Fratus-Amplification.com Store

...uses PayPal for easy and safe transactions.

Here is a list of things you need to have if you are going to work on amplifiers.

You need contact cleaner for cleaning controls and jacks. This is the stuff I use. It has silicone in it, and it cleans the contacts and leaves a thin film to prevent future corrosion and oxidation. Think of it as "Technician in a Can." It can solve or prevent lots of problems. Other cleaners often remove the manufacturer's lubricant that protect the resistance element and the wiper contacts from wear, and you end up with a control that is even more noisy and wears out fast.	At Mouser
Multi-Screwdriver - this is a 6-in-One screwdriver, and pretty handy. Most amps use the #2 Philips bit for almost all screws. If all you are going to get is one screwdriver, get one like this:	At Home Depot
Wire cutters - I also use one to strip insulation, but you might want a stripper, too. If you can find the one with the screw-cutter or the crimper included, that is pretty handy, too.	At Home Depot
Digital Meter for testing things, checking voltages, setting output tube bias, etc. You can survive with just a screwdriver, a meter and a soldering iron.	At Home Depot
Clip Leads for hooking things up temporarily:
And, if you are actually going to do something about what you find in there, you will need a Soldering Iron for permanent connections. Avoid cheap dollar-store irons as they get way too hot. And you don't need a $400 soldering station, either. I use a $65 temperature-controlled iron every day:	At Newark
...and some solder. I use 60/40 or 63/37 rosin core solder. "They" want us to use lead-free solder, but its harder to make a reliable connection with the lead-free solder that is available. If you are Green, Low-lead solder is a great alternative - it still makes good connections. I say we should just stop throwing our electronic stuff in the trash! That would keep a large amount of Lead out of the environment! Eventually they may get the formula right, and lead-free solder will work as well as tin/lead solder does:	At Newark
A few good books: Basic Electronics:
... but I always learned a lot from Forrest Mimms III when he wrote for Popular Electronics:
Reading Schematic Diagrams:
Tube and Guitar Amp Books:

Some books from Alibris, a really good source for new and used books. I've chosen some obviously used books because of the great price break, or they could just be old editions.

A NEW edition of my book has just been released!