting design challenges and solutions, with a diversity of tube and solid-state circuits for bass, guitar and keyboards.

Guitar Amplifier Design: Tubes and Semiconductors Play Together is a look over the shoulder during the process of designing a unique guitar amplifier. Insights and opinions on design principles and best-practices for getting great tone in any design. Novel approaches and solutions to common circuit-design problems. Performance and tone improvements for common tube circuits. Explanations of cause-effect relationships that lead to better designs and better tone. Dr. Ulrich Neumann is a professor of Computer Science, with a joint appointment in Electrical Engineering, at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He completed a Bachelors and Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo and was granted a computer science Ph.D at the University of North Carolina at Chapel hill. His academic research relates to Computer Graphics and Computer Vision. He received an NSF CAREER award.

Gerald Weber, of Kendrick amplification fame, is the author of A Desktop Reference of Hip Vintage Guitar Amps and Tube Amp Talk for the Guitarists and tech. This is his third book, and works well as a companion to his previous books or on its own. 528 pages, softbound

A reprint of a 1959 publication of Mullard Ltd., detailing high-quality circuits for audio amplifiers, pre-amplifiers and other stereophonic reproduction equipment. These designs were originated by Mullard engineers at the Mullard Applications Research Laboratory, and originally appeared in various magazine articles with notes on construction and assembly. 136 pages, 1.0 lb, 8" x 10"

A comprehensive guide by Craig Anderton. Shows you how to build your own Preamp, Compressor/Limiter, Ring Modulator, Phase Shifter, Talk Box, plus 22 other inexpensive electronic accessories. Written in clear language, with hundreds of helpful diagrams and illustrations and simple ste-by-step instructions. Many effects builders have cited Electronic Projects for Musicians as the book that got them started. This book lays out the basics of effects building, detailing the tools, parts and techniques needed. This book contains 27 different projects including fuzz pedals, ring modulator, phase shifter and compressor, complete with diagrams, illustrations and simple step by step instructions. for those wanting to build their own effects, this is your starting point.

This is the book that jump-started the boutique tube guitar amp business. Learn the truth about tube preamp design and modification; see how tube power amps work and can be made more reliable; see how reverbs and effects loops work and better ways to configure them; learn why some amp brands are easier to service and to mod than others; see how simple switching circuits are but how capable they can be. Tube data for the common types used in guitar and bass amps is provided, along with a discussion of stage set-up and player ergonomics. Spiral bound, 395 figures. 368 pages, 2.5 lbs, 8.5" x 11"

The follow up to Volume 1 and 2 in the series, covering advanced amplifier construction projects for the experienced builder. Includes detailed plans for replicas of five classic tube amplifiers.
120 pages, spiral bound

This book offers a simplified method for designing tube power amps for audio. Tube operation is explained, as are circuit principles. Class-A or B, cathode, fixed bias, and push-pull and single-ended designs are covered, as are many front-end circuits. Includes designs using off-the-shelf transformers and current production tubes. Power outputs of 15 to 400W are depicted using pentodes and true triodes. Also, covers power supplies, selected tube data, and information on Hammond and Plitron transformers. Guitar amp builders please refer to "The Ultimate Tone Vol. 2"

The evolution of guitar amp circuits becomes a revolution! The Ultimate Tone, Volume 6 takes you through advanced DC Power Scaling methods; reveals the secrets of Dumble amps; explores the truth about high-gain preamps; demonstrates how to build Z-B-X push-pull power amps with a single power tube; simplifies the design of 400W+ tube amps - methods that can be applied to any power level; presents class-G tube amps where 100W of output has the same waste heat as a 25W amp; explores modern mains control and sustain circuitry.

The achievement of great, live sound is the premise used to explore modern high-gain guitar pre-amps, proper treatment of acoustic instruments, tube vocal PAs; dynamic bass gear, all types of tube, semi, hybrid and alternative power amplifier design, power supply mods that are "toneful", simple switching methods, speaker cabinet design, getting the most from effects loops and chains, and, modular stage monitoring systems that work!

The most comprehensive history of the thermionic vacuum tube. Contains hundreds of photos and essential facts to assist in identifying tubes made prior to 1930, and traces the evolution of tube development with histories of the manufacturers. Truly a classic! 494 pages, 1.4 lbs., 5.5" x 8.5"

A handy reference for the novice electronic tinkerer and experienced craftsman alike. Informative and easy to read, the book

• explains how to read schematic symbols
• explains standard notation, S.I. symbols and tolerances
• reveals the resistor color code
• lists standard resistor values for 1%, 5%, 10% and 20% components
• lists standard capacitor values and explains the colour coding of vintage caps
• explains current, voltage, power, resistance, capacitance and inductance
• explains Ohm's Law and how to figure out series/parallel resistance
• transformers and impedance are clearly explained

Examples are worked out throughout the book to illustrate how truly simple basic electronics is!

This book presents vacuum tube amplifier theory using modern, web-based design tools and computer visualizations to eliminate the usual litany of mathematical formulas. The book begins with the fundamentals of electronics and vacuum tubes. It then proceeds through each stage of a modern guitar amplifier, including preamp voltage amplification stages, cathode followers, tone stacks, power amps, phase inverters, and power supplies. The final chapter is devoted to the craft of controlling overdrive dynamics and harmonic distortion.

Speaker cabinet design is mysterious to most people, but it doesn't have to be - especially when it comes to speakers for musical instruments. Cabinet evolution is described culminating in Kevin's own designs built by London Power, based on 20+ years of experience and input from expert speaker designers. Resonant and non-resonant cabinets are explored, along with the choice for building materials, finishes, woodworking techniques, installing grill cloth, and the use of wheels and handles. Driver selection and mixing is detailed, covering driver impedance, power ratings and wiring.

This book is a step-by-step tutorial for simulating vacuum tube guitar amplifiers using LTspice, a free SPICE-based electronic circuit simulator for Windows and macOS. The book walks you through the basics of developing a schematic, setting up a simulation, integrating vacuum tube models, and interpreting the results. From there it gradually ramps up to advanced topics, like verifying the sonic performance of a guitar amplifier as a complete system, analyzing the dynamics of overdrive, and writing new SPICE models for triodes and power tubes.

Building your own vacuum tube guitar or bass amplifier from scratch is truly an exciting experience. This book describes the detailed construction of five vacuum tube amplifiers.

"Over 500 pages of all new material not found in my other books or anywhere else for that matter. Tons of empirical data that de-mystify the inner workings of tube amps to help you get the most from your amps!"

The follow up to Volume 1 in the series, covering more advanced amplifier construction projects for the experienced builder. Includes detailed plans for the following five classic tube amplifiers:

• Deluxe (5E3) 15 watt amp with push-pull 6V6s
• Bassman (5F6A) 50 Watt amp with push-pull 6L6s
• AC30 Top Boost 30 watt amp with quad push-pull EL84s with Top Boost Mods - minus Vibrato circuit
• Plexi Super Lead (1959) 100 watt amp with quad push-pull EL34s with master volume mod
• Twin Reverb (AB763) with quad push-pull 6L6GCs wi

Guitar Amplifier Overdrive: A Visual Tour is an analysis of how tube guitar amplifiers produce their overdrive tones. A visual tour of common tube circuit behaviors. Explanations and illustrations of nonlinear and time-varying circuit behaviors and their impacts on tone. Dr. Ulrich Neumann is a professor of Computer Science, with a joint appointment in Electrical Engineering, at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He completed a Bachelors and Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo and was granted a computer science Ph.D at the University of North Carolina at Chapel hill. His academic research relates to Computer Graphics and Computer Vision. He received an NSF CAREER award. He was an Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Multimedia.