The Tube Amp Book( Aspen Pittman). Although published in several versions, the best is the later oversized hardback spiral bound edition. A great write-up on major brands is complemented by high quality circuit diagrams. A CD included features 800 circuit diagrams.( 187 pages)
The History of Marshall: The First 50 Years( Doyle and Bowcott). This is another beautiful book with super pictures of the greatest Marshall Amplifiers, showing the interior circuits of many. A book to drool on, to say the least. Definitely recommended.( 392 pages)
The VOX Story: A Complete History of the Legend( David Petersen and Dick Denney). The history is covered in detail in this early 90’ s B & W tome. This is an interesting read, but does not have the unbelievable detail, by model, of the next book on the list.( 168 pages)
VOX Amplifiers( Jim Elyea). This is a massive( 2.5” thick, 9.8 lb.) oversized hardbound book describing all things VOX, and depicts many of the amps in Jim’ s collection, perhaps the largest collection in the world. His attention to detail is phenomenal. He has even tracked down the manufacturers of screws for these amps. This is another must-have for the owner of a VOX Amp, or one that just yearns for one.( 682 pages).
Amped: The Illustrated History of the World’ s Greatest Amps( Dave Hunter). This is really a beautiful book describing and picturing each of Hunter’ s favorite amps. You see amplifiers that most have never heard of. In my opinion, he overlooked a few that I thought was
worthy of my collection, but the line had to be drawn somewhere. A great book and highly recommended.( 208 pages)
The Guitar Amp Handbook: Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds( Dave Hunter). This is a very interesting book that I have re-read countless times. He has described some of his favorite amplifiers and their circuits. Interestingly, he has included extensive interviews with some of the greatest amplifier designers.( 295 pages)
The Book of Orange and Building the Brand( Cliff Cooper). This is two books in one and is an oversized hardcover describing the history of Orange Amplifiers. It is printed in a novel style called Flipbook, where half way through you flip the book over to read the second book. There are great pictures of the amplifiers and the bands that used Orange Amps.( 202 pages)
A Desktop Reference of Hip Vintage Guitar Amps. Tube Amp Talk for the Guitarist and Tech. Tube Guitar Amplifier Essentials. All About Vacuum Tube Guitar Amplifiers( Gerald Weber). I combined these four books by Gerald because they are similar in layout either written in a chapter style or a Q & A format. The first book has a large collection of schematics that have been cleaned up for easy reading. All are easy to read and written in a style that is easy to understand. A lot of Gerald’ s vast experience working with and repairing amplifiers is in there in print. All of his books are highly recommended.( 507, 529, 537, and 513 pages, respectively).
Gibson Amplifiers 1933-2008: 75 Years of the Gold Tone( Wallace Marx Jr.) For the Gibson Amp
collector this book has B & W pictures and specifications. There is a nice color section of beautiful mint examples. It also includes a CD-ROM containing the entire 1960s Master Service Book in PDF.( 192 pages)
Music Man 1978-1982( and Then Some): The Other Side of the Story( Frank W / M Green). An interesting read, but perhaps not as detailed with specs as many would expect. But other than original catalogs, the only reference out there.( 111pages)
Amps!( Richie Fliegler). This is a cool book about a lot of famous brands with a great color picture section to drool over. One of the first early picture books on amps, which is well worth owning.( 120 pages)
The Art of The Amplifier( Michael Doyle). A picture book for the most part, with just amazing shots of beautiful amplifiers.( 80 pages)
The Peavey Revolution, Hartley Peavey, The Gear, The Company, and the All-American Success Story( Ken Achard). Although not specifically an amplifier book, as it also reviews guitars and PA Systems, it does a pretty good job concerning the amplifiers. Most of us have owned a Peavey in our lifetime because of their affordability, good sound, and dependability.( 184 Pages)
Robert Gearhart After earning an MBA from Northern Iowa, I worked as a Manufacturers Rep for an engineered products company for 32 years and retired at 57 to pursue my passions, including guitar and amplifier collecting.
May � June 2016 CollectibleGuitar. com
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