Recommended reading for learning how to build my own amplifiers?

[kintrap]

I have a very limited understanding of both amplifiers and the internet. So it has proven difficult for me to educate myself on building amplifiers. If anyone knows of some really thorough, detailed videos or articles or threads, any help is appreciated.

 

[Passinwind]

You could do worse than starting here. Link Removed

 

[BassmanPaul]

You should start of with a kit and build that. You will also NEED, at minimum, a test meter, Scope and a signal generator. A soldering station is much better than a simple iron. Long nose pliars, wire stripper, side cutters and a bunch of other tools. A clean, clear area to work that is well lighted and ventilated.

 

[B-string]

I'd love a clean work area, but work always gets in the way

 

[iualum]

^^^ I tried working once. Didn't work out. Was too much like work.

 

[Woodstockz]

I'd love a clean work area, but work always gets in the way

Every time I get a clean work area, my wife uses it as a junk storage area.

 

[Woodstockz]

You should start of with a kit and build that. You will also NEED, at minimum, a test meter, Scope and a signal generator. A soldering station is much better than a simple iron. Long nose pliars, wire stripper, side cutters and a bunch of other tools. A clean, clear area to work that is well lighted and ventilated.

A kit is a great idea. I started 40 years ago with a Dynaco kit. I was also an EE student, which went together.

Always keep a healthy respect for electricity.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Always keep a healthy respect for electricity.

Indeed!!! Touching the wrong thing can be electrifying!!

In a bad way!!

 

[Mr. Foxen]

Fixing some broken ones teaches a lot of useful stuff. Especially oldschool pre pcb stuff where you can follow all the circuit in wires form.

 

[groovaholic]

The book "Radiotron Designers' Handbook" is massive, and intimidating, and covers just about everything you'd need to know.

[Editorial note: Reading it is what made me abandon the idea of building my own amps.]

 

[JGR]

Start with Kevin O'Connor's TUT series and Merlin's (Valve Wizard) books. Read, then re-read. Then start with a simple kit or tinker with an already working amp so you can begin to get a feel for what affects what and how.

 

[B-string]

Fixing some broken ones teaches a lot of useful stuff. Especially oldschool pre pcb stuff where you can follow all the circuit in wires form.

A strong torch (flashlight on this side of the pond) under a PCB and I have had little trouble following any circuit on older amps ect.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

But when you are learning, coloured lines going between the components is easier to follow.

 

[B-string]

Unless multiples of the same colour are bundled with floss ties that have to be cut and re-dressed after. That may force learning lead dress in very frustrating way. 6 to 1.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I think that getting your hands dirty by building or fixing something is a good way to start. Then, if the interest is there, learn the theory later. There far more instructional material available today than there was when I started out. I think that the first thing that I build was a crystal radio from a kit. Today, I might start out with a pedal kit. They are all over the internet and there are a lot of DIY discussions on TB in the pedal group. There are so many pedal options, at some point, consider a Flipster.


Some good books and videos are available at Invalid Link Removed. The price of educating yourself can get expensive. Youtube has a lot of entertaining amp videos. Link Removed has some interesting workmanship standards.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Hmmm. A clean work area. That is a nice dream. I think I got there for 5 minutes once.

Some reading and eyeballing here (there are a few others I'm thinking of but cannot find right at the moment):

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/amp-building.302970/#post-3745795

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/coolest-looking-tube-amp-imo.712713/page-3#post-10470783

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/amp-builds-should-i-worry-about-guts.822818/

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/amp-guts-photos-official-thread-lets-see-those-pics.513929/

And not that it has much to do with "building bass amps" specifically, The Art of Electronics by Horowitz and Hill...

 

[Passinwind]

I think that getting your hands dirty by building or fixing something is a good way to start. Then, if the interest is there, learn the theory later. There far more instructional material available today than there was when I started out. I think that the first thing that I build was a crystal radio from a kit. Today, I might start out with a pedal kit. They are all over the internet and there are a lot of DIY discussions on TB in the pedal group. There are so many pedal options, at some point, consider a Flipster.

Another good first project might be the Music Man 2 band onboard preamp clone. Lots of TB'ers have built them, they're cheap, and they sound great.

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/pcbs-for-diy-clone-2-band-preamps.737117/

 

[Mr. Foxen]

Unless multiples of the same colour are bundled with floss ties that have to be cut and re-dressed after. That may force learning lead dress in very frustrating way. 6 to 1.

Never had that happen, and laced amps are my bread and butter, occasionally had to undo a bit for slack.

 

[B-string]

Never had that happen, and laced amps are my bread and butter, occasionally had to undo a bit for slack.

That is great for you, but it doesn't make it any easier that a PCB for someone starting out is the point.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

I'm literally saying its easier because that is what I found by doing exactly this scenario as described by the OP: Learning to build amps from working on amps made in the way that you can make them. Great you can follow pcbs given certain circumstances, but doesn't really have super relevance.