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Amp Books?

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4/17/1999 12:03 AM

Question: What do you recommend as the first book to buy reference guitar amps? Right now I am considering between these two:
1) The Ultimate Tone by Kevin O'Connor $55
This one is first in RG's Tube Amp FAQ
2) Radiotron's Designer Handbook 4th Ed. $29.95
This one is also on his list.
I guess what I am looking for is which one is going to be more useful. What are the plus and minus of each. Which would you recommend as a first addition? $55 is hard to swallow if I can get all of that and more with the Radiotron.
Thanks,
Doug

4/17/1999 5:28 AM

If you're just starting out buy O'Connor's book. If you're already experience working on amps then buy the Radiotron.

I think O'Connors book would be better for beginners in that different aspects of amps are explained in a fairly easy to understand manner. O'Connor does also get technical so you will have to use the book over and over to let the informnation sink in.

Radiotron is a definite reference book that is not what you would call casual reading. It's for really getting down so to speak. If you are already experienced then maybe the Radiotron would be better.

I have both books amongst others and like them all. Occasionally I will pick a book at random and scan through it for a refresher.

Also, the Radiotron 4th edition is more likely the CD version at $29.95 and I heard that it was a crude photo copy looking thing that is hard to read. Might be wrong in this I don't know. I do know that I purchasded the real deal in excellent condition from a gentleman at a Ham Fest for $75.00 when they generally sell for more than a hundred dollars in good shape. Get the book and not the CD in my opionion.

Hope this info helps, good luck. Terry

4/17/1999 11:40 AM

Geoff Van Brunt

Also, the Radiotron 4th edition is more likely the CD version at $29.95 and I heard that it was a crude photo copy looking thing that is hard to read.

I have the CD Version, and it is quite a crude copy. It's basically pdf files, but the scans are poor. I printed the thing out and it fills four mini-binders using regular 20lbs stock!

It has been reprinted recently, and can be purchaed for about $70. I forget who carries it though, but it shouldn't be too hard to find.

GVB

4/17/1999 10:55 PM

Try http://www.amazon.com or
http://www.barnesandnoble.com , if it's
in print, either one can get it.

I haven't seen TUT, tho I can say I certainly
don't agree with everything O'Connor says,
at least he's sincere. We've been selling the
Dave Funk Book, which seems to be a good compromise between an all encompassing tome like RDH#4 and something the average person can absorb.Funk also reprints the pertinent
(audio) portions of RDH#4 in a separate volume.

4/18/1999 9:25 AM
Geoff Van Brunt	I found some links to a reseller and the publisher of the reprint. Here's the links and ISBN number which can be used to order the book at Amazon etc... http://www.audioxpress.com/bksprods/books/bkb50.htm http://www.bh.com/news/us/index.htm ISBN 0 7506 3635 1 GVB

4/17/1999 7:47 AM
Graywater	Doug, Search around and see if you can scrape up a copy of "Amplifiers" by H. Lewis York - a time tested classic less specific to guitar amps than O'Connor but, unlike the Designer's Handbook, specific to audio amps. GW

4/17/1999 12:23 PM
Doug	Do you have anymore info on that book? Have been searching the web and got zilch so far! Thanks Doug

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