Circuit Analysis of a Legendary Tube Amplifier: The Fender Bassman 5F6-A, Second Edition - Softcover

Richard Kuehnel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0976982218 ISBN 13: 9780976982210

Publisher: Pentode Press, 2005

Synopsis

This book moves beyond general principles of tube amplifier design to carry out an intense examination of one of the most famous circuits of the rock era. The book begins with the 5F6A's relatively simple triode preamps (bypassed cathode resistor, unbypassed cathode resistor, and cathode follower) and then progresses through the mathematically challenging tone stack, long-tailed-pair phase splitter, and push-pull power amp. Every formula for every tube is derived in all its gory detail. The author's methods include the classic load lines and composite characteristic curves of Frederick Terman and the Radiotron Designer's Handbook as well as more modern techniques like linear regression and the Discrete Fourier Transform. Special attention is paid to quantifying the push-pull amplifier's nonlinear response and to analyzing power supply voltage sag as it reacts over time. This expanded, second edition includes an enlarged, fold-out schematic of the Bassman and a new chapter on the Marshall JTM45, which is almost a direct copy of the 5F6-A. The Bassman 5F6A circuit has inspired guitar amplifier designs for over four decades, so sharpen your pencil, fire up your calculator, and find out what makes this amp rock!

About this title

About the Author

Richard Kuehnel is a member of the Circuits and Systems Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

From the Back Cover

This book moves beyond general principles of tube amplifier design to carry out an intense examination of one of the most famous circuits of the rock era. The book begins with the 5F6-A's relatively simple triode preamps (bypassed cathode resistor, unbypassed cathode resistor, and cathode follower) and then progresses through the mathematically challenging tone stack, long-tailed-pair phase splitter, and push-pull power amp. Every formula for every tube is derived in all its gory detail. The author's methods include the classic load lines and composite characteristic curves of Frederick Terman and the Radiotron Designer's Handbook as well as more modern techniques like linear regression and the Discrete Fourier Transform. Special attention is paid to quantifying the push-pull amplifier's nonlinear response and to analyzing power supply voltage sag as it reacts over time.

The Bassman 5F6-A circuit has inspired guitar amplifier designs for over four decades, so sharpen your pencil, fire up your calculator, and find out what makes this amp rock!

Edition details

• Publisher: Pentode Press
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0976982218
• ISBN 13: 9780976982210
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 220