Amp building

Bruce Griffin · Post by **Bruce Griffin** » 15 Aug 2004 10:53 am

I'm interested in building a tube amp or two for guitar and steel, just for fun, plus I'd like to be able to repair and modify my own amps. What's the best book or two, and where can I get info on improving my silver face twin, and so on. (I can read wiring diagrams, know some electronics, and work with dangerous voltages everyday, so I'm sorta started anyway.) Thanks! Bruce

Karlis Abolins · Post by **Karlis Abolins** » 15 Aug 2004 11:58 am

Bruce, Kevin O'Connor at London Power http://www.londonpower.com/ has a series of books that will give you all the info you need and more. I have his TUT1, 2, and 4. I built a 22 watt steel amp with tons of clean headroom. It almost impossible to break up . I used Kevin's ideas as a springboard.
Whatever books you use, good luck and have fun.

Karlis<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Karlis Abolins on 15 August 2004 at 12:58 PM.]</p></FONT>

Rick Johnson · Post by **Rick Johnson** » 16 Aug 2004 8:36 am

Try David Allen at www.allenamps.com

He offers tube amp kits.

------------------
Rick Johnson

Rich Young · Post by **Rich Young** » 16 Aug 2004 2:03 pm

This is a great website - builders and mod's - http://www.firebottle.com/fireforum/fireBB.cgi?cfg=ga&enter=go
I built a tweed deluxe from a kit, and read a lot on the 5E3 forum, great info. I got a great sounding guitar amp and a lot of knowledge.

Bob Lawrence · Post by **Bob Lawrence** » 17 Aug 2004 4:40 am

I have a book titled "Tube Amp Talk For The Guitarist And Tech" It contains chapters on basic electronics, amp mods etc and a chapter
called "Top Ten Amp Tricks For Steel Guitar Players"

Author: Gerald Weber
ISBN: 0-9641060-1-9

------------------

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 17 Aug 2004 5:47 pm

Find yourself a funky silverface Fender amp, like a Bassman head. You should be able to get a ragged out one for decent money. Go through the amp with the help of the books you get and by searching the net for restoration/mod info. You will learn more faster by doing this than you ever would imagine. All you will need is a very good dig meter that has a function to read DC Ma and a decent 30 watt soldering iron and an old Variac that you can get at any hamfest or electronic surplus place. Be careful and only work on one section of the amp at a time and test the results for each section.

Bruce Griffin · Post by **Bruce Griffin** » 19 Aug 2004 3:56 pm

Thanks, all! Good info, plus I found a few other resources on the web. If your lights dim, that's me testing a mod!