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Guitarist's Tech Workshop

 

Guitarist's Tech Workshop

 

Class Description

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

  1. Basic Components of the Electric Guitar
  2. Problem Areas of Maintenance
  3. Proper Stringing Techniques
  4. Proper Standard Rock Setup
  5. Action and Tuning Adjustments
  6. Proper Drop Tuning Setup
  7. Electronic Maintenance
  8. Electricity Basics
  9. Reading a Schematic
  10. Using a Multimeter
  11. Power Matching Speakers and Amps
  12. Adjusting and Understanding Tube Bias
  13. Building Blocks of an Amplifier
  14. Preamplifier Circuit Design
  15. Power Amplifier Circuit Design
  16. The Phase Inverter
  17. The Power Supply
  18. Final Q&A

Reviews

Andrew Synowiec
 

I bought this course for the amplifier section and skipped straight there. It's fantastic. Right at the perfect level for me, a newbie DIY-er with a few pedals, a kit amp and an Electronics 101 course under my belt. Well done! I'll update my review if I have time to watch the guitar section.