The Guitar Amp Handbook: Understanding Amplifiers And Getting Great Sounds by Dave Hunter (2005, Paperback)

The writer Dave Hunter finished off where Aspen Pittman left off, except that he has brought all the Beef. Remember the old commercial phase, "Where's the Beef?" I found the book a easy ready for beginners and experienced technicians. His attention to detail reminds me of the forgotten College Professor who taught the final Tube Amp theory and decided to give the students the answers that they would need for the final exam prep.

His patient details going step by step from Pre-Amp to Output stage was the key information that I needed to finally put it all together. This book should be a must read prior to embarking on the other great books that are out there, Like Tube Amp Book series and Desktop Reference of Hip Vintage Guitar amps in that order.

The part of the book that I ready liked was his actual examples of several famous manufactory Models, step by step without inforcing to much personal pressure. Its open and a honest look at what steps it took to create the sounds and tones that we now take for granted.

His care in explaining how Marshall aquired it signature sound and his way of giving credit to the craftsmen along the way that took great tube examples and turned them into the business giants that we see before us today. His book wasn't only about the giants. He took and portrayed the smaller companys that produced great products and stood them along side these companies.

It took me a while to read the complete book because I was reading it for specific details which where present with each turn of the page. I highlighted the information that I wasn't clear prior to reading this book. I have a lot of yellow pages, but far better understand of the knowledge level required to write this in a manner that even my young nephew would understand.

Thanks for becoming that college professor that we missed when we where interested in electronics prior to transistors becoming king. Thanks.

Drewski

I am a hobbyist with some very basic electrical knowledge, and love music including electric guitar. I'm on a quest to learn about the guts of tube guitar amps, and what makes guitar tone what it is. You know, that cool distortion on a power chord, that clean twang that opens up many beach boys songs, what makes that sound so cool? The amp has a lot to do with this sound, but how?

My library had nothing at all that came close to explaining this. Boarders, nothing. Barnes and nobles, nothing. After doing some research I rolled the dice and grabbed this book.

It is PERFECT for what I am looking for. I'm only in the first few chapters but so far it is WONDERFUL. I will update this review as I get further in the book.

So far, Dave has gone into how the signal travels through the amp, and hilighted various sections of a drawing of the layout so you can see exactly what he is describing. It is very easy to follow.

He explains what each resistor and capacitor does. How they work. What happens if they weren't there and why they are there and what happens if the value changes. He also explains how the various forms of electricity flow through or around them. What a different brand would do.

He explains how people believe the different types of components effect the sound. He keeps his opinion out of it enough to display opposing views, but adds his opinion also, but lets you know it is an opinion and subjective and explain how others disagree. Very fair, very helpful for this black art.

So, thus far I've learned a heck of a lot from the electrical point of view, and a lot from the musical point of view, and a lot from the subjective what is this cool sound point of view.

As I read through this book, I will continue to update this review.

Initial review, no updates yet: July 2, 2009

This book is awesome. It shows you a lot of amp schematics and what not. It also tells in you great detail about what each little component does, and how it can affect then amps sound overall.

GREAT BOOK!

I've bought a few books on tube amps and this one is the best I've seen so far.
It goes into detail of all parts and even has a guide to build your own. Not to mention the fact that it even lists a web site for tube amp lovers like myself.
This is well worth the investment for anyone who even FEELS the need to look inside their own amp!

This was my fith tube amp book purchase, looking for one that would, "make the lights go on." After reading it, Torres, Weber, Groove Tubes, etc. books all made sense.