Mar 03, 2009 jimmy, there are a plethora of books available on tube amp repair. Acorn amplifiers is also a full service repair and restoration shop. Solid state amplifiers are considered to be more reliable than their tube counterparts, but problems can occur in solid state amps. Volume 2 of the most complete and practical modern reference on tube guitar amplifiers. Lets start by looking at the simple standard tube amplification circuit that you will see again and again as you study tube amp schematics. Solid state amplifiers are considered to be more reliable than their tube counterparts, but problems can occur in. Call us at 404 6003696 with any questions about your gear. We are full service vendor offering parts and service for vintage and current hifi equipment, radios, guitar amplifiers and tube tester repair calibration. With over 2500 entries of service records for many popular and rare makes and models of mostly tube guitar amps and other gear.
Dave hunter is a writer and musician who has worked extensively in the usa and the uk. Design and construction of tube guitar amplifiers by robert megantz this is a great book to get involved in the theory of amplifiers. The connections to the output tube sockets had been made with the wires holding themselves in place in anticipation of soldering. Early guitar amps used vacuum tubes to amplify the sound, but when the transistor was invented, amplifier manufacturers found a more reliable and cheaper technology. Where can i take my instrument andor amplifier to be repaired. Vacuum tube circuit design guitar amplifier preamps. Oct, 2008 some of these are fun, like the time we found an amp from a major amp maker with intermittent crackling. A tech to the stars tells how to maintain your axe like a pro by doug redler and dave rubin. Also servicing roland space echo, echoplex and tape echos of all kind. Classa solidstate power amp a simple circuit designed for hifi is adapted to guitar use. Fender amp parts parts is parts guitar parts, amplifier. If your amp ever sounded good, it can be that way again. Design and construction of tube guitar amplifiers by robert c. Skip simmons amp repair loma rica, ca, usa repairsinfo.
Some of these are fun, like the time we found an amp from a major amp maker with intermittent crackling. The amp is completely dead if the amp is completely silent no speaker hum or hiss at all then the problem can be just about anywhere in the amp but you should suspect a bad tube, blown fuse or the power supply in that order. The book walks you through the basics of developing a schematic, setting up a simulation, integrating vacuum tube models, and interpreting the results. Here you will find our collection of traynor schematics. Acorn amplifiers custom tube amplifiers, boutique amps. If you need a new handle for your deluxe reverb or tolex for your black face amplifier, parts is parts is your best source. Customers are advised to call first and verify that the service center can address your specific repair needs. It includes additional maintenance and checks, confirmation that everything is working properly and a final listening evaluation ensuring that your amp sounds as good as it was designed to sound, sometimes all your amp needs is some professional maintenance.
This book presents vacuum tube amplifier theory using modern, webbased design tools and computer visualizations to eliminate the usual litany of mathematical formulas. Yellow jackets allow el84 power tubes to be used in place of most common guitar amp power tubes, providing a selfbias classa configuration for the el84 so that no bias adjustment is required. Reading them will give you an idea of whats going on but you should try building something. Reverb unit build a standalone reverb using readily available parts for a classic tube sound. The truth about vintage amps skip simmons amp repair. Reverb unit build a standalone reverb using readily available parts for a classic tube. If the amp fails to power up entirely, the problem is located in the power section of the amp. For some reason, techs who wouldnt dream of replacing the original pots in a 57 strat have no problem gutting a 57 bandmaster.
Im extremely interested in learning to service tube amps, and one day design and build them. The other half has nearly 800 schematics for common amplifiers for research. There is a reason this book comes highly recommended and seems to be on everyones bench. This book, in print from 2009 until 2020, has been updated, expanded, reorganized, and replaced by guitar amplifier electronics. There is a lot of tips for some visual repairs, too. Recording amps, practice amps, gigging amps, touring amps, and even harmonica amps. Detroit amp lab specializes in servicing, repairing, maintaining guitar and bass tube amplifiers of all types. Specializing in mcintosh, marantz, audio research,cj,citation,h. The internet is filled with lots of information on amp repair, but it is sometimes difficult to discern those who know from those who think they know. Kendrick amplifiers, tube amps, guitars, books, dvds, and. Some tube valve amp related tips to make your repair faster. Ask for john sprung, co author of the fender amp bible, fender amps, the first 50 years.
It has some good electronic diagrams in the back so you can get an idea about electrical schematics. Founded in 1972, elderly instruments started as a small store with a handful of instruments. This facebook page is dedicated to the acquisition, restoration, discussion, and occasional sale of vintage guitar amplifiers. Any of my customers will tell you that i tend to be blunt, but im just trying to save us all some time. In the case of the vacuum tube amp, we provide the invaluable service of cleaning and retensioning tube sockets and tube retainer clips, along with tube testing, retubing, and bias adjustment as appropriate. Guitar amplifier troubleshooting, repair, and service manuals. It then proceeds through each stage of a modern guitar amplifier, including preamp voltage amplification. A very unassuming title for a 617page engineering book. This new edition has been updated with the latest problems and now includes the parts used in the repair. An option such as the fender 68 custom deluxe reverb 22w 1x12 tube guitar combo amp with celestion g12v70 speaker, for example, might be just what doctor rock ordered. Half the bookisa bioof nearly every amp company in history. For solidstate amps, we will replace any dried thermal grease for your transistors or output devices. Kendrick amplifiers have made several thousands of tube guitar amps in the last nearly two decades.
A guitar repair client asked me to assess the guitarists guide to maintenance and repair. We specialize in vintage guitar and bass amplifiers as well as solid state guitar amps and speaker cabinets. Dave is also a regular contributor to guitar player and vintage guitar magazines. Gibson saturn ga45 rvt tube guitar amp repair gone wrong dlab. New edition of my book, guitar amps and their problems, 2. These unique amp designs have features that are suitable for different situations. If it is a tube amp, leave it to cool for ten minutes. Jan 17, 2017 the tube amp book by aspen pittman if you read this whole article, you probably already own this book. Packed with concise, clearly written tips on troubleshooting and repairs, this guide teaches the secrets of maintenance and fixing it yourself, with straightforward, stepbystep instructions using simple, affordable, readily available tools. This flow chart is the work of aspen pittman, the author of the tube amp book and reproduced from the complete guide to guitar and. Small tube power amp build a 10w15w power amp and learn the principles of tube amplification. Repair and disassembly guides for guitar amplifiers.
So, i got a job working on amps at a local tube amp repair shop. This book is a stepbystep tutorial for simulating vacuum tube guitar amplifiers using ltspice, a free spicebased electronic circuit simulator for windows and macos. Some of the tube amp designs of the last 60 to 70 years have oozed so much aural and visual mojo that. At tube works a repair entails more than simply fixing an existing issue with your amp.
The guitar diagrams vary from fender to gibson and others. This flow chart is the work of aspen pittman, the author of the tube amp book and reproduced from the complete guide to guitar and amp maintenance by ritchie fliegler. Do you have a traynor guitar or bass tube amp that needs repair or modifications. Since 1989, providing professional repair, restoration, upgrade, maintenance and modification of tube amplifiersmusical instrument and hifi as well as studio gear, vintage or modern, using the finest materials. A guide to basic tube amp maintenance guitar world.
Fundamentals of engineering electronics, william dow, 1937, 617 pages courtesy of an anonymous donor. We are available monday and tuesday for telephone support. Books, tutorials, and technology for guitar amplifier circuit design. Guitar amplifier repair and design is often a selftaught skill. The guitar signal flows through the grid stopper resistor to the tube s grid, then out the tube. Speakers, test gear, tools, voltage charts and schematics are demystified. Feb 10, 2016 some tube valve amp related tips to make your repair faster. The book begins with the fundamentals of electronics and vacuum tubes. Unnecessary parts replacement and poor quality repairs will ultimately decrease the value of your vintage amp.
I find it difficult to learn from a book or dvd without handson experience and being able to ask questions and be warned of pitfalls by an experienced amp master. See below click the show more tab for some links to other great people, and their channels. Located in new york city lower manhattan and bed stuy, brooklyn. Finding the cause of the problem is often the hardest part. Guitar amplifier repair training and education program. Open quick view dialog for ampeg pf115he portaflex 1x15 bass speaker cabinet. We service the latest solidstate and tube electronics as well as some of the oldest tube equipment you can get your hands on, from ampeg to zenith. Given the diy nature of this issue, we thought it would be appropriate to address. If you have a tube amp, this might be a better book for you. Try plugging in a guitar cable, turn up all the amp s volume, gain and master volume controls up a little and touch the tip of the guitar. This illustrated workbook explains basic amplifier electronics, servicing skills, maintenance tips, troubleshooting and simple modifications. Jack darr tube amp book for free the steel guitar forum.
Learn basic amplifier servicing skills taught by a pro technician. The amp is completely dead if the amp is completely silent no speaker hum or hiss at all then the problem can be just about anywhere in the amp but you should suspect a bad tube, blown fuse or the power supply in that order try a new rectifier tube. Since 1989, providing professional repair, restoration, upgrade, maintenance and modification of tube amplifiersmusical instrument and hifi as well as studio gear, vintage or modern, using the finest materials bring or ship me your vintage or modern tube amplifier or other analog gear and i will repair. The first part of the book has a rather indepth treatment of vacuum tube operation, and details of amplifier. I have read mine over and over, gotten more troubleshooting technique from it than i picked up in the first 5 years of vintage amp service i was doing. How to repair solid state guitar amps our pastimes. How to service your own tube amp does exactly what is says it will do. The details are really wellexplained for a book under 200 pages long. There is something about the glow of hot glass and the imposing sight of weighty iron through the grille that seems to sum up so much of whats cool about the electric guitar. Over 40 years later, weve grown into one of the worlds most respected sellers of new, used, and vintage fretted instruments. Where can i take my instrument andor amplifier to be. Jimmy, there are a plethora of books available on tube amp repair. A great book on tube amp repair and it is a free pdf download. We offer high quality work and pride ourselves on giving our customers personalized and professional service.
Guitar signal shown in pink enters the tube on the left at ac signal in. This amp is small, yet powerful, and absolutely loaded with tone. I will be honest with you about the work you need done to your amp, what parts we replaced, and what work we actually did. Protect your expensive investment or hobby with inexpensive fuses. Browse our collection of newly listed pickup parts, made here in the usa. Youll want to take notes as you read, but its written with musicians in mind. Most guitarists are fairly fanatical about the tube amp. Keep your amp in top notch shape with new fender amplifier parts. Vintage guitar amp serviced by local used guitar shop.
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