The Complete Guide to Guitar and Amp Maintenance

Rating:
Summary: At first I wasnt satisfied
Review: At first I wasnt satisfied with this book as the title led me to expect a more in-depth analysis. The book however is useful for the average non technition musician and is easy to understand, well written. Once I read it I bought another copy for my son, he isn't interested in being a tech but the info here can save ...if you are a working musician and let you know when you are better off seeking professional help (for your amp). Set up your guitar, set bias, troubleshooting etc. good basic info.

Rating:
Summary: Good info; solid; could have been better.
Review: I bought and am enjoying this book on guitar and amp maintenance. The pictures are good, and the instructions and explanations are usually clear.

I bought this book to learn how to work on and repair both my axes and amps. I can honestly say that this shows you how hard it is to do! Not that it's the author's fault, but this is very tricky (and sometimes dangerous) to go at your guitars/amps with tools and hands.

I bought the book to learn how to bias my tube amp and I can honestly say, I'm not sure if I will do it! It is a complex procedure and will require an investment in some equipment (~$50-$200). The author smartly cautions against reckless tinkering with dangerous tube amps because of the risk of shock but I don't feel like he explained how to bias for a "regular joe". I mean, if you've got a bunch of high-tech equipment, the info is good. It's just not quite complete enough and clear enough for a beginner.

Also, sometimes the author has a brain fade. For example, he doesn't tell you where to find the bias control on your amp(!) or since that would be too hard to know without looking at your amp, what *location* it might reside in. He also doesn't tell you what objects in the amp to avoid (besides the filter capacitors) that could shock you after the amp is off.

If it's only the filter capacitors that can shock you with the power off, I would have enjoyed hearing that that was so! He does show you how to "drain" filter caps, which was great.

I would have liked to have heard that changing tubes is safe with the power off on a tube amp (and without draining the filter capacitors) but the book doesn't say. I wish he had discussed this.

A few small complaints: At some points during explanations of procedures, the author may "jump" a step and assume something that he hasn't previously explained. Sadly, these were omissions that simply slipped by both him and the proofreader. Lastly, the author spends a little too much time name-dropping. I worked with "Fred" or "Jimbo" or whomever in NY at such-and-such a store. Bottom line: if you're not one of these guys, who cares! Write them a postcard if you miss them!

Rating:
Summary: Very helpful for the basics
Review: I bought this book and basically got what I expected, a book aimed a providing guitarists with basic maintenance and upkeep for guitars and amps. As a bassist, I found the book lacking a bit in that particular department, but it's easy enough to apply guitar concepts to bass. The diagrams and explanations are beautifully done though, and contain some very helpful tips that I continue to use on a regular basis, such as the trick for repairing worn out strap nut holes. Those looking for more intricate and specialized guitar and amp repair will want to look elsewhere, but this is a wonderful book to start with.

Rating:
Summary: Very helpful for the basics
Review: I bought this book and basically got what I expected, a book aimed a providing guitarists with basic maintenance and upkeep for guitars and amps. As a bassist, I found the book lacking a bit in that particular department, but it's easy enough to apply guitar concepts to bass. The diagrams and explanations are beautifully done though, and contain some very helpful tips that I continue to use on a regular basis, such as the trick for repairing worn out strap nut holes. Those looking for more intricate and specialized guitar and amp repair will want to look elsewhere, but this is a wonderful book to start with.

Rating:
Summary: A good book for the basics
Review: Most of "The Complete guide to guitar and amp maintence" is devoted to guitar while a smaller section is for amps. This is a guide for basic MAINTENANCE!!!!! It will not help you do a refret or a complete amp overhaul. This book concentrates on how to setup your guitar for playing comfort and tone and how to troubleshoot your amp and possibly set the bias. A good book for the guitarist who doesn't want to drag his guitar and amp to the shop for a set up every year.

Rating:
Summary: A poor book, period
Review: Repairing guitar amplifiers, tube or solid-state, is not at all beyond intermediate to advanced electronic hobbyists-but you have to know electronics. You have to know DC and AC electricity, amplification basics, signal paths and how to read basic schematics _cold_,to have any hope of success. You also have to be competent at both "wire and panel" and through-hole PCB soldering. You should also have basic test equipment, not only a good multimeter but a signal source-not a guitar!!- a dummy load, and at least a signal tracer but preferably an oscilloscope of some sort. For a lot of reasons, I tend to judge technicians by how competent they are with an oscilloscope, the overwhelmingly single most important test instrument. (Even deaf people can and have successfully built and repaired audio gear with one.)

It can be learned from books and practicing-but not from this one.

Rating:
Summary: At first I wasnt satisfied
Review: This book will cover you unless you want to get into wire by wire circuit details. Clearly written, for the most part. Practical, step-by-step descriptions and lots of figures and pictures. Includes an amp troubleshooting flow chart with a number of "take it to the shop" dead-ends. If you're seriously considering opening your amp, the $12 is a good investment. A surprising amount of useful information like tube pin numbers, work-saving gadgets, and suppliers.

Rating:
Summary: OK book.
Review: This book will cover you unless you want to get into wire by wire circuit details. Clearly written, for the most part. Practical, step-by-step descriptions and lots of figures and pictures. Includes an amp troubleshooting flow chart with a number of "take it to the shop" dead-ends. If you're seriously considering opening your amp, the $12 is a good investment. A surprising amount of useful information like tube pin numbers, work-saving gadgets, and suppliers.

Rating:
Summary: Quick all around look at fixing common guitar and amp issues
Review: This is a very "to the point" "let's get it done" quick look at guitar and amp maintenance. The guitar section is great especially for novice users who may not be familiar with how to setup, clean and string guitars. How to remove pits, small scrapes and gashes. How to set intonation and bridge (even for archtops) Wiring diagrams for all common guitar models. The appendix includes common Tube names and substitutions and the has a description of how tubes work. How to work safely on a tube amp, draining caps, replacing tubes, microphonics, how to look for problems without killing yourself. Couple small sections on SolidState amps. Whole book is full of pictures. Good all around reference for the musician. May not be enough for the professional and/or amp builder.