The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 152: "Gridley Bias" Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

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.

Ep. 151: "It Starts Out Cool" Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

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.

Ep. 150: "Throw It In the River" Jul 05, 2025

Show notes

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.

Ep. 149: "Have Fun" (Special Guest: Jim Campilongo!) Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

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.

Ep. 148: "Lining Up" Jun 01, 2025

Show notes

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.

Ep. 147: "Kosher Sound" Apr 26, 2025

Show notes

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.

Ep. 146: "Where the Spot Is" Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

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.

Ep. 145: "I Have a Swimming Pool" Mar 15, 2025

Show notes

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.

Ep. 144: "You've Got to Feed Those Things" Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

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.

Ep. 143: "The Girl Who Never Rained" Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

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.

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