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.

• 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