The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons

TAVA Discount: Use the discount code THETRUTH10 to save 10% off your order from Amplified Parts between now and April 15, 2021. Skip takes a fall, but still manages to help you troubleshoot your tube amps. Plus: Our long-awaited Deluxe schematic primer, recommended short stories, obsolete bass lures and more. 1:33 Skip and the haystack 5:30 This week's sponsors: Grez Guitars, Amplified Parts (Watch Josh Yenne demo a Grez Mendocino here.) 9:57 Jason's new podcast on makers and creators: Sweep the Floor (Apple Podcasts link); plus: The Truth About Recording & Mixing podcast (Apple Podcasts link) 12:35 The new issue of the Fretboard Journal (link) 16:54 A 1965 Ampeg G-12 with screeching reverb; a Silvertone 1484 with a rusty transformer, eddy currents 26:59 Is it worth restoring a Tweed Tremolux that works but has all-new caps and resistors? 34:34 The Johnson Silver Minnow 36:12 Putting Bozak audiophile speakers in a guitar amp, making a hi-fi into a guitar amp 43:06 Taming a Bogen PA head-turned-5C3-Deluxe style amp 47:33 Is canned salsa the circuit board amp equivalent of Mexican food?, Diana Kennedy 53:06 Two nearly-identical 1960 5G9 Fender Tremolux amps... one sounds way better. Why? 1:01:13 Potential guest: Roy Rogers 1:02:39 What to do with asbestos in your amp? 1:05:50 Goldentone amps, redux, and a music recommendation (Eddy Current Suppression Ring's "That's Inside of Me" Spotify link); get Mat Fitzwilliam's Goldentone amp book here 1:08:27 Taming a Fender Blues Deluxe reverb with a reverb volume control box 1:13:05 Baxandall tone stacks in a 1972 Traynor YGM-3 1:18:26 Skip's Deluxe schematic walk-through, part one (Robrobinette.com has the 5C3, 5E3, etc. schematics you may need here) 1:31:52 Skip's literary pick: Tim Gautreaux's 'Same Place, Same Things' Support the show as a TAVA Patreon patron and get bonus episodes, in-depth articles on amp circuitry and other surprises. Have a topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848.

Bribed with cans of El Pato, guitarist Nels Cline joins Jason and Skip on this week's Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast for a transparent talk about amplifiers and hot sauce. Plus... listener questions, PA conversions, upcycling all those holiday spices, animal husbandry and more. Some of the topics discussed on this week's episode: 0:12 Special guest, Nels Cline! Amplifiers (Webster-Chicago, Milkman, Studious, ZT Lunchbox), hot sauce (Mellow Habanero from heatonist.com), and music (Wilco, resonator sextets, Oregon, Ralph Towner, Weather Report, Ohmme, and more) 45:01 Today's sponsors: Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars 46:07 Poll: Skip walks you through Tweed Deluxe and Brown Deluxe differences OR Fender Princeton iterations 47:59 Schematic Heaven (link) 49:49 The answer to last week's Where's the Fender Death Cap? baffler 51:10 Fine tuning the reverb on a Gibson-made Maestro Reverb Echo 57:58 Marriage advice 1:02:53 What to do with a 100-watt Lafayette PA with the expander circuit? Make a Sorrel cocktail with old holiday spices (link) 1:09:21 How to determine when capacitors need to be replaced 1:15:06 Fixing a Gibson EH-150, in pieces, with a bad field coil speaker; putting a field coil speaker in a non-field coil amp 1:22:02: Is a Gibson EH-150 Class A Push-Pull? What is Class A? 1:24:34 The Country Side of Harmonica Sam (YouTube link) 1:25:52 Streaming radio stations on the internet 1:27:15 Why do so many amps in the Jack Darr book have the volume in the front of the first stage? Support the show as a TAVA Patreon patron and get bonus episodes, in-depth articles on amp circuitry and other surprises. Have a topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848.

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: iZotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your order), Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. Some of the topics discussed on this week's episode: 1:36 What's on Skip's Bench: A Magnatone / Estey T-32 amp; Digs of Marysville, Calif. 7:51 The TAVA Patreon page (link) 11:04 The TAVA Index Page: See nearly every topic we've ever discussed (link) 15:28 Tolex tips 20:52 Gibson EH-150 vs. EH-185, Larry Chung, trebuchet hobbies 26:01 Changing the tone of a reverb tank on dual-channel Fenders, speaker-driven reverb 30:54 Going two-prong on a 1963 Fender 6G15 reverb tank, re-installing carbon-comp resistors 35:21 Baffler! Why don't reverb units have a death cap? 38:04 Making reverb less bright with a volume pedal hack 40:45 A DeArmond's volume controlled via a pedal 42:30 Skip's cocktail sauce, Jason's kale (h/t Frank Prisinzano on Instagram) 46:37 Ronald Reagan's Press Secretary 49:29 What to do with an Epiphone Futura and speaker reconing, Ted Weber recone parts (link) 56:03 Removing extraneous parts in a PA conversion, making an Ampeg B-15 clone 1:00:00 Sticking an amp in an old Conn StroboTuner, power cords, amprepairparts.com (link) 1:05:41 The tone of a 1959 Bassman, without the Bassman Have a topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848.

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: iZotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your order), Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. Want to support the show? Be a part of our Patreon page. Some of the topics discussed on this week's episode: 1:13 Three nightmares left 7:17 Sam's Wurlitzer 920 combo amp from Ep. 62, revisited 9:14 Special guest: Ian Moore (Austin, Vibroluxes, Deluxe Reverbs, Marshall mods and salsa dona!) 44:26 What to do with an unusual 1968 Gibson Falcon chassis missing a cabinet? 48:48 Building a clone of Ampeg R-12-R Reverberocket 56:21 A vintage Jenson P-15Q with a quarter inch jack mounted on the speaker frame 58:14 Mary Halvorson 59:31 A Dukane PA with a low B+ voltage 1:03:21 How did Skip accumulate a barn full of PAs? 1:09:09 "Historic" or "historical;" a Bogen Challenger CHA33 with pitting on the chassis 1:15:00 How to properly use an ESR Meter; the Anatek Blue ESR meter (link) 1:19:00 The dwell on a reverb tank 1:21:02 Where does distortion come from; author C.J. Box 1:23:12 Testing a vintage power transformer before you install it 1:26:46 Mathew Fitzwilliam's Goldentone Amp book, revisited (link) 1:27:15 Restoring a Goldentone 1761 Soloist; ozvalveamps.org 1:30:33 Chris from Deluxe Amplifications' amp chassis holder (YouTube, blueprint available on our Patreon) 1:33:39 Guitar Shorty 1:36:36 The smallest mountain range in the world 1:37:32 Installing a separate filtercap eyelet board in a BF Fender 1:41:19 Using a vintage Jensen C12S speaker in a Princeton Reverb clone; bean pasta 1:49:15 Shrunken model airplane tissue Have a topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Be sure to check out the ever-growing Big Index of Truth About Vintage Amp topics to see if your amp questions have already been covered.

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: iZotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your order), Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. Want to support the show? Be a part of our Patreon page. Some of the topics discussed on this week's episode: 1:00 California weather and old dogs 3:08 Sharpening knives, Carter Cutlery (link) 8:51 How not to ship amps and amp parts 13:09 SAMS Photofacts and obscure schematics 18:36 Making the reverb in a Fender-style amp less bright 23:05 Why are boutique amps so expensive; Benson Chimera (link); improving an amp's tone by unplugging the reverb tank; a DYI Ice Cube; El Pato 30:58 The layout of Skip's workspace 37:00 Building an amp out of a tape deck with 250k volume and tone pots, redux 43:21 An Ampeg M-15 with a thumping tremolo 46:36 A vintage Weller 8200 solder gun with a smelly tip 49:41 Adding speaker-driven reverb to a 5E3 clone without using a second amp 52:13 Converting a Kalart 7015 projector into a guitar amp, Filmosound conversions, Tex Amps 58:19 Recommended reading: All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr (Amazon link, thanks Brian in Seattle) 59:40 Recommended watching: Derek DelGaudio's In & of Itself (on Hulu) 1:02:14 British amp heads at 16 ohms, Rick Beato's YouTube channel (link), leftover holiday spices 1:04:59 What to do with a Wurlitzer 920 combo amp? 1:09:22 Preserving a completely original 1953 Gibson GA-20 1:15:35 Sweet potato fries 1:16:05 A Masco MA-35 powered up with no speaker, dried white onions 1:23:46 The grounding switch on a Fender, spiking store-bought ranch dressing with Balsamic vinegar, death caps 1:31:44 Slowing down the vibrato of a vintage Magnatone 440 Have a topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Be sure to check out the ever-growing Big Index of Truth About Vintage Amp topics to see if your amp questions have already been covered.

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. Want to support the show? Be a part of our Patreon page. Some of the topics discussed on this week's episode: 6:15 Jason gets a Martin 110 amplifier 13:24 A DeArmond amp anomaly 15:47 The Truth About Recording and Mixing (link) 16:15 Skip's speaker-driven reverb / speaker-driven line out schematic (see our Instagram for the image) 39:19 Figuring out the distortion profile in a scratch-built amplifier 43:39 Skip makes a tube fuzz; Rustoleum Hammered paint 45:12 Updates on Skip's model plane, gopher bait 47:37 Herniating amps via speaker changes 53:17 The mystery oil in a Standel echo unit 57:44 A 1967 Fender Bassman that keeps shattering tubes 1:05:05 Saving a cracked two-prong plug Have a topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Be sure to check out the ever-growing Big Index of Truth About Vintage Amp topics to see if your amp questions have already been covered.

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. Want to support the show? Be a part of our Patreon page. Some of the topics discussed on this week's episode: 2:35 Skip gets a new knife (Carter Cutlery) 6:21 Restoring a 1961 Mercury Comet 9:13 Mathew Fitzwilliam's book on Australia's Goldentone amps (link) 21:24 What to do with a Masco MA-35 PA head, 7-series loctal tubes 29:40 The Bogen RP-1 Mic Pre-Amp 35:39 Keith Cary's mic pre-amp / headphone hack 38:44 Early Fender Princeton GZ34 rectifier tube alternatives 45:11 Shielded wire vs. unshielded wire in the circuitry of old PA heads 50:23 Converting a Webcor reel-to-reel into a guitar amp 59:19 Keeping a vintage reverb tank alive (Gibson Maestro M216-RVT amp, MOD tank upgrade, shortening a vintage reverb spring) 1:08:51 Skip builds a Piper Cub model airplane 1:21:28 Speaker recone kits (link) 1:27:59 Proper tremolo speed / depth on a Fender 6G3 1:32:08 Klon pedals and outboard tube-driven overdrives 1:36:52 Is my Gibson GA-9 parallel single-ended? 1:44:01 Doing the Vibro Champ mod to a Stromberg Carlson Model 290, Doris Troy's "What'cha Gonna Do About It" (link), and stuffed eggplant with crispy beef (link) 1:45:40 Mike enjoys the podcast (Mike's band: the 6L6s) 2:06:16 The Art of Basque Cooking by Clara Salaverria Perkins Recorded on the morning of January 1, 2021, which explains a couple of possibly inebriated callers. Coming soon: The Truth About Recording & Mixing with Johnny Sangster (Apple Podcasts link) Have a topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Be sure to check out the ever-growing Big Index of Truth About Vintage Amp topics to see if your amp questions have already been covered.

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. Want to support the show? Be a part of our Patreon page. Some of the topics discussed on this week's show: 5:13 The Truth About Recording & Mixing (launching January 2021!) 9:16 Building mic pre-amps 12:42 A "ripping" overdrive sound on a converted Vibro-Champ 17:51 A Red Bear amps service warning 21:36 Dr. Z Z-Air Brake, revisited; Joel Patterson; El Pato in Maryland 27:09 Jason ponders a new Patreon tier, tortillas on a cookie sheet, un-flavored Doritos 29:26 Safely packing amps for a cross-country (almost) move 35:05 Eau de Tweed 38:15 Traynor amp values 40:35 How long does the death stay in a death cap? 44:33 What to do with a Knight PA system? 50:30 Skip's (un-modified) PA liquidation 53:27 Oatmeal with jam 53:50 Crisped chickpeas in spiced brown butter 56:30: Book recommendations: 'A People and Their Music: The Story, Behind the Story, of Country Music'; 'Highway 99: A Literary Journey Through California's Central Valley' 1:02:18 A three-prong, ground loop question with a 5E3 and a 6G15 Reverb 1:09:22 The right goo to fix a cracked two-prong plug 1:15:07 The differences between the Deluxe V1 and V2 plate voltages, redux 1:18:03 A prototype Twin Reverb 1:20:25 The white powder on vintage amp parts Have a topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Be sure to check out the ever-growing Big Index of Truth About Vintage Amp topics to see if your amp questions have already been covered.

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. Want to support the show? Be a part of our Patreon page. 3:57 Skip announces his retirement (not really) 10:50 The Roxy Theater's "Wall" sound system finds a new owner 23:20 Preserving an all-original Fender 5F10 Harvard 29:05 The non-Fender amps Skip sees the most 31:05 Salvaging a submerged Red Bear amp 37:18 Special Guest: Barry Grzebik of Grez Guitars! 1:01:57 A smelly Silvertone 1484 thanks to an attenuator, hardshell taco tips 1:06:20 Decade boxes 1:10:03 Skip's movie picks: Straight Story, Dual 1:12:45 The hum balance pot in a 100-watt Fender Quad Reverb 1:15:29 Buying a 1952 TV panel Fender Deluxe with a replaced output transformer 1:21:06 Music recommendations: Bing Crosby with Eddie Lang; Cindy Cashdollar with Arlen Roth; Carla Bley's "O Holy Night" Have a topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Be sure to check out the ever-growing Big Index of Truth About Vintage Amp topics to see if your amp questions have already been covered.

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. Want to support the show? Be a part of our Patreon page. 2:15 Baffler Corner: The power tubes on a transitional 1963 Fender Showman head; enchiladas without breaking tortillas; last week's noisy Marshall 9:22 What's on Skip's Bench: A Gibsonette 14:35 The entire 1996 Angela Catalog, now available as a download! (link here, proceeds go directly to Steve Melkisethian) 17:29 Reversing the tube pin order in a Princeton 5F2A 19:53 Removing paint from Tolex 21:45 Recommended reading: 'Antique Radio Restoration Guide'; shimming a speaker with a rubbing dust cap 25:00 Watkins Dominators, using a Variac in front of a step-up transformer 30:41 Plate voltages on a Deluxe Reverb AB763 32:24 Modulus Music's free 5E3 cabinet plans; Skip's tomato sauce; Fender Harvards 38:55 A/B box updates; HAB hot sauce 41:06 Lectrolab S600s 43:42 Modding the first channel of a silverface Fender Super Reverb 46:43 Changing the cap value on a 5F2A tone control 48:38 Wall voltage variabilities and using a Variac 54:55 Song recommendation: "Call Me" by Aretha Franklin 55:48 Enchilada talk, fast pumpkin Thai curry soup 1:01:03 Are forums useful? Have a topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Be sure to check out the ever-growing Big Index of Truth About Vintage Amp topics to see if your amp questions have already been covered.

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 2:05 Skip checks out a Paul Bigsby-built tenor guitar, free stuff sent to your favorite podcast hosts 14:06 Revisiting Grez Guitars' pickle jar hack 15:13 Grounding 101 22:27 Antique Electronics Supply/Amplified Parts' Tolex sample packs 26:13 Advice on Ampeg M-12 / Mercury amps 29:16 Drawing a schematic from scratch 33:30 "Two Words:" A vintage Marshall baffler 35:34 Mis-drawn schematics revisited: The UREI 1176 Compressor 39:10 A 1960s Honda 305 Scrambler project 42:42 6L6G tubes in a 5E6 Fender Bassman? 47:29 RIP: Classic Tone transformers 48:32 Adding an isolation transformer to a Harmony H400A 52:44 Meatloaf on a grill 56:23 Cleaning grill cloth or Tolex 59:07 Stokes and Paul C mods on a Fender Princeton 1:03:29 Converting a Masco MA-50 and MA-17; Skip has a Gibson Falcon for sale 1:08:28 Guitarists versus harmonica players 1:09:12 Functional differences between spade connectors and soldering for speaker leads? 1:13:36 Turning a Conn ST-6 strobe turner into an amp... or something 1:18:02 Keeping corn tortillas intact while rolling enchiladas Recorded November 2, 2020. Have a question or topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. And be sure to check out the ever-growing Big Index of Truth About Vintage Amp topics to see if your amp questions have already been covered.

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: Amplified Parts (use the discount code TAVA10 when you check out to save 10% off your order!) and Grez Guitars. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 6:50 The Truth About Vintage Amps Patreon Page: New contributions from Jesse at Acme Instruments 10:00 Trusting a repair tech and what to do with old, removed parts 12:40 A driver for a horn speaker; dogs chasing golf balls, Specimen Audio 19:10 Ceramic fast-acting versus glass fuses 25:56 Putting two single-ended output transformers in series to make a larger single-ended output transformer 36:56 Solid state watts versus tube watts 39:07 A Garnet G15T Gnome with a 6V6 that fluctuates in time; the Garnet Herzog 42:56 Fender Super Reverb tremolo disconnect mods 48:09 Employing a Cetron CE-25C photocell tube to make a Theremin (or something like it) 51:40 More bean talk: Teasdale beans; Instant Pot revisited 56:57 Using two lower-value pre-amp plate load resistors in series 58:53 Pete Millett's online tube book reference library (link) 1:04:34 Skip's book picks: Patrick O'Brian, Tony Hillerman, James Lee Burke, Martin Cruz Smith 1:09:43 Gary Gulman's "The Hierarchy of Cookies" (link) 1:10:13 Getting a Gibson "Charlie Christian" EH-150 amp serviced properly; Orange Drop caps 1:21:30 "Sodder" versus "solder," yet again Have a question or topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. And be sure to check out the ever-growing Big Index of Truth About Vintage Amp topics to see if your amp questions have already been covered.

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 4:12 A new Tony's: Pappa Earle's (link) 6:03 This week's sponsors: Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts 7:43 Eddie Van Halen (link to Zocala Public Square video mentioned) 14:45 The answer to Ep. 53's Baffler 18:30 A cabinet conundrum 20:23 Another Baffler! 21:36 Cleaning chrome Gibson faceplates, Metal Rescue 24:00 A Vibroverb reissue with ringing reverb... fixed 27:42 Restoring amps that have been underwater 34:17 The harmonic tremolo and pre-amp tubes in a brownface 1960 Fender Super 40:47 Hammond organ amp conversions 45:21 Taming a Super Reverb clone; Instant Pots 40:49 Skip's traveling coffee rig 51:15 Mat's Skip-inspired iPhone to guitar amp interface 57:08 Getting analog warmth into a digital recording chain 1:00:11 Brian's protein-packed smoothie; Rasta Kevin; homemade tomato sauce; Burning Spear 1:03:35 Supro tube tremolo 1:08:13 "Sodder" versus "solder," the final word Have a question or topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is brought to you by Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts. Use the discount code

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 1:11 A new TAVA Baffler 4:41 An Angela Super Single Ended amp group build? 10:28 Mrs. Simmons' favorite amp? 13:16 Identifying the work of Fender's Lily, Lupe, Eileen, etc. 14:43 Strategies when you discover an amp with few original parts 19:50 Saving amps with fire/smoke damage 26:07 Driving larger power tubes 101 29:14 That tube amp fizz / hiss 34:25 Why smacking the top of your amp sometimes fixes it, microphonic tubes 39:22 Vintage Guild amplifiers and homemade taco seasoning 49:18 Why did 1955 tweed Deluxe shock me? 54:27 Sticking new caps inside of an old capacitor 57:59 New USA-made tubes, revisited 1:04:27 Cleaning the lead wires on old parts 1:07:07 Numb mouth after eating El Pato 1:07:50 Adding the tone control of a Magnatone 213 to a Magnatone M2 Custom 1:10:39 Selenium rectifiers going bad 1:13:49 Al Di Miola, John McLaughlin, and Paco de Lucia 'Friday Night in San Francisco 1980' 1:14:14 Sleeper amps that need a boost or overdrive pedal to shine, Harmony H415 1:16:58 Zep Smoke Odor Eliminator Pro 1:18:22 Using a 6 volt rectifier in place of a 5 volt 1:24:06 Converting the power tube bias modulating tremolo on a Princeton to the pre-amp tube bias modulation of a Vibro Champ; recommended dining: Shan Dong in Oakland, Calif. Have a question or topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is brought to you by Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts (who happen to have Jack Darr's 'Electric Guitar Amplifier Handbook' in-stock now), with special audio help from Izotope. Use the discount code RUIN10 to save 10% off your Izotope order.

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar amp questions from around the world, except this time we're joined by special guest, Jef Brown! Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 8:54 'Practical Amplifier Diagrams' (1947) 17:02 The grounds on an all-original 1962 Fender Tweed Champ 22:34 Power section filtering 26:30 Special Guest: Jef Brown! (Jef's band, Jef's amp blog) 1:13:32 A Gibson GA-25 RVT Hawk that smells 1:19:23 Bass-ifying a single-ended amp build 1:23:00 A Silverface Princeton Reverb missing its foot switch 1:25:15 El Paso fajita seasoning 1:26:04 Turning your amps on-and-off during the workday Have a question or topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is brought to you by Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts (who happen to have Jack Darr's 'Electric Guitar Amplifier Handbook' in-stock now), with special audio help from Izotope. Use the discount code RUIN10 to save 10% off your Izotope order.

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 4:35 Soundmaster PAs, revisited 16:20 Turret boards versus freestyle wiring 21:24 Adjectives for the tones of tweed-era Deluxe and 4x12" Bassman 27:37 Matching a 16 ohm speaker to a 4 ohm amp output with a transformer 31:20 A schematic, but no layout 33:33 Power tubes in series (Milkman amps) 35:54 A Gibson GA-15 that rattles its tubes out 40:54 Silvertone 101 45:50 Advice on a 1966 Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve: Watts, speakers, tips 52:26 A Silvertone 1474 and desoldering components from terminal strips 1:05:50 Using Telefunken EAM86 indicator tubesin an amp application Special thanks to Derek Taylor for the intermission music. Have a question or topic for a future episode? Submit it to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is brought to you by Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts.

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps It's the long-awaited, prize-filled 50th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast! And, once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 6:11 Pyko de Gallo 7:09 Deluxe Amplification's El Pato Tone practice amp (link) 11:51 A circuit to investigate: the Kay K550 15:34 DJ Cruise Ship Derek 22:48 Hy Bloom, founder of Soundmaster, redux 28:36 Is the RCA Manual the reference for tube specs? 32:11 Can amps be cursed? 36:01 An Ampeg that gets mushy 37:39 Skip's fallback job 38:14 Model airplanes 39:28 Netflix recommendation: 'John Was Trying to Contact Aliens' 40:13 When caps go on a 1964 Fender Champ; El Pato & yogurt 45:23 Win stuff from Manbroidery, Voyager Guitar Cabs and Chris Vincent of R2R Electric!! 49:44 Special guest Chris Vincent (DJLavalamp on Instagram, R2R Electric) 1:06:26 Occasionally farty bass on multiple amps 1:11:04 A Philly Roast Pork Sandwich 1:12:19 The bologna sandwich from Oklahoma 1:13:27 A Fender Champion 600 with a disconnected pilot light 1:15:55 Special guest: Matt Clouston of Clouston Amplifiers 1:31:18 Music to solder by: The Peddlers 1:33:56 Australia's Goldentone 1750 / Broadway amplifier and the 6GW8 tube 1:37:48 Schematics in the public domain? 1:39:28 A reissue Fender Vibroverb with a reverb that rings with a C-note 1:43:09 A life changed thanks to Skip 1:46:58 Ranch Water; pico de gallo 1:48:58 Skip's riff when testing out an amp Have a question or topic for a future episode? Submit it to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is brought to you by Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts.

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 3:32 A brief moment of despair 10:34 Our new Patreon page: Hear Skip's actual voice! 21:30 Colin Cripps' Filmosound, revisited 25:15 Skip's chassis stand 30:37 Changing the linear taper volume pot on an early '80s Princeton Reverb 34:53 Putting a guitar input into the pre-amp of a Hammond L-100 organ 40:33 Salvaging tubes from a free Lowry organ 43:40 The 5F10 Fender Harvard 47:17 "Peekofarad" or "pykofarad" 48:35 The light-dependent resistor on a Gibson GA20-RVT tremolo 52:30 Replacing the 6CA7/EL34 power tubes with new old stock Sylvania/RCA or brand new Electro-Harmonix 57:40 Bass cut on a Tweed Deluxe clone 1:02:20 Vibro Champ tremolo revisited 1:06:17 Boutique parts & homemade ramen 1:17:32 Patton fans Have a question or topic for a future episode? Submit it to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is brought to you by Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts.

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Once again, Skip Simmons also fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 2:55 Special guest: Greg Cravener from Amplified Parts (watch the video on how Amplified makes can capacitors here) 33:27 Plate load resistor function 39:00 Power conditioners and vintage amps 41:23 Building a simple hi-fi from scratch 44:52 Building an amp with two different power sections and two different output transformers Have a question or topic for a future episode? Submit it to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is brought to you by Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts.

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Once again, Skip Simmons also fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. This week, we are also joined by special guest Colin Cripps (Blue Rodeo, the Jim Cuddy Band, Kathleen Edwards), who helps shed light on some of the very special amplifiers to come out of Canada. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: :55 "The unluckiest dude that there ever was," Skip's advice to fellow amp techs 10:16 The Truth About Vintage Amps Patreon page (fireside chats, a Skip grab bag of vintage "stuff"!) 16:24 Special guest: guitarist/producer Colin Cripps (Bernie Raunig's Filmosound amps, Johnson Amplifiers, TEX amps) 55:07 Music Picks: Emitt Rhodes, Esquerita, The Melodians 58:31 Replacement pots of choice 1:00:18 A Magnavox amp with a push-pull output but no phase inverter stage 1:02:10 What to do with a busted 1962 Fender Deluxe output transformer 1:04:39 Vibro Champs that lose volume when tremolo intensity is increased, revisited Have a question or topic for a future episode? Submit it to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is brought to you by Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts.

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Steve Melkisethian of Angela Instruments makes his eagerly anticipated second Truth About Vintage Amps appearance and it doesn't disappoint. Included: Tracking down vintage Marshalls in the UK, selling gear to U2, Ken Fischer, tube sockets, recommended books, Orange amps, Jesse Quitslund of Acme Instruments, Jef Brown, Steve plays drums for the Cramps, and more! Note: Steve recommends two books by author Pete "The Jukester" Sheridan. You can read about them via his website. Both can be purchased by sending him a check/money order to the address on the homepage. Special thanks, as always, to our sponsors Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts.

Once again, Skip Simmons also fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is brought to you by Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 10:24 Chris' Tone Scoring System 14:12 The three colors of El Pato 17:07 Silverface vs. late Blackface Champs 21:46 A Sherwood Master 8422 amp 24:55 Installing a pre-amp switch on a pair of tube amps 30:05 A TAVA handbook? 35:32 Modding the volume on input two of a reissue Princeton 39:06 "Expansion Control" on a Knight PA amp 43:23 Dan's summer BBQ marinade

Once again, Skip Simmons also fielding guitar amp questions from around the world, but this week we have a special guest: Colleen Fazio of Fazio Electric! Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is brought to you by Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts Some of the topics discussed on this episode: :54 A silverface Twin left on without a speaker 3:44 A tweed Deluxe with two serial numbers 5:58 Meet our new sponsor: Amplified Parts 16:57 Deluxe Amplification's 1949 Ford and car radio reverb units 21:14 Special guest: Colleen Fazio of Fazio Electric (mid-century modern inspired amplifiers, repair tips, Vero amps, pasta sauce!) Follow her on Instagram and subscribe to her new YouTube channel. 1:03:10 Fender Vibro Champ XD pre-amp tubes; extending transformer leads 1:08:45 The tonal impact of a loose ground connection with a three-prong replacement cord 1:13:55 Free green onions forever 1:15:15 Recommended combo setup for an organ and guitar player 1:19:21 Using an extension cord with a GFI outlet 1:22:50 An underwhelming Massie 966 Squire amp 1:28:09 A Peavey Vintage 4x10 with compaction 6C10 tubes 1:31:37 Appreciating the Fender Bassman 70

Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is sponsored by Grez Guitars. Some of the topics discussed in this episode: 3:11 Making an amp cabinet out of a beehive, a new baffler 8:23 Winding your own power transformer (YouTube) 9:54 Flot-A-Tone Amplifiers 23:11 Octal tubes revisited 26:30 A kit Vibrochamp with an intensity problem 30:02 A one-string b-bender, the Pitch Pilot 31:32 Helping fellow pro amp techs, a motorboating tweed Bassman 38:28 A low-watt 2x12 combo amp? 41:03 Plate dissipation differences for cathode-biased, Class A and Class A/B amps 44:48 Alamo amps 48:01 Megger cables and a 1968 Fender Bandmaster for bass 50:51 "Bumble Bee" capacitors & Mass MOCA 55:42 Itemized invoices 58:45 Powering a pair of speakers with a Fender Blues Jr. IV 1:03:44 The TAVA Big Index Page 1:08:16 A loose tube socket on a homemade 5F2A circuit 1:13:05 How episodes get named

Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is sponsored by Grez Guitars. Some of the topics discussed in this episode: 1:20 A request for the sold-erers 9:00 A "don't just think about it, do it" project: A Strat pickup on an acoustic 12:37 An input 2 fan from Ireland 15:30 DIY wiring harnesses for a speaker cabinet 18:52 Extra radio interference on master volume amps 27:23 Skip's long-awaited hot & sour soup recipe 33:00 Building a first amp with a 15-year-old 39:07 What to do with Bozak speakers 43:30 Safe to use A/B/Y to test two amp heads into one cabinet? 48:16 When to put on a grounded cord and would a polarized two-prong plug work? 53:06 What to do with a Grommes Little Jewel LJ2 59:02 Dave Miller, (check out his new video here), Newcomb PAs and Skip on TMZ 1:03:17 Converting a PA amp to a spring reverb 1:07:14 Circuit Corner: Leslie speaker amps

Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is sponsored by Grez Guitars. Some of the topics discussed in this episode: 4:46 Bill Krinard's Silvertone Twin Twelve reverb fix (tease) 20:23 This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (watch RJ Ronquillo's demo video here) 21:20 Whatever happened to Jason's Stew-Mac Champ kit? 25:03 An input no. 2 aficionado 31:11 Re-gluing a Fender faceplate 34:00 A '54 Champ and a VanAmps Reverbamate 41:11 A test cabinet for field coil speakers 44:39 A patch bay for multiple amp outputs 49:33 The magic of JBLs 56:09 A Subaru Outback with an oil leak & Toyota Land Cruisers 1:05:17 How long can an amp sit without needing a voltage ramp-up 1:07:14 9-pin or octal tubes for a Fender 5C3 Deluxe 1:14:09 Scavenging parts from an inherited Heathkit Thomas organ 1:17:59 A blonde Fender Bassman with a single 12" speaker; the "Helmholtz Resonator" 1:22:05 Yellow Jackets converters in a 1971 Fender Vibroluxe Reverb 1:26:18 Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' 1:31:08 An outboard 110 to 240 converter for a New Zealander

Vintage guitar and amp dealer/repairman Steve Soest joins us for a very special Truth About Vintage Amps episode. Steve shares stories of meeting Leo Fender, Doc Kauffman and other legends from the world of electric guitars; he recounts of some of his days of vintage gear buying and selling; and he even walks us through the time he joined Dick Dale's band. Plus: What to do with a free Hammond M-3 organ, the New Bedford Whaling Museum and much more... Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is sponsored by Grez Guitars. http://www.soestguitar.com http://www.skipsimmonsamps.com https://www.fretboardjournal.com

Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is sponsored by Grez Guitars. Some of the topics discussed in this episode: 4:00 Satan & Adam on Netflix 5:38 How to pronounce Tony Chachere (link) 7:13 A step-up transformer for a guitar 10:54 Tubes on a drawbridge? 13:27 Reversing the pilot lamp in your amp, again 16:42 Flux remover for turret boards and PCBs 18:15 Preventing pitting on an amp chassis 19:54 Hitting a power chord to discharge the caps on an amp 22:25 Vintage Hilgen amplifiers (link) 25:32 Tiny Moore's Music in Sacramento 26:28 A clone Deluxe that unexpectedly cuts out 30:32 A 1982 Vibro Champ with a '60s power transformer 34:37 Increasing gain on a Valco-made Gretsch 6150 amp 37:30 Skip thanks you for all the gifts; Steve Soest and Michael Lee Allen 40:50 Chili oil from Xi-An Famous Foods (link) 41:55 A Gibson Falcon picking up radio signals 46:26 The Baxandall tone stack and a Japanese karage recipe 54:18 Sierra Nevada Summerfest beer 55:28 Lead dressing and salsas 1:00:55 A pre-amp circuit for an RCA MI-12188A theater amp 1:07:54 A Fender Vibrolux with a loose 5U4 rectifier tube 1:11:17 'Moby Dick,' Tony Hillerman, 'Bosch,' 'Happy Valley,' 'This Sporting Life' 1:18:20 A vintage Japanese "Reverb Master" tank 1:22:30 A reverb fix for Silvertone Twin Twelves 1:23:48 Skip's grooming tips

The elusive, highly influential Steve Melkisethian of Angela Instruments joins us on this week's episode for what is quite possibly our most entertaining episode to date. For decades, Angela has provided DIY tube amp and hi-fi enthusiasts with tubes, parts, and brutally honest advice. Melkisethian tells us about the history of the company, his love for music (from John Fahey to Roy Buchanan and Fugazi), and shares plenty of stories from the vacuum tube frontlines. Submit your tube amp questions to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Some of the topics discussed: 0:00 Addendum: The tubes on Springsteen's Mesa Boogie 3:25 Why Steve Melkisethian of Angela Instruments, this week's guest, is important 6:56 This week's TAVA sponsor: Grez Guitars 7:58 The Danelectro DM-25 reverb trick, redux 13:41 What's on Skip's bench? 17:02 Jason buys a Garnet 18:50 Pronouncing Tony Chachere, again; El Pato and Herdez 23:05 Speaker driven reverb schematic 29:06 Special guest: Steve Melkisethian of Angela Instruments (www.angela.com)

Once again, Skip Simmons is quoting 'A Tale of Two Cities' and fielding tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This episode is sponsored by Grez Guitars. Some of the topics discussed in this episode: 4:26 Carter Vintage's under $1000 amp shootout (YouTube link) 7:40 Satan & Adam 9:32 Tom Ball 11:44 Updates on Drew's Fender Tonemaster 17:54 We're doing a good job 19:48 Phil Lee 21:00 Tube condensation during cold weather 24:12 The Fender Bantam Bass amp 26:26 Eric Johnson's pilot light placement, redux 29:44 A 1973 Fender Princeton Reverb with a sticky speaker 32:52 Swapping out a phase inverter tube versus swapping out a pre-amp tube 35:17 Recommended tool: OXO turner for skillet cleaning (link) 37:38 The gain stages of the Fender 5E8-A preamp 42:10 Replacing the handle on a '60s Gibson GA-5 Skylark 46:09 Footswitch 101 and an '80s Rivera-era Fender Princeton Reverb 2 50:29 Using EQ to lower the volume on a 50-watt Mesa Boogie Mark II 56:05 A 1968 Fender Vibro Champ with a hum that goes away 1:01:56 Power = Voltage × Current 1:03:38 A 5881 or a 6L6GC power tube in a 5F1 1:05:48 Speaker recommendations for a 1966 Ampeg Gemini II

Once again, Skip Simmons is quoting 'A Tale of Two Cities' and fielding tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Some of the topics discussed in this episode: 4:41 One for the Tweakers: Putting a filament transformer in a HiWatt, backwards 7:38 Unfreezing pots with rubbing alcohol 11:53 Turning a Rogers Cadet hi-fi into a guitar amp 13:19 A 1953 Massie Woody on Reverb (link) 15:59 Red lacquer on solder joints 17:30 This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (check out the video with Tim Lerch and Tommy Harkenrider here) 21:27 The stereo-to-mono conversion box project 31:56 The only thing you'll remember from this week's podcast: How to say "Tony Cachere's" 32:58 The Danelectro DM-25 35:56 Josh Yenne and the Gmail / Comcast guys 37:45 The hairy overdriven, brown sag sound for pedal steel (Charley Pride's "Cotton Fields") 44:45 RIP: Brian Dennehy (crooked cop in 'Gorky Park') 46:40 Lodge: The Blues Junior of cast iron pans? 49:00 Tips for repairing Tolex and tight-fitting chassis 50:35 The language of amp feel 54:47 Will this Kay 703 kill me? 59:59 Ry Cooder's Instagram page 1:00:18 The tone difference of PCB vs wired amps 11:04:25 A Victoria with a thumpy tremolo 1:08:04 An early '60s Fender Princeton with an extraneous noise 1:13:00 Different tone controls for a Gibson Falcon (link, link) 1:17:45 Getting rid of the bias resistor in a Vibroluxe clone; super-simple, homemade hot sauce 1:20:03 A Brown Box for an Aussie? 1:25:20 'How to Hot Rod Your Fender Amp' book, DLabs 1:29:40 Why Skip hates pentode triad switches

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. 2:39: Special Guest: Bill Krinard (Two-Rock Amplifiers): Troubleshooting a Fender Tonemaster that pops when turned off; Bodega red potatoes; Bill's current projects; flipping the pilot light) 34:45 This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link, get a behind-the-scenes Grez shop tour here) 35:39 Tips on buying a tube tester (Skip's fave: B&K 700) 45:05 Speaker recommendations for a Champ 47:58 Troubleshooting an early '70s Fender Bassman 50 with hum 1:00:57 Choke talk 1:05:31 Cast iron cleaning 1:10:55 Vacuum Tube Valley online (link) 1:13:53 RIP Art Dudley (FJ and Stereophile contributor) 1:14:10 Skip's hi-fi setup 1:18:14 A Garnet Pro with built-in Stinger fuzz that sounds worse as it warms up 1:22:49 Skip's book tips

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. (Apologies for the Skype noise/buffering at the start of the podcast... our small town internet needs some WD-40.) 21:39 This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) 22:33 A Musicmaster Bass amp in a Vibro Champ cabinet (and vice versa) 25:19 The crest on a Gibson Crestline-era Skylark / the Gibson amp book (link) 27:49 A resistor to bias a tweed Vibrolux; power transformers in a 5F2A 38:51 Using the speaker of a Deluxe Reverb with a Quilter head 42:34 A Silverface Vibro Champ with a weak tremolo; the Capacitor Wizard 47:55 This week's quote: "The mind that is not baffled, is not employed" -Wendell Berry 49:19 The popping Fender Tonemaster update 55:01 A gridleak bias mindworm 1:02:06 In defense of Lodge cast iron; crisper potatoes 1:07:37 Pickups and how they interact with tube amps 1:11:59 Music recommendation: Skip James' Today!1:13:01 Free video time killers for the DIY set: Camel Finds Water (link), Resurrection: Rescue of a 1955 VW panelvan (link), The Beast of Turin (link) 1:16:56 Rogue Hoe gardening tools (link); symptoms of a bad bias circuit 1:23:46 Dialing in your tone on a Mesa Boogie Mark IV 1:30:58 Tubes for a Fender reverb tank 1:34:33 "Chitlins Con Carne" rhythm revisited: Timmy Thomas' "Why Can't We Live Together," the Police's "Deathwish;" Gibson Falcon mods 1:39:12 Modifying a '60s hi-fi home kit amp, plus Vinnie's mashed potato recipe (see below) 1:48:17 Movie pick: 'Pow Wow Highway' Keep the questions coming and please leave us a review over on Apple Podcasts or share the podcast with friends. Vinnie's Mash Potato Recipe 500gm Floury potatoes (in New Zealand I'd use Agria) 300ml single cream 200gm butter salt nutmeg butter to finish peel and cut the potato in 3cm dice bring to the boil (just covered) in heavily salted water (slightly less than the sea) strain as soon as you can easily poke a sharp knife through them (if they over cook and take on water they will be too salty) once fully drained put them back in the pot on a low heat until the outside is fluffy and dry meanwhile in another pot start reducing the cream and butter until it takes on the consistency of thermal mudpools bubbling. In NZ it would be quite yellow at this stage but our cows are grass feed. while this is happening, force the potato through a sieve or ricer, working the potato as little as possible Now whip the potato's in to the cream mixture, this should almost immediately come cleanly away from the sides of the pot and be ready to serve. Spin the pot to make a ball, tip into a bowl, sprinkle with nutmeg and stick a 1cm knob of butter in the middle Maybe mash potato seems like a lame recipe, but this method produces the best results, I think. p.s. water is the enemy of mash potato. Water out--Fat in

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. 5:24 This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) 6:01 Jimmy from the Deadlies and his 5D3 Tweed Deluxe 8:13 Rustic Kegger in the Woods origin 8:48 Recommended reading: 'White Bicycles' by Joe Boyd 9:42 A 1960 Gibson GA-6 Lancer with inputs that keep cutting out 15:34 What's the deal with the 1954 Fender Super? 20:02 Who was Glen Quan? 21:56 Servicing a Sears Silvertone 1482 30:05 The Magnatone 280 owner's manual 32:23 A Fender Tonemaster with a pop 41:30 The roots of tremolo with Hammond, DeArmond, etc. 44:13 A 1987 Marshall JCM-800 2210 picking up ham radio signals 52:40 Special guest: Sam Bolle (Dick Dale!) 1:09:10 A Hammond AO-35 amp conversion project 1:14:11 Seasoning cast iron pans 1:15:18 AmpRX BrownBox attenuator use 1:19:00 A steel player's pre-amp tube needs, spiral filament design 1:22:26 What's on Skip's bookshelf (Trustee from the Toolroom; All Music Guide to the Blues) 1:25:16 Cartoons that adults want to watch

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. 8:04: Good Goo: TR3, SiliKroil 11:53 Our new Facebook Group (link) 13:13 Vacaville, CA's hardware store (Pacific Hardware) 15:32 This week's sponsor: Grez Guitar 16:44 The Fretboard Journal's #FJFest (TAVA listeners will enjoy seeing DJLavalamp's Treble Booster operation or TJ Thompson's shop tour) 19:30 The lettered squares on an amp layout 21:05 Skip's starter kit for aspiring amp tinkerers: Solder iron, solder, needle nose pliers, wire cutters, a stainless steel brush (and the Jack Darr book, of course) 26:06 Modding a 5F2A from China / Reverse Feedback 29:52 Jim Campilongo's Silverface Princeton woes (NOS tube problems) 34:30 The Mullard Factory Tour on YouTube (link) 35:04 Damage from looping through a vintage amp? 41:40 Fixing a buzzy 1979 Musicmaster Bass amp 46:30 Skip's desert island amp 48:25 How did Skip and Jason meet? 52:21 Troubleshooting white noise on an amp 56:40 Running a dummy load on a stereo amp to go mono 1:00:00 1974 Fender Champ with a cat in the amp 1:05:48 A new Baffler! Ralph Shine & Sylvia Massy trivia! 1:07:38 NOS tubes recommendation: Fbenkor on eBay 1:08:26 Otis Amps 1:13:41 Skip makes a service call to Roman Coppola (Story & Clark "Storytone" Electric Piano) 1:18:35 Skip's travel toolkit 1:20:30 Sticking reverb in a Vibrochamp (link and link) 1:21:19 A Premier 90 Reverberation with stretched-out springs 1:23:58 Groovy tunes: Skip Mahoney's "Wherever You Go;" Grant Green's 'Street of Dreams;' William de Vaughn's "Be Thankful for What You Got;" Timmy Thomas' "Why Can't We Live Together"

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Note: We now have a private Facebook group for TAVA listeners: Search for "A Rustic Kegger in the Woods" or click here. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 1:32 Skip tries to stay in the middle 5:04 Little Charlie Remembered 13:47 The hillbilly amp bought on eBay by listener @scschooling on Instagram (link) 14:49 Adam Grimm (Satellite Amps) builds a motion controlled boost with a mercury thermostat 16:08 Skip on Selmer amps, again 18:42 Making a Fender Acoustasonic Junior road worthy 24:13 Play through an amp while you're warming it up with a Variac? 29:43 Cramming a 10" speaker into a Champ kit 31:21 A 1956 Gibson GA-40 Les Paul amp that doesn't match the schematic 36:38 Smoked glass tubes 39:40 A project for a late '40s / early '50s Magnavox mono amp; plus, beans 46:38 "Why is Mesa Boogie so bloody minded and contrary?" asks an Australian listener 52:28 Special guest: Executive Chef Chris Robertson (Southpark Seafood, Portland, Oregon) 1:11:36 Harmonic tremolo and tremolo vs. vibrato circuits; Travis Wammack, "It's Karate Time" (YouTube link) 1:15:54 Pots that say 250k, but are actually 120k 1:18:25 A Brownface Princeton with 250k volume pots 1:21:52 Breakup on a Fender Deluxe 5E3 1:28:08 Comparing a 1962 Magnatone Custom 440 to a Fender counterpart 1:33:20 A Magnatone M7 with a mysterious foil wrapping around a coupling cap 1:37:35 Don't Be Me: A listener's speaker-replacing follies 1:42:30 Options for replacing a reverb tank in a '65 Fender Deluxe Reverb 1:46:44 Recommending reading: 'Shop Class as Soul Craft,' 'Trustee from the Toolroom' 1:52:08 Recommended watching: The Repair Shop (Netflix), homeschooling hacks 1:56:35 A 1963 Gibson GA-5T Skylark (Crestline series) with an annoying tremolo 2:02:02 Skip's trip to Marijuanaville 2:05:27 Nesting with Netflix: Shetland; The Detectorists; Inspector Morse, Lewis; Better Call Saul; Trailer Park Boys 2:09:41 When is a vintage amp no longer a vintage amp?

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) Note: This episode was recorded on February 28, 2020 and pre-dates the passing of Little Charlie Baty, as well as much as of the news we now have on the coronavirus. (We just recorded a new show on March 19 that discusses both topics and we will be posting that next week.) Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 4:10 The hillbillies from Olivehurst: A cursed Gibson GA-15RVT and an early '60s Gibson Melody Maker 11:09 A 1951 Fender Tweed Pro with a factory field coil speaker (with one end on the B+, the other end grounded) 14:38 A TAVA Facebook group? Looking for moderators (inquire within) 18:44 Frito Chili Pie 20:42 Biasing for Class A Fixed, Class A/B and Cathode biasing; A Fender 5F2A's inverse negative feedback 30:49 Built-in power attenuators 35:40 Installing a headphone output jack on a vintage Fender Champ 37:16 The future reputation of modern amp builders (Carr, Dr. Z, Bartel, etc.) 47:04 More on Skip's Retropolitan amps 50:35 Breaking-in a speaker with a looper pedal 53:49 Music recommendations: Stanley Turentine, Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, Shirley Scott 55:21 What's wrong with Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's amp on his 1946 recording "That's All Right"? 57:35 Vintage Australian amps: Goldentone, Vase & Moody 58:34 A Fender Blues Deville with too much reverb 1:00:58 The "tone expander" switch on a Gibson GA30RV "Invader" 1:02:20 Vintage Gibson cabinet talk: Redwood? Any available reproduction cabinets? 1:05:54 Music recommendation: 'Unshaven: Live at Smith's Olde Bar' by Shaver 1:07:34 A John Vanderslice / Tiny Telephone update 1:09:07 Mac & cheese revisited 1:10:15 Picky goats 1:11:12 Selmer Triumph Reverb schematic 1:13:50 Grounding schemes, halloumi cheese 1:21:17 Special guest: Chris Benson of Benson Amplifiers! (Triad transformers, new releases, granola, cast iron) 1:39:19 Replace the bypass cap on your silverface Champ 1:40:10 Rodriguez & Searching for Sugar Man 1:42:01 Louis Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 3:34 Skip goes to see Temple Grandin 10:20 A Facebook group for the TAVA Podcast? 10:48 Manbroidery's Two Prong Hat update 11:16 This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars 12:57 A noisy reverb thanks to vintage tubes 15:55 Cooking (on amps) with Billy Cowsill; a hot Flotatone 21:41 Using DC voltage to heat tubes for quieter operation (the 2020 Soldano SLO-100, Otis amps, other examples) 26:58 Using an amp as a pedal platform (tube vs solid state) 32:39 A successful 5F1 copy and liability concerns when selling boutique tube amps 38:42 Why can't they fit reverb into a Fender Vibro Champ? 41:51 Evolution of the Fender Deluxe Reverb reissues 45:15 Power for an outboard EQ section DIY project 48:28 A new DIY project: Changing the power transformer of a Fender Twin Reverb and modifying it for 6V6s to reduce weight 52:17 What to do with a non-working Gibson Hawk? 55:09 Why do tube amps sound better after a few hours of use? 58:59 Correct fuse for a 1973 Fender Champ 1:02:21 Replacement speakers in a vintage Gibson Skylark 1:06:18 Where to grab a chassis before removing it? 1:08:08 Laurens Hammond vs Donald Leslie 1:12:00 Tips on speaker cabinet construction 1:15:26 Discrepancies in the Angela SSE schematic 1:23:06 Listener Nate's favorite hot & sour soup recipe (link) 1:23:36 A failing 5Y3 rectifier at a gig 1:28:51 Troubleshooting a weak channel on a 5D3 Tweed Deluxe 1:35:07 Coffee from Mechanicsburg, Ohio (Hemisphere's Redline Roast, link)

Jason and Skip get Adam Grimm (Satellite Amplifiers) on the line. https://www.satelliteamps.com

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Pre-order today: The Truth About Vintage Amps Two-Prong hat collaboration from Manbroidery and Ebbets Field Flannels (link) This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 2:13 Skip gets a $25 guitar; Jason goes to NAMM 11:05 Marc Silber's inventory 14:16 Skip meets Grez 17:43 Tyler wins of our Union Bean Counter Tone Druid pedal giveaway (correct answer: Tom Waits) 19:17 Tyler's fish taco recipe (email us) 20:29 A very clean Fender Tweed Deluxe 22:00 Joe Craven and Bruce MacMillan covers the Dead 23:24 Australians respond to Skip's Robert Hughes query 23:51 More on Brent's bargain Variac with a current meter hack 26:46 Leaving an amp on for a week 29:33 Vintage wire that just won't solder 31:33 The Fender Greta as a pre-amp 34:02 The JHD Ice Cube Sustain Coupler (link) 37:43 The dangers of running an effect between an amp and a speaker cab 38:43 Changing a 1952 Gibsonette GA-8 from a field coil to regular magnetic speaker 42:30 Increasing the headroom on a Peavey Classic 50 45:45 Substituting a 5Y3 with a 5V4 in a 5E3 Deluxe 49:16 A 1950s Gibson GA-6 with an adapter for a 12AX7 pre-amp tube; more rectifier tube talk 51:50 Marshalls versus Fenders and the difference between 6V6/6L6 and an EL34/EL84 54:26 A Canadian Gibson Falcon that needs a massive overhaul 55:47 Choosing an amp for re-heating food 59:49 Little Charlie's Chile Colorado, revisited 1:02:05 Export model Silverface Fenders 1:04:16 Questions on Angela's Super Single-Ended Amp

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. **Order a PDF download of Steve Melkisethian's tweed Princeton amp project here.** This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 1:20 Skip's A/B box setback 3:00 A winner for our Stew-Mac Champ kit 4:40 A question for our Australian listeners 6:07 A glitchy Ampeg Reverberocket 7:09 Skip heads to a vintage guitar show 12:00 @manbroidery two-prong hat update, let us know if you want one (Instagram link) 15:22 Old carbon comp resistors and Domino caps in an amp kit build 20:23 Testing caps for leakage 24:58 Running a synth through a tube amp 28:33 The timing on Kenny Burrell's "Chitlins con Carne" 30:07 Music recommendation: The Joe Mooney Quartet (YouTube link) 31:17 The rationale for crazy amps like the Baldwin Exterminator 35:53 The sushi boat amp update; Rob Robinette's tube amp page; micro amps 40:40 1960s Guild Thunder series amps 43:52 New cast iron (link, link, link); rum & tonic 46:24 The Big Index page: fretboardjournal.com/tavaindex 46:58 Wear and tear from maxed out amp settings 48:25 Restoring (and storing) a blown Oxford speaker 50:52 Where the magic happens in a non-master volume tube amp 59:00 Tips re: Little Charlie's Chile Colorado 1:04:43 The speaker driven out / monitor jack on a Gibson Falcon 1:09:34 Tinkering with a one-tube reverb circuit 1:12:11 Modding a Gibson GA-5 Les Paul Jr. reissue amp 1:18:01 Thoughts on the Fender Musicmaster Bass amps 1:23:10 A cheap Variac hack with a current meter (eBay link; eBay link) 1:29:00 Safely using a '60s Supro Bantam "widowmaker" amp 1:33:08 Adding a polarity switch to an amp without one 1:35:36 Effects pedals between an amp and its speaker? 1:37:50 ART tube pre-amps (revisited) and Skip's preferred tube preamps 1:42:00 Output transformer spec basics

Special guest Charles Baty returns to the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast for our final episode of 2019. Submit your vintage amp questions to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. * SUPPORT TAVA & ANGELA INSTRUMENTS * Order a PDF download of Steve Melkisethian's tweed Princeton amp project here. This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 1:46 An update on the Angela 5F2 Princeton schematic/article 4:23 TAVA Podcast Giveaways: A Stew-Mac Champ kit; an A/B box from Skip (winners to be announced during episode 27) 12:43 Reserve one of Manbroidery's two-prong TAVA hats (Instagram link) 14:33 More cast iron 17:26 Triad Electronics' return to guitar amp transformers, plus Benson Amps 25:02 Charles Baty returns: Red Norvo, Tal Farlow, Chico Hamilton, Red Garland & Chile Colorado! 48:21 Gibson GA8T (Discoverer) amps 51:14 A 1966 Fender Vibro Champ with a mystery hum 57:02 Silverface Fender Champs versus 1960s Gibson Skylark / Atlas / etc. 59:11 Sonic variations between vintage matching, serviced Fender amplifiers 1:03:59 Using a Variac and a power strip to power up multiple amps simultaneously 1:07:53 Vintage guitar amps with built-in legs 1:12:25 A request for a single-episode Champ schematic walk-through 1:12:46 25uf cathode bias 12ax7 cathode-bypass caps on Champs 1:17:19 Getting up to speed on electronics basics 1:20:08 Amp class 1:23:14 Buck Nickels and Loose Change – "Makin' Wine" (Larry Cragg in action! YouTube link.) 1:23:39 A new speaker configuration for a Danelectro DS100 cab 1:28:08 Gibson Invader amps 1:31:11 Grid leak biasing vs. cathode biasing 1:34:56 Modifying the Angela dual-singled amp with Russian 6P1P-EV tubes 1:36:35 Australia, Toyota Land Cruisers and fly fishing guides 1:38:43 Swollen caps in a 1979 Fender Deluxe Reverb and tips on drilling holes in a chassis Special thanks to TAVA listener Eric Casimiro for helping us edit this week's episode.

Jason and Skip get special guest Larry Cragg (Santana, Neil Young, Magnatone) on the line. A companion to our 25th episode.

The Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast has turned one! Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your questions to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. * SUPPORT TAVA & ANGELA INSTRUMENTS AND ENTER TO WIN* Order a PDF download of Steve Melkisethian's tweed Princeton amp project here. You may just win something! This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 1:18 The TAVA Index (h/t to Harper's magazine) 6:55 What's on Skip's bench? 8:49 Speaker reconing: Scumback speakers 10:46 Skip's Christmas wish list: A Subaru replacement, a break from phone calls 13:42 TAVA givewaway: A Stew-Mac Tweed Champ kit! 14:12 Our Angela Instruments amp project download 15:35 Manbroidery's two-prong patch / a future Ebbett's Field Flannels hat? (Instagram link) 17:00 Another giveaway: An A/B box or $125 Skip labor credit giveaway 19:40 Skip gets a tractor 24:14 Dual rectifier tubes and Sag 101 28:40 Jason tries to get a special guest 31:29 Cabbage and mushrooms 35:00 Cabinet glue 40:49 Fender's White amplifiers 44:09 Choosing a Fender for your band 48:12 How Skip drains filter caps 51:35 Lafayette amplifiers 54:28 A 1971 Fender Bassman (AA371) with stray voltages 59:23 Making an Ampex 602A work for guitar 1:11:32 Splitting a 2x12 speaker cab 1:15:19 Using a looper pedal to help with soundchecks (h/t Julian Lage) 1:16:50 Music recommendation: Red Norvo 1:18:12 Budweiser Copper Lager and cast iron pans 1:25:43 A Cornell Romany Pro that goes through power tubes 1:33:34 Book review: Maurice J. Summerfield's 'The Jazz Guitar' 1:34:32 Light bulb limiters 1:36:56 A Princeton Reverb-style amp with a pull-switch on the volume control 1:41:35 A Classic Tone 5E3 power transformer with one metal washer 1:43:35 A history of phase inverters 1:46:02 More new parallel, single-ended amps Special thanks to TAVA listener Eric C. for helping us edit this week's episode.

A back-to-basics episode: No special guests, no recipes. Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your questions to Skip here: [email protected] or by leaving us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. * SUPPORT TAVA & ANGELA INSTRUMENTS* Order a PDF download of Steve Melkisethian's tweed Princeton amp project here. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 9:49: This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) 10:35 The Fretboard Journal's Electric Guitar Annual, Vol. 2 (pre-order here) 11:56 The TAVA First Year anniversary celebration: Win a Tweed Champ kit from Stew-Mac (Instagram link) !!! 15:26 Who wants to order a TAVA hat like this one? Email us… 18:36 Skip on our Angela catalog reprint 24:36 Transformer 101 35:35 Amps for harp players 43:26 Building your first bass amp 51:54 Using an ART tube pre-amp in front of a guitar amp 55:18 A Traynor YBA-1 Bass-Master with a sensitive master volume 59:18 British vs. American amp tone 1:04:22 Another listener recommended amp tech: Tyler at Boss Organ in Somerville, Mass. 1:10:11 DeArmond amps 1:16:57 Bringing a Gibson EH-150 back to life 1:22:34 Kenny Burrell's Midnight Blue 1:24:17 Craig Korth on the Fretboard Journal Podcast and the Ray Butts EchoSonic amp (link) 1:25:58 Salvaging stuff from a dead RCA film projector for a Princeton Reverb clone 1:34:32 A 1972 Fender Super Reverb with a weak tremolo; plus, what is an opto-coupler? 1:41:54 Trying different tubes on a Music Man Sixty-Five Reverb 1:48:35 KTNN: The Voice of the Navajo Nation Like the show? Share it with your friends, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and stay tuned for next month, when we unveil even more surprises for our one year anniversary.

This week, Skip and Jason are joined by a very special guest, John Vanderslice. John is a prolific singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and engineer. We have a candid, unfiltered conversation about vintage amps, food, life, the music industry and so much more. Seriously, just listen... After our chat with John, we once again field your questions about all things guitar amplification. As always, if you'd like to contribute to a future show, submit your guitar amp questions to Skip here: [email protected] or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. * SUPPORT TAVA & ANGELA INSTRUMENTS* Order a PDF download of Steve Melkisethian's tweed Princeton amp project here. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 1:05 "Naming calls" and PG&E 2:33 A/B box updates 3:00 The TAVA "book club" launches: Order the Angela Instruments' tweed Princeton article and schematic (see above) 9:18 John Vanderslice (singer-songwriter, Tiny Telephone Recording!) joins us: Living room shows, eating on the road, Gibson Falcons, mics for recording amps, Stromberg-Carlson pre-amps, surviving the music industry 1:01:40 Brian, the speaker re-coner at Weber Speakers: https://www.tedweber.com/recone-services/ 1:03:03 Erick Coleman's amp tech recommendation: Paul Schmittauer (email us) 1:04:08 Great Goo: Pepper Plant hot sauce (Amazon link: https://amzn.to/33orYLq) 1:05:40 Epiphone Pacemaker amps 1:07:23 Misspelled "Colombia" Fender amps 1:08:52 How multiple inputs work on amps 1:11:57 Using the second input on a Fender as a line-out 1:14:14 Amp builder Bob Gjika (Gjika Amplification), the mojo behind single-ended amps 1:20:09 A noisy Peavey Delta Blues 115 1:24:44 Solder in Italy (Soldergate revisited) 1:26:17 Breaking-in new tubes; upgrading parts in a Champ kit 1:32:00 What's on Skip's bench 1:33:01 Sano accordion tube and Audio Guild amps (see our Instagram for photos) 1:38:07 Skip on biasing 1:43:00 St. George amp heads, built by Ray Massie 1:46:50 The lifespan of tweed Fender caps 1:49:17 The "Fountain of Sound" Ampeg JS-35 1:53:02 Music recommendation: Pat Martino's 'El Hombre' and the Guild Double Twin combo 1:55:43 Music recommendation, part two: The Nat Turner Rebellion's cover of "Going in Circles" 1:56:43 Parenting tips: Classic Walt Disney movies 1:58:15 Slowing the tremolo rate in a blackface Fender 2:00:58 6973 power tubes in Supro amp 2:02:28 Replacements for a 6c10 tube found in an '80s Fender Super Champ 2:06:38 Working on a Montgomery Ward 55 JDR 8436 2:10:49 Tube naming 101 2:13:16 Our forthcoming one year anniversary, a brief state of affairs Like the show? Share it with your friends, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and stay tuned for next month, when we unveil even more surprises for our one year anniversary.

Special guest Charles Baty joins us on this week's Truth About Vintage Amps podcast! Twice a month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons fields your questions on vintage tube amp buying, restoration and repair. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal's Jason Verlinde. Submit your guitar amp questions to Skip here: [email protected] or by leaving us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 1:37 Charles Baty (Little Charlie & The Nightcats! Little Charlie & Organ Grinder Swing!) joins in: Termites, Spanish rice and amp tips from the road 43:09 Movie recommendations: Wattstax; Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey 44:16 Skip plays a gig 46:30 This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars 46:55 Robert Keeley (!) calls in on Dean's Echoplex woes (from TAVA 21) 50:24 A '68 Fender Vibrolux reissue with a wonky footswitch 54:16 Replace a two-prong cord with a three-prong cord 57:29 "Getting to 'no' you;" "Suzie Q," the Instant Pot, mashed potatoes and hot dogs 1:04:10 An amp with a noisy front plate 1:06:27 Instrumental music picks (Leo Kottke, Nels Cline), Skip's early music influences 1:12:19 Future TAVA interviews plans 1:14:25 "Why we don't replace all vintage electrolytic capacitors" video (link: https://youtu.be/GMNQDoFpYQY) 1:18:00 Robben Ford's Dumble-modified Fender Super Reverbs 1:24:29 Why don't amps have no-speaker protection? 1:31:53 AC568 Bassman amps, Fender grounding plates, sources of hiss, the 500 pF Baffler 1:37:55 Music picks: Erkin Koray's 'Elektronik Turkular' (YouTube link) and Bloodstone's "Natural High" (YouTube link) 1:39:07 Bogen PA heads and Harvey Mandel's fuzz tone 1:43:43 Replacing drop capacitors in Victoria amps 1:49:47 Canada, part one: a Traynor YGL-3, Mark III with no input signal 1:53:14 Canada, part two: Sleeper Canadian amps (Garnet, Traynor, Johnson); check out the Corry Boys 1:57:00 An (almost) free vintage speaker (act fast) 1:58:15 Coffee in a can updates

Twice a month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons fields your questions on vintage tube amp buying, restoration and repair. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal's Jason Verlinde. Submit your guitar amp questions to Skip here: [email protected] or by leaving us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 8:00 Cloning vintage knobs (video link, h/t John from Australia!) 9:34 This week's sponsors: Grez Guitars, Roberto-Venn 11:01 An open call for our first live caller 13:39 Bartell guitar history (site link) 14:49 Skip's schedule 16:49 More Solder-gate 17:15 Single-ended, parallel twin power tube amps 21:18 WD-40 to the rescue, again 23:28 Unwanted noise from an Echoplex 32:02 Lower B-plus voltage on a Blackface Fender 37:38 Tweed Princeton with a choke vs a resistor 44:18 Speaker cable vs guitar cable (and a sad bird tale) 53:46 Skip's soup tips 56:43 The story behind the TAVA intro music 57:44 Sal Trentino and a Standel 80L15 schematic 1:05:22 Asking boutique makers for their schematics 1:10:37 Dr. Z's new Jetta amp and the story behind the 7591 power tube 1:15:25 Figuring out what's original in a 1953 Fender Tweed Deluxe (5B3) 1:18:14 How noticeable are bad caps? 1:26:06 A solid state Peavey Firebass 700 that won't stop power cycling 1:29:00 An AmpRX BrownBox for a Brownface Deluxe 1:31:57 Skip's picks: Treme; Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace; Harlan County, USA; The House That Trane Built; the Recordium on YouTube; "Wherever You Go" by Skip Mahoney 1:37:00 Cheap Amazon variacs 1:39:41 Mystery tubes in a 1960 Lafayette tape deck 1:44:16 Putting the 5U4GB back into a 1969 Fender Princeton 1:51:29 Cooling off an amp that runs hot PS: The reason Jason is preoccupied: https://www.myballard.com/2019/10/07/2-alarm-fire-on-market-st/

Summary: Skip has never had sushi; Earl is not a fan of low-balling; and Fender Bassmans rock Twice a month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons fields your questions on vintage tube amp buying, restoration and repair. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal's Jason Verlinde. Submit your guitar amp questions to Skip here: [email protected] or by leaving us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 1:50 John Lennon in Sacramento 3:17 A quick story about Earl Yarrow 12:20 Western Electric hi-fi collecting 14:40 Music recommendations: The Originals; Skip Mahoney & the Casuals; Julie London; "On the Alamo" 17:28: This week's sponsors: Grez Guitars and Mono Cases 18:15 Skip addresses the critics (on grounded cords, replaced caps) 30:02 "Solder," revisited 31:39 Removing the ground hum of two amps running together 34:50 Making an amp out of a sushi platter; recommended needle nose pliers 38:27 6L6s in a Deluxe Reverb 42:41 Skip on your voicemail 45:20 President Skip?, practicalities of running an attenuator 50:33 Acoustic tube amps, revisited 54:45 A 1968 Princeton non-reverb lacking volume 57:47 Other vintage Gibson amps 1:03:00 The truth about unmodified Gibson Falcons and Silverface Champs 1:09:41 Vox Pacemakers overview 1:12:24 The unique properties of a Fender Bassman 1:15:38 Using pre-amp tube as a power tube 1:19:40 Learning soldering and circuits from simple pedal kits and the little Ruby: http://www.runoffgroove.com/ruby.html 1:24:58 Running a Champ through a Variac versus a Hammond 290AX power transformer 1:27:44 A 1963 Fender Vibrolux with treble hiss 1:35:14 Speakers for a 1965 Ampeg Reverberocket 2 GS-12R 1:39:44 Non-lead solder 1:43:54 Biasing a cathode bias amp 1:49:49 Measuring plate current 1:54:57 The Baffler returns!

Twice a month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons fields your questions on vintage tube amp buying, restoration and repair. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal's Jason Verlinde. Submit your guitar amp questions to Skip here: [email protected] or by leaving us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. It's our most veer-filled episode to date, including soup and footwear tips, a trip to Harvard and, yes, even some amp repair advice! Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 3:06 Soup hacks 4:01 An affordable, American-made boot 5:41 Frampton plays B.B. King 9:00 Site specific amp problems 12:37 Recommended Music: Joe Craven & the Sometimers' 'Garcia's Songbook,' Aretha Franklin's 'Aretha's Gold' and Charlie Musselwhite's 'Stand Back' 18:36 Skip goes to Harvard 20:04 Parenting tips 30:06 Today's sponsor: Grez Guitars 32:15 More Larry Norman and props to Jon Linn 33:02 Solder or "sodder" 35:05 Skip's recommended vintage tube supplier and advice on replacing tubes: https://www.ebay.com/usr/dangeruxb 40:22 Putting a solid state rectifier in a tweed-style amp 49:00 Fixing an output transformer in a 1961 Fender Brownface Pro 56:07 Hi-fi tube amps and phono pre-amp basics 1:04:06 A '67 Fender Bassman that was plugged into a DI box 1:09:14 More output transformer talk: Ampeg Reverberocket 1:11:26 A vintage Niviko MA120X Japanese amp 1:19:06 A 1968 Fender Super Reverb with a rattle 1:25:34 The "trimmer" in a '60s Silvertone 1431 1:28:40 Dirty power, an electric fence and an early '60s Gibson Skylark 1:34:33 Changing the head gasket on a Subaru Forester 1:35:25 More on the trimmer on a Silverton 1431 1:38:28 Car talk 1:43:36 A Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with a busted volume pot 1:47:52 A clean, high-headroom, low volume steel amp 1:52:15 A Fender Silverface Champ vs Blackface Champ