Ep. 159: "TAVA, Again...Exclamation Point"

About this episode

In this episode, Skip discusses various topics related to vintage amps, including components and maintenance tips.

Episode 159 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Beans, two-prong ASMR, peeling diodes (and faceplates) and more! Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars ; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts . And honarary mention to Rancho Gordo beans. Some of the topics discussed this week: 1:32 Rancho Gordo beans in the WSJ, corn sticks 8:13 What's on Skip's bench: All the early Fender Princetons; a baffler! 11:20 Our sponsors: and (unofficially) Rancho Gordo beans 15:15: What should I do with this extra Bell Sound 2122-C hi-fi amp?; hear the TAVA All-Stars: Bob Armstong, Keith Cary, Charles Batey, Leff Jeffries ( YouTube link , audio only) 25:20 How can I remove and save my tube chart when I replace the baffle? 30:09 Comparing a 5F2A kit schematic to the original; cargamanto beans (see below) 40:34 What does Skip always replace? Sello Rojo coffee; Lustre Craft pots 47:48 A Tweed Vibrolux with rusty faceplate; WEST amps transformers? 55:48 A broken, yet soothing two-prong plug question; Stephen King's 'It' 1:01:57 Are the diodes in my Premier B-220 Custom Bass amp okay? Can Switchcraft jacks go bad? 1:10:50 Real death caps; Fantastic Fungi 1:13:05 Kraft dinner; replacement transformers for 50-watt…

People in this episode

Host: Skip Simmons

Guests: Keith Cary, Charles Batey, Leff Jeffries, Bob Armstrong

Topics covered

• Rancho Gordo beans
• Fender Princetons
• Bell Sound 2122-C hi-fi amp
• tube chart
• 5F2A kit schematic
• Tweed Vibrolux
• two-prong plug

Keywords

• ASMR
• diodes
• faceplates
• coffee
• transformers

Sponsors

Grez Guitars, Emerald City Guitars, Amplified Parts

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Rancho Gordo, A Tweed Vibrolux, Premier B-220 Custom Bass, Rickenbackers, WD-40, Grez Guitars, Emerald City Guitars, Amplified Parts, Sello Rojo coffee, Lustre Craft pots

Books & works: TAVA, Again...Exclamation Point, the Truth About Vintage Amps

More episodes of The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons

• Ep. 163: "Thoughts Go to Cornbread" (Special Guest: Roy Rogers!) · April 11, 2026 · 1h 39m
• Ep. 162: "The Temple of Music" · March 20, 2026 · 1h 29m
• Ep. 161: "Tremolo Thursday" · March 2, 2026 · 1h 11m
• Ep. 160: "Some People Can't Stand an Unused Triode" · February 16, 2026 · 1h 22m
• Ep. 158: "Not Just Living in Their Mom's Basement" · December 24, 2025 · 1h 6m
• Ep. 157: "Coyote and Deer" · December 18, 2025 · 1h 34m