The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons

New Truth About Vintage Amps discount from Amplified Parts on all Apex matched-tube products: TAVAAPEX10 gets you a one-time discount of 10% off Apex products now through October 31. So stock up! https://www.apexmatching.com It's the 170th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields all of your guitar amplification questions (or at least the ones involving tubes). Thank you to our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics. Some of the topics discussed this week: :32 What's on Skip's Bench: A Voice of Music 8810 2:40 Jason's Fretboard Summit 2026 report (thanks, https://vintagetubeamplifiers.com!!) 10:13 Recommended reading: Willie Dixon's 'I Am the Blues,' 'Bo Diddley: Living Legend,' and 'Buzz Busby: Father of Washington DC Bluegrass' 12:35 Is this Fender Super Champ safe to use? 20:06 Aotearoa New Zealand Amplifier History Project (support it here); New Zealand pop and punk; building guitars in the Congo (Fretboard Journal #56) 25:19 MusicMan HD130; Sun O))); a typewriter at the 2027 Summit? 33:34 Who made Rickenbacker amps? Talk to me about my Rickenbacker M11 41:14 Bix Beiderbecke's birthday (August 6); conversing with your amp heroes; frozen udon noodles and mushroom stock powder; Red Norvo's "In a Mist"; Donald Brosnac's 'Guitar Electronics for Musicians' 50:06 Warming up a two-pronged amp through a Variac; if a Jenson speaker has been reconed, can I stop worrying about its value? 55:35 Listener recommendation: A cheap Amazon wall outlet meter (link) 57:36 Mark Bartel's prototype line-out interface (see Instagram pic!) 58:24 The magic of purslane 1:00:29 Why a vibrator? (on old DC amps/PAs) 1:04:19 The Savage Croaker amp; Bloodstone's "Natural High;" Mesa Boogie Mark I repairs and Jim Washburn Want to be a part of the show? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to [email protected]! Include a photo, too. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

It's the long-awaited episode 168 of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields all of your tube amp and life questions. This week, we kick things off by interviewing one of Skip's clients, Sebastian from Vintage Inspired Pickups! Also: possessed Ampegs, shipping forecasts, and Fender repairs and so much more. Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics. Some of the topics discussed this week: :00 Special Guest: Sebastian Gruenberg of Vintage Inspired Pickups (link); molecular biology; winding pickups, making potentiometers; cryo-tuning magnets; Emerald City Guitars; Gibsonette input jack ground issues; and more! 30:57 What's on Skip's bench: Magnatones; a Sears 40XL Danelectro; Traynors 34:07 Jonathan Richman, charming singer-songwriter and stone mason 36:17 An early National Dobro amp for sale; where's Larry Chung? 38:51 The Fretboard Summit, August 20-22 in Chicago (register here); this year @vintagetubeamplifiers is bringing out a bunch of old & rare amps along with various other contributors/listeners! 39:50 A kitchen cleaning tip, Dutch ovens, Skip's typewriter repair 44:07 Optocoupler repair in a classic Fender 45:57 The BBC's Shipping Forecast (link: https://www.bbc.com/weather/coast-and-sea/shipping-forecast) 48:54 Rattlesnake Milk's 'Midnight Train', quick Asian rice, and TAVA buzzwords 50:54 Output tubes for Skip's Mega Champ amp build (Champ with Soursound transformers) 54:38 A demonic Ampeg B-18N 59:04 A new caster for my 1966 Fender Pro Reverb, 'The Magnificent Charlie Parker' compilation; homemade gumbo; Mike Watt 1:06:12 What should I do with this Masco A-10 project? using a Hammond 166M12 as a Variac; do old black metal pre-amp tubes like the 6SJ7 have glass inside? 1:12:02 A tie story; how can I slow down the tremolo on my modded Silvertone 1484? 1:17:46 Gourmet dog treats Want to be a part of the show? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to [email protected]! Include a photo, too. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

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 [email protected]! 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 [email protected]! Include a photo, too. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal. Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions.

It's the 150th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps! How did that happen? Thanks, as always, for being a part of the world's finest call-in tube amp repair show. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to [email protected]! 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 [email protected]! Include a photo, too. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal. Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Support the show, get behind-the-scenes updates and get to the front of the line with your questions.

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

Episode 146 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Troubled drummers, bulk Gatorade, more typewriter and Rockford Files talk, and a bunch of amp questions. Reminder: Amplified Parts now has amp kits! Thanks, as always, for being a part of the world's finest call-in tube amp repair show. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to [email protected]! 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.