Vacuum Tube Circuit Design: Guitar Amplifier Preamps (Paperback)

by Richard Kuehnel (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
An in-depth understanding of preamp circuits is essential to creating a guitar amplifier design that stands out from the crowd. It is here that the designer gets a first crack at setting the amp's gain, frequency response, and distortion limits. Written for electronic engineers and professional amp builders, Guitar Amplifier Preamps moves beyond simplistic advice and cookbook solutions to present a complete guide to the theory and operation of triode and pentode voltage amplification. From the guitar pickup to the second stage grid, every aspect of circuit design is rigorously explained and thoroughly explored using real-world examples from Ampeg, Fender, Gibson, Laney, Marshall, Matchless, Orange, and Vox. The frequency shaping and distortion created in the first amplification stage affect the entire signal chain. Guitar Amplifier Preamps helps you get the most out of it.

Product Details

• Paperback: 223 pages
• Publisher: Pentode Press (February 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976982226
• ISBN-13: 978-0976982227
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,181 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Objective and engineering-based, June 1, 2008

By	Richard Christie (NZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Too many books on tube musical instrument amplifier design descend into subjectivity and waffle. Some, in attempting try to appeal too widely, lose rigor in explanation.

Kuehnel's volume manages to avoid becoming mired in theoretical detail yet remains analytically rigorous. The reader is expected to have a firm grasp of basic electronics and electronic components but explanations do not extend into the realm of system-function in frequency domain, laplace and fourier analysis. This contrasts with Kuehnel's seminal volume on the Fender Bassman 5F6-A, which is mathematically much more demanding.
The reader here is led quickly through basic triode operation and resistive divider networks. A reasonably comprehensive chapter on guitar pickup characteristics is included, this is extremely welcome as many works on similar subject neglect this topic, which is of fundamental importance. Further chapters cover topics of Miller capacitance, pentode operation, headroom, distortion, noise, cathode degeneration and parallel operation of triodes. The Ampeg B42X pre-amp is analysed, chosen because it does differ somewhat from the more familiar Fender Marshall circuits.

In keeping with the desire to use an engineering approach rather than that of a 'guru', Kuehnel includes data on real-world capacitor and resistor performance. He resists the temptation to pontificate on the vintage-component-tone-mojo debate and leaves it to the reader to assess the implications.

Tube gear is currently making a bit of a comeback in hi-fi, but it never really went away for guitar amplification.

To become a true guru on the topic one can't neglect the value of formal engineering training and recourse to the great texts of the 1950s and earlier by Frederick Terman and Langford-Smith etc. But those texts are general whilst this is specific to subject. Kuehnel doesn't include nearly as much information as contained within Kevin O'Connor's "Ultimate Tone" series but this book is better written, is more textbook like in nature, has fewer errors and in my opinion it is a far better initial investment for those serious about the subject.

So, I've just ordered Kuehnel's follow up volume on the power amp to keep the other two volumes that I've already bought company.

5.0 out of 5 stars A very serious book, May 28, 2009

By	Desert dweller (W Hollywood, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Thanks to Dave Hunter, many musicians now have a grasp on what is happening inside their tube amp. If you are not interested in designing or modifying an amp, Hunter's books are all you need. But, if you want to start with a blank sheet of paper and build something from the ground-up; the info in Kuehnel's books (he also has a power amp book in this series), are the best of their type and unlike old school tube books that you find at a used book store; this book is specifically geared toward guitar and bass amps. There is alot of detailed info here so it is not something you can just read through, cover-to-cover. it is best to take it in small sections or, go directly to a section that interests you (I started with the effect of cathode bypass capacitors). All told, I am not sure if I will ever build an amp from scratch but using this info, I actually think that I can do it.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ouch my Head Hurts!!, December 6, 2008

By	D. Frisbee (Asheville NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is NOT for beginners...... I would say that if you do not have a degree in electronics, I would stay away from this book. If you do, then this would be a great book for you. I have no degree, and have read the book several times, and I would say I understand 10-20% of the book. Just Find another book.