Guitarist's Tech Workshop

Performing a proper setup for your guitar can seem like a dark art requiring a copper chalice filled with incense. Reading a schematic of a tube amplifier can seem like you’re staring at ancient Sanskrit. Guitar and tube amp masters Kurt Bloch and Ben Verellen are here to help.

In this two-part workshop, Kurt and Ben will show you exactly how to get the best sound out of your gear.

In part-one Kurt will teach the basics of setting up your guitar – you’ll learn about:

• Truss rod adjustment
• Bridge and nut adjustment
• String gauge and playing style
• Guitar maintenance and upkeep
• Guitar electronics and pickups

Part-two is your primer on tube amplifiers. Kurt and Ben will explain how they work and show you how to keep them sounding great. You’ll learn:

• Tube biasing
• Block diagrams and understanding schematics
• Basic amplifier maintenance
• Capacitor, resistor, and transformer replacement
• Speaker repair and power-matching

Kurt Bloch is not only Gibson Guitar’s in-house guitar guru, he’s a legend in the Seattle music scene. He plays in The Fastbacks and Young Fresh Fellows and has a producer credits for his work with The Presidents of the United States of America and Tokyo Dragons. Ben Verellen started Verellen Amplifiers in 2000 and now has a full-time staff churning out hand made custom tube amplifiers for some of the most respected artists in rock and metal. He also fronts Helms Alee, a rock band based in Seattle.

Don’t get caught with crappy tone and blown out speaker – let these two masters show how to take care of your gear and get the best possible sound.

Lessons

Basic Components of the Electric Guitar
Problem Areas of Maintenance
Proper Stringing Techniques
Proper Standard Rock Setup
Action and Tuning Adjustments
Proper Drop Tuning Setup
Electronic Maintenance
Electricity Basics
Reading a Schematic
Using a Multimeter
Power Matching Speakers and Amps
Adjusting and Understanding Tube Bias
Building Blocks of an Amplifier
Preamplifier Circuit Design
Power Amplifier Circuit Design
The Phase Inverter
The Power Supply
Final Q&A