The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons

It's the 153rd episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps and Skip is having a happy day fielding your amp questions. From cleaning tweed to Magnatone varistors and all points in between, it's 90 minutes of tube amp knowledge, laughs, and some serious California trivia.  Some of the topics discussed this week:  1:27: The 2025 Fretboard Summit; the importance of repair tags 6:55: Thanks for the mangos, John! And a food preservation tip 8:30: Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts!  14:15 What's on Skip's bench? 60 amps in August; great Loma Rica deals; far out tubes 23:29 The big TV tubes in Standel amps (6DQ6 tubes, regulator tubes) 25:49 Skip's near-death experience; The Edwin Hawkins Singers' "O Happy Day" (YouTube) 31:05 Colman's Hot Mustard 31:49 A giant yard sale in Dixon 34:23 More TAVA t-shirts; whatever happened to Jason's Honda Scrambler? 38:04 An antique radio museum in Marysville, California 41:38 Calculating output transformer primary impedance 47:37 Cleaning tweed 49:58 Replacing the varistors in Magnatone/Americana amps; luthier Ken Bebensee; North San Juan, California; the Malakoff Diggins 56:53 Going to Guitar Center, a Gibson GA-20...or was it? Sierra Nevada Brewing Oktoberfest beer 1:01:20 The Rustic Kegger community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tavapodcast 1:02:51 El Pato in Alaska 1:03:41 Fender Tone Ring cabinets   1:05:54 A brown 1962 Fender Super with an 8516 transformer from a TV-front Super 1:11:01 Building a shell for a Falcon chassis 1:12:55 Building a Deluxe 5E3 clone in Brazil 1:20:17 Verellen's solid-state Octal tube (link); how power attenuators work; Benson's Monarch Plus power scaling 1:24:41 Recommended music: Texas Alexander & Lonnie Johnson's "Crossroads" (YouTube); KZFR; Julian Lage; Bill Frisell 1:26:19 Noel Boggs and his Day Sleepers' "Steelin Home" (YouTube) 1:27:16 Recommended reading: The RCA RC-30 tube manual (Amplified Parts link); California's two Sebastopols Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions. 

It's the much-delayed 152nd episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps!  Thanks, as always, for being a part of the world's finest call-in tube amp repair show. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Some of the topics discussed this week:  3:53 Real musicians ARE gearheads (redux) 5:47 Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts!  6:40 Tom Gunterman gets two Grez's 8:21 Yellow Jacket tube converters 10:27 Standel amps (redux); Todd Clinesmith; National Dobro amps; driver transformers and pre-war amps 17:35 Using an A/B/C switcher box to flip the phase on amp channels  21:45 Thanks to Chicago's own @vintagetubeamplifiers for stocking the TAVA room at the Fretboard Summit  23:28 Building a clone AB763 with more headroom, ultralinear transformers  29:20 Yellow Jacket YJRs; eggs in ramen  32:42 Tom Gunterman, redux!    33:43 Finding joy with a John Kelly amp, until a loud zap and hum; the Western States Endurance Run   42:20 Playing guitar with accordion; the Joe Mooney Quartet; collard greens with kale    47:59 Speaker-to-power ratio on speakers; classic rock; album covers Note: This was supposed to come out in mid-August (pre-Fretboard Summit), but your overextended co-host messed it up. Sorry. We'll get back on schedule. -Jason  Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions. 

It's the 151st episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps!  Thanks, as always, for being a part of the world's finest call-in tube amp repair show. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Some of the topics discussed this week:  1:03:05 What's on Skip's bench: A pile of Standel amps; Vacaville's Pacific Hardware (redux); a baffler of sorts 8:28 Tom Gunterman (Instagram); Kevin from Ohio; Joe Walsh 11:30 Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts! Marshall Capris; Christopher Guest 19:07 Julian Lage and Leo Kottke (tour dates here) 22:45 The Fretboard Summit August 21-23, 2025 in Chicago: https://fretboardsummit.org 23:57 What to do with the unused bass control on a modded Vibrochamp? 31:38 Weak tremolo on a late 1970s Fender Deluxe Reverb; optocouplers 36:36 The Bastard Instrument (Amazon link); the Ampeg book 44:57 A Teisco Melody amp; Takt amps; installing an isolation transformer 55:49 ESR / Multifunction testers 59:51 Channel jumping on a black panel Fender; Yellow Jacket tube converters (Amplified Parts link, we'll revisit this on our next episode...sorry) 1:05:30 The Soundmaster 600; Traynor YGM-3; Fender PS-400 and the Allman Brothers Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions. 

It's the 150th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps! How did that happen?  Thanks, as always, for being a part of the world's finest call-in tube amp repair show. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Some of the topics discussed this week:  1:26 The Esparto fireworks storage facility explosion (link); salvaging organ pedals  6:22 Jason's life updates: Issue 57; Fretboard Summit (link); trail running; watching the 2025 Western States Endurance Run 11:46 Standel amplifier quirks, voltage regulator tubes, Dave's Hot Chicken kale slaw 16:36 Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts! Amplified Parts is having a Fourth of July sale right now (act fast) 19:17 The Fretboard Summit Pinewood Derby race 22:03 Honorary sponsor: Tin Can Valley Letterpress (link) 23:10 Recommended reading: Matthew Zapruder's 'Story of a Poem' (Amazon link) 25:22 An Ampeg V4 / V4B bias circuit baffler 28:07 Single-ended amp 101; Stouffer's Hotel cherry chocolate cake 41:19 Channel jumping on a Silvertone 1482 and other amps; Neil Young 46:00 Music recommendation: Round Eye from Shanghai 47:11 Why do these homebrew 5F1 clones have blackened input jacks? 49:31 The Fender 400PS schematic 54:18 Harmony 420 amps, making a pre-amp out of a Heathkit volt meter 1:00:05 The Fretboard Journal's Dumble short film with Ben Harper (YouTube link) 1:01:46 Dave Hill at the 2025 Fretboard Summit! 1:02:34 Redwood cabinets on Gibson Falcons; Lima, Peru's Los Saicos band 1:12:21 A-Z Darts in Sacramento (link) 1:16:04 Getting a mono tube hi-fi for music playback 1:23:56 Listener Yann at Body and Soul Instruments (Instagram); the new Robert Johnson book (Amazon link)  1:25:24 Keeping the 12v DC power supply on old PA amps? Doug Hoffman 1:30:54 How far should I mod this 1980 Fender Deluxe Reverb? 1:37:24 Ishi in Two Worlds (Amazon link) Recorded July 4, 2025.  Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions. 

Support our sponsors: Amplified Parts; Grez Guitars; Better Help, and Emerald City Guitars!  Acclaimed guitarist Jim Campilongo joins Skip and Jason to talk about his music and gear journey, vinyl treasures, George Barnes playing "Little Rock Getaway" (link), Vance Terry & Jimmy Rivers, Silverface Princeton Reverb love; Celestion G-10 speakers; Laika and the Cosmonauts; and so much more. Plus frozen meatballs! Follow Jim Campilongo: https://www.jimcampilongo.com/ Jim's Lessons: https://www.jimcampilongo.com/lessons.html Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions. 

We're back with episode 148 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Jason survives a month in Peru; the schematics of acupuncture; speaker break-in; and more!  Our sponsors: Amplified Parts; Grez Guitars; Better Help, and Emerald City Guitars  Topics discussed:  :00 Jason goes to Peru, Skip gets the new Fretboard Journal  11:20 What’s on Skip’s Bench: A roasted Tweed Harvard 13:18 Spotted on eBay: Packard Bell teaching tool / working schematic 16:13 A 1952 Champion 600 with a 1952 Telecaster 18:54 Skip doesn’t hang out with Jack White 24:22: Our sponsors: Check out this groovy Showman at Emerald City Guitars!  31:33 Barry & The Remains; what should I do with this Bell 2122C integrated mono tube amp? slow-cooker chicken breasts with salsa; Radio Shack Minimus 7 speakers 41:40 Congrats to listener Marcus, Master of Public Health from Harvard!  42:44 Non-polarized electrolytics 45:58 Alternatives to 6V6s 47:50 Acupuncture point charts vs tube amp schematics 51:01 Deciding on a good speaker; mir a poux 1:03:05 Modding a Harmony 420 1:08:00 DIY cooling fan tips Mouser part numbers: Mouser #490-CFM-4010-13-22, FAN AXIAL 40X10.6MM 12VDC; Mouser #576-01500322H, Fuse Holder ACS INLINE FUSE HOLDER; Mouser #709-APV8-12, Meanwell 8W, 12V, 0.67A power supply 1:11:32 What should I plug a Fender Bass VI into? 1:14:22 Getting a good tone out of a master volume Silverface Fenders? Hal’s Grub Steak BBQ sauce? 1:20:16 Pedal steel through JBL D130Fs, breaking-in speakers 1:25:46 Replacing the red module in a 1969 Standel solid state amp; vinegar, syrup and seltzer shooters 1:31:19 Movie recommendation: Steven Spielberg's 1971 film ‘Duel’ Recorded May 30, 2025. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions. 

Episode 147 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Jason is headed to Peru, hemp speakers, resistors, modding PAs for harps, Lilly vs Lily at the Fender factory, kosher sound, and more! Fluidics: https://acoustics.org/pressroom/httpdocs/132nd/2aaa8.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ5wZRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETA4eUxOc0djNTJqWnJRVVBTAR7SSMwDpCna1oRbSpuMLYDJrD1VRKzf8vbj3V6WOi3icH6LldxBvnOYopsKzw_aem_I4XGzFLTK-gXim_txcL4ig Our sponsors: Save $20 off Amplified Parts' new MOD vintage amp kits with the discount code TAVA20! (expires April 30, 2025); Grez Guitars; Better Help, and Emerald City Guitars  Recorded April 24, 2025. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions. 

Episode 146 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Troubled drummers, bulk Gatorade, more typewriter and Rockford Files talk, and a bunch of amp questions. Reminder: Amplified Parts now has amp kits! Thanks, as always, for being a part of the world's finest call-in tube amp repair show. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Some of the topics discussed this week:  :43 The Ampeg book (Amazon link), George Barnes and 'Guitars Galore' 3:43 A 1982 black panel Fender Champ 4:43 A Super Reverb that sounds like a dying motorcycle 6:09 Jason goes to Peru, vicuñas, alpacas   10:23 Some TAVA announcements: Sam Plecker has a new album ('So True'); congrats to John Vanderslice; RIP to Michael Hurley; thanks to Tin Can Valley Letterpress printing (link) 14:37 Ep. 150 idea: Skip's amp guru on the podcast?; servicing a hybrid Standel 18:24 Our sponsors: Save $20 off Amplified Parts' new MOD vintage amp kits with the discount code TAVA20! (expires April 30, 2025); Grez Guitars; and Emerald City Guitars  25:40 Recommended pedal: The Catalinbread Topanga reverb pedal (note: Skip said "Tropicana," but it's the Topanga) 27:45 Replies to last week's Rockford Files Baffler; Jim Gordon, 'Drums & Demons' (Amazon link); Hal Blaine's 'Buh-doom!' comedy album (it's on Spotify) and other Hollywood gossip; more Rockford Files (and letterpress!) 35:46 Accidentally injecting positive feedback into a Precision single-ended amp; tools for measuring plate current 40:23 Cleaning motor oil off of tubes and a vintage microphone; Gatorade and Tang; running a Traynor off of a gas generator 47:37 A smoking 1980s Fender Super Champ and fried resistors 52:51 A 6-watt Princeton Reverb / Vibro-Champ clone in a custom beetle-kill pine tree cabinet 59:02 An amp cabinet with sympathetic strings (Reverb link), explained! Vulture Amplification video one and two; Treehaus field coil speakers (link) 1:05:08 Hooking something up: Experimenting with a speaker outside of a cabinet  1:06:29 Servicing an all-original Vibrolux Reverb to sell  1:09:58 Giving the gift of an El Pato Tone practice amp (order yours here); Typewriter Revolution; typewriter ribbons from Baco Ribbon & Supply Co. 1:18:52 Reverse audio taper potentiometers 1:22:37 Come get a free SVT speaker 1:23:13 Sacramento's Delta Breeze record store, redux; not all capacitors are created equal; always use a test speaker; Amplified Parts' Hammond enclosure for short reverb tanks 1:27:22 Recommended reading: Hampton Sides' 'The Wide Wide Sea' (Amazon link)  1:28:51 Homework: Check out the Maestro GA-2RT schematic Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions. 

Episode 145 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Kahlua brie, replicating Nirvana's In Utero sound, hissy reverb units and more! Thanks, as always, for being a part of the world's finest call-in tube amp repair show. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.  Some of the topics discussed this week:  1:17 Skip makes even more stuff for John Vanderslice & Tiny Telephone; Skip's take on the MTI Tubes pedal 8:18 Skip's Premier 90-inspired reverb unit 15:20 Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts! Get the Amplified Parts' Spring Reverb Kit here. 19:06 What's on your bench: A Fender Deluxe and Pro; how to work on old Tweeds; orange drop caps 26:20 The Joyo American Sound pedal, redux; SansAmp pedals; Kurt Cobain's 'In Utero' sound (hear listener Brian play the Joyo on YouTube) 27:27 Vintage amps and PAs at the 2025 Fretboard Summit (register here) 28:32 Adding a resistor to bump up the values when measuring on a Fluke multimeter? 31:49 Using a carb cleaning kit for octal sockets (Amazon link); working on Filmosound 385s 34:19 Skip's car restoration; the Swamp book (Amazon link); Benny Hill 40:20 No delete on typewriters; Mitch Hedberg and steamboats (YouTube link) 41:37 A 1965 Ampeg Reverberocket with a hiss 45:21 Skip made the ticking go away; a 5F2A build inspired me to buy a 1961 Fender 6G4-A Super; Kahlua brie with pecans 54:02 A noisy 1970s tube Fender Reverb unit, the magic of NOS pre-amp tubes in single-ended amps 59:02 To be continued: What's the deal with this amp cabinet on Reverb? (Reverb link) 1:01:00 The Garnet amp book (link), the Gibson Amp book on Blue Book's site (cheaper than Amazon!), Gibson Falcon talk, the doldrums of being a flight service specialist (or drawbridge operator) 1:10:21 Recommended reading (at least for the Canucks): Robert Dayton's 'Cold Glitter: The Untold Story of Canadian Glam' (Amazon link) 1:13:15 A Rockford Files baffler 1:14:12 Why do the English have all the better TV shows? 'Stath Lets Flats' 1:17:33 Sacramento's Delta Breeze Records; Skip has SF Fender Champs for sale Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions. 

Episode 144 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Flashing Flukes, reflections on NAMM, variable plate capacitors, hot buttered rum (and popcorn!), and more!   Need some help with your tube amps? Be a part of our show by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Some of the topics discussed this week:  1:13 Jason goes to the NAMM Show, the Dumble relaunch (watch our Instagram video here); Grit Laskin's 'The Stradivari Formula' (link); Wood Wire & Volts (link) 11:49 What's on Skip's bench: A late 1940s Danelectro Vibrovox; Wandre Guitars 20:57 Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts! 25:14 A confused Fluke 26 Series III meter trying to measure coils and output transformer windings 33:07 The parallel between an acoustic guitar's soundboard and an amp's speaker; recommended reading: And the Roots of Rhythm Remain by Joe Boyd (link) 39:17 A custom-made, single-ended 10-watt 800 JCM-style amp; variable voltage regulators vs. a variac 44:30 Keggers Got Talent: Walnut-maple cabinets from listener Niel F. (check our Instagram for pics) 47:42 Should I use the variable plate capacitors I pulled from a HAM radio? 51:25 Skip on the phone versus Skip on the mic 52:41 Breaking food news: Cuisinart Microwave Popcorn Maker (Amazon link) 57:19 Neko Case's new memoir, 'The Harder I Fight the More I Love You' (Amazon link) 59:18 A Garnet Lifco "stencil" amp, the Garnet amp book (order link) 1:03:07 Taming a reissue Princeton Reverb, redux; the Joyo American Sound pedal (link) 1:07:31 An idea for the "pedal" room at the 2025 Fretboard Summit: https://fretboardsummit.org 1:11:15 Want to attend a Bay Area amp workshop with Skip this Spring? Email us! 1:11:47 Accidentally creating an arc with the probe when checking plate voltages on power tubes, hot buttered rum 1:17:17 Recommended reading: Conquering the Electron (link); making a pre-amp out of a Silvertone Twin 12; Greenlee knockout punches 1:28:45 Who sent Skip a Skylark?; a Ampeg flip-top with a remote reverb speaker; Bustelo instant coffee; David Barrett's harmonica courses (link); John Vanderslice Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Join us to get show updates and get to the front of the question line. 

A throwback, lo-fi landline episode just for the purists! Caller waiting beeps, the state of the guitar show, an energized Skip, and more. Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Recorded on January 13, 2025. Some of the topics discussed this week:  1:31: The LA fires 3:34: A recap of the Bay Area Vintage Guitar Show; are guitar shows just for eating now? estuaries and prison proposals 34:00 Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts! 36:56 The origins of goop; Standel amps and their little plastic boxes, Mark Sampson (aforementioned amp here) 43:24 Skip's death caps (not that kind)  44:56 The ideal workbench setup 50:36 Poetry corner: "The Girl Who Never Rained"  by Cole Swensen 54:46 An all-original Setchel Carlson with Flechtheim 2uF British-made filter cap blocks, gas rectifiers  58:15 Can I use the second set of speaker lugs on this amp to use a test cabinet?  1:03:33 The "Larry Revival Process" and modding the standby switch on a Marshall JMP50 Plexi 1:07:52 Why is my 1971 Fender Champ making noise? 1:16:11 Randall Smith's YouTube channel (link); what happens when you pull the V1 12AX7 Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Join us to get show updates and get to the front of the question line. 

It's the 142nd episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps! Join Skip and Jason as they field all of your pressing guitar amp questions. Plus...recipes, music and book recommendations and more!  Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Some of the topics discussed this week:  :00 Jingle Bell Rock and other Christmas classics 1:14 Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts! 5:37 Supermarket Sweep; The Office 7:27 The Truth About Vintage Amps Patreon page; listener John's Angela parts list 8:27 Another Tweed Harvard by Skip? 9:33 Let's celebrate the TAVA makers; the TAVA Cookbook (Dropbox link) 11:09 A 1970 Davis PA Head with a "tube saver" switch; the Dixon Amp Company (link) 14:17 A Princeton Reverb-inspired amp with a foot switch that won't stop ticking; Vesper martinis; Body & Soul instruments (link); the $1000 tube lot 22:29 Should I be worried that one of my Silverface Champs draws more amps than the others? 26:27 Which diameter Kester solder? 28:39 Inflatable hot tubs; adding trem to a 5E3 kit; Rotel and cream cheese dip 33:48 Angela Super 6V6 Build tips 36:50 Tolex; Little Charlie's Rice redux; Jason on Guitar Magic (link)  40:02 Bomb cyclones, a Tweed Harvard serviced by Skip, homemade cranberry sauce, Weber speaker reconing (link) 45:06 Pique hot pepper sauce (link)  46:39 Bell 2325 hi-fi amp with cathode feedback; pepperoni rolls; Andy Williams 55:19 Charlie Hunter's hybrid guitars with two output jacks; Audio Guild Versatones 1:04:08 Using the reverb driver transformer as an output, Martinelli's sparkling apple cider, redux; making Mexican crema at home; taking the output of a reverb tank and using it in the normal channel for volume, treble and bass controls on the reverb 1:07:59 Two identical amps, but one sounds crappy 1:09:46 Holiday reading/watching recommendations: Joe Smith's Off the Record (link); Donald Brosnac's Guitar Electronics for Musicians (link); the Blue Nile's A Walk Across the Rooftops; Little Miss Sunshine; Master and Commander; Sampson Boat Company's Tally Ho restoration videos (link); The Only Girl in the Orchestra on Netflix; Tim Gautreaux's Same Place, Same Things (link) Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Join us to get show updates and get to the front of the question line. 

Missing your rambling relatives this holiday season? You're in luck! Tune in to Jason and Skip as they ramble through weather reports, amp fixes, book recommendations, reflective impedance, reverb-driven line-out and more on our 141st episode! Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Some of the topics discussed this week:  :48 Weather report: Rain in the West, bomb cyclones in the PNW 4:32 A 1968 Heathkit catalog with DIY Harmony Guitar kits 6:35 Thanksgiving at the Simmons house 7:09 A noisy Alamo; Pathfinder, the band (link); bands named after amplifiers  8:49 Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts (Jensen speakers are currently on sale!)  10:58 Deluxe Amplication's red can El Pato Practice amp! (link, I said green on the podcast...my bad) 11:50 Pre-order William J. Simmons' new book, 'Love and Degradation: Excessive Desires in Queer-Feminist Art' (pre-order link)  12:51 Recommended reading: 'The Golden Ocean' by Patrick O'Brian 14:33 What's on Skip's bench? The secret solid state guru in Sacramento, not to be confused with the washing machine guru 18:54 The Truth About Vintage Amps Patreon page; guided tours of the Skip universe?  20:50 Jason interviews a yogi on the Fretboard Journal podcast (link)  22:35 Adding a half-power switch to a push-pull amp?, tortilla chips  29:48 Would a variac set to 110v help new amps?  31:49 Mullard 10M tubes; going back to school; Skip has all the NOS Amperex 12AX7s   37:58 A Denver TAVA meetup?; one filter cap or two in a Gibson GA-25? Replacing non-polarized electrolytic caps by twisting two regular negative caps together 41:03 More on Skip’s new (old) Fender Duo Sonic 48:26 Using your Fender’s reverb circuit to drive a speaker; Sherlock Holmes’ lazy brother 52:36 Skip is going to make an outboard tremolo pedal 53:09 Why do some reverb tanks have bags? 52:22 A non-alcoholic cocktail featuring ginger ale and cranberry juice 56:02 "I smile at pretty solder joints;" Riddim Restoration of Bellingham, Washington (link)  1:00:45 An early 60's Geloso 215AN, a diode bridge and a choke to create negative voltage; and Denver chocolate pudding cake   1:07:14 Reusing old blown transformers 1:09:00 KVMR Community Radio (link) 1:10:05 A mid-‘50s theremin schematic; the Theremin documentary   Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Join us to get show updates and get to the front of the question line. 

It's the 140th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons eventually fields your questions on all-things-tube amps!  As always, use all advice at your own risk. Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Some of the topics discussed this week:  2:35 What's on Skip's Bench: A modified ES-150 Charlie Christian amp with a non-field coil speaker 4:22 Smilin' Skip's: Stuff for Sale 5:15 Loma Rica's Aztec Recording Studio; the Ralph Shine Blues Band; Skip's new guitar; Sylvia Massy (Sylvia's shop); Weed, California; the Fretboard Summit 2025 (register here) 18:01 Our sponsors (and baby goats): Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts (Jensen speakers are currently on sale!) 23:42: Alamo and other budget amplifiers; the COVID gear boost has deflated 25:35 Amp bargains (look for two transformers); a black panel Super Reverb; Silvertone Twin-Twelve and optocouplers 28:53 The Alembic Pre-Amp in a pedal (or two): Frog Pedals (link); Sushi Box FX (link); Mexican Pizza with Boboli pizza crust; starved plate loads 35:41 PSA: You can buy WD-40 by the gallon 38:22 Should I put the original transformer back in my 1966 Fender Princeton? 44:07 Preferred replacement 12AT7 reverb driver tubes 47:26 Two-prong shock in the studio 50:35 A converted Stromberg-Carlson; speaker-driven effects channel? Rudy Van Gelder; the usable range of a bright cap 57:55 A Plush 3000G tubes and tremolo with a mystery rectifier tube 1:03:08 What's with the lettering on my 1950s Rauland Lyric transformer 1:06:47 Putting a JBL in an Ampeg Rocket 2; a Traynor Studio Mate Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Join us to get show updates and get to the front of the question line. 

It's the 139th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps!  Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Some of the topics discussed this week:  :48 On the bench: A 1974 Alembic pre-amp, a Showman head in disguise 3:58 Webb's Music and a hang gliding pioneer 6:08 Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts; the Wood Wire & Volts Show in Anaheim (link); Bruce Harvie of Orcas Island Tonewoods 11:10 Skip has a warning for the TAVA Kegger Facebook group...and others 14:38 A luthiers' pet peeve 16:55 Bias modulating tremolo, intensity pots 20:45 Skip works on a Dan Torres-modded amp 21:35 Jason screens his Ben Harper Dumble film in Seattle; Ben Harper on TAVA (ep. 118) 25:34 When does Skip use his tube tester? 28:17 Should I turn this jukebox amp into a guitar amp? 30:52 A monitor out a la GA17RVT; Quilter amps; full-fat Greek yogurt 36:24 When do we get a Marshall/Vox expert on the show? 37:58 A Kroker Triple Toad amp 40:13 Warming up a Nat Daniel-designed amp; separately mounted pre-amp tubes 42:17 Late '60s Fender biasing (AC568) 43:54 Skip's new guitar: A 1966 Fender Duo-Sonic 49:51 The Fender Files on YouTube (thanks, Larry Chung) 52:17 Using 5V4 rectifier tubes in a Matchless DC-30; Nduja mayonnaise (link) 1:00:17 Recommended reading: "There Are No Electrons: Electronics for Earthlings" (Amazon link); subbing a 6SL7 for a 6SN7 in a Gibson BR9 1:02:42 Transformer Corner: Using US amps overseas   1:11:07 Recommended music: Henry Kaiser & David Lindley's "Sweet Sunny North;" Steve Melkisethian remembered 1:13:01 A cheap and easy output transformer dynamic test; rebuilding reverb tanks 1:19:54 Skip's map collection Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Join us to get show updates and get to the front of the question line. 

It's the 138th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps!  This week, we pay tribute to Angela Instruments founder and former guest Steve Melkisethian (1950-2024); talk resistors and transformers; catch up on the 2024 Fretboard Summit; and much more. Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Join us to get show updates and get to the front of the question line.  Some of the topics discussed this time around: :58 R.I.P. Nick Gravenites (Electric Flag, Mike Bloomfield) 3:08 Our sponsors: Amplified Parts, Emerald City Guitars, and Grez Guitars. (Watch Emerald City Guitars' Fretboard Summit video here.)  5:32 The 2024 Fretboard Summit in a nutshell  10:29 R.I.P Steve Melkisethian (Angela Instrument); read our tribute here 18:42 R.I.P. Stephen Fitzstephens, member of our Kegger Facebook group 19:18 What was Skip listening to as a kid? 22:08 Skip’s Music vintage gear headed to auction  24:42 When to use old, mismatched resistors?  26:39 The 2003 interview in Vacuum Tube Valley with Steve Carr (PDF link) 27:41 Removing surface rust from transformers  30:27 A 1964 Ampeg Reverberocket that pops when you turn it off 31:10 You all need a Variac  33:03 A pig farm mini-baffler; Papa Murphy’s in a Weber grill 36:56 Dropping the B+ with a solid state rectifier  39:47 Flattening a Fender eyelet board, redux; how to flatten a ‘70s Fender grill cloth frame?  42:52 Aux phono input on a tube amp; replacing plastic knobs; movie recommendation: 'As It Is In Heaven'  46:48 An original 1963 Fender Vibroverb in the UK with a switchable voltage panel; John Kelly amps; Rainer Ptacek  52:33 How to select an output transformer for an amp when you don’t know its specs  1:00:55 The wrong tube in Danelectro amplifiers (12AU6 vs 12AV6) 1:04:02 What’s on Skip’s bench? An Alamo amp; kudos to Larry Chung  1:05:43 Recommended reading: 'The Feather Thief' (Amazon link); TAVA listener and winemaker William Downie (link) 1:10:36 Using Meguiar’s Convertible Top Cleaner to clean up a Premier amp 1:11:35 A Pepco Riviera 725; Frazey Ford  1:14:04 Posters by Serifs & Whiskey (link) 1:15:10 Blossom Valley Foods' Pepper Plant sauce (link) 1:15:37 Fixing a reverb tank by changing the transducer; Fender’s specific use of European tubes Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.     

It's the 137th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps! This week, we talk to special guest, Steve Carr of Carr Amplifiers!  Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Our sponsors: Emerald City Guitars, Amplified Parts, StewMac, and Grez Guitars. Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. And come to the 2024 Fretboard Summit.  Some of the topics discussed this time around: 2:22 Steve Carr (Carr Amplifiers) joins us for an enlightening talk about prototyping, speaker cabs, Solen caps, tone controls, and so much more. He even fields a few of your questions! 1:14:17 Big M speaker cabinets 1:16:08 Red Norvo "In a Mist" 1:17:49 Did a rubber tube amp mount just fix my microphonic amp? Easy Brussels sprouts 1:21:45 On the bench: An Epiphone Electar Zephyr 1:23:16 Pre-amps in front of amps that already have pre-amps; the WEM amps used at Live at Pompeii (link); Selmer reverb tanks; was this Philco amp made by Bogen?; pizza stones  1:31:55 Out-of-range potentiometers 1:35:05 Ballast resistors in field coil amps Plus Hurdy gurdys and more.

It's the 136th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps!  Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Our sponsors: Emerald City Guitars, Amplified Parts, StewMac, and Grez Guitars. Don't forget, we have a Patreon page.  Some of the topics discussed this time around:  1:11 A Big Boy locomotive chugs through CA 3:42 What's on Skip's Bench: A Valco/National/Airline amp-in-case; a single-ended Soundmaster PA; a Premier Twin 8 10:55 Another round of TAVA shirts? (coming soon) 13:06 Milkman to produce a JBL K120 replica speaker (link); re-coning by Hempopotamus (and Weber) 16:56 The 2024 Fretboard Summit, featuring Blake Mills, Josh Scott (JHS), Colin Hay and so much more https://fretboardsummit.org (Aug 23-25, 2024 in Chicago) 20:29 The Davis Guitar Scene 20:51 Is there a new speaker comparable to the JBL D130F? Artie Shaw 22:43 VHT amps, redux; homemade cheese 28:05 Why did Leo use RCA plugs for his speaker jacks? 32:20 I miss lo-fi Skip; help me isolate the hum on my Magnatone 410 39:45 Favorite solder; avocado toast 43:26 Recommended movie: 'All That Is Sacred' featuring Tom McGuane, Jim Harrison, Jimmy Buffett, and vintage Key West (link) 44:58 Help me ground my Pepco Riviera 725 48:15 Does the phase inverter tube contribute gain? 49:47 AIMS amplifiers, redux; Don Randall 53:59 Skip (almost) fixes a church organ 1:00:03 Should I wax pot these old output transformers? 1:04:55 Why is there chicken wire in my amplifier? finding the outside foil on a cap Recorded July 25, 2024. 

It's the 135th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps.  Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Some of the topics discussed this time around:  1:24 Another hopeful story; Winters, California 7:44 The fifth-ever Fretboard Summit: Blake Mills, Adam Levy, vintage amps, new amps, 80 luthiers, JHS and so much more. www.fretboardsummit.org 13:25 One of the greatest boxes of all time: thanks, Ben from Chattanooga! 15:01 Lynn Wheelwright reaches out to Skip 16:33 The very first Standel amp; Tacoma, Washington's Guitar Maniacs  18:53  Our sponsors: Emerald City Guitars (watch the Dumble video here), Amplified Parts, StewMac, and Grez Guitars.  22:10 Thank you, John Ross 23:41 Gibson's GA-45 "Velvet Touch"; Terry Dobbs (Mr. Valco) https://valcoamp.com 27:32 The answer to Ep. 134's Baffler: A Tweed Vibrolux 31:44 A Body & Soul El Pato fuzz giveaway? https://www.instagram.com/bsinstruments/ 34:00 The last remaining Big Boy locomotive is moving through California; Skip's hobo days  https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm 37:26 How to satisfy your customer when only one power tube needs to be replaced? CE Distribution; pimento cheese 47:04 A 5E3 build with too much Fender "bacon;" Ken Fischer 49:51 A Rickenbacker M11 with a 60 cycle hum out of V1 57:22 VHT Special Six, redux 1:03:51 A simple cocktail: A Boyhattan; bitters 1:05:15 The history of AIMS amps; 5 ohm amps; The Mosquito Supper Club's boiled shrimp (link) 1:13:34 The pronunciation police; modding a Silver Panel Fender Champ with a Magnatone 213 tone control 1:17:11 Elemental knowledge; California-built Vox amps; Clarkson's Farm 1:25:00 Is variable input impedance worth experimenting with? Bogen guitar amps 1:29:41 Is the two-prong hat offensive? Are fixed-bias amps more touch-sensitive? the phono input in old PAs; GM/IP on tubes 1:33:15 Recommended reading: The All-Music Guide  Recorded June 21, 2024.

It's the 134th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amp.  This week, we're joined by jazz guitarist Jonathan Stout where we talk EH-150s, field coil speakers and more!  Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Some of the topics discussed this time around:  1:23 Triple E jerky and freeze-dried ice cream (link) 2:36 Our sponsors: Emerald City Guitars, Amplified Parts, StewMac, and Grez Guitars.    6:06 What's on Skip's bench: An Electar Model M with 6N6 power tubes; a National Dobro amp with 2A3 power tubes 13:06 Skip has a Falcon for sale; Mumbo Gumbo 13:58 I put the electrolytic capacitor in backward on a 5F2A build; how coupling caps work; what to do with this Gregory Mark 1? 19:16 Natural year-round lemonade 20:21 How to fix the broken reverb on a vintage Gibson Falcon; open secondaries, someone needs to make a replacement Falcon transformer 22:20 What do you do if you need to replace a capacitor and its original part is different from the schematic? Steve Albini's Gear Dork Videos (Garnet, Samamp) 28:58 Special guest: Jonathan Stout (link)! Field coil speakers; traffic sounds; Gibson EH-150/185 amps; Vintage 47 amps (link);  Combs Guitars JJ-150 pedal (link); Quilter 101 heads; the evolution of amplifiers; Junior Barnard; the Echo Speaker jack on a Gibson EH-150, Knott's Berry Farm, Fender Tweed Pros; Marie Sharp's hot sauce; pizza stones; pizza tips 1:03:38 David Lindley; Jackson Browne; Greg Leisz on the FJ's Steel Podcast (link) 1:04:11 Revisiting the Ice Cube 1:06:39 Non-reverb Princeton love; the Brown Box voltage attenuator 1:08:21 This week's Baffler: What amazingly killer amp can you turn a non-reverb Princeton into? 1:08:49 Waiting for a ferry in Snowdonia; early mountain biking 1:14:46 A VHT Special 6 with a useless tone knob 1:18:45 6L6s in a Fender Deluxe Reverb; acceptable idle current range; Revere Ware; Cameo Copper Cleaner; Chuck roast instead of brisket; spicy Italian sausage in pasta sauce; Brussels sprouts; beer Special thanks to Tim Le Blanc for his help mixing this episode. Recorded May 24, 2024. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Want to support our show? Join our Patreon!