The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 5: "You're a Maintenance Man" Feb 20, 2019

Show notes

Submit your guitar amp questions to amp repair guru Skip Simmons here: fretboardjournal@gmail.com or by leaving us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. The more questions we get, the more episodes we record.

Twice a month, guitar amp repairman and former drawbridge operator Skip Simmons fields your questions on tube amp buying, repair and maintenance. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal's Jason Verlinde.

Some of the topics discussed on this episode:

-Spring Reverb, 101: How does it work, how to fix it -Grounding tips -Skip's recommended multimeters and soldering irons -Using vintage US-made amps overseas -Making a 1968 Fender Super Reverb a little less loud -Breaking in a new speaker -Gigging with a '58 Fender Vibrolux -Octal tubes -Skip's thoughts on DIY amp kits

and much more...

Want to advertise your brand on the TAVA podcast? Drop us a line at jason@fretboardjournal.com.

http://www.skipsimmonsamps.com

https://www.fretboardjournal.com

Ep. 4: "Smoked Paprika" Feb 08, 2019

Show notes

Submit your guitar amp questions to Skip Simmons here: fretboardjournal@gmail.com or by leaving us a voicemail at 509-557-0848. The more questions we get, the more episodes we record.

Twice a month, guitar amp guru and former drawbridge operator Skip Simmons fields your questions on tube amp buying, repair and maintenance. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal's Jason Verlinde.

Topics discussed on this episode:

-Different aftermarket speaker options for a Fender Champ -The dangers of working on vintage amplifiers -What to look for when shopping for a vintage guitar amp -A perplexing 2000-era Gibson amplifier -Output transformers in a Silverton 1481 -Carbon comp resistors versus metal film -The value of an DIY amp kit -Using a Knight (or Bogen) vocal PA head as a guitar amp

And much more.

Want to advertise your brand on the TAVA podcast? Drop us a line at jason@fretboardjournal.com.

http://www.skipsimmonsamps.com

https://www.fretboardjournal.com

Ep. 3: "Make Me Some Bread" Jan 22, 2019

Show notes

Submit your questions for vintage amp repair expert Skip Simmons here: fretboardjournal@gmail.com

Twice a month, guitar amp guru and former drawbridge operator Skip Simmons fields your questions on tube amp buying, repair and maintenance. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal's Jason Verlinde.

Topics discussed on this episode:

-The death of guitar shows -The Truth About Vintage Amps rant on Skip's website -Why you may not need a three-prong plug on your amp -The "death cap" and the magic behind certain capacitors -Non-MASCO P/A heads as guitar amps -Inheriting and maintaining a '65 Super Reverb -Amp biasing -Learning how to read a schematic

and much more.

http://www.skipsimmonsamps.com

https://www.fretboardjournal.com

Ep. 2: "Don't buy that thing" Jan 08, 2019

Show notes

The Fretboard Journal magazine presents The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons.

Submit your questions to Skip here: fretboardjournal@gmail.com

Every month, guitar amp guru and former drawbridge operator Skip Simmons shares stories and fields your questions on tube amp buying, restoration and repair. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal's Jason Verlinde.

Topics discussed on this episode: -The long-term storage of tube amps -The magic behind Standel amps -Calculating the exact wattage of an amp -Good goos (and how to fix a torn speaker) -Paul Rivera-era Fenders -The Kalamazoo Model 2 -The modern tube marketplace -Simple tube amp maintenance anyone can do -The limits of safely mismatching speakers to a stated amp load

and much more…

http://www.skipsimmonsamps.com

https://www.fretboardjournal.com

Ep. 1: "People Did Stuff" Dec 01, 2018

Show notes

The Fretboard Journal magazine presents The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons!

Submit your questions to Skip here: fretboardjournal@gmail.com

Every month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons shares stories and fields your questions on tube amp buying, restoration and repair. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal's Jason Verlinde.

Topics discussed on this episode: -Repairing amps on a drawbridge -60hz/50hz hum -Troubleshooting amps -Yellowjacket YJR/solid-state rectifiers in a tube amp -Recommended new vacuum tubes for amps -The magic behind Alexander Dumble -Skip's influences (Les Paul, Jack Darr, Steve Melkisethian/ Angela Instruments, Earl Yarrow)

and much more…

http://www.skipsimmonsamps.com

https://www.fretboardjournal.com

Introduction Nov 12, 2018

Show notes

Once a month, amp repair guru Skip Simmons and Fretboard Journal publisher Jason Verlinde will field your questions about vintage guitar amps. Whether you're looking for your next purchase or just want to get your old tweed Fender Deluxe working again, this show is for you.

To submit a question, just email us at fretboardjournal@gmail.com.

Our first episode debuts in early December 2018.

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