Dave Funk book

[Bob S]

Me wants a copy of Dave Funk's book too.
After Gaz is taken care of.
Let me know if anyone is willing to part with one, or has a lead on a seller.
Thanks,
Bob

[kgreene]

I have a copy of that book - got it when he first published it.
What I'm curious about: after he published this book, I never heard another peep out of him. And he even promised that this book was just the beginning. Anybody know what happened to him?

[John_P_WI]

He moved from Nashville to Northern Illinois. He also built a few amps for Ken and even posted on this site once in a while. IIRC he had mentioned about setting up "classes" a few years ago, maybe he just became too busy with life and family....

[martin manning]

I think another similar book is "How to Hot Rod Your Fender Amp" by J Falla. Check the reviews on Amazon, all 5/5.

Anyone here have this book? I'd think it would fill a similar niche, but I haven't actually looked at it.

[Colossal]

I think another similar book is "How to Hot Rod Your Fender Amp" by J Falla. Check the reviews on Amazon, all 5/5.

Anyone here have this book? I'd think it would fill a similar niche, but I haven't actually looked at it.

I was interested in that myself, but I'm afraid it would be just be a (no offense to author meant) let down after the high level of discussion here. I'm guessing the book might be geared towards the player and curious modder; historical evolution of the 7ender circuits, blackfacing/de-silverfacing, bright cap swaps... Just speculating though, maybe somebody here has it. Not much can top what this group hasn't tried and written about on any amp.

[slightly off topic]
Are KO'C's books must haves? certain ones? buy them used? What do you mean you don't have them already and you call yourself a builder?
[/slightly off topic]

[martin manning]

That's what I was hoping, that someone here has the Falla book and could comment from an experienced builder standpoint. It would be useful if it catalogs the typical Fender mods.

I only have TUT from O'Connor. The usefulness of Blencowe (at less than half the price!) compared to TUT is, well, colossal!

[John_P_WI]

[slightly off topic]
Are KO'C's books must haves? certain ones? buy them used? What do you mean you don't have them already and you call yourself a builder?
[/slightly off topic]

Dave,

I have all of the TUT series, I for one think they are great. That being said, I started buying them in the mid 90's and that was before any proliferation of info on the internet etc. KOC is truly an innovator and interestingly it is now that guys like Blencowe are starting to show info that Kevin has had published for years (Yes, I have Merlin's books including rev 2 pre amp on order, and Dave Funk's book referenced here). Some of KOC's published circuits have been copied virtually verbatim by guys like Roccaforte. It is easy to look back and compare NOW, but when KOC published much of his books the readily available info was very sparse.

My Fav's and most used are are TUT's 1,3,5 and 6.

[LeftyStrat]

[quote="Colossal"
[slightly off topic]
Are KO'C's books must haves? certain ones? buy them used? What do you mean you don't have them already and you call yourself a builder?
[/slightly off topic][/quote]

To me Merlin is much more better organized than KOC. KOC seems to ramble a bit. However, I have TUT1 and TUT3, and would never part with them.

TUT3 is particularly interesting in that he examines the iconic amps and suggests improvements. I would buy them all if he would lower the price tag a bit.

I'm really curious about GMX. I haven't decided whether to buy TUT4 which got into detail about it, or buy the module that implements it. They're basically the same price.

[John_P_WI]

I'm really curious about GMX. I haven't decided whether to buy TUT4 which got into detail about it, or buy the module that implements it. They're basically the same price.

Lefty, I have both... IF I can get my act together I'll let you know this summer - I may have to hit you up on some Arduino advice.... As I just bought one and need to work out a channel switching scheme to make it all work with the GMX. I am planning to make it channel selectable - think creamy blues amp to hell raiser Plexi on steroids...

[LeftyStrat]

Lefty, I have both... IF I can get my act together I'll let you know this summer - I may have to hit you up on some Arduino advice.... As I just bought one and need to work out a channel switching scheme to make it all work with the GMX. I am planning to make it channel selectable - think creamy blues amp to hell raiser Plexi on steroids...

Sounds awesome! I'd certainly love to help with any Arduino code, I've been finding uses for them since they first came out. I'd be happy to share any code with the forum.

[Gaz]

Hey, just wanted to let everyone know this book is back on Earth from the the Unobtainium Netheregions of Obscurity. Best part is they have a 1/2 price version without the Fender schematics we all have memorized!


http://www.amazon.com/Dave-Funks-Tube-A ... k+tube+amp

[tubetek]

Guys,
The latest printing of this book is NOT the easy-lay-down binding of the original; The copy I have is bound like a big paperback... Great book; just not bench-friendly anymore...

[Gaz]

Well, I was planning on reading it on the can, so no problem here

[Meat&Beer]

I think another similar book is "How to Hot Rod Your Fender Amp" by J Falla. Check the reviews on Amazon, all 5/5.

Anyone here have this book? I'd think it would fill a similar niche, but I haven't actually looked at it.

I was interested in that myself, but I'm afraid it would be just be a (no offense to author meant) let down after the high level of discussion here. I'm guessing the book might be geared towards the player and curious modder; historical evolution of the 7ender circuits, blackfacing/de-silverfacing, bright cap swaps... Just speculating though, maybe somebody here has it. Not much can top what this group hasn't tried and written about on any amp.

Colossal pretty much nails it. I have it, it's a decent read. Depending on your level, it may not learn you anything that you don't already know, or can find here or elsewhere about what it is your're trying to do. It's a good book, don't get me wrong, and a lot of you would thoroughly enjoy it. I haven't read it cover to cover, but have given it a good and thorough skimming since I've had it.

I thought the section on adding gain would be really neat... It talks about tone stack lifts, removing negative feedback, and finally actually adding a gain stage. Err, disabling other things to "add" one... "Be aware, though, that the amp becomes a single channel due the disabling of the normal channels functionality."

The section on biasing is pretty helpful, I gotta say. But that's easy stuff, right guys?

There's also a lot of other informative talk, as you can see with the attached photo of the chapters page. No overly fancy wording, no flashy diagrams or charts, (Some schematic and layout stuff, nothing crazy.) no theory/equations...

It's an easy read, easily absorbed, and even though I'm far from the biggest Fender fan here, I do not hate it at all.

If you guys are looking for a new book, and have just set down Merlin's literature that almost all of us probably have, are keen to that type of read and are craving something more... I recommend to you a piece written in 1969 by Howard Tremaine, titled Audio Cyclopedia. (The 2nd edition, that is.) Just over 1,700 pages of awesome. What's really funny, is that tons of "New and Innovative" ideas are in this book.

[Gaz]

^^^^^^^^

Yeah, I hoped at most to get a couple mods ideas, same with the Garnet book. I really just brought it up because it has been unavailable for awhile (and I was obviously looking for it). Keep in mind I own both editions of Merlin's book and the power amp book, all the Ultimate Tone books, RCA manuals, some Weber books, and two Radiotrons. Haha, I am just trying to complete my collection here Do not have that Tremaine book (orginally heard about it on Aiken's site), because it's so damned expensive.