amp resto basics

[x189player]

Can anyone point me to a good source of information on maintaining old tube amps? YOu know, caps, biasing, not getting electrocuted, all that good stuff. I've picked up plenty of tips here and there, but don't have any good complete source on the basics. Is there a good book on the subject?

I'm not particularly into the big names, but I do love small ones, obscure names like Alamo and Holiday, you know, low budget tweed stuff, and often they are in need of some TLC to sound their best. Stuff like this:



I've had pretty good luck finding schematics, especially here: www.schematicheaven.com/ I just need to learn about basic maintainance... and I find some folks are pretty tight-lipped on the subject, even on the amp forums.

[Trey]

Buy one of the books by Ritchie Flegler on amp repair and matenance. His books are clean and concise with good picture and details of the every possible thing you could ever need to do to keep your amp in tiptop shape.

I have The Complete Guide to Guitar and Amp Maintenance, and use it all the time. It's split 50/50 between guitar problems adn amp probles, so you might want to get one of his all smp books if you don't need one dealing with guitars.

[GuyaGuy]

i was gonna recommend that exact book when i saw yr post yesterday, x189, but i couldn't think of the title or author. so thanks, trey.
i find that the content is a bit basic but a good starting place if nothin else.
geofex has good info on amp maintenance, repair, biasing, etc., as well as a bibliography:

www.geofex.com/tubeampfaq/tube_amp.htm

and HC has a good list of various amp sites:
www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/other.html#tub

of course, i've never actually done so much as changing tubes myself. i'm scared to, to be honest! ;D