reading schematics Need Direction

[ampmike]

I remembered when Guitar Player mag frowned on people when they could not read music so I learned.When I was a kid I could not read construction blueprints now I can draw basic additions and layouts.But for some reason maybe my Add Hdumb old age I have the hardest time with electrical schematics.Can somebody point me in the right direction in learning this.
I would love to be able to build an amp without the chassis layout,Mikey

[NickC]

Hi Mikey,

This is a decent (and available) basic guide:

http://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-R ... 0830676325

[ampmike]

Awesome Nick,Thanks,Ive been Googleing,Im determined to get this!!!

[alvarezh]

This could be helpful:

http://www.el34world.com/charts/currentflow.htm

All the best.

[vibratoking]

I think reading and understanding schematics go hand in hand. You may be able to learn to read schematics at some level, but the understanding really comes with studying electronics so that the 'pictures' have meaning in your mind. It is good to know what a resistor or capacitor look like on a schematic, but even better to know what they do and why they might be in a certain configuration. It's almost the same as being able to decipher what notes are on the staff. It is even better to know that those notes are all diatonic to the key or that those notes form an F#min7b5, for instance. If you really want to understand schematics, then study circuit analysis and the ability to read a schematic will come for 'free'.

[Reeltarded]

Absolutely that!

Mikey, you have a Supertrem, right? If you follow that circuit and the schematic you have a great lab to test yourself in. It's a simple circuit that plainly lays itself out a block at a time, even the stuff that isn't supposed to be in there.. like the trem circuit crap over between the channels, mixers, and the next stage... heh

[ampmike]

Great advice Guys,Im going to work on both avenue"s of thought.Great advice.I also found my Guitar Amp Handbook by Dave Hunter.He kinda walks you through a princeton in terms of the schematic and the route of the signal chain.Read Read Read!!!Grateful,Mikey

[tribi9]

Im also interested in reading schematics better and not having to use a layout to put an amp together.

Thx for bringing it up Mike.

[Structo]

Understanding the symbols used is essential.

[tribi9]

I'd consider myself intermediate reading schematics. I can double check things no problem. I just dont think I could put an amp together from a schematic yet.

[rp]

What are you looking at? hopefully not JCM900 type stuff. for now just look at tweeds - 5f1, 5e3, 5f6a. There's only really 3 components in there - resistors, caps, tubes - diodes can be for your post doc. Once you got the 5f6a you're pretty much set, at least around here in tubeland. The fender schematics are done nice for learning and they all (pretty much) have a layout you can keep referring too.

Understanding the math, now that's the hard part.

[Cygnus X1]

I'm guilty of putting my own work on layouts and forgetting to get to the schematics.
But ability to read schematics is essential to me for troubleshooting existing circuits.
I don't even bother to look at layouts when figuring out a circuit.

Just start simple, and don't go crazy when you see schems that don't match layouts.
Happens all the time.

[ampdoc1]

I'd suggest getting the jack Darr Amp book. It's where I learned the basics, without a lot of formulas, etc.

[jelle]

What helped me was practicing with fender layouts and schematics, by comparing them. And even better, comparing schematics to a handwired fender. I learned so much from doing that. Hope this helps. Jelle

[surfsup]

Take one of your amps and a pencil and draw teh schematic for it. Then check to make sure it is right. That is a semester of learning right there.