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Amp Class

PHOTO GALLERY

NEXT AVAILABLE AMP CLASS: Spring 2009

Roberto-Venn offers an amp building class that runs concurrently with the guitar making and repair course.

The class will meet on ten Sundays, from 10 AM until 5 PM. Participants will build an AX-84 "high octane" * amplifier. This "5-watt single-ended high gain" unit uses two 12AX7 tubes in the preamp stage, and a single EL84 tube as the power amplifier. Students will also construct a 1x12 combo cabinet to house their amps.

    * AX84 is a trademark of Doberman Music Products, LLC, used with permission.

To understand the actual operation of a vacuum tube amplifier, the student must understand the basics of electronics. The purpose of this class is to introduce the student to basic electronic concepts using the vacuum tube guitar amplifier as an example. This requires basic proficiency at high school level mathematics including some familiarity with algebra. All the math needed will be covered during classroom lectures, but success in the class is predicated upon the students ability to understand and apply the math concepts under discussion.

In order to maintain a high standard of instruction, and to ensure that each student receives adequate individual instructor attention, the class size will be limited to six students. Due to the high demand for this class, entrance is competetive. Prospective students are required to submit an essay describing their interest in the field of electronics and stating why they believe they can be successful in this study.

A few words about safety: Students will be working with potentially fatal high voltages. Proper safety and test techniques will be emphasized at every step of the building and testing process. All high voltage testing will be done under the supervision of the instructor. However, each participant must accept personal responsibility for their own safety. All participants will be required to sign a liability release before attending.

The cost to attend the amp class is $1,095 which includes instruction, all printed materials, and the AX-84 amp kit. The amplifier kit, class text and laboratory manual will be delivered to the student on the first day of class. Once the student has taken physical possession of these materials the entire tuition amount becomes non-refundable. The student is also required to purchase tools and the materials to construct their cabinet including the speaker, wood, tolex, etc. A list of required tools will be provided to prospective students.

If you are interested in attending the Amp Class, you may download an application here in Microsoft Word format. Please fill out the application, and return it to the school along with a short essay describing your interests and academic background that you feel makes you a suitable candidate for the study of vacuum tube electronics.

Jim at the board explaining amplifier gain

The class is taught by Jim Kramer. Jim Kramer is an adjunct Roberto-Venn faculty member with more than twenty years experience in the electronics industry. He holds a BA degree in mathematics from Ottawa University.

 

These are a pair of amps built by Jim Kramer. Students are now required to build a cabinet as well. Check back soon for photos of completed student projects. (Guitar built by Don Windham)
	No, that isn't Fidel with some infernal device! It's only Mike, trying to figure out what goes where...
Joe Vallee, with the quintessential repairman's probe: a chopstick!

 

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