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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. 

It's the 117th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where legendary amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on guitar amps and their repair!  Want to be a part of the show? Keep the amp questions for Skip coming to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Voice memos or emails are welcome. And don't forget we now have a Patreon. This week's sponsors: Emerald City Guitars, Stringjoy Strings (use the code FRETBOARD to save off your first string order), Amplified Parts, and Grez Guitars.  This week's topics: 1:18 Jason goes to NYC (and Montana) 4:43 Special thanks: Listener Doug, QSL cards, Micah 9:18 Skip's movie, music and book picks of the week: 'Little Miss Sunshine,' an Arhoolie Records box set (link), "A Hero's Death" by Fontaines D.C., "Cleanin' Out My Closet" by Eminem; 'Fire in Sierra Nevada Forests' by George E. Gruell 16:34 The amps Skip has seen the most often and why 21:51 When to NOT just service it first, should I gut this Stromberg Carlson AU-42? Daniel Romano; Premier Amps 29:45 Can I actually use the AC outlet on the back of my vintage Fender? 32:43 Extending the leads on a Mojotone Tweed Princeton kit, what are turret boards made of? 38:08 Do I need to replace all the resistors on my 1953 Gibson GA-20? 42:52 Coupling cap orientation, redux 44:30 Sourcing a parts kit for vintage amp servicing 51:17 John Vanderslice visits Skip, Gibson resistors again 54:02 Using the vintage speakers found in the walls of my midcentury modern home's intercom system 59:06 Hope for the Fender Musicmaster bass amp, GSS Speaker Repair Services in Los Angeles 1:05:50 Plate voltage versus screen voltage on a power tube; @thevalvinist on Instagram; a Hohner / Sano combo amp for sale; the 2023 Fretboard Summit (link) 1:14:14 Modding the tone control on a Silvertone 1482, using a tip ring sleeve jack to bypass a cap 1:22:40 Fat Tire Amber beer Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.  Support us on Patreon.com for added content and the occasional surprise and don't forget to get a subscription to the Fretboard Journal (link). Digital subscriptions start at just $30. Submit your amp questions, recipes, and life hacks to podcast@fretboardjournal.com and don't forget to share the show with friends on social media.

Episode 108: It's like a best-of episode, but totally new! Pre-amps, typewriters, too many kitchen hacks, transformer talk, Jason reads the tubes wrong, and we even get a little artsy!  Some of the topics discussed this week:  2:53 Does Skip want to see your amps right now? See Skip at the January 14-15, 2023 Amigo Bay Area Guitar Show 4:59 A Tweed Pro with a variable inverse feedback control knob  5:45 Lee Jeffriess in the Fretboard Journal's 51st issue (link); check out Jeffriess and John Munnerlyn performing "Blues for Earl" 11:22 The December 31 TAVA Seattle meetup (thanks for organizing, @liquidnyo); YouTube's jgflyback shows off his tube-powered clock (shaky Instagram Live footage) 13:50 This week's sponsors: Grez Guitars has a new long-scale bass!; Amplified Parts (Hammond products are currently on sale!); Iztotope (use Fret10!); AND Stringjoy Strings. Plus...Josh Scott (JHS) is coming to TAVA, the TAVA El Pato-Tone Practice amp (Reverb link), and our Patreon page 20:56 The resonance of a fully loaded turret board; mounting components in a head vs. combo; goop 28:25 Microphonics in a tube amp (the good kind); David Lindley (support him via t-shirt sales here) 30:04 Why were so many power transformers changed in the '70s and '80s?; Spokane, Washington; Jason's favorite noodle place in Spokane, Washington (link); a very-modified Gibson Les Paul Junior with a cooling fan 36:03 Typewriter keyboards; '80s Scottish cop show, 'Taggart' 39:58 Should I change the transformer on my Bruce Zinky Fender Prosonic head? the effect of an output transformer on tone 45:46 What's the deal with the Fender Bantam bass amp?; the oven instead of the range; ham and bacon end pieces 50:39 Reincarnating a dead Peavey Deuce II; putting a Vox-style preamp circuit on an amp with 6L6s; cheese quesadilla hacks 54:06 Fixing the uneven distortion on my Dad's Gibson GA-9 56:53 Why isn't my 1967 Fender Twin Reverb as loud as my other Twin Reverb? 1:00:05 Arts & Humanities corner: The Albert Barnes collection of post-modern art, 'Art of the Steal,' (link); Skip goes to Harvard, again; RIP poet Charles Simic (read "Stub of a Red Pencil" here)   1:04:06 Chopped onion, chickpeas, and black beans sauteed in a pan 1:06:18 What would you do with my Bogen CHA-33 PA head? coffee-roasted carrots (link) 1:12:13 Changing the pre-amp tube (and speaker) in an Epiphone Model 101  1:19:47 What to do with this 1953 Revere T-100 reel-to-reel?  1:31:48 Skip likes the new Fretboard Journal (issue 51, link)  Recorded January 10, 2023.  Support us on Patreon.com for added content and the occasional surprise and don't forget to get a subscription to the Fretboard Journal (link). Digital subscriptions start at just $30. There's a giant index page with nearly all the former topics we've discussed in our first 107 episodes found here.  Submit your amp questions, recipes and life hacks to the podcast via podcast@fretboardjournal.com and don't forget to share the show with friends on social media. 

The 103rd Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast. Special guest Mason Stoops (Jackson Browne, Marcus Mumford) walks us through his crazy Marcus Mumford live rig! Plus: Dutch potatoes, shorting jacks, vintage road cases, and more. **Get a glimpse of what Mason is talking about by watching this video:  https://youtu.be/TH-bixpr-EQ and then listen to his explanation on our show (starts at 1:03:28).** :47 What's on Skip's bench: a Mesa Boogie Mark I 2:21 Kevin in Ohio has joined the Rustic Kegger in the Woods (Facebook link), nasty old pine trees 7:53 Eric Daw's Solid Sound book (order link); Daniel Petrzelka's replacement pilot light washers for SF Fenders (contact him via Instagram) 18:42 Easiest way to date a Fender amp; Portland, Oregon's Cast Iron Revival (Instagram link) 22:55 Music recommendation: Sonny Burgess 27:22 A Blonde Fender Bandmaster with failing volume; Nic Grabien 31:09 Gain vs volume, redux; Hotchpotch / hutspot potatoes with kale 38:14 Alternatives to a Fender Champ 12 42:39 Shorting jacks to reduce hum in amps? Mexican gumbo soup 50:32 A 1968 Fender Bassman head with two chokes and a non-original power transformer 54:25 A 1959 Gibson GA-9 with an erratic distortion once the volume is turned up 57:00 Taming the boost on 1979 Fender Princeton Reverb with the pull-boost; original Fender-branded tubes 1:01:34 Alternatives to a Music Man RD-50? 1:03:28 Special guest: Mason Stoops! Stoops' live rig touring with Marcus Mumford, Austen Hooks-modified Filmosounds + "Space Heater" amps, Kalamazoo Model 2s, a Peavey Studio Chorus, LED lights, playing with Jackson Browne, and so much more. Watch our video here to see what Mason is talking about (and his guitar and pedal setup): https://youtu.be/TH-bixpr-EQ (Thanks, Duncan!) This week's episode is sponsored by Calton Cases, Jupiter Condenser Co., Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. You can also use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase. Support us on Patreon.com for added content and the occasional surprise and don't forget to get a subscription to the Fretboard Journal (link). Digital subscriptions start at just $30. Submit your amp questions, recipes and life hacks to the podcast via podcast@fretboardjournal.com and don't forget to share the show with friends on social media. 

Special guest Bryan Sours (Soursound transformers) joins us for an epic talk all about transformers! Note: This is the longest episode of TAVA to date, and one of the most information-rich. I didn't attempt to make complete show notes for all the topics Bryan covered as it would be impossibly long. For our listeners who like to get into the weeds, this episode is for you. Dive in. **Also, for a limited time, Bryan Sours is offering TAVA listeners a special discount: Use the code SKIPSENTME when you check out at https://soursound.com. ** This week's episode is sponsored by Calton Cases, Jupiter Condenser Co., Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. You can also use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase. Support us on Patreon.com for added content and the occasional surprise and don't forget to get a subscription to Jason's magazine, the Fretboard Journal (link). Some of the topics discussed this week: :00 Skip has COVID 4:49 Temple Grandin in the Wall Street Journal (link) 7:18 The top boost circuit in a Vox AC30 from a Gibson GA-70? (link) 8:40 What's the deal with all these PA head and Filmosound conversions?   13:39 Special guest: Bryan Sours of Soursound: Making transformers, working with Benson amplifiers, rewinding transformers, custom transformers, and a lot more. There's a steak recipe toward the end, too.     Submit your amp questions, recipes and life hacks to the podcast via podcast@fretboardjournal.com and don't forget to share the show with friends on social media. 

Episode 99 of our podcast and Skip has one more surprise in store...  yet another giveaway prize for our 100th episode!  This week's episode is sponsored by Calton Cases, Jupiter Condenser Co., Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. You can also use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase. Support us on Patreon.com for added content and the occasional surprise. One of our patrons will win a Hello Sailor Fuzz Face this month!  Some of the topics discussed this week: :23 The Fretboard Summit Chicago: Come see Jason, Larry Chung, Grez Guitars, and more August 25-27 at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music (link) 7:02 One more prize for our 100th episode giveaway: A 1971 Skip-modded SF Champ 10:30 Skip is headed to a guitar show... in January (link) 12:55 A 1928 National Squareneck Tricone Style 1 for sale; a Recording King amp 17:56 One thing we've learned about vintage amps over the course of this podcast, a 1960 Fender Super in factory white (Instagram link) 23:55 Choosing the ultimate pickup-testing amp 28:13 Isaiah Mitchell; bias or no bias 32:54 A twin Reverb with a dying sound on the vibrato channel 38:50 Goat judging, redux (Instagram link) 44:39 Reverb without transformers, ie the Ampeg GU-12 46:34 A Traynor YGM-3 with an overly metallic reverb 48:38 Is an amp a signal pusher or a signal sucker? 51:03 Music Man amps, keeping a 12AX7 from failing, 6CA7 tubes, Johnny Winter's burning Music Man (YouTube link) 53:43 Could Gibson successfully reissue a Crestline-era style amp? schematicheaven.net 58:54 How important is an original output transformer? 1:01:18 The high-pitched ringing of a V2 (12AX7) on a 5F4 clone 1:03:23 A 1968 Fender Bronco vs. a '75 Vibro Champ  1:05:55 The Gibson GA-50, thoughts and maintenance; another way to ground your amp (non-three prong plug)   1:11:00 Giving yourself more spacing in an amp build to accommodate bigger hands    1:13:26 B+/power transformer questions on a 1977 Vibrolux Reverb    1:18:30 Peavey Encore 65 footswitch, redux  Submit your amp questions, recipes and life hacks to the podcast via podcast@fretboardjournal.com and don't forget to share the show with friends on social media. 

Are we really running out of vacuum tubes? This week, special guest Thomas Cravener of Amplified Parts joins us to talk about the 2022 new tube shortage, plus a lot more. Reserve a new TAVA t-shirt here. This week's episode is sponsored by Calton Cases, Jupiter Condenser Co., Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. You can also use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase. Support us on Patreon.com for added content and the occasional surprise. One of our patrons will win a Hello Sailor Fuzz Face this month!  Some of the topics discussed this week: :27  A cool guy's Traynor and tube stuff from the Forest Service in Chester, California 1:47 A '60s Heathkit IG-5237 still sealed in the box (stereo FM signal generator) 4:07 The Fretboard Journal's 50th issue, the Fretboard Summit in Chicago, the legacy of Dumble 10:08 This week's sponsors: Amplified Parts, Calton Cases, and Jupiter Condenser Co. 11:12 This month's Patreon giveaway: A Fuzz Face from Hello Sailor! Effects 13:17 Fire season in Northern California 14:53 An Ampeg B-12XY with an internal 5-watt amp for speaker-driven reverb, Guild Thunderbird amps 18:26 Reserve your new TAVA t-shirt (link) 19:26 Tube naming, revisited 20:41 Last episode's smoking Earthsound Research G-2000... fixed?; more fuse talk 23:34 Skip explains his WD-40 stance; Red Green 27:53 Kevin from Ohio, eBay score Patreon perks, EIA codes 32:49 Special guest: Thomas Cravener, V.P. Sales and Marketing at Amplified Parts: Russian/Chinese tube supply; Amplified Parts is still buying/selling NOS tubes; Psvane tubes; building Mallory Capacitors (YouTube link) 56:59 Gibson GA-8; do I need a matched set of 6V6s in a parallel single-ended amp? 1:02:34 Using alcohol in cooking; kale as shoe repair 1:05:57 Building a Masco Audiosphere A-8 off the schematic (6V6 or 6L6) 1:10:15 Jupiter caps at Amplified Parts; the low acceptable DC voltage on leaky coupling caps 1:12:57 A Flot-A-Tone with a howling problem 1:15:36 A Masco head from the 50/50 Club gets reunited with its cab 1:18:00 Trying to match the dynamics and distortion of an Ampeg B-25 and a Marshall Plexi clone; post-power inverter master volume mods, buying pedals off Amazon 1:23:51 What would Skip buy: A silver-paneled Princeton Reverb, a high-quality clone, or a new hand-wired one from Fender? 1:27:20 Howling Flot-A-Tone revisited, 6SC7 tubes 1:27:10 1966 Fender Pro Reverb with a big increase in plate voltage right after using the standby switch; standby switch 101; GZ34 vs 5U4 rectifier tubes; roasted potatoes 1:37:29 Taming the treble on a Marshall Mercury (we'll attach the schematic to the fretboardjournal.com show notes page so you can see what we're discussing) 1:42:16 Skip's learning curve: Did he work on ultra-collectible amps when he was still starting out? a '53 Tweed Deluxe with no original parts; William Penn and His Pals' "Swami" (YouTube link) Submit your amp questions, recipes and life hacks to the podcast via podcast@fretboardjournal.com and please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you love the show. It helps others discover it. 

It's the 90th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps! John Smith serves us a chorizo lasagna dish; we hear the demented sounds your tubes are making on their own; the answer to last week's baffler and much more.  This week's episode is sponsored by Jupiter Condenser Co., Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. You can also use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your Izotope purchase and, if you head over to BED|STÜ shoes and use the discount code FRETXBS, you'll save 20% off your BED|STÜ order and help support the FJ. Support us on Patreon.com for added content and the occasional surprise. This month, we're giving away an amp kit to one lucky patron!  Some of the topics discussed this week: 4:57 What's in a blue molded cap? 6:17 Our Patreon page and a Patreon-only giveaway 8:14 The Ep. 89 Fender Chris Stapleton amp baffler answered 13:03 Burning Spear, Marysville postcards, and electric trains 13:55 Beginner's corner: Basic servicing on a Traynor YBA-1 and a 1968 Fender Deluxe Reverb; Alex Shultz's 'Think About It' 18:27 A Peavey Classic 30 with a sibilant buzz 23:11 Why are vacuum tubes called valves; eggs with smoked paprika 26:35 Grez guitars; a 1978 Deluxe Reverb with a microphonic channel 1 33:07 Rewinding transformers: worth it? 37:33 A Fender Musicmaster bass in Daphne blue up for grabs; a memorial for Little Charlie 39:47 A blackface Fender Vibrochamp with a bad hum; artificial center taps and various other mods; Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five (YouTube link); Weller 8200 for chassis ground connections?; Weller 550 48:42 The sound coming out of your tubes; Universal Audio OX; Steven Spielberg's Duel 54:05 Thanks, AmpsAmps 55:13 Two Craigslist finds: Cutting the cord on a free Hammond M-111 and a what to do with an empty 2000 Fender Twin Reverb shell 1:00:51 Steel players and their quest for more headroom; overdriven steel artifacts; tips and tricks for getting more headroom from an amp 1:06:39 John Smith finds tube amp happiness with Benson Nathan Junior; chorizo lasagna (with El Pato); watch John Smith on That Pedal Show (YouTube link) 1:10:50 Has Skip ever been shocked?, signal bleed on a PA amp; Jeff Healey's trumpet playing 1:14:51 The most sought after Masco PA heads 1:20:56 Turning a Knight 93-360 into an octal Gibson GA-20s and what to do with the phono input? 1:25:25 Speaker efficiency and sensitivity 1:28:26 Why new crock pots suck 1:31:03 Filter cap changes on classic Marshall circuits 1:37:26 Theoretical circuit splicing 1:40:26 How does Skip desolder a connection? 1:42:38 Making Filmosounds safe, Cheesy Hammy Eggy 1:46:52 More good goo: S&F Smothered Cajun sauce (link)  1:48:38 A microphonic 1966 Fender Bassman head; can high humidity make a fiberboard conductive? leaving an amp on to dry it out

It's the 87th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps! Plenty of amp tips for newbies, some deep Ampeg talk, music recommendations, amp tips for steel guitar players, and more. This week's episode is sponsored by Jupiter Condenser Co., Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars.  Support us on Patreon.com for added content and the occasional surprise.  Some of the topics discussed this week: :54: RIP Alexander Howard Dumble 1:58 The TAVA Big Index Page (link) / Tableau Index Page (link) 2:21 Jason attempts to finish his Champ kit project 4:05 A Massie-built Electro amp on eBay (link) 8:05 Beginner's Corner: Speaker cables versus guitar cables 9:41 The capacitors in our brain 11:19 A replacement optocoupler for Gibson GA-20 RVT?, tremolo circuits 16:02 A tip for pros: Max-Pro.com 18:18 Frank Sinatra's 'Songs for Swingin' Lovers;' cleaning and retensioning tube sockets, redux   27:10 Music recommendations: https://www.wwoz.org; typewriters; The Deputy (YouTube link) 32:37 The dual fixed and cathode bias circuit on a Fender AC568 Bassman 37:27 Mother of toilet seat amps; Skip's preferred wiring, tube sockets and more 50:00 Fixing a vintage tube with a broken guide key, aftermarket tube bases 54:42 Fender Deluxes: 5E3 vs 6G3, roasted brussels sprouts 59:16 Skip's speaker picks; Skip's reference cab 1:04:31 How to make a lot of mead; the Prudence Penny Cookbook 1:07:09 Ampeg Gemini I reverb tank 1:10:32 The tone control circuit of an Ampeg M-12 Versus Tweed Deluxe; Kenny Burrell's 'Bluesin' Around' 1:17:00 What's up with my early '60s Ampro combo amp? 1:22:09 Amps for steel players, revisited    1:30:22 Interviewing a tech before you let them work on your amp, a lazy guy's lo-mein    1:38:05 Anyone need an original NOS car radio potentiometer?  The Truth About Vintage Amps is hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons. Co-hosted and produced by the Fretboard Journal's Jason Verlinde. Email or send us a voice memo to: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. And don't forget to share the show with friends. 

It's the 78th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast: Speaker installation tips, more pizza hacks (thanks Pillsbury),  special Patreon guest Mike Watson (the 6L6s) and more. This week's episode is sponsored by Jupiter Condenser Co., Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars.  Some of the topics discussed this week:  :41: Lots of cool amps at Skip's: The 44th Fender Tweed Tremolux, a Twin Reverb with a 7355 tube chart 2:46 Putting a tremolo circuit in a Masco MA-25N PA head 6:16 A pre-amp for a pro harp player with high-and-low impedance in-and-out 6:57 Shure sends Skip an MV7 USB podcast microphone (link); this week's sponsors: Amplified Parts, Grez Guitars, Jupiter Condenser Co. 10:25 Get an old typewriter 11:43 The TAVA Patreon Page (link) 12:57 Special Patreon guest: Mike Watson of the 6V6s (Ep. 60, Chris Siegmund, Signal Corps. Amplifiers, Western Electric 100F, Garnets, Marsland speakers, putting two Filmosounds in a Gibson GA-79 cabinet, speaker-driven reverb, Fender VibroChamps, mojo, Swampdonkey amplifiers, a Stromberg Carlson AU-33 with reverb and tremolo, Albert Johnson of Johnson Amplifiers). [Editor's note: It looks like Chris Siegmund passed away last year.] 37:42 Fretboard Journal refrigerator magnets (not happening); TAVA t-shirts (happening!) 40:48 Favorite good goo for getting wax off early '70s Fender eyelet boards 42:02 Replacing caps on an Ampeg Rocket R-12/J-12   46:34 #mywifehatespodcasts 48:17 A 1993 Fender Blues DeVille that needs a new input jack 51:30 British rock connections, the Stones and Muddy Waters, Selmer Futurama amps (link) 59:17 The Bardwell & McAlister PA gets a new home 1:00:14 DIY: A Gibson Vari Tone circuit in an El Pato can (Make magazine) 1:00:57 Tips for amps flooded in Hurricane Ida 1:03:57 Lab series amps / Dan Pearce 1:04:29 Speaker installation tips 1:12:04 A 1978 Fender Champ with red plating tube and a solid state rectifier for the 5y3 1:22:38 Pillsbury Pizza dough, Nic Grabien 1:27:07 A solution for the loud Traynor YBA-1: the YBA-1 Tribute and the YBA-1 Mod 1; the Traynor Bass Mate 1:31:15 Ampeg Reverberocket R-12 R with 120k phase inverter plate resistors; Bunnahabhain 12 year Scotch; Little Kings beer There is also a TAVA Big Index page located here.  Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal's Jason Verlinde. Email or send us a voice memo to: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. And don't forget to share the show with friends. 

The 69th installment of the Truth About Vintage Amps! Once again, amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all-things-tube-amp. Use the discount code TRUTHV150FF to save $15 off Caddis readers.  As always, we're also sponsored by Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars.  Some of the topics discussed this week:  3:09 Skip gets his Caddis readers 5:52 Skip's $260 Ampeg Reverberocket 2; vintage mono hi-fi speakers 11:53 Skip's Champ mod, redux; radial caps instead of axial caps 16:37 A Gibson GA-5 reissue with extra stuff between the coupling capacitor and the second stage of the 12AX7 22:32 Wandering Boy Guitars (link) 29:00 Why velcro on the speaker grill cloth? John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series 35:07 Jason's new podcast: Sweep the Floor (link) 35:42 Presence control versus top cut control 42:10 The Gibson Hawk's one-tube reverb circuit 46:29 Mismatching speaker impedance on a 1959 Gibsonette GA-8; Roald Dahl's 'Kiss Kiss' 51:37 Maximum efficiency speaker mismatching with a Supro 1610RT and a Dr. Z Maz 38 S; washing white rice 55:58 Music recommendations: Blackalicious' "Feel That Way;" Steve Wonder's 'Talking Book,' Sam Plecker's "Mr. Gray Cloud" 1:00:50 Using keyboards and synths with vintage tube amps 1:05:00 All-Clad's factory second website (homeandcooksales.com) 1:05:42 What to do with 100v line output transformers in old PA amps 1:09:49 Filter cap values in relation to power transformers; Arnica gel 1:15:44 The three pillars of BBQ sauce; basquecompany.com 1:19:25 Bulging caps in a Bogen DB-130 amplifier; La Costena Salsa Taquera Support the show as a TAVA Patreon patron and get bonus episodes, in-depth articles on amp circuitry and other surprises. Email or send us a voice memo to: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. And don't forget to share the show with friends. 

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: iZotope (use the discount code FRET10 to save 10% off your order), Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. Want to support the show? Be a part of our Patreon page. Some of the topics discussed on this week's episode: 1:00 California weather and old dogs 3:08 Sharpening knives, Carter Cutlery (link) 8:51 How not to ship amps and amp parts 13:09 SAMS Photofacts and obscure schematics 18:36 Making the reverb in a Fender-style amp less bright 23:05 Why are boutique amps so expensive; Benson Chimera (link); improving an amp’s tone by unplugging the reverb tank; a DYI Ice Cube; El Pato 30:58 The layout of Skip’s workspace 37:00 Building an amp out of a tape deck with 250k volume and tone pots, redux 43:21 An Ampeg M-15 with a thumping tremolo 46:36 A vintage Weller 8200 solder gun with a smelly tip 49:41 Adding speaker-driven reverb to a 5E3 clone without using a second amp 52:13 Converting a Kalart 7015 projector into a guitar amp, Filmosound conversions, Tex Amps 58:19 Recommended reading: All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr (Amazon link, thanks Brian in Seattle) 59:40 Recommended watching: Derek DelGaudio’s In & of Itself (on Hulu) 1:02:14 British amp heads at 16 ohms, Rick Beato’s YouTube channel (link), leftover holiday spices 1:04:59 What to do with a Wurlitzer 920 combo amp? 1:09:22 Preserving a completely original 1953 Gibson GA-20 1:15:35 Sweet potato fries 1:16:05 A Masco MA-35 powered up with no speaker, dried white onions 1:23:46 The grounding switch on a Fender, spiking store-bought ranch dressing with Balsamic vinegar, death caps 1:31:44 Slowing down the vibrato of a vintage Magnatone 440 Have a topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Be sure to check out the ever-growing Big Index of Truth About Vintage Amp topics to see if your amp questions have already been covered.

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. Want to support the show? Be a part of our Patreon page. Some of the topics discussed on this week's episode: 2:35 Skip gets a new knife (Carter Cutlery) 6:21 Restoring a 1961 Mercury Comet 9:13 Mathew Fitzwilliam’s book on Australia’s Goldentone amps (link) 21:24 What to do with a Masco MA-35 PA head, 7-series loctal tubes  29:40 The Bogen RP-1 Mic Pre-Amp 35:39 Keith Cary’s mic pre-amp / headphone hack 38:44 Early Fender Princeton GZ34 rectifier tube alternatives 45:11 Shielded wire vs. unshielded wire in the circuitry of old PA heads 50:23 Converting a Webcor reel-to-reel into a guitar amp 59:19 Keeping a vintage reverb tank alive (Gibson Maestro M216-RVT amp, MOD tank upgrade, shortening a vintage reverb spring) 1:08:51 Skip builds a Piper Cub model airplane 1:21:28 Speaker recone kits (link)  1:27:59 Proper tremolo speed / depth on a Fender 6G3 1:32:08 Klon pedals and outboard tube-driven overdrives 1:36:52 Is my Gibson GA-9 parallel single-ended? 1:44:01 Doing the Vibro Champ mod to a Stromberg Carlson Model 290, Doris Troy’s "What'cha Gonna Do About It" (link), and stuffed eggplant with crispy beef (link) 1:45:40 Mike enjoys the podcast (Mike's band: the 6L6s)    2:06:16  The Art of Basque Cooking by Clara Salaverria Perkins Recorded on the morning of January 1, 2021, which explains a couple of possibly inebriated callers. Coming soon: The Truth About Recording & Mixing with Johnny Sangster (Apple Podcasts link) Have a topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Be sure to check out the ever-growing Big Index of Truth About Vintage Amp topics to see if your amp questions have already been covered.

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar amp questions from around the world, except this time we're joined by special guest, Jef Brown! Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 8:54 'Practical Amplifier Diagrams' (1947) 17:02 The grounds on an all-original 1962 Fender Tweed Champ 22:34 Power section filtering 26:30 Special Guest: Jef Brown! (Jef's band, Jef's amp blog) 1:13:32 A Gibson GA-25 RVT Hawk that smells 1:19:23 Bass-ifying a single-ended amp build 1:23:00 A Silverface Princeton Reverb missing its foot switch 1:25:15 El Paso fajita seasoning 1:26:04 Turning your amps on-and-off during the workday Have a question or topic for a future episode? Email or send us a voice memo to: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848.  This episode is brought to you by Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts (who happen to have Jack Darr's 'Electric Guitar Amplifier Handbook' in-stock now), with special audio help from Izotope. Use the discount code RUIN10 to save 10% off your Izotope order.  

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar amp questions from around the world.  Some of the topics discussed on this episode:  4:35 Soundmaster PAs, revisited 16:20 Turret boards versus freestyle wiring 21:24 Adjectives for the tones of tweed-era Deluxe and 4x12" Bassman 27:37 Matching a 16 ohm speaker to a 4 ohm amp output with a transformer 31:20 A schematic, but no layout 33:33 Power tubes in series (Milkman amps) 35:54 A Gibson GA-15 that rattles its tubes out 40:54 Silvertone 101 45:50 Advice on a 1966 Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve: Watts, speakers, tips 52:26 A Silvertone 1474 and desoldering components from terminal strips 1:05:50 Using Telefunken EAM86 indicator tubesin an amp application Special thanks to Derek Taylor for the intermission music. Have a question or topic for a future episode? Submit it to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848.  This episode is brought to you by Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts.

Once again, Skip Simmons is quoting 'A Tale of Two Cities' and fielding tube amp questions from around the world.  Submit your question to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848.  This episode is sponsored by Grez Guitars. Some of the topics discussed in this episode:  4:26 Carter Vintage's under $1000 amp shootout (YouTube link) 7:40 Satan & Adam 9:32 Tom Ball 11:44 Updates on Drew's Fender Tonemaster 17:54 We're doing a good job 19:48 Phil Lee 21:00 Tube condensation during cold weather 24:12 The Fender Bantam Bass amp 26:26 Eric Johnson's pilot light placement, redux 29:44 A 1973 Fender Princeton Reverb with a sticky speaker 32:52 Swapping out a phase inverter tube versus swapping out a pre-amp tube 35:17 Recommended tool: OXO turner for skillet cleaning (link)  37:38 The gain stages of the Fender 5E8-A preamp 42:10 Replacing the handle on a '60s Gibson GA-5 Skylark 46:09 Footswitch 101 and an '80s Rivera-era Fender Princeton Reverb 2 50:29 Using EQ to lower the volume on a 50-watt Mesa Boogie Mark II 56:05 A 1968 Fender Vibro Champ with a hum that goes away 1:01:56 Power = Voltage × Current 1:03:38 A 5881 or a 6L6GC power tube in a 5F1 1:05:48 Speaker recommendations for a 1966 Ampeg Gemini II 

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world.  Submit your question to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848.  5:24 This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) 6:01 Jimmy from the Deadlies and his 5D3 Tweed Deluxe 8:13 Rustic Kegger in the Woods origin 8:48 Recommended reading: 'White Bicycles' by Joe Boyd 9:42 A 1960 Gibson GA-6 Lancer with inputs that keep cutting out 15:34 What’s the deal with the 1954 Fender Super? 20:02 Who was Glen Quan? 21:56 Servicing a Sears Silvertone 1482 30:05 The Magnatone 280 owner’s manual 32:23 A Fender Tonemaster with a pop 41:30 The roots of tremolo with Hammond, DeArmond, etc. 44:13 A 1987 Marshall JCM-800 2210 picking up ham radio signals 52:40 Special guest: Sam Bolle (Dick Dale!) 1:09:10 A Hammond AO-35 amp conversion project 1:14:11 Seasoning cast iron pans 1:15:18 AmpRX BrownBox attenuator use 1:19:00 A steel player's pre-amp tube needs, spiral filament design 1:22:26 What’s on Skip's bookshelf (Trustee from the Toolroom; All Music Guide to the Blues)   1:25:16 Cartoons that adults want to watch

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world.  Note: We now have a private Facebook group for TAVA listeners: Search for "A Rustic Kegger in the Woods" or click here.    Submit your question to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848.  This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 1:32 Skip tries to stay in the middle 5:04 Little Charlie Remembered 13:47 The hillbilly amp bought on eBay by listener @scschooling on Instagram (link) 14:49 Adam Grimm (Satellite Amps) builds a motion controlled boost with a mercury thermostat 16:08 Skip on Selmer amps, again 18:42 Making a Fender Acoustasonic Junior road worthy 24:13 Play through an amp while you’re warming it up with a Variac? 29:43 Cramming a 10" speaker into a Champ kit 31:21 A 1956 Gibson GA-40 Les Paul amp that doesn’t match the schematic 36:38 Smoked glass tubes 39:40 A project for a late '40s / early '50s Magnavox mono amp; plus, beans 46:38 "Why is Mesa Boogie so bloody minded and contrary?" asks an Australian listener 52:28 Special guest: Executive Chef Chris Robertson (Southpark Seafood, Portland, Oregon) 1:11:36 Harmonic tremolo and tremolo vs. vibrato circuits; Travis Wammack, "It's Karate Time" (YouTube link) 1:15:54 Pots that say 250k, but are actually 120k 1:18:25 A Brownface Princeton with 250k volume pots 1:21:52 Breakup on a Fender Deluxe 5E3 1:28:08 Comparing a 1962 Magnatone Custom 440 to a Fender counterpart 1:33:20 A Magnatone M7 with a mysterious foil wrapping around a coupling cap 1:37:35 Don’t Be Me: A listener's speaker-replacing follies 1:42:30 Options for replacing a reverb tank in a ’65 Fender Deluxe Reverb 1:46:44 Recommending reading: ‘Shop Class as Soul Craft,’ ‘Trustee from the Toolroom’ 1:52:08 Recommended watching: The Repair Shop (Netflix), homeschooling hacks 1:56:35 A 1963 Gibson GA-5T Skylark (Crestline series) with an annoying tremolo   2:02:02 Skip’s trip to Marijuanaville 2:05:27 Nesting with Netflix: Shetland; The Detectorists; Inspector Morse, Lewis; Better Call Saul; Trailer Park Boys 2:09:41 When is a vintage amp no longer a vintage amp?    

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world.  Submit your question to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Pre-order today: The Truth About Vintage Amps Two-Prong hat collaboration from Manbroidery and Ebbets Field Flannels (link) This week’s sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 2:13 Skip gets a $25 guitar; Jason goes to NAMM 11:05 Marc Silber’s inventory 14:16 Skip meets Grez 17:43 Tyler wins of our Union Bean Counter Tone Druid pedal giveaway (correct answer: Tom Waits) 19:17 Tyler’s fish taco recipe (email us) 20:29 A very clean Fender Tweed Deluxe 22:00 Joe Craven and Bruce MacMillan covers the Dead 23:24 Australians respond to Skip’s Robert Hughes query 23:51 More on Brent’s bargain Variac with a current meter hack 26:46 Leaving an amp on for a week 29:33 Vintage wire that just won’t solder 31:33 The Fender Greta as a pre-amp 34:02 The JHD Ice Cube Sustain Coupler (link) 37:43 The dangers of running an effect between an amp and a speaker cab 38:43 Changing a 1952 Gibsonette GA-8 from a field coil to regular magnetic speaker 42:30 Increasing the headroom on a Peavey Classic 50 45:45 Substituting a 5Y3 with a 5V4 in a 5E3 Deluxe 49:16 A 1950s Gibson GA-6 with an adapter for a 12AX7 pre-amp tube; more rectifier tube talk 51:50 Marshalls versus Fenders and the difference between 6V6/6L6 and an EL34/EL84 54:26 A Canadian Gibson Falcon that needs a massive overhaul 55:47 Choosing an amp for re-heating food 59:49 Little Charlie’s Chile Colorado, revisited 1:02:05 Export model Silverface Fenders   1:04:16 Questions on Angela’s Super Single-Ended Amp

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world.  Submit your question to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. **Order a PDF download of Steve Melkisethian's tweed Princeton amp project here.**  This week’s sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 1:20 Skip's A/B box setback 3:00 A winner for our Stew-Mac Champ kit 4:40 A question for our Australian listeners 6:07 A glitchy Ampeg Reverberocket  7:09 Skip heads to a vintage guitar show 12:00 @manbroidery two-prong hat update, let us know if you want one (Instagram link)  15:22 Old carbon comp resistors and Domino caps in an amp kit build 20:23 Testing caps for leakage 24:58 Running a synth through a tube amp 28:33 The timing on Kenny Burrell’s “Chitlins con Carne” 30:07 Music recommendation: The Joe Mooney Quartet (YouTube link) 31:17 The rationale for crazy amps like the Baldwin Exterminator 35:53 The sushi boat amp update; Rob Robinette's tube amp page; micro amps 40:40 1960s Guild Thunder series amps 43:52 New cast iron (link, link, link); rum & tonic 46:24 The Big Index page: fretboardjournal.com/tavaindex 46:58 Wear and tear from maxed out amp settings 48:25 Restoring (and storing) a blown Oxford speaker 50:52  Where the magic happens in a non-master volume tube amp 59:00 Tips re: Little Charlie’s Chile Colorado 1:04:43 The speaker driven out / monitor jack on a Gibson Falcon 1:09:34 Tinkering with a one-tube reverb circuit 1:12:11 Modding a Gibson GA-5 Les Paul Jr. reissue amp 1:18:01 Thoughts on the Fender Musicmaster Bass amps 1:23:10 A cheap Variac hack with a current meter (eBay link; eBay link) 1:29:00 Safely using a ‘60s Supro Bantam “widowmaker” amp 1:33:08 Adding a polarity switch to an amp without one 1:35:36 Effects pedals between an amp and its speaker? 1:37:50 ART tube pre-amps (revisited) and Skip’s preferred tube preamps 1:42:00 Output transformer spec basics

Twice a month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons fields your questions on tube amp buying, restoration and repair. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal’s Jason Verlinde. Special thanks to our sponsors: Mono Cases and Grez Guitars. Submit your guitar amp questions to Skip here: fretboardjournal@gmail.com or by leaving us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 3:27 Skip's roll call of A/B box pre-orders 5:11 We discuss episode 12's Baffler, the 3 Channel Psychedelic Control Center 9:10 This episode's Baffler 11:44 An unlikely backup amp suggestion 14:30 This episode's sponsors: Grez Guitars and Mono Cases and TAVA t-shirts 17:00 Little Charlie's recipe for Spanish rice (yes, our first recipe) 18:22 More parenting tips 19:11 A preview of our next amp schematic 101 22:34 More Champ mod talk: One difference between Blackface and Silverface Fender Champs, the Hammond 290AX transformer 27:38 Gain stage basics: What makes an amp distort?  32:14 Bringing a Blackface Fender Tremolux with a solid state rectifier back to stock 37:21 A '60s Kay "Vanguard" 704 43:54 An amp motherlode in Lodi, California 45:35 A Princeton Reverb with a pilot light that is too bright 48:43 A Gibson GA-20 RVT found in a trash bin 54:28 Channel jumping and a vintage Airline Model 62-9013A 1:01:48 The pop you hear turning off your amp 1:07:03 A speaker dilemma on a 1962 Brownface Deluxe 1:09:28 Converting a PA head to a tube mic pre-amp 1:14:20 Turning an old tube radio into a guitar amp 1:18:18 Norwegian blues and Helge Tallqvist 1:19:11 This week's recommended music 1:20:49 High-powered tube amps and the Hiwatt 400 bass amp 1:25:32 Using a light bulb limiter instead of a variac 1:27:34 Speaker replacement on a Gibson GA-40 1:31:50 A tribute guitar repairman Glen Quan, inventor of the Badass bridge   

Twice a month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons fields your questions on tube amp buying, restoration and repair. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal’s Jason Verlinde. This is our eleventh (and possibly most philosophical) episode to date. Submit your guitar amp questions to Skip here: fretboardjournal@gmail.com or by leaving us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 4:00 The Fretboard Journal silverface Fender Champ mods (it’s awesome, btw) 13:17 Skip’s four amp switcher / mixer / pre-amp 19:48 Looking at the Fender 5F1 Champ schematic, part two 31:37 This podcast now has an Instagram page   32:30 The problem with Skip’s Ep. 10 Baffler (on Fender tremolo circuits) 34:00 This week’s Baffler: A recently-serviced Fender Princeton Reverb with noisy pots 37:08 The smell of vintage tube amps 40:42 Gibson Falcon mods 45:00 Skip’s preferred NOS tubes 51:02 Loose tubes on a Gibson GA-6 Lancer 56:38 Thoughts on vintage Magnatones and the Magnatone pitch-shifting vibrato 1:02:36 A listener with a rare Hohner Contessa CA-300 amp asks for tips on keeping terminal strip/point-to-point wiring repair tidy 1:09:44 Why the 5E3 tweed Fender Deluxe is so loud, even with the volume turned down… plus the perils of replacing vintage pots 1:13:06 More Snufferstick talk and a Fender 6G15 reverb tank that hates high humidity 1:16:38 Tips on finding a good amp tech 1:26:45 A battery-powered(!) Gretsch Safari owned by a member of the Blue Man Group 1:29:15 Finding tube amp treasures through Ham radio enthusiasts 1:33:54 Sleuthing on the origin of a Venice-branded amplifier 1:36:06 A repaired 1966 Ampeg Reverberocket 2 with some quirks 1:43:18 A hissing 1967 Fender Vibrolux Reverb and a great Danny Gatton tale Plus: Travis Wammack’s "Scratchy;" a cardiologist chimes in; Skip’s disappointing beer of choice; why you should befriend your dentist; the novels of Patrick O’Brien and much more. This episode is sponsored by Grez Guitars and Mono Cases.

Twice a month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons shares stories and answers your questions on tube amp buying, restoration and repair. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal’s Jason Verlinde. Submit your guitar amp questions to Skip 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.  Some of the topics discussed on this episode: -Skip replies to a critic of his WD-40 hack -Jason's Gibson EH-150 amp needs help  -An answer to last week's Champ baffler -Speaker re-coning recommendations  -A buggy reissue Gibson GA-20 prototype -Recommendations for a baritone guitar player  -Protecting an amp from the elements in damp Southeast Texas -Running a Traynor head on only one power tube -Can you break an amp through loud playing/boost/effects?  -Making a reissue Blackface Deluxe Reverb sound vintage -How to buy pre-amp tubes online -Alternative chasis materials -Fitting bigger speakers in a Champ cab -Capturing the sound of Billy Childish (again) -A '60s Gibson Skylark with numerous issues and much more… Want to advertise your brand on the TAVA podcast? Drop us a line at jason@fretboardjournal.com. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please leave us a review on iTunes and don’t forget to share it with friends.  

Hello AaA Listeners. In this week's episode Jeff starts by giving his take on an article in Premier Guitar pairing a Fender Tweed Champ with a Gibson GA-5 amp, while Mick compares pricing of the two via the World Wide Interweb. After this insightful conversation the guys go straight to their guest and get the story behind the product.  Ladies and Gents, please welcome founder and inventor of V-Picks, Mr Vinni Smith. Enjoy and Thanks for Listening. 

This week we revisit tubes, primarily the 6V6 power tube and 5879 preamp tube. I have loved my 1956 Gibson GA-40 amp and investigating my Getchel Chicago Deluxe amp helps me understand why I love them both! Enjoy the show!

So the story continues about the shredder guitar. I was asked about active vs passive pickups so I ramble a bit about that topic. Also we have a neat story about an old Gibson GA-40 amp.