Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Yes, but you gave me that original drawing as a starting point. Just like we all owe Thomas Edison thanks, because without the light bulb there would have been no tubes. And of course Marconi, Tesla, Etc...ayan wrote:Hmmm... my chassis were not nearly as pretty as the ones you make avaialble to all of us now.Funkalicousgroove wrote:You can all thank Gil for the chassis I sell, that's for sure!!!
Gil
OK, and maybe also to Randall Smith for "inventing channel switching?"Funkalicousgroove wrote:I think the Big Guy owes some thanks to Leo Fender
I think HAD owes his ears and brain to the BIG big guyFunkalicousgroove wrote: I think the Big Guy owes some thanks to Leo Fender
I read, and thoroughly enjoyed, his first book "Circuit Analysis of a Legendary Tube Amplifier: The Fender Bassman 5F6-A". With that experience I ordered "Guitar Amplifier Preamps" as soon as it was announced... I thought he might use the same analytical techniques to get to the bottom of tone construction (all the things that are hinted about in the article Funk posted)... unfortunately, the 2nd book doesn't get into tone stacks or interstage tone shaping at all.dr. who wrote:Has anyone read the book By Kuehnel- Vacuum Tube Circuit Design: Guitar Amplifier Pre Amps?
I've been into the Building Valve amps book and this one seems like it might be useful.
I bought the Bassman 5F6-A book. I must admit that this is way over my head. Too technical. I guess if anyone struggles with Kevin O'Connor's books he should definitely stay away from this one.mdroberts1243 wrote:I read, and thoroughly enjoyed, his first book "Circuit Analysis of a Legendary Tube Amplifier: The Fender Bassman 5F6-A". With that experience I ordered "Guitar Amplifier Preamps" as soon as it was announced... I thought he might use the same analytical techniques to get to the bottom of tone construction (all the things that are hinted about in the article Funk posted)... unfortunately, the 2nd book doesn't get into tone stacks or interstage tone shaping at all.dr. who wrote:Has anyone read the book By Kuehnel- Vacuum Tube Circuit Design: Guitar Amplifier Pre Amps?
I've been into the Building Valve amps book and this one seems like it might be useful.
There is good information in the 2nd book, but I think tone shaping is left for a future book.
I really like the Morgan Jones Valve Amplifiers book, but the Building Valve Amplifiers book was less useful, IMHO.
There's a lot of great info on that site, but it falls into the same category as Kuehnel's preamp book - it gives you the basic equations governing the circuit, but it doesn't go into the theory behind tone shaping and harmonic buildip. Which frequency bands to boost/cut and where and why, or how to take a sound in your head and design an amplifier circuit that will at least get you in the ballpark. That's a topic that I have yet to see anyone address in depth.jelle wrote:The Aiken site is GREAT also for interstage tone shaping!!
Having a sound in your head in the first place and being able to articulate it or even remember it in the context of hearing another sound is a skill few of us possess. Like perfect pitch (which I certainly don't have) it's rare!TimS wrote:Which frequency bands to boost/cut and where and why, or how to take a sound in your head and design an amplifier circuit that will at least get you in the ballpark. That's a topic that I have yet to see anyone address in depth.
Who knows, maybe I'll learn enough to one day write that book myself.
) but I never designed it I just slowly moved towards it and eventually got there (to some level of satisfaction). ) Guys who can "make it up" from a blank slate with no reference but the sound in their heads? - holy mackeral - how many can do that? 
). Its like composing music or painting a picture - no one can tell you how to successfully create - you either do it successfully or you don't.
Not very many. That's one of the reasons I'm intrigued by the concept. Unfortunately, however, it's the sort of thing that somebody would have to devote his life to working on, and I just don't have the obsession for amp building that this task would require. That being the case, I'm afraid my relationship to the subject will remain as a theorist.nickt wrote: Builders can't "make it fit" they have to "make it up". This forum seems about reproducing a characteristic "sound" and even that is way hard (I'm looking forward to trying though
Really? Guess I'm one of the lucky few then. I can't describe the sounds that I hear in my head to save my life, but I definitely remember them (I've got sort of the aural equivalent of a photographic memory). No perfect pitch, though.nickt wrote:Having a sound in your head in the first place and being able to articulate it or even remember it in the context of hearing another sound is a skill few of us possess. Like perfect pitch (which I certainly don't have) it's rare!
Yeah you're right - the point I was trying to make is that most folks (particularly players) use the sound in front of them. Theres a lot of gross changes at the start (eg which guitar which amp which style which pedal) then small tweeks. The patience to keep on tweeking and the ability to tweek *far* beyond that initial gross setup is really unusual. In particular when the destination is unknown. I personally wonder if I'll even be patient enough to get close to a "great" tone once I hit something I like. Wait and see...Funkalicousgroove wrote:I seriously doubt that any of these guys had the sound in their head before they started building, it starts with an idea of a circuit, then you build that circuit and for the first time hear what it sounds like, and tweak from there.
