Amp and speaker book for DB players?

[drurb]

Over the past few days especially, I have received some very gracious comments regarding some of my posts in which I endeavor to explain some of the technical aspects of amplifiers and speaker cabinets and how they affect DB players in the real world. I was flattered by many of these comments, perhaps, mostly by Jason Hollar's suggestion that I compile some of these into a small book.

At first, I dismissed the notion of actually doing this. With Jason's encouragement, I began to think seriously about it. Please consider this post as a trial balloon. Here's what I'd like to know. Is there substantial interest in such a small book? To be blunt, would anyone consider it valuable enough to pay a few bucks for it?

Please let me know your thoughts. Perhaps it is the case that people get enough of the information they need in forums like TB so that such a book would be of little value. If you feel that's the case, please tell me so. Perhaps there is already a book out there that fills the need.

For now, I've compiled an outline of what might be included in such a publication. If you are inclined to do so, please tell me what you might want added or subtracted.

Again, this post is just a trial balloon. If such a book were thought to be desirable and ever saw the light of day, I would, in accord with the CUP, not use TB to push it!

________________ The Book __________________

I. Plain-English explanations of technical terms

decibels
power
sound pressure
intensity

II. Pre-amplifier and amplifiers

1. Input impedance and why it matters
2. What filters (e.g., notch, high-pass, etc.) do and how to use them effectively
3. infrasonics and how they can hurt you
4. Tone controls and learning to use them to your benefit
5. Out power ratings and what they really mean
6. Headroom: what it really means and when it matters
7. Distortion and noise ratings: when do they matter?

III. Speaker cabs

1. Efficiency vs. sensitivity and what the ratings mean
2. Power handling
3. Why sound pressure level matters
4. Those nasty infrasonics again
5. Impedance ratings: how and when they matter to you
6. Frequency response and what matters for a DB player
7. Basic cabinet design and why you might care (e.g., ported designs, do I need a tweeter?)
8. Matching an amp with a cabinet without wasting money
9. Stacking/combining cabinets: what to consider electrically and acoustically

IV. Some basic principles of acoustics and psychoacoutics

[Jeff Guevin]

This sounds like a great idea to me, and I absolutely would pay a reasonable amount for it. I think practical examples of how one combines and configures different components would be really helpful, too.

[Ed Fuqua]

AYE, THAT'S THE DRUB - just to give you a little of my non-musical background, I've worked in book stores since 1974 and since I've been in NYC I've managed the bookstore at MoMA and been both store management (1992 -1995) and book buyer (1995 - 12:09 today) at the Gugg.

My recommendation would be to check out selling your writing as a series of articles to either BASS PLAYER or DOUBLE BASSIST (who did a nice series about 4 articles long on DB pickup comparisons). Instead of a book that's 4 chapters and maybe 80 pages that would have to retail at the lower end of the spectrum, you have enough material for 4 articles in series. You would also want to negotiate your recompense if they include your articles in the books they occasionally publish.

The downside is no royalty structure. But I have to say, personally, if my choice was spending (no more than) $8.95 for a booklet and just plugging in and spinning some knobs for free, well you see where I'm going...

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

AYE, THAT'S THE DRUB - just to give you a little of my non-musical background, I've worked in book stores since 1974 and since I've been in NYC I've managed the bookstore at MoMA and been both store management (1992 -1995) and book buyer (1995 - 12:09 today) at the Gugg.

My recommendation would be to check out selling your writing as a series of articles to either BASS PLAYER or DOUBLE BASSIST (who did a nice series about 4 articles long on DB pickup comparisons). Instead of a book that's 4 chapters and maybe 80 pages that would have to retail at the lower end of the spectrum, you have enough material for 4 articles in series. You would also want to negotiate your recompense if they include your articles in the books they occasionally publish.

The downside is no royalty structure. But I have to say, personally, if my choice was spending (no more than) $8.95 for a booklet and just plugging in and spinning some knobs for free, well you see where I'm going...

Thank you. Yours seems like wise and very well-informed advice.

[flatback]

yea although you loose me, generally after the first "The" Still I have learned a significant amount about all this from your posts. To tell you the truth I really appreciate that your wisdom has been free. What I like most about this forum is the informal and direct access to peoples spontaneous insights.
But in this day and age where a bassists has access to truely fine and complicated sound reenforcement, your informed understanding is valuable information. To have a full explanation of all these factors in one place (or as Ed suggested a series of articles) would be great.
..But since you already edumacated all of us, whose left?

[Ed Fuqua]

You know, looking at today's modern world of new technology of the future, you may want to think about a subscription print on demand download. Maybe $2.95, you download a pdf of the whole deal. If you have a server, then you get ALL of that money, no royalties to worry about, no accounting hassles etc.

even if you have to rent space on somebody else's server, you still don't have to worry about actually producing inventory (no capital outlay) or getting somebody else to produce it (royalties on sales from a publisher).

It's summat to think about....

[flatback]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

You know, looking at today's modern world of new technology of the future, you may want to think about a subscription print on demand download. Maybe $2.95, you download a pdf of the whole deal. If you have a server, then you get ALL of that money, no royalties to worry about, no accounting hassles etc.

even if you have to rent space on somebody else's server, you still don't have to worry about actually producing inventory (no capital outlay) or getting somebody else to produce it (royalties on sales from a publisher).

It's summat to think about....

excellent Idea. Shall I give you my card number now?...

[hdiddy]

Given that there are probably quite a few people just on TB alone who would be interested in this, you could make a modest amount money with just a digital handbook. You can probably just go with Paypal for something like this and allow people to have a download. All you probably need is to set up a website to host all of this. You might be able to not even have the need for people to pay using a credit card.

The BassPlayer mag idea would still be valid. You can just offer tidbits/commentary as an article and offer the whole enchilada on your website. I'm sure the EB players would also be interested, not considering all the other types of folks out there. I can't see why you couldn't be successful running it on your own. I guess the only worry then is that people would copy the handbook and share it with someone else.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by flatback

yea although you loose me, generally after the first "The"

I'll try harder. I don't like to lose people.

Originally Posted by flatback

To tell you the truth I really appreciate that your wisdom has been free.

I hear you and I am happy to keep posting and to do what good I can. I was only responding to the suggestion that I sit down and lay it all out in one place.

Originally Posted by flatback

To have a full explanation of all these factors in one place (or as Ed suggested a series of articles) would be great.

Ed's idea about a series of articles seems a "win-win." That way, someone else pays for it!

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

You know, looking at today's modern world of new technology of the future, you may want to think about a subscription print on demand download. Maybe $2.95, you download a pdf of the whole deal. If you have a server, then you get ALL of that money, no royalties to worry about, no accounting hassles etc.

even if you have to rent space on somebody else's server, you still don't have to worry about actually producing inventory (no capital outlay) or getting somebody else to produce it (royalties on sales from a publisher).

It's summat to think about....

Hmm. Intriguing. Brilliant thought. Thank you again.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Given that there are probably quite a few people just on TB alone who would be interested in this, you could make a modest amount money with just a digital handbook. You can probably just go with Paypal for something like this and allow people to have a download. All you probably need is to set up a website to host all of this. You might be able to not even have the need for people to pay using a credit card.

The BassPlayer mag idea would still be valid. You can just offer tidbits/commentary as an article and offer the whole enchilada on your website. I'm sure the EB players would also be interested, not considering all the other types of folks out there. I can't see why you couldn't be successful running it on your own. I guess the only worry then is that people would copy the handbook and share it with someone else.

More good ideas! I suppose I could even offer the thing on eBay but the idea of a server would be better. I suppose I could also offer it on a web site and email it to folks after a small payment on Paypal. Yes, people could copy it, but, hey that's the way it goes. If they want to screw me over, then they have to figure out how to sleep. I could never control that.

Also, the idea here was not to rake in big bucks. It was to supply folks with the kind of information they may find valuable while gaining a modest return for the time it would take to write and proof it. I do mean modest. I sure don't want anyone to think my primary message was, "Hey I want to sell you something." I know that's not what you were suggesting, hdiddy, but I just want to get that into the open.

[Freddels]

Ed has given you some really great ideas. I would think that the 4 article series in either Bass Player and/or Bass Guitarist and/or Double Bass magazines would give you a very wide audience and credibility to begin. Then in those articles you have a link to your site and then there's would be the ability to sell additional info as downloadable pdf's for a fee.

[David Santos]

I would just like to say: THANK YOU DRURB! The information you have provided on this site has been interesting really great. I usually manage to understand it, or at least get an idea of what you're talking about. This means that what I've read so far from your posts has been sufficient information for my needs. If I ever felt like "going deeper" I would surely be in line to pay for the download of your PDF (seems to me probably the better simple way of doing it, for you and everyone else). The mag articles though does seem to be a good idea as well.

David Santos

[hdiddy]

Originally Posted by drurb

I know that's not what you were suggesting, hdiddy, but I just want to get that into the open.

Yes I know that's what I was trying to get at. The model that I'm thinking of is one that you find typically with shareware software. The fee is relatively little while some just offer a tip jar. It's more of a "feel good" exchange where we feel it's worth it to reward you to show our gratitude and know that you're not trying to take advantage of us (which makes us want to contribute even more). Kinda like TBDB - which reminds me that I should probably renew.

Anyways, one of my friends had written a small piece of software that would turn any large picture into smaller tiles like those used on websites. I don't think he sold it for any money, but put up a virtual tip jar. He told me he gets a modest amount every month from it (~$100). I think it's a neat little concept.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Freddels

Ed has given you some really great ideas. I would think that the 4 article series in either Bass Player and/or Bass Guitarist and/or Double Bass magazines would give you a very wide audience and credibility to begin. Then in those articles you have a link to your site and then there's would be the ability to sell additional info as downloadable pdf's for a fee.

Thank you as well. Very fine idea.

[larry]

+1 on the e-book idea. You have a pretty limited audience, I'm afraid - you'd stand to gain more by keeping it simple.

Check with a tax man, but I believe that starting a formal business (even with your only product being the ebook) would be sufficient to reap some big write-offs, such as writing off gear purchases as research on the book, etc.

You might get some worthwhile income and write-offs for a very small cash outlay, and you don't have to sell it to a publisher.

[drurb]

Thanks Larry! The e-book idea does seem very attractive.

[Subculture13]

Subscribing for a later read

[Jason Hollar]

In college, because I was a Music major, I got out of certain required courses and could choose more interesting and somewhat applicable subjects to my vocation.

For example, instead of the dreaded freshman Chem or Bio, I got to take Acoustic Physics instead! It was cool to learn about how sound travels, the theory behind the sound waves, and all of the seemingly infinite variables involved. Problem was, it really just ended up being another "math" class with cool pictures I could relate to. And I don't remember a darn thing from it, except 8+8=4, but I knew that already.

OK, a drummer cracks a snare drum 150 feet away...it's 65 degrees with 47% humidity...how long does it take for you to hear the sound? Can't say, some hipster in a tricked out Honda drove by at 20 MPH with his subwoofers blaring at 130 db and the sound waves cancelled out the drum hit... How fast would he have to drive so that the sound waves couple and blow out all his windows?

In all seriousness, the good Doctor is quite articulate and has an uncanny ability to 'splain complicated things in plain English.

I like the idea of a series of articles -- especially in the bass player publications. There are numerous gear "reviews", but they are mostly subjective, which is ok. However, it would be much better to have a more objective look at what's really going on with the gear itself.

The interesting thing on the table...from my perspective...and the reason why I frequent (haunt?) this particular thread anyway...seems to be the issue of gear compatibility.

It seems that all kinds of people spend all kinds of money on the latest & greatest gear only to find out it doesn't perform as well with their old or current equipment. Now what? Buy more stuff that's better "matched" or go back with what worked before and start over?

As musicans and artists, we tend to take this kind of stuff personally, at least I do. When my stuff fails or sounds like crap, I think I sound like crap and start to play like crap. When I spend a bundle on the latest and greatest "thing" I expect it to deliver the goods. When it doesn't I'm confused.

And mad. The literature said it was 500 watts...that's supposed to be loud right?! It says it goes all the way down to 40 Hz...that sounds deep right?! It's only 50 pounds, that's a good trade off for volume VS portability right?!

I've found DRURB's posts incredibly helpful in trying to speculate on the best "new rig" for me. Since I live in a suburban no-man's-land of bass gear, this forum, among others, has been a great resource for me in discovering what's out there. Otherwise, I'd still be playing through an old Peavey!

I'd like something light, powerful, and awesome please. And oh yes, not too expensive! What's the best combination of preamp, amp, and cabinet to do the job well? Answer: Who knows? It's all based on your needs and style! However, having some basic knowledge about SPL, sensitivity, impedance matching, etc., could save us all a lot of time and energy. And money. This is what I'm trying to learn.

I vote for the idea of securing a deal for a series of articles in a well known publication. You could also collect the articles and offer the full, unabridged version for sale online or in book form.

Sign me up, I'll order one! Will this be a profitable venture for you? Can't say. Maybe you and Tom Bowlus can open a consulting firm. He'll collect each and every amp out there and post thorough reviews based on rigorous A/B testing. You can keep score and determine the outcome scientifically! Manufacturers will cower in fear waiting to see if they get unfavorable reviews on Talk Bass and will make heroic efforts to improve their product line accordingly!

Thanks again for all your insight and answers to my questions -- and no matter what you end up doing with this project, keep up the good work!

[drurb]

Thanks again, Jason. You were the inspiration for all of this. I have been given wonderful advice by many kind folks here.

You raise a critical issue. I am continually impressed by how the controversies regarding specifications that once haunted the hi-fi world (okay, they still do, to some extent) have seemingly never been addressed or solved in the musical amplification/sound reinforcement world.

Back in the 70's, debate raged furiously about how to spec power amplifiers. This was amid numerous false claims from manufacturers and a number of "voluntary" standards. We had power, peak music power, IHF power, EIA power, continuous RMS with no distortion specs, continuous RMS with distortion specs but no bandwidth spec, and on and on and on. People were being ripped off by less than ethical companies. The FTC finally stepped in and helped develop standards. (Actually, they blew it at first.) [A geek note: I was about 14 years old at the time and reading about all of this. Go ahead-- laugh. Now I'm involved with all of this for a living.]

Now, what does it mean when our favorite amp companies tell us the power of an amp? To be honset, even I am unsure. For example, go to your favorite amp site. Pick your favorite company-- one you trust. Look at the power specification. Does it say xxx watts RMS continuous at x% distortion over the bandwidth xxx -- xxx Hz? Not likely! This is part of the reason you end up frustrated! There are companies who will tell you that the amp is 400 watts, when in truth it can maintain 400 watts for, maybe, a few hundred milliseconds and it can maintain only 150 watts continuously. Did they lie? No. Did they mislead you. In my book, yes!

Now there's those speaker specs...

Oh look what I've done! I just wrote part of a chapter!