
Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Platform Reach
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
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Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Estimated from 24 chart positions in 24 markets.
By chart position
- 🇨🇦CA · Music History#12300K to 1M
- 🇺🇸US · Music History#20300K to 1M
- 🇦🇺AU · Music History#36100K to 300K
- 🇬🇧GB · Music History#7530K to 100K
- 🇩🇪DE · Music History#1125K to 30K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
496K to 1.6M🎙 ~2x weekly·167 episodes·Last published 1w ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
992K to 3.3M🇨🇦31%🇺🇸31%🇦🇺9%+21 more - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
397K to 1.3M
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
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Total Reviews
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
From 10 epsHost
Recent guests
Recent episodes
Ep. 166: "Seattle, Loma Rica, Amsterdam"
Jun 11, 2026
Unknown duration
Ep. 165: "There's an Ethos?"
May 17, 2026
Unknown duration
Ep. 164: "Kern County Wool Growers"
Apr 25, 2026
Unknown duration
Ep. 163: "Thoughts Go to Cornbread" (Special Guest: Roy Rogers!)
Apr 11, 2026
1h 39m 27s
Ep. 162: "The Temple of Music"
Mar 20, 2026
1h 29m 27s
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/11/26 | ![]() Ep. 166: "Seattle, Loma Rica, Amsterdam" | Before talking amps, we talk life! Longtime friend of the show John Vanderslice (Tiny Telephone) joins us to talk about moving to the Netherlands, the life of an expat, the equipment that he moved to Europe (and didn't), staying curious with your gear, and so much more. Around 50 minutes in, we get the answer to last episode's Baffler, field various questions and do the usual TAVA amp troubleshooting. Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics. Some of the topics discussed this week: :00 Special guest: John Vanderslice! 50:28 Our sponsors! 51:47 What's on Skip's bench: A Supro Galaxy 1:01:19 The O.W. Appleton guitar (link) 1:02:33 The answer to episode 155's baffler: Two types of hum 1:07:03 The high and low power switch on a Music Man HD150 1:10:34 How can I swap the speaker on my 1949 Spiegel 79-C, pre-heating cast iron 1:14:35 Ranch Style beans, Herdez guacamole salsa, Electro-Harmonix 12AY7 mic-pre, Peavey Valverb, using an iso cabinet, using both jacks in a Princeton 1:24:37 Terry Foster at the 2026 Fretboard Summit 1:26:11 How many speakers can a Silverface Champ drive safely? Why did Fender keep changing the Princeton schematic? 1:31:13 Skip at the Fretboard Summit? Want to be a part of the show? 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. | — | ||||||
| 5/17/26 | ![]() Ep. 165: "There's an Ethos?" | Episode 165 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons tackles all of your questions about guitar tube amps! Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics. Some of the topics discussed this week: 00 Jason and Nigel 6:26 Our sponsors! 10:42 A letter, two beers, some washers, and a crossroads: Follow Joe here and on Instagram 17:10 1967 Fender Princeton Reverb project with a replaced power transformer; a shorted reverb transformer 31:36 A baffler: Two kinds of hum 36:16 What are "getter" and "wings"? The Barkely Marathon (Wikipedia) 40:31 Has anyone put the tweed Princeton tone circuit in a guitar? swaddled meat is tender meat, cast iron 44:15 A Fender Super Reverb that kept blowing fuses; the 1972 Sacramento Farrell's Ice Cream parlor plane disaster (Wikipedia) 53:33 Federico's pizza dough recipe on the TAVA Patreon; the Tone Quest Report; Tin Can Valley Letterpress 55:08 Replacing the foam gasket on my Traynor YGM-3 reverb's tank; Vacaville's Pacific Hardware 1:00:04 Rickenbacker M-11 thoughts; King Sunny Ade 1:04:51 What's on Skip's bench: Slim Dossey's Tweed Bassman and another Bassman 1:08:59 Skip's potential barn sale ponderings 1:12:29 Once an amp has replaced caps, do you still need a Variac? rice balls 1:15:28 Skip still needs a wooden Epiphone Electar Zephyr schematic (all-octal tube with vibrato) schematic! 1:17:01 1964 Fender Princeton 6G2 with non-working trem 1:20:16 Adding a stereo headphone jack to a Princeton clone 1:24:04 Jenson transformer website schematics (link) 1:27:38 What should I do with this untouched 1976 45-watt Fender Pro Reverb?; cornbread Want to be a part of the show? 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. | — | ||||||
| 4/25/26 | ![]() Ep. 164: "Kern County Wool Growers" | Episode 164 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons tackles all of your questions about guitar tube amps! Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics. Some of the topics discussed this week: :37 The Garnet book and Garnet ponderings (order the book: http://www.garnetamps.com/order_b.htm), bias supply voltage in optocoupler tremolo 6:13 Our sponsors! 8:21 Two Fretboard Journal videos to check out: Ryan Richter on playing Coachella with Dijon (YouTube link); Gabe Noel playing a Rickenbacker bakelite tenor guitar with matching amp (YouTube link) 14:12 Beginner's corner: Amp switching, comparing different cabinets; reheating white rice; Basque soup 23:25 Can I use my Champ as a bass amp? Bass amp hacks 28:02 Does anyone have spare silverface Fender pilot lot washers, or a toggle switch washer for a Fender? 30:23 Having built a tweed Princeton, Harvard and Deluxe, what should I build next? Spam and Dr. Pepper 32:48 Can you convert the XLR speaker jack on an Ampeg B-15N to a quarter-inch jack? 35:29 The week of three curveballs: A Princeton Reverb drawing too much current; codependent electrolytic capacitors; a reverb unit that eats power transformers; Dave Segal needs an amp on the Oregon coast 44:26 A black panel Fender reverb unit with a two-prong cord 47:17 A two-prong plug needed in Norway (postscript: Jason already sent him one); reading It to your kids, redux; science fiction recommendations? 52:40 The TAVA bookshelf: An '90s Guitar World article on Cesar Diaz; Loomis, California's High Hand nursery 57:06 Plate current on a Suhr Bella 44; Tucana (https://tucana.bandcamp.com/); homemade apple cider 1:05:27 What's with the deal with the little rubber donuts for tubes? Jason is running through the night 1:10:36 Why are the plate voltages so different on my tweed Fender Deluxe clone? 1:16:35 Skip's pre-barn sale barn sale (just call Skip) 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. Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal. | — | ||||||
| 4/11/26 | ![]() Ep. 163: "Thoughts Go to Cornbread" (Special Guest: Roy Rogers!)✨ | Eric Barbour's the Tube Dumpster in Vacuum Tube ValleyA flea market Tweed Bassman+9 | Roy Rogers | 6F6Electar Zephyr+14 | Vacuum Tube Valley | guitaristvintage amps+2 | Grez Guitars | 1h 39m 27s | |
| 3/20/26 | ![]() Ep. 162: "The Temple of Music"✨ | Canadian ampstremolo tweaks+7 | — | The Fab MabSuper Reverb 8:42+25 | — | — | Grez Guitars | 1h 29m 27s | |
| 3/2/26 | ![]() Ep. 161: "Tremolo Thursday"✨ | Phil Upchurch and 'What It's Like to Be a Musician'On the Bench: A non-working outboard tremolo+8 | — | TAVA10MODa Bassman 100+26 | SacramentoGuam | — | Grez Guitars | 1h 10m 32s | |
| 2/16/26 | ![]() Ep. 160: "Some People Can't Stand an Unused Triode"✨ | Fishing and weather reportSkip's amp backlog+9 | — | 454216Princeton+37 | — | — | Grez Guitars | 1h 22m 16s | |
| 1/17/26 | ![]() Ep. 159: "TAVA, Again...Exclamation Point"✨ | Rancho Gordo beansFender Princetons+5 | Keith CaryCharles Batey+2 | Rancho GordoA Tweed Vibrolux+18 | — | ASMRdiodes+3 | Grez Guitars | 1h 25m 58s | |
| 12/24/25 | ![]() Ep. 158: "Not Just Living in Their Mom's Basement"✨ | amplifierstube amps+1 | Chris BensonBryan Sours | BabylonKT88+10 | — | 700-wattKT88 tubes+1 | Grez Guitars | 1h 05m 50s | |
| 12/18/25 | ![]() Ep. 157: "Coyote and Deer"✨ | Atmospheric riversBay Area Guitar Show+10 | — | GA-19 RVT/FalconVibro Champ+34 | New OrleansPhoenix+3 | — | Grez Guitars | 1h 34m 13s | |
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| 11/26/25 | ![]() Ep. 156: "A Hoop and a Stick"✨ | Fender PrincetonAllman Brothers+12 | Jack Weston | a Fender Princeton9003+28 | Australia | tube ampscooking+1 | Grez Guitars | 1h 46m 38s | |
| 11/1/25 | ![]() Ep. 155: "Realistic Carnival"✨ | Barn findslost dogs+3 | — | A Bogen GA-5a Realistic Carnival+36 | Emerald City | tube ampsFretboard Journal+2 | Grez Guitars | 1h 45m 38s | |
| 10/17/25 | ![]() Ep. 154: "Compromise the Windings"✨ | Ferguson TO-35 tractorMarshall Plexi Super Bass+5 | — | TO-35A Marshall Plexi Super Bass+32 | — | tube ampsamp repair+3 | Grez Guitars | 1h 28m 09s | |
| 9/18/25 | ![]() Ep. 153: "A C in Chemistry" | 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. | — | ||||||
| 9/3/25 | ![]() Ep. 152: "Gridley Bias" | 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. | — | ||||||
| 7/25/25 | ![]() Ep. 151: "It Starts Out Cool" | 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. | — | ||||||
| 7/5/25 | ![]() Ep. 150: "Throw It In the River" | 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. | — | ||||||
| 6/18/25 | ![]() Ep. 149: "Have Fun" (Special Guest: Jim Campilongo!) | 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. | — | ||||||
| 6/1/25 | ![]() Ep. 148: "Lining Up" | 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. | — | ||||||
| 4/26/25 | ![]() Ep. 147: "Kosher Sound" | 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. | — | ||||||
| 4/7/25 | ![]() Ep. 146: "Where the Spot Is" | 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. | — | ||||||
| 3/15/25 | ![]() Ep. 145: "I Have a Swimming Pool" | 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. | — | ||||||
| 2/24/25 | ![]() Ep. 144: "You've Got to Feed Those Things" | 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. | — | ||||||
| 1/29/25 | ![]() Ep. 143: "The Girl Who Never Rained" | 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. | — | ||||||
| 12/24/24 | ![]() Ep. 142: "Paul Jerky" | 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. | — | ||||||
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Chart Positions
26 placements across 24 markets.
Chart Positions
26 placements across 24 markets.
