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Guitar Amplifier Handbook - Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds (Softcover)
 
 
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Guitar Amplifier Handbook - Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds (Softcover) [Paperback]

Dave Hunter (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)

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Book Description

October 1, 2005
There's a huge amount of hype and mythology surrounding tube amplifiers in the guitar world. For years, experts have argued over the tiny details of exactly how they do what they do, and how their various components interact. What's undeniable is that, far more than being just a "loudness booster," the unique combination of tubes, capacitors, resistors, and transformers in these amps can contribute enormously to the quality of sound derived from any electric guitar. In this thorough and authoritative book, Dave Hunter cuts through the marketing hyperbole, and the blind faith, and supplies all the information you need to choose the right amp, and get the best from it. The book also features exclusively conducted, in-depth interviews with leading figures in the tube amp-building world - including Ken Fischer, Mark Sampson, and Michael Zaite - and even provides full instructions on how to construct your own high-quality tube guitar amp from scratch.

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Guitar Amplifier Handbook - Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds (Softcover) + Guitar Effects Pedals the Practical Handbook  Book/CD (Softcover) + The Guitar Pickups Handbook
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dave Hunter, author of Guitar Effects Pedals, is an American musician and journalist who has worked in both Britain and the USA. His is a former editor of The Guitar Magazine (UK), has contributed to TV and radio documentaries, and has edited and contributed to books such as: Acoustic Guitars - The Illustrated Encyclopedia; The Tube Amp Book - Deluxe Revised Edition; Guitar - A Complete Guide for the Player; and Recording Guitar and Bass.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Backbeat Books (October 1, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 087930863X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0879308636
  • Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dave Hunter is a leading guitar writer and a musician. His books include Totally Guitar, Guitar effects Pedals and Guitar Rigs.

 

Customer Reviews

37 Reviews
5 star:
 (22)
4 star:
 (11)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (37 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a GREAT tube amp primer!, January 25, 2006
By 
This review is from: Guitar Amplifier Handbook - Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds (Softcover) (Paperback)
There are not a lot of books specifically about guitar tube amps, and while there are certainly some great texts out there, nobody had written a comprehensive, plain-english, yet technically in-depth resource explaining how all the different parts of a guitar tube amp add up to great tone... Until now. I think there are many people like myself who don't have any kind of engineering background (i.e.; no math) yet who have a deep interest in understanding exactly what makes their vintage amp tick, and who might just want to build one from scratch one day. This book is for us. Dave Hunter has done his homework and put together a manual that covers a great sampling of makes and types, explaining things that many of the other books assume you already know, and in a non-condescending manner. The Guitar Amp Handbook is from the same publisher that put out the latest edition of The Tube Amp Book by Aspen Pittman, and it is a perfect complement to that book which, while rich in schematics is pretty lacking in technical explanation... Actually, The Tube Amp book has a similar problem that plagues most existing tube amp books; it has great tips and tricks, but no real fundamentals. Dave Hunter has given us the foundation that will finally allow us to actually benefit from the other books.
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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars another winner from Dave Hunter, November 22, 2005
By 
This review is from: Guitar Amplifier Handbook - Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds (Softcover) (Paperback)
Buy it! If you have any interest at all in how your guitar amplifier works, you need this book - I can't recommend it anymore than that! Dave has authored more books from Publisher Backbeat Books, and they're all killer productions - great/informative writing, superb binding, covers and great detail in the publishing aspects of these books.

Dave Hunter is well versed in all things guitar, as I have learned through buying and reading all of his works to date. He's got a unique book here in his approach and honesty on the subject, and it's worth every penny. Loaded with real world, no BS information - great sections on signal chain, components, how to select the right amp for you and at the end, a fully documented amplifier kit (which is now available through the publisher's website) which you can either buy direct, or put together with your own parts!

Highly recommended, and I highly recommend Dave's other books as well!
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK DELIVERS ON IT'S PROMISE!, April 8, 2006
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This review is from: Guitar Amplifier Handbook - Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds (Softcover) (Paperback)
When you are done reading this - you will understand tube-based (and let's face it those are the only kind any of us really care about) guitar amplifiers. Hunter writes clearly, and concisely, my only objection to his style is that he's a little bit too sympathetic to people's feelings. I'd rather he just apologize once for his opinions and level his criticisms.
But that's me.

I've been playing guitar for going on 30 years, and I managed to learn practical service information about tubes and controls as well as effects set up.

The great thing about this book is it will actually teach you how to build an amp! I haven't tried it as I've not got the money for the kit, but I feel more than encouraged by the clean layout and direct explanations.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
first preamp tube, tone stack, guitar amp circuits, output tube distortion, eyelet card, comp resistors, preamp tubes, eyelet board, triode stage, first gain stage, carbon comps, output tubes, tweed amps, amp builders, cathode biasing, cranked amp, vintage amps, reverb circuit, bypass cap, first triode, signal caps, rock amp, tube rectifier, speaker distortion, second gain stage
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Super Reverb, Fender Deluxe, Tone Tubby, Les Paul, Fender Bassman, Input And Preamp, Twin Reverb, Alnico Blue, Fender Champ, Eric Clapton, Everette Hull, Ken Fischer, Leo Fender, Matchless Lightning, Other Features, Air Brake, Aspen Pittman, Bass Master, Fender Princeton, Groove Tubes, Hot Plate, Orange Drops, Sprague Atom, Billy Gibbons, Jimi Hendrix
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