The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 142: "Paul Jerky" Dec 24, 2024

Show notes

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.

Ep. 141: "I've Got an Alamo That I Want to Forget" Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

Missing your rambling relatives this holiday season? You're in luck! Tune in to Jason and Skip as they ramble through weather reports, amp fixes, book recommendations, reflective impedance, reverb-driven line-out and more on our 141st episode!

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:

:48 Weather report: Rain in the West, bomb cyclones in the PNW

4:32 A 1968 Heathkit catalog with DIY Harmony Guitar kits

6:35 Thanksgiving at the Simmons house

7:09 A noisy Alamo; Pathfinder, the band (link); bands named after amplifiers

8:49 Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts (Jensen speakers are currently on sale!)

10:58 Deluxe Amplication's red can El Pato Practice amp! (link, I said green on the podcast...my bad)

11:50 Pre-order William J. Simmons' new book, 'Love and Degradation: Excessive Desires in Queer-Feminist Art' (pre-order link)

12:51 Recommended reading: 'The Golden Ocean' by Patrick O'Brian

14:33 What's on Skip's bench? The secret solid state guru in Sacramento, not to be confused with the washing machine guru

18:54 The Truth About Vintage Amps Patreon page; guided tours of the Skip universe?

20:50 Jason interviews a yogi on the Fretboard Journal podcast (link)

22:35 Adding a half-power switch to a push-pull amp?, tortilla chips

29:48 Would a variac set to 110v help new amps?

31:49 Mullard 10M tubes; going back to school; Skip has all the NOS Amperex 12AX7s

37:58 A Denver TAVA meetup?; one filter cap or two in a Gibson GA-25? Replacing non-polarized electrolytic caps by twisting two regular negative caps together

41:03 More on Skip's new (old) Fender Duo Sonic

48:26 Using your Fender's reverb circuit to drive a speaker; Sherlock Holmes' lazy brother

52:36 Skip is going to make an outboard tremolo pedal

53:09 Why do some reverb tanks have bags?

52:22 A non-alcoholic cocktail featuring ginger ale and cranberry juice

56:02 "I smile at pretty solder joints;" Riddim Restoration of Bellingham, Washington (link)

1:00:45 An early 60's Geloso 215AN, a diode bridge and a choke to create negative voltage; and Denver chocolate pudding cake

1:07:14 Reusing old blown transformers

1:09:00 KVMR Community Radio (link)

1:10:05 A mid-'50s theremin schematic; the Theremin documentary

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. 140: "Tiny Bits of Tingle" Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

It's the 140th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons eventually fields your questions on all-things-tube amps! As always, use all advice at your own risk.

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:

2:35 What's on Skip's Bench: A modified ES-150 Charlie Christian amp with a non-field coil speaker 4:22 Smilin' Skip's: Stuff for Sale 5:15 Loma Rica's Aztec Recording Studio; the Ralph Shine Blues Band; Skip's new guitar; Sylvia Massy (Sylvia's shop); Weed, California; the Fretboard Summit 2025 (register here) 18:01 Our sponsors (and baby goats): Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts (Jensen speakers are currently on sale!) 23:42: Alamo and other budget amplifiers; the COVID gear boost has deflated 25:35 Amp bargains (look for two transformers); a black panel Super Reverb; Silvertone Twin-Twelve and optocouplers 28:53 The Alembic Pre-Amp in a pedal (or two): Frog Pedals (link); Sushi Box FX (link); Mexican Pizza with Boboli pizza crust; starved plate loads

35:41 PSA: You can buy WD-40 by the gallon

38:22 Should I put the original transformer back in my 1966 Fender Princeton?

44:07 Preferred replacement 12AT7 reverb driver tubes 47:26 Two-prong shock in the studio 50:35 A converted Stromberg-Carlson; speaker-driven effects channel? Rudy Van Gelder; the usable range of a bright cap 57:55 A Plush 3000G tubes and tremolo with a mystery rectifier tube 1:03:08 What's with the lettering on my 1950s Rauland Lyric transformer 1:06:47 Putting a JBL in an Ampeg Rocket 2; a Traynor Studio Mate

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. 139: "I'm Going Negative" Oct 18, 2024

Show notes

It's the 139th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps!

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:

:48 On the bench: A 1974 Alembic pre-amp, a Showman head in disguise 3:58 Webb's Music and a hang gliding pioneer 6:08 Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts; the Wood Wire & Volts Show in Anaheim (link); Bruce Harvie of Orcas Island Tonewoods 11:10 Skip has a warning for the TAVA Kegger Facebook group...and others 14:38 A luthiers' pet peeve 16:55 Bias modulating tremolo, intensity pots

20:45 Skip works on a Dan Torres-modded amp 21:35 Jason screens his Ben Harper Dumble film in Seattle; Ben Harper on TAVA (ep. 118)

25:34 When does Skip use his tube tester?

28:17 Should I turn this jukebox amp into a guitar amp?

30:52 A monitor out a la GA17RVT; Quilter amps; full-fat Greek yogurt

36:24 When do we get a Marshall/Vox expert on the show?

37:58 A Kroker Triple Toad amp

40:13 Warming up a Nat Daniel-designed amp; separately mounted pre-amp tubes

42:17 Late '60s Fender biasing (AC568)

43:54 Skip's new guitar: A 1966 Fender Duo-Sonic

49:51 The Fender Files on YouTube (thanks, Larry Chung)

52:17 Using 5V4 rectifier tubes in a Matchless DC-30; Nduja mayonnaise (link)

1:00:17 Recommended reading: "There Are No Electrons: Electronics for Earthlings" (Amazon link); subbing a 6SL7 for a 6SN7 in a Gibson BR9

1:02:42 Transformer Corner: Using US amps overseas

1:11:07 Recommended music: Henry Kaiser & David Lindley's "Sweet Sunny North;" Steve Melkisethian remembered

1:13:01 A cheap and easy output transformer dynamic test; rebuilding reverb tanks

1:19:54 Skip's map collection

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. 138: "Check for Ticks" Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

It's the 138th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps!

This week, we pay tribute to Angela Instruments founder and former guest Steve Melkisethian (1950-2024); talk resistors and transformers; catch up on the 2024 Fretboard Summit; and much more.

Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com.

Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Join us to get show updates and get to the front of the question line.

Some of the topics discussed this time around:

:58 R.I.P. Nick Gravenites (Electric Flag, Mike Bloomfield)

3:08 Our sponsors: Amplified Parts, Emerald City Guitars, and Grez Guitars. (Watch Emerald City Guitars' Fretboard Summit video here.)

5:32 The 2024 Fretboard Summit in a nutshell

10:29 R.I.P Steve Melkisethian (Angela Instrument); read our tribute here

18:42 R.I.P. Stephen Fitzstephens, member of our Kegger Facebook group

19:18 What was Skip listening to as a kid?

22:08 Skip's Music vintage gear headed to auction

24:42 When to use old, mismatched resistors?

26:39 The 2003 interview in Vacuum Tube Valley with Steve Carr (PDF link)

27:41 Removing surface rust from transformers

30:27 A 1964 Ampeg Reverberocket that pops when you turn it off

31:10 You all need a Variac

33:03 A pig farm mini-baffler; Papa Murphy's in a Weber grill

36:56 Dropping the B+ with a solid state rectifier

39:47 Flattening a Fender eyelet board, redux; how to flatten a '70s Fender grill cloth frame?

42:52 Aux phono input on a tube amp; replacing plastic knobs; movie recommendation: 'As It Is In Heaven'

46:48 An original 1963 Fender Vibroverb in the UK with a switchable voltage panel; John Kelly amps; Rainer Ptacek

52:33 How to select an output transformer for an amp when you don't know its specs

1:00:55 The wrong tube in Danelectro amplifiers (12AU6 vs 12AV6)

1:04:02 What's on Skip's bench? An Alamo amp; kudos to Larry Chung

1:05:43 Recommended reading: 'The Feather Thief' (Amazon link); TAVA listener and winemaker William Downie (link)

1:10:36 Using Meguiar's Convertible Top Cleaner to clean up a Premier amp

1:11:35 A Pepco Riviera 725; Frazey Ford

1:14:04 Posters by Serifs & Whiskey (link)

1:15:10 Blossom Valley Foods' Pepper Plant sauce (link)

1:15:37 Fixing a reverb tank by changing the transducer; Fender's specific use of European tubes

Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

Ep. 137: "Walk Around the Yard" Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

It's the 137th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps! This week, we talk to special guest, Steve Carr of Carr Amplifiers!

Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com.

Our sponsors: Emerald City Guitars, Amplified Parts, StewMac, and Grez Guitars.

Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. And come to the 2024 Fretboard Summit.

Some of the topics discussed this time around:

2:22 Steve Carr (Carr Amplifiers) joins us for an enlightening talk about prototyping, speaker cabs, Solen caps, tone controls, and so much more. He even fields a few of your questions!

1:14:17 Big M speaker cabinets

1:16:08 Red Norvo "In a Mist"

1:17:49 Did a rubber tube amp mount just fix my microphonic amp? Easy Brussels sprouts

1:21:45 On the bench: An Epiphone Electar Zephyr

1:23:16 Pre-amps in front of amps that already have pre-amps; the WEM amps used at Live at Pompeii (link); Selmer reverb tanks; was this Philco amp made by Bogen?; pizza stones

1:31:55 Out-of-range potentiometers

1:35:05 Ballast resistors in field coil amps Plus Hurdy gurdys and more.

Ep. 136: "Release the Curd" Jul 27, 2024

Show notes

It's the 136th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps!

Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com.

Our sponsors: Emerald City Guitars, Amplified Parts, StewMac, and Grez Guitars.

Don't forget, we have a Patreon page.

Some of the topics discussed this time around:

1:11 A Big Boy locomotive chugs through CA

3:42 What's on Skip's Bench: A Valco/National/Airline amp-in-case; a single-ended Soundmaster PA; a Premier Twin 8

10:55 Another round of TAVA shirts? (coming soon)

13:06 Milkman to produce a JBL K120 replica speaker (link); re-coning by Hempopotamus (and Weber)

16:56 The 2024 Fretboard Summit, featuring Blake Mills, Josh Scott (JHS), Colin Hay and so much more https://fretboardsummit.org (Aug 23-25, 2024 in Chicago)

20:29 The Davis Guitar Scene

20:51 Is there a new speaker comparable to the JBL D130F? Artie Shaw

22:43 VHT amps, redux; homemade cheese

28:05 Why did Leo use RCA plugs for his speaker jacks?

32:20 I miss lo-fi Skip; help me isolate the hum on my Magnatone 410

39:45 Favorite solder; avocado toast

43:26 Recommended movie: 'All That Is Sacred' featuring Tom McGuane, Jim Harrison, Jimmy Buffett, and vintage Key West (link)

44:58 Help me ground my Pepco Riviera 725

48:15 Does the phase inverter tube contribute gain?

49:47 AIMS amplifiers, redux; Don Randall

53:59 Skip (almost) fixes a church organ

1:00:03 Should I wax pot these old output transformers?

1:04:55 Why is there chicken wire in my amplifier? finding the outside foil on a cap Recorded July 25, 2024.

Ep. 135: "Liquor, Candy, Model Airplane Magazines..." Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

It's the 135th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps.

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 time around:

1:24 Another hopeful story; Winters, California

7:44 The fifth-ever Fretboard Summit: Blake Mills, Adam Levy, vintage amps, new amps, 80 luthiers, JHS and so much more. www.fretboardsummit.org

13:25 One of the greatest boxes of all time: thanks, Ben from Chattanooga!

15:01 Lynn Wheelwright reaches out to Skip

16:33 The very first Standel amp; Tacoma, Washington's Guitar Maniacs

18:53 Our sponsors: Emerald City Guitars (watch the Dumble video here), Amplified Parts, StewMac, and Grez Guitars.

22:10 Thank you, John Ross

23:41 Gibson's GA-45 "Velvet Touch"; Terry Dobbs (Mr. Valco) https://valcoamp.com

27:32 The answer to Ep. 134's Baffler: A Tweed Vibrolux

31:44 A Body & Soul El Pato fuzz giveaway? https://www.instagram.com/bsinstruments/

34:00 The last remaining Big Boy locomotive is moving through California; Skip's hobo days https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm

37:26 How to satisfy your customer when only one power tube needs to be replaced? CE Distribution; pimento cheese

47:04 A 5E3 build with too much Fender "bacon;" Ken Fischer

49:51 A Rickenbacker M11 with a 60 cycle hum out of V1

57:22 VHT Special Six, redux

1:03:51 A simple cocktail: A Boyhattan; bitters

1:05:15 The history of AIMS amps; 5 ohm amps; The Mosquito Supper Club's boiled shrimp (link)

1:13:34 The pronunciation police; modding a Silver Panel Fender Champ with a Magnatone 213 tone control

1:17:11 Elemental knowledge; California-built Vox amps; Clarkson's Farm

1:25:00 Is variable input impedance worth experimenting with? Bogen guitar amps

1:29:41 Is the two-prong hat offensive? Are fixed-bias amps more touch-sensitive? the phono input in old PAs; GM/IP on tubes

1:33:15 Recommended reading: The All-Music Guide Recorded June 21, 2024.

Ep. 134: "A Little Debbie Swiss Roll" May 29, 2024

Show notes

It's the 134th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amp. This week, we're joined by jazz guitarist Jonathan Stout where we talk EH-150s, field coil speakers 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 time around:

1:23 Triple E jerky and freeze-dried ice cream (link) 2:36 Our sponsors: Emerald City Guitars, Amplified Parts, StewMac, and Grez Guitars. 6:06 What's on Skip's bench: An Electar Model M with 6N6 power tubes; a National Dobro amp with 2A3 power tubes 13:06 Skip has a Falcon for sale; Mumbo Gumbo 13:58 I put the electrolytic capacitor in backward on a 5F2A build; how coupling caps work; what to do with this Gregory Mark 1? 19:16 Natural year-round lemonade 20:21 How to fix the broken reverb on a vintage Gibson Falcon; open secondaries, someone needs to make a replacement Falcon transformer 22:20 What do you do if you need to replace a capacitor and its original part is different from the schematic? Steve Albini's Gear Dork Videos (Garnet, Samamp) 28:58 Special guest: Jonathan Stout (link)! Field coil speakers; traffic sounds; Gibson EH-150/185 amps; Vintage 47 amps (link); Combs Guitars JJ-150 pedal (link); Quilter 101 heads; the evolution of amplifiers; Junior Barnard; the Echo Speaker jack on a Gibson EH-150, Knott's Berry Farm, Fender Tweed Pros; Marie Sharp's hot sauce; pizza stones; pizza tips 1:03:38 David Lindley; Jackson Browne; Greg Leisz on the FJ's Steel Podcast (link) 1:04:11 Revisiting the Ice Cube 1:06:39 Non-reverb Princeton love; the Brown Box voltage attenuator 1:08:21 This week's Baffler: What amazingly killer amp can you turn a non-reverb Princeton into? 1:08:49 Waiting for a ferry in Snowdonia; early mountain biking 1:14:46 A VHT Special 6 with a useless tone knob 1:18:45 6L6s in a Fender Deluxe Reverb; acceptable idle current range; Revere Ware; Cameo Copper Cleaner; Chuck roast instead of brisket; spicy Italian sausage in pasta sauce; Brussels sprouts; beer Special thanks to Tim Le Blanc for his help mixing this episode. Recorded May 24, 2024.

Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

Want to support our show? Join our Patreon!

Ep. 133: "A Spicy Tomato Sauce" May 03, 2024

Show notes

It's the 133rd episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amp!

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:

1:14 Skip's 1950 Ferguson tractor, the Truth About Lawn Mowers

7:28 A zebra on the loose in Washington State

9:30: This week's sponsors: Emerald City Guitars, Amplified Parts, StewMac, and Grez Guitars. 12:28 Grez Guitars sends Skip Quique Gomez & Little Charles Baty's Cookin' At Greaseland 16:51 What's on Skip's bench? A 1953 Fender Tweed Pro that needed nearly a complete rebuild 24:14 One solution for the multiple Pignose-amp quandary from ep. 132: Radial Engineering's Shotgun 4-Channel Amp Driver (Amazon link); 100 Vintage Hawaiian Songs (Spotify link) 30:35 Tom Gunterman's lithium battery pack picks from ep. 132, prunes 33:51 RIP Gerald Weber (Kendrick Amplifiers) 35:56 Book recommendation: 'The Birth of Loud' (Amazon link) 37:39 Jason has a jdflyback handblown tube amp! (YouTube link) 40:19 A Fender Vibrochamp that doesn't like my Les Paul, volume-dropping 45:11 Anything worth rescuing from old tube car radios? 48:55 A 1569 Altec power amplifier for guitars? Grange Hall and self-published cookbooks 53:30 A Music Man 115RP with a broken reverb 59:17 An update on last episode's 1972 Fender Princeton Reverb, a homemade signal tracer (based on this Kley De Jong video); 'Designing Tube Preamps for Guitar and Bass' by Merlin Blencowe (Amazon link); tahini; 'Servicing by Signal Tracing' by John F. Rider 1:04:24 Why can't I pry this tone pot off of my Harmony H-200? 1:07:10 What does using a tube pre-amp unit in front of your guitar amp actually do? Tube swapping a 6V6 or 6L6 (note: we'll get back to this next week) 1:14:09 Skip's handiwork on the new Taylor Swift album? (Instagram link) 1:17:24 Making a closed cabinet for my Fender Princeton 1:21:19 Are amp techs divas?

Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

Want to support our show? Join our Patreon!

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