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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.
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.
Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTubeThe Food Stamps have been cooking onstage behind the redheaded songwriter pretty much since he left Appalachia and began touring as a full unit. These loyal road dogs have worn the rubber off the tires touring with Mr. Childers. First, they were strictly a live band enlisted to recreate and recharge the material from his first three studio albums Bottles and Bibles (2011), Purgatory (2017), and Country Squire (2019). But with the last two studio records—the triple-album, gospel-country opus Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? and last year's classic-meets-contemporary Rustin' in the Rain—the Food Stamps went from being his road-warrior comrades to eating big time alongside their leader onstage and in the studio. During Childers' headlining arena run and before his second sold-out night at the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville, the Food Stamps' CJ Cain (acoustic/electric guitar/mandolin), Jesse Wells (electric guitar/mandola/banjo/baritone/fiddle), James Barker (guitar/pedal-steel), and Craig Burletic (electric bass/double bass) invited PG's Perry Bean inside their “living room” stage set. When we last chatted with them in 2019, the boys were burning through the small-club circuit with many of the same tone tools still in their rig today, but as venues grow and tours extend, gear needs change and the arsenal capacity increases. In this hour-long Rundown, we cover all their fresh friends, old standbys, and everything else these four buckaroos require to make music that matters. Thumbnail photo by Emma Delevante: https://www.instagram.com/emmadelevante/Fender Vintera II '60s Stratocaster: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0YVB0Amplified Nation Overdrive Reverb 50-watt Tube Head: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eKYaV1Dunlop EP103 Echoplex Delay Pedal: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LX7gb0Keeley Katana Mini Clean Boost Pedal: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DK7BXbJHS Pulp 'N' Peel V4 Compressor Pedal: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/bayxMkPeterson Strobostomp: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQLdLjStrymon El Capistan: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0MG20L.R. Baggs Venue DI: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Qy70m6Grace Design ALiX Acoustic Instrument Preamp: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/rQYR6DMorley ABC Pro 3-button Switcher/Combiner Pedal: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Py7B3RFender Custom Shop Time Machine '68 Thinline Telecaster: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5goK91Fender Stories Collection Eric Johnson 1954 "Virginia" Stratocaster: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jrYVkMGretsch G6128T-GH George Harrison Duo Jet: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eKYaVQDanelectro 59X12 12-string Electric Guitar: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/an7PaYFender '64 Princeton Reverb 1x10": https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Gm7Ez2Grace Designs Felix preamp: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/VmPOEEL.R. Baggs acoustiseries Reverb: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/1rJ2qzL.R. Baggs Para acoustic DI: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Vm7gqjUniversal Audio UAFX Golden Reverberator Pedal: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/1rD3xgTC Electronic PolyTune: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/k0oEQVMXR Phase 90 script: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/g1YJZXStrymon Flint: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/QyAKk9Wampler Tumnus: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eKggxrRadial Engineering Headlight: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/oqYVEWGibson Custom 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue Electric Guitar: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZV2LNFull Rig Info:Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTubeWin Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENLMerch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.comPG's Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierguitarPG's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierguitar/PG's Twitter:...
No guests or special theme this week...just an all-new, old-school episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, 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: 1:31 What's on Skip's workbench: Valco amps with a resistor and a normal speaker instead of a field coil 3:46 This week's sponsors: Emerald City Guitars, Amplified Parts, Stringjoy, StewMac, Izotope, and Grez Guitars. 5:04 Thrift store: Revere Ware 8:01 What's the deal with this Leslie Model 18 circuit 15:41 Daisy chaining four Pignose amps to a backpack, tuna salad 20:46 What to do with these orange capacitors? Vacuum Tube Valley, Mexican Martinis 25:38 Skip has a nice mono hi-fi speaker cabinet for sale 27:07 Do speakers ever go out phase on their own? 28:32 Fender Princeton Reverb vs. Tremolux gain stages 31:22 The truth about vintage Sano amps (gumbo recipe found here) 35:47 Seventh-grade Skip; the glider that never touched down 40:11 A source for El Pato in Australia (link: productdistribution.com.au) 41:16 Ampeg Jets and Rockets "with the knobs that point straight up" 43:04 Spotlight on Paradise, California 48:32 Powered vintage speakers, El Pato chili 53:05 Film cap orientation hack and the EH Hum Eliminator/Debugger 58:35 Spotlight on glue 1:03:04 The joys of using lithium-ion batteries onstage to power your tube amps 1:09:43 A 1972 Princeton Reverb that doesn't like a wireless transmitter; a simple fish recipe 1:16:11 How do the dual rectifiers work in the Angela Super Single Ended amp 1:19:17 Rainier beer 1:21:21 Claude Thornhill Orchestra 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!
Transformer talk, spaghetti carbonara, goat horn jazz, and more transformer talk...it's the 126th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps! Want to be a part of our show? Submit your question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com. Some of the topics discussed this week: :48 Skip types out a tube chart 3:16 This week's sponsors: Emerald City Guitars, Amplified Parts, Stringjoy Strings, and Grez Guitars; the art of bargaining at a guitar show; the Bay Area Vintage Guitar Show; Premier and Alamo amps 7:43 A Marshall Major PA-200 head at Emerald City (link) 11:48 What's on Skip's bench: an RCA PA head; Bill Krinard's return to the podcast? 15:08 RIP Earl Yarrow & Shep the dog 18:26 Junior Bonner 21:40 More Earl Yarrow 23:50 Brandy and soda 24:30 What to use in my Princeton Reverb clone: A Soursound 12-watt transformer or a Hammond 14-watt? 28:01 What to do with one single can of El Pato; avant-garde guitarist Havard Skaset; Los Pericos Quadradas chips (link); Norwegian goat horn player Karl Seglem's "Mytevegar" (Bandcamp) 33:23 Help my humming Vintage 47 Mini 37:52 What to do with a 1964 Magnatone 401, one-to-three input transformer, how to not get shocked 42:43 Should we be burning-in our amps after repairs? 46:21 Converting a Bogen MO30 to a Fender Pro circuit 51:44 Recording a tube amp at low volume by pulling the phase inverter 53:21 1952/1953 Fender Tweed Deluxes with low gain instrument jacks, input impedance 55:44 Armadillo Amp Works cabinets 56:20 Is this serviced 1970 Fender Bassman head still a Fender Bassman? gifting a tweed Bassman to your nephew 1:01:25 Thanks for the TAVA show notes; what's the deal with my one-knob, early 1960s Gibson Skylark GA-5? 1:06:50 What output transformer to use on my Trainwreck clone? Dynaco transformers 1:09:03 Heritage Auctions' typewriter sale (link) 1:10:49 Spaghetti carbonara; gutting a Peavey VTX Heritage 130 to build a bass amp with an ultra-linear transformer; Sunn amps 1:14:40 The magic of Soundmasters; Sacramento ska band Filibuster; how a family of amps can basically have the same pre-amp circuitry; 807s vs. 6L6s or EL34s 1:24:43 Thoughts on the 2024 Vintage Guitar Price Guide 1:27:57 What could cause DC voltage to build up on the grid of a power tube aside from leaky coupling caps 1:35:10 Shoutout to the Fender greats: Richard Smith, Bruce Zinky, Lynn Wheelwright, Terry Foster; a circuit baffler of sorts! 1:37:47 Spaghetti carbonara & Los Pericos Quadradas redux Love the show? We have a Patreon where you can support it and get exclusive bonus content and surprises: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps
To Support the Channel:Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZacTip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZacVenmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.comI have bought and sold at least 10 Princeton Reverb-style amps over the last 30 years. I want to love them, but I hate the way most of them sound really small when dialed in clean with a Telecaster's bridge pickup. And as much as I love my old 1965 Deluxe Reverb amp, there are many times when I wish I had an amp that would hit the sweet spot at a lower volume, and be a bit easier to tote around. Earlier this year, I was at JD Simo's studio, and he encouraged me to play through his Headstrong Lil' King. I was blown away and ordered one the next day. It arrived a couple of weeks later, handbuilt by Wayne, and it was no less stellar than Simo's amp. I took the amp on a gig 2-days later, and I kept looking back at it during the gig. I played at least half the time on the bridge pickup with a cleaner tone, and the Lil' King produced wonderfully fat tones. After many years of searching, I found my Princeton.Gear used:2023 Headstrong Lil' King with 12" Eminence GA-SC64 speakerhttps://headstrongamps.com/lil-king-amp1957 Fender Esquire with a 1954 neck pickup, and original bridge pickup. Restoration and Aging on the Body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Refret by Nick at Glaser Instruments. Both pickups were rewound by Ron Ellis. Pickguard design by Jay & Kristi Smith of Juicebox Designs.Strings: D'Addarion NYXL 95-44Pick:Blue Chip TPR 35#askzac #princetonreverb #headstrongampsSupport the show
It's the 120th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amp. This week in a nutshell: Is this the Fender Yale?; lots of Fretboard Summit love; Skip sneaks a mower across the border; magnifiers; tomato gravy; and rumblings of a possible Oregon Truth About Vintage Amps meetup! Special Note: Our friends at Amplified Parts are having a Labor Day Sale right now. Use the code LABOR10 to save 10% off your order, but act fast. https://www.amplifiedparts.com/ 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. Don't forget we now have a Patreon if you'd like to support the show featuring weekly installments of what's on Skip's bench, random eBay finds, and surprise content: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Some of the topics discussed in this episode: :00 Fretboard Summit recap (thanks, Kevin!); a gift of Del Cabo mangos; Rob Abernathy's robots (https://rodabernethy.com/); our sponsors (Emerald City Guitars, Stringjoy Strings (use the code FRETBOARD to save 10% off your first string order), Amplified Parts, and Grez Guitars. 10:30 Donny Hathaway plays "The Ghetto" (YouTube link); Skip brings a Tweed Deluxe back from the dead (and possibly a Princeton Reverb), lousy amp repair people 16:22 A Fretboard Summit recap; a transitional Gibson Falcon find 21:40 An Ampeg SVT CL that sounds sort of like the opening to the Beastie Boys' "Intergalactic" when you turn it on 24:46 Offshoot amp brands we can spot in the wild 26:43 Magnifiers, redux! Recommended: YOCTOSUN Head Mount Magnifier on Amazon (link, on sale for just 16 bucks right now); LED garage lighting (Costco link) 29:55 How do self-split output stages work? Kalamazoo KEA amps 32:30 Help me make sense of this Bell PM33 Pacemaker schematic 37:53 Speaker-driven line out and reverb, together; a Seattle TAVA meetup?; an Oregon Coast TAVA meetup at Pelican Brewing? 41:01 Skip's contraband riding lawn mower 49:01 Is this the Fender Yale? John Peden's Sidetrack Liner Notes podcast (Apple Podcast link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sidetrack-liner-notes/id1162344630) 53:05 Kate Wolf; Eminem 56:25 Transformer windings and tomato gravy 1:02:12 The Silvertone 1484 TwinTwelve input section; Fender Musicmaster Bass amp mods 1:06:17 The Gibson tone-sucking circuit in the GA19RVT Falcon (Instagram link) Recorded August 31, 2023. 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.
Enter promo code "ASKZAC30" to save 30%Truefire https://prf.hn/l/LbY3nGLTo Support the Channel:Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZacTip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZacVenmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.comBetween my work with the Truetone Lounge and Vintage Guitar Magazine, I have interviewed many award-winning musicians with long and storied careers. It struck me recently that every one of them had a pivotal moment in their story where 3 important elements came together to launch their careers. These integral ingredients can be distilled down to hard work, risk-taking, and timing/luck. All 3 of these are incredibly important, and the house quickly falls if any one of these elements is absent. To illustrate, I share anecdotes from my interviews with John Jorgenson, Pete Anderson, and JD Simo showing how the elements of hard work, risk-taking, and luck played out in their careers.Gear Used:Baxendale Kay MandocelloPick:Blue Chip TPR 35Amp:2021 Fender Handwired 64 Princeton Reverb with a Jensen Neo 10-100 speaker.Effects:Boss Analogman mod TR-2, MXR Reverb #askzac #zacchildsSupport the show
Enter promo code "ASKZAC30" to save 30%Truefire https://prf.hn/l/LbY3nGLTo Support the Channel:Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZacTip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZacVenmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.comToday we spotlight Clarence White's former #1 Telecaster, which he used on some of The Byrd's "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" tracks, and likely the "Nashville West" recordings. After Gene Parsons installed the B-Bender on his sunburst backup Tele, it knocked the white Tele to the #2 position, and it was soon traded to his bandmate Bob Warford for a Nobel acoustic guitar. Wanting to also use a B-Bender, Warford & his dad engineered their own system based on Gene's original design, but with a few improvements including the allowance for a slimmer body to fit in a standard guitar case. Once learning the ropes of the mechanism, Bob would feature the B-Bender-equipped Tele with such greats as the Everly Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Herb Pedersen, and Chris Hillman. Today's video drills down on the modifications done to it, and we look at the ingredients to his rig to produce the memorable tones he featured on Ronstadt's "Willin'" and "Dark End Of The Street."Spotify Playlisthttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/2kK...Bender plans and photoshttps://www.askzac.com/post/bob-warfo...Gear Used:Crook Paisley Tele.Strings: Webstrings pure nickel 9-42 Pick:Blue Chip TPR 35Amp:2021 Fender Handwired 64 Princeton Reverb with a Jensen Neo 10-100 speaker.#askzac #clarencewhite #bobwarfordSupport the show
Enter promo code "ASKZAC30" to save 30%Truefire https://prf.hn/l/LbY3nGLTo Support the Channel:Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZacTip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZacVenmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.comIn 1969, Burton put his 52 Telecaster into semi-retirement, and would use his 1969 paisley Telecaster all throughout the 70s and 80s playing on countless recordings, and touring with Elvis, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Costello. During that time, he made quite a few modifications to the instrument, including changing pickups, bridges, hardware, and even a neck swap or 2. Today's episode spotlight all the changes the guitar went through in the years he used it as his main guitar for both the studio and the road.Spotify Playlisthttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/47J...Gear Used:Crook Paisley Tele.Strings: Webstrings pure nickel 9-42 Pick:Blue Chip TPR 35Amp:2021 Fender Handwired 64 Princeton Reverb with a Jensen Neo 10-100 speaker.#askzac #jamesburton #zacchildsSupport the show
To Support the Channel:Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AskZacTip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZacVenmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.comThe history of James Burton's iconic 1952 Telecaster. From his parent's purchase of it in 1952, through all of the aesthetic variations, it underwent until its current incarnation of a red finish and a white pickguard. Spotify Playlisthttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/29f...Gear Used:1957 Fender Esquire with a 1954 neck pickup, and original bridge pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Both pickups were rewound by Ron Ellis. Pickguard design by Jay & Kristi Smith of Juicebox Designs.Strings: D'Addario NYXL 10-46Pick:Blue Chip TPR 35Amp:2021 Fender Handwired 64 Princeton Reverb with a Jensen Neo 10-100 speaker.#askzac #jamesburton #zacchildsSupport the show
To Support the Channel:Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZacVenmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.comWhen LEGO released their Fender Stratocaster and Princeton Reverb amp set, my childhood and adult obsessions collided. As a child, I was given LEGO sets for Christmas and birthdays throughout the late 70s and early 80s. By 1985, I was 13 years old and had switched gears from LEGO to the guitar, so the little bricks went into the attic for close to 20 years. When my children were born, the LEGOs came out of hiding, and I began to enjoy building with my kids, and recently began getting sets of my own like the UCS Snowspeeder, and Slave I. With the release of this LEGO/Fender collaboration, my obsession with building bricks and electric guitars collided head-on. Amazon affiliate link to the Fender Stratocaster LEGO® Ideas Fender® Stratocaster™https://amzn.to/3s64Ksp#askzac #lego #fender #askzac #guitartech #telecasterSupport the show
To Support the Channel:Tip jar: https://paypal.me/AskZacVenmo @AskZac Or check out my store for merch - www.askzac.comToday I take a long-overdue look at questions that have arisen over the last couple of months. I cover the common questions I get about Princeton Reverb amps, the Tele body thickness question that was repeatedly asked concerning my 57 vs 67 Tele video, and I cover how Guthrie Trapp has influenced my playing, and how one of his exercises influenced the "Ask Zac" theme.Gear for this video1957 Fender Esquire with an added neck pickup. Restoration and aging on the body by Dan "Danocaster" Strain. Bridge pickup re-wind by Ron EllisStrings: D'Addario NYXL 10-46Pick:Fender MediumAmp:1964 Vox JMI AC10 with 12" Celestion Blue Alnico Speaker in a custom cab built by Kyle Bollendorf. Effects used:Boss RV-2 on plate setting9v power via Truetone CS6 https://amzn.to/3gnJQPW #askzac #guitartech #telecasterSupport the show
It's the 114th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, 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. Some of the topics discussed this week: 3:49 Skip gets more gifts (thank you); Studio Slips (link); Dragonfly USB-stereo connection; Connie Converse (Bandcamp link) 9:41 The Truth About Vintage Amps Patreon (link) 9:54 Josh Scott (JHS) plays the El Pato Tone practice amp (Instagram link), which you can buy here on Reverb; the 2023 Fretboard Summit featuring Jeff Parker, Jorma Kaukonen, JHS, Tommy Emmanuel, vintage amps and much more! (register for the Summit today: fretboardsummit.org) 10:59 Electrolytic bypass capacitors in Marshalls? 15:58 Spicy popcorn; best speaker load for a Black panel Fender Dual Showman head 21:05 The return of Leo Quan? 21:53 Standel has a new owner, Owen Duffy 22:49 What to do with a Matchless DC30 that sounds great, but runs really hot 32:33 A Princeton Reverb with weak reverb 35:54 Why you shouldn't use a Variac as an isolation transformer 38:40 GZ34 rectifiers and standby switches 46:24 Grounding issues on a hand-wired Fender Tweed Twin reissue, redux 48:56 What to do with an Aireon Model 1221A juke box amp with 6SK7, 6J5, 2x 6L6, and 5U4G tubes? 51:10 Preferred plate voltages on a 5F2A build; 5F2A vs 5F2 circuits 55:05 How would you measure an output transformer to know its preferred speaker load? 59:54 I built a 5E3 clone but there's no volume until I get to 2 1/2 1:01:11 Why does my 1967 black panel Deluxe Reverb have a tube chart for an AB165 Bassman and why is it so gainy? A narrow panel 1952 Fender Deluxe 1:11:16 Pancakes with goat cheese 1:12:58 Tips on accessing the underside of a '40s Stromberg-Carlson AU-33 PA's terminal board; isolation transformers, redux 1:19:07 https://worldradiohistory.com/. 1:21:04 Repairing the plastic on an Ampeg footswitch; E6000 craft adhesive; http://schematicheaven.irridia.com/ 1:24:16 A 1950 Gibson GB-CB with a power cord touching a tube 1:29:23 1957 Fender factory tour, narrated by Richard Smith (YouTube link) 1:31:14 Skip's voice cloned via AI; a 5F2A with weak volume and much more... Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal. This week's episode is sponsored by Emerald City Guitars, Stringjoy Strings (use the code FRETBOARD to save off your first string order), 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 podcast@fretboardjournal.com and don't forget to share the show with friends on social media.
We're back and episode 111 has it all: Deep thoughts, a tornado, fried eggs, and power tubes gone bad. Keep the questions coming to podcast@fretboardjournal.com and enjoy! Some of the topics discussed this week: 1:59 The TAVA Big Index page (link) 3:26 A pro chef hack, Rancho Gordo beans redux (link to the beans) 4:34 A '64 Princeton Reverb clone with a switch that can convert it to a stock Princeton, redux (thanks Emcee Amps of Montreal); the Tweed Vibrolux tone control 7:44 What's on Skip's bench: A Stromberg-Carlson PA head 9:52 What did today's vintage amps sound like new? Pizza with an egg 19:00 A tornado-damaged 1967 Deluxe Reverb with a loose reverb wire 23:38 A 6G3 with a glowing power tube, when good power tubes go bad 28:41 Why does my hand-wired Vox AC4 hum more than my PCB version of the exact same amp? 32:18 Making a '63 Vibroverb reissue quieter; the Crazy Tube Circuit's White Whale reverb pedal (link) 42:13 Baffler: The usefulness of a 6AT6 preamp tube in old radios 46:16 What Skip's reading: Garrett Hongo's 'The Perfect Sound: A Memoir in Stereo' (Amazon link), a 12-volt powered dynamotor 51:57 A psychologist chimes in; B+ voltage Recorded Feb. 14, 2023. This week's episode is sponsored by Stringjoy Strings, 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. Want to register for our Fretboard Summit? Here's a link. 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.
An episode that almost went off the rails (a missing special guest, talk of tragic balloon heroes, street tacos) but somehow gets back to amp basics. Some of the topics discussed this week: 3:56 Skip's decision to quit being a drawbridge operator, Skip visits Eminence 8:58 Austin Ribbon Mics, the Hot Holder Pro (link); book recommendation: 'How to Read Schematic Diagrams' by Donald Herrington 11:36 The Man in the Flying Lawn Chair, by George Plimpton (New Yorker link) 12:22 Roqsolid amp covers (link); Vengeance 13:52 New to our Patreon: Listener Nick reads the Jack Darr (link) 15:30 The use of ferrite beads, redux; inductors versus capacitors 18:20 A love for logging trucks; the Gretsch Fury, a not-quite-stereo-amplifier 24:00 The amp-related plotline on the fourth episode of Poker Face on Peacock 25:10 Polarized electrolytic caps; using a dual-shaft concentric pot on a '65 Gibson Scout GA-17RVT to avoid drilling a new hole; musician Seth Walker 30:21 Installing a switch to bypass the whole reverb circuit on a clone 1965 Princeton Reverb clone 34:12 Ampeg VT-40 60 cycle hum, even in standby 39:40 Skip's steak street tacos; Tortillaland tortillas; Rancho Gordo beans (link) 46:19 SOLVED: James' 1967 Twin Reverb with diminished volume, could this mistake be a desired mod? 53:38 Whacking a transformer with a hammer 55:40 Could you build an extension cab with a field coil speaker that has its own power supply so you can use it with any amp? 1:01:31 Seeking a budget hi-fi rig for classic country; Mezzetta garlic-stuffed olives; cream cheese-filled eggrolls, Granzella's Restaurant in California 1:08:08 Dutch kale in heavy cream; using a thermal camera to diagnose faulty amp parts, puppies as relationship testers; thermometer guns This week's episode is sponsored by 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. Want to register for our Fretboard Summit? Here's a link. There's a giant index page with nearly all the former topics we've discussed in our first 100+ episodes found here. 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 107: The genius of Garnet founder "Gar Gillies," Fender reverb controls, fixing Magnatones, and more. **Want to meet Skip? He'll be at the January 14-15, 2023 Amigo Bay Area Guitar Show with stuff to sell (and also picking up amps that need to be serviced).** Some of the topics discussed this week: 3:00 Deluxe Amplification's El Pato Tone Amp (Reverb link) 7:19 El Pato, cottage cheese with salsa, Sacramento's music instrument lending library "MusicLandria" (link) 11:09 Silverface Champs: Change just the tone stock or also increase the value of the plate resistors, the Garnet book (link) 17:23 Speaker load revisited 21:25 A 12AU7 instead of a 12AT7 in a Princeton Reverb; gochujang Korean pepper paste, kimchi 26:45 Fender reverb unit controls, explained; hybrid Vox 7-series amps; the Aclam Dr. Robert pedal (link); impedance redux; the life of a vacuum tube 34:45 What's oozing out of Magnatone M-9's wires? 42:29 Why does my Pepco (Garnet! Canada!) amp use two 6AV6 tubes and only half a 12AX7, instead of a whole 12AX7 and a 6AV6? 46:18 Vintage bass amps for actual bass players? 56:01 16 or 18-gauge zip cord for speaker wire? heat shrink for splicing This week's episode is sponsored by Calton Cases, 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. There's a giant index page for nearly all the former topics we've discussed in our first 100 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.
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.
In today's episode the guys support their local shop by buying a new Red Witch Omnia. They also wrestle with what amp to pair with the new vintage Princeton Reverb in Justin's wet/dry rig.
It's the 84th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps! 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: 1:52: Full transcription of Ep. 83 on our Patreon (yay or nay?) 4:14 Skip's recommended gifts: Jack Darr, Joy of Cooking, the Gibson amp book, the Ampeg amp book, Fender Amps: The First 50 Years; El Pato 6:57 A new baffler: 1964 Super Reverb with a three-prong cord 10:10 A pristine 1956 Fender Pro that needs TLC 14:42 An Audio Guild Bonham 120 with low vibrato intensity 20:34 Taming a Fender Twin Reverb reissue by pulling the 12AX7 on the normal channel 27:27 ID'ing the oil for a Tel-Ray oil-can echo unit / Ucon LB-65 29:55 How to find replacement 1" diameter Mallory can capacitors for a 1950s Valco with 1" diameter Mallory can capacitors, re-using old funky wire, the Fender 5E5 Pro input, adapt-a-cap.com 40:36 A 1965-ish Princeton Reverb that makes wave crashing sounds 42:31 PSA on three-prong power cords: SVT or SJT jackets 45:46 Finding time in your busy life to work on amps 50:57 Changing the circuit on a late 1940s Harmony Model 200; Mr. In-Between; Pig 57:51 Fender Concert IIs: Any good? 1:01:07 Resistors influence on tone? 1:06:10 Ledaig single malt scotch, Jameson's Black Barrel whiskey, and other stuff sent to Skip; Body and Soul Pedals by listener Yann (bodyandsoulinstruments@gmail.com, available at Real Guitars in SF) 1:12:02 A recently shipped tube amp that lost its volume 1:16:53 The unique field coil wiring on a Hammond M-3 organ 1:24:19 Some Leslie 147 amp discoveries 1:33:47 The answer to this week's baffler 1:35:08 A Tweed Bassman clone with a loud squeal 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.
Tune in for a new chapter of TAVA, where Skip and Jason Zoom through your tube amp and cooking questions with our highest fidelity yet (thanks to our friends at Shure for sending us that MV7...and to Mrs. Simmons for figuring it out). 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. Special podcast offers: Use the discount code TAVA10 to get 10% off all orders at amplifiedparts.com through November 13, 2021. Be a part of the first-ever, last-ever TAVA Cookbook: Email us your favorite recipe ever and we'll add it to our forthcoming, free PDF eBook, just in time for the holidays. Some of the topics discussed this week: :31 Skip puts the trem in the PA head 1:50 RIP Pat Martino 4:08 Green El Pato enchilada sauce 6:19 Swapping the 6C4 for a 6J6 on a Bogen CHB-50 10:05 A Magnatone vibrato pedal 12:58 A Princeton Reverb clone with a single-note rattle 16:00 Glossary according to Skip: Bypass cap; Baxandall, bright cap 23:17 A late '50s Epiphone Century aka Gibson GA-20T in disguise (see our Instagram) 26:23 More on amp hum 28:21 A '56 Fender Champ or a '60? 31:07 Shoutout Bob at Brookwood Leather (link) 32:14 New boutique amps worth seeking; McClostone; Hamstead 37:23 Typewriters, again 38:24 Giveaway: A La Tosca accordion 39:36 Jason's plan to keep the typewriters typing (free business idea); They Might Be Giants 'Book' (redux, link) 42:48 Finding a clean tone American amp in Norway; silverface Twins 45:49 Why does the primary impedance run high on 6L6 tubes on PA heads; repairing vintage transformers 50:45 Why amps in the '80s and '90s got power transformer replacements; Gibson GA-1RT (YouTube link) 55:10 Looking for a Danelectro Virtuoso schematic; what to do with an butchered amp with no available schematic; Sierra Nevada Old Chico beer 59:36 Guitarist Bobby Eli; the sound of Philadelphia; Vinnie Bell; 'A House on Fire' (Amazon link) 1:02:18 What happens in a tube amp? 1:05:57 Guitarist Pasquale Grasso 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.
Welcome to the 73rd episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, the bi-weekly show where amp tech Skip Simmons answers all of your pressing guitar amplifier questions. No topic is too basic... or seemingly too complex! (Banter hater? The actual amp talk this time around starts at 17:00.) This week's episode is sponsored by Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars. Some of the topics discussed this week: 1:01 UFOs and Art Bell 8:01 Our Patreon page: Now with new updates and articles from Acmeverb.com! 12:05 Jason gets a haircut, learns how to use epazote in beans 16:59 B+, revisited: B is for Battery 18:02 Medical grade tubes: Still in production! 20:46 Princeton tone stack and the TAVA community, tips for Variac hunting, Mount Olive Pickle Salsa 26:32 Skip's movie picks: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Nomadland 29:49 A clone Tweed Princeton success story; vintage Jensen P-15R speakers; Amplified Parts' NOS tube sale 37:38 WD-40, again 41:00 Skip's Chile Colorado 42:03 Field coil speakers for a Gibson EH-150/185-style amp (and what's the deal with the echo speaker extension cabinet?) 48:18 The Vox book gets a new home; acidfuzz.com (for Vox guitar onboard fuzz schematics) 50:06 The TAVA Facebook group (Facebook link) 51:25 Another movie tip: The Straight Story 51:50: Twin mod revisited: Changing two 6V6s to rectifiers; a TAVA meetup?; music by Joe Policastro Trio, Colin Stetson 58:25 Single-ended amps with a 6V6 tube with and without a cathode bypass capacitor, Skip's toothbrush hack 1:04:46 Testing a cabinet design with a crappy amp 1:07:27 Bruce MacMillan's Princeton Reverb; Joe Craven & The Sometimers' Garcia Songbook 1:12:05 “It's about to get boring…" 1:15:14 Primus' "Over the Electric Grapevine" (Spotify link); RIP Blackalicious' Gift of Gab 1:16:48 Which power tube blew my Mesa Boogie Mark I's fuse?, checking a tube's filament with an ohm meter 1:22:26 Skip's TAVA 60-second challenge: How does Bitcoin mining actually work? 1:27:08 Who wanted the Epiphone Pathfinder? 1:30:58 Making the amplifier in a 1960s Mechanix Illustrated How To Do It encyclopedia (email podcast@fretboardjournal.com if you want the scan); advantages of a two-chassis layout; octal tubes; Silvertone/Sears' 40XL amps and more 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 68th installment of the Truth About Vintage Amps with special guest Jef Brown! Use the discount code TRUTHV150FF to save $15 off Caddis readers between now and April 30, 2021. Some of the topics discussed this week: 7:30 The details you should never annoy your amp tech with 12:23 El Pato references, explained; the El Pato-Tone practice amp (almost sold out); Knorr bullion cubes 19:19 A reissue Fender Twin Reverb with an irritating noise floor and vibrato 23:42 What to do with old 2 ohm Rola speakers; funky capacitors from a vintage Yamaha organ 30:96 Special guest: Jef Brown (Leighton Amplifiers; Southside Guitars) with more amp hacks and troubleshooting knowledge: The 3.3 MHz resistor mod to 5E3s (revisited); Southside Guitars; Gibson KEA amp hacks; chokes in a power supply; a Super Reverb soaked in WD-40; new parts gone bad; a buzzy Princeton Reverb; a Fender Tone Master with misplaced grid stop resistors; a Marshall Plexi with a bad LCR filter cap; lead dress; filter caps on a clone Princeton; when to move on from a new speaker; using Fela Kuti/Burning Spear to break in a new speaker; the proper way to wire a three-prong cord to an amp with a fuse. Technical Note: Around 28:00, Jason's good mic somehow stopped working. Thankfully, this episode becomes the Jef and Skip show shortly thereafter so it won't affect you too much. There's a lot of deep knowledge in this episode; dig in! 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.
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: 1:13 Three nightmares left 7:17 Sam's Wurlitzer 920 combo amp from Ep. 62, revisited 9:14 Special guest: Ian Moore (Austin, Vibroluxes, Deluxe Reverbs, Marshall mods and salsa dona!) 44:26 What to do with an unusual 1968 Gibson Falcon chassis missing a cabinet? 48:48 Building a clone of Ampeg R-12-R Reverberocket 56:21 A vintage Jenson P-15Q with a quarter inch jack mounted on the speaker frame 58:14 Mary Halvorson 59:31 A Dukane PA with a low B+ voltage 1:03:21 How did Skip accumulate a barn full of PAs? 1:09:09 "Historic" or "historical;" a Bogen Challenger CHA33 with pitting on the chassis 1:15:00 How to properly use an ESR Meter; the Anatek Blue ESR meter (link) 1:19:00 The dwell on a reverb tank 1:21:02 Where does distortion come from; author C.J. Box 1:23:12 Testing a vintage power transformer before you install it 1:26:46 Mathew Fitzwilliam's Goldentone Amp book, revisited (link) 1:27:15 Restoring a Goldentone 1761 Soloist; ozvalveamps.org 1:30:33 Chris from Deluxe Amplifications' amp chassis holder (YouTube, blueprint available on our Patreon) 1:33:39 Guitar Shorty 1:36:36 The smallest mountain range in the world 1:37:32 Installing a separate filtercap eyelet board in a BF Fender 1:41:19 Using a vintage Jensen C12S speaker in a Princeton Reverb clone; bean pasta 1:49:15 Shrunken model airplane tissue 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.
Whether backing up Jason Mraz or fronting her own trio, she just needs a 335, Princeton Reverb, and a plane-ready pedalboard to make the world a groovier place.
Jim Campilongo is one of the finest Telecaster players of the modern era. On his many great albums, Jim brings his beautifully unique approach to everything from honky-tonk, to jazz. In our Truetone Lounge discussion, we cover everything from his history as a player, inspirations, to his current practice regimen. We also could not help but talk of his love for late 50s Telecasters and Princeton Reverb amps.
In part 2 of our Truetone Lounge interview with guitarist Rob McNelley, we talk about the gear he uses both on the road, and in the studio. Rob talks about, and then demonstrates 3 of his most used instruments; his 1953 gold top Les Paul, his P90 equipped Senn Pomona, and his prized 1965 Stratocaster that was formerly owned and played by his father. He also goes in-depth with his pedal board, and talks about his vintage Princeton Reverb, his favorite grab and go amp.
Jim Campilongo is one of the finest Telecaster players of the modern era. On his many great albums, Jim brings his beautifully unique approach to everything from honky-tonk, to jazz. In our Truetone Lounge discussion, we cover everything from his history as a player, inspirations, to his current practice regimen. We also could not help but talk of his love for late 50s Telecasters and Princeton Reverb amps.
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: 3:32 A brief moment of despair 10:34 Our new Patreon page: Hear Skip's actual voice! 21:30 Colin Cripps' Filmosound, revisited 25:15 Skip's chassis stand 30:37 Changing the linear taper volume pot on an early '80s Princeton Reverb 34:53 Putting a guitar input into the pre-amp of a Hammond L-100 organ 40:33 Salvaging tubes from a free Lowry organ 43:40 The 5F10 Fender Harvard 47:17 "Peekofarad" or "pykofarad" 48:35 The light-dependent resistor on a Gibson GA20-RVT tremolo 52:30 Replacing the 6CA7/EL34 power tubes with new old stock Sylvania/RCA or brand new Electro-Harmonix 57:40 Bass cut on a Tweed Deluxe clone 1:02:20 Vibro Champ tremolo revisited 1:06:17 Boutique parts & homemade ramen 1:17:32 Patton fans 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.
The Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast has turned one! Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your questions to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. * SUPPORT TAVA & ANGELA INSTRUMENTS AND ENTER TO WIN* Order a PDF download of Steve Melkisethian's tweed Princeton amp project here. You may just win something! This week’s sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 1:18 The TAVA Index (h/t to Harper’s magazine) 6:55 What’s on Skip’s bench? 8:49 Speaker reconing: Scumback speakers 10:46 Skip’s Christmas wish list: A Subaru replacement, a break from phone calls 13:42 TAVA givewaway: A Stew-Mac Tweed Champ kit! 14:12 Our Angela Instruments amp project download 15:35 Manbroidery’s two-prong patch / a future Ebbett’s Field Flannels hat? (Instagram link) 17:00 Another giveaway: An A/B box or $125 Skip labor credit giveaway 19:40 Skip gets a tractor 24:14 Dual rectifier tubes and Sag 101 28:40 Jason tries to get a special guest 31:29 Cabbage and mushrooms 35:00 Cabinet glue 40:49 Fender’s White amplifiers 44:09 Choosing a Fender for your band 48:12 How Skip drains filter caps 51:35 Lafayette amplifiers 54:28 A 1971 Fender Bassman (AA371) with stray voltages 59:23 Making an Ampex 602A work for guitar 1:11:32 Splitting a 2x12 speaker cab 1:15:19 Using a looper pedal to help with soundchecks (h/t Julian Lage) 1:16:50 Music recommendation: Red Norvo 1:18:12 Budweiser Copper Lager and cast iron pans 1:25:43 A Cornell Romany Pro that goes through power tubes 1:33:34 Book review: Maurice J. Summerfield’s 'The Jazz Guitar' 1:34:32 Light bulb limiters 1:36:56 A Princeton Reverb-style amp with a pull-switch on the volume control 1:41:35 A Classic Tone 5E3 power transformer with one metal washer 1:43:35 A history of phase inverters 1:46:02 More new parallel, single-ended amps Special thanks to TAVA listener Eric C. for helping us edit this week's episode.
A back-to-basics episode: No special guests, no recipes. Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your questions to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or by leaving us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. * SUPPORT TAVA & ANGELA INSTRUMENTS* Order a PDF download of Steve Melkisethian's tweed Princeton amp project here. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 9:49: This week’s sponsor: Grez Guitars (link) 10:35 The Fretboard Journal’s Electric Guitar Annual, Vol. 2 (pre-order here) 11:56 The TAVA First Year anniversary celebration: Win a Tweed Champ kit from Stew-Mac (Instagram link) !!! 15:26 Who wants to order a TAVA hat like this one? Email us… 18:36 Skip on our Angela catalog reprint 24:36 Transformer 101 35:35 Amps for harp players 43:26 Building your first bass amp 51:54 Using an ART tube pre-amp in front of a guitar amp 55:18 A Traynor YBA-1 Bass-Master with a sensitive master volume 59:18 British vs. American amp tone 1:04:22 Another listener recommended amp tech: Tyler at Boss Organ in Somerville, Mass. 1:10:11 DeArmond amps 1:16:57 Bringing a Gibson EH-150 back to life 1:22:34 Kenny Burrell’s Midnight Blue 1:24:17 Craig Korth on the Fretboard Journal Podcast and the Ray Butts EchoSonic amp (link) 1:25:58 Salvaging stuff from a dead RCA film projector for a Princeton Reverb clone 1:34:32 A 1972 Fender Super Reverb with a weak tremolo; plus, what is an opto-coupler? 1:41:54 Trying different tubes on a Music Man Sixty-Five Reverb 1:48:35 KTNN: The Voice of the Navajo Nation Like the show? Share it with your friends, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and stay tuned for next month, when we unveil even more surprises for our one year anniversary.
When I walked into Friendly River Music in Cornish, Maine (of all places!) I could hear angels singing...er, maybe it was a stack of Marshalls blowing a '50 amp fuse' as Mick sings in You Can't Always Get What You Want. I'd found guitar-lovers Nirvana, then promptly spent my savings on a Fender Strat and Princeton Reverb amp. John Barton, the shop's founder, owner, proprietor, rock historian, guitar lover/collector, Beatles freak, all 'round great guy, inspires you as he takes us on a tour. From a 1961 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 hollowbody to a handmade Steelcast made by James Trussart, this is not your ordinary neighborhood shop. John's story is inspiring, too. He grew this shop from a $500 investment, borne out of knowing he'd never survive a career as a teacher.I've posted photos of the guitars that John and I discuss in the episode, as well as many photos from his beautiful shop on my Facebook page (Thom Dharma Pollard) and my Instagram page @thom.dharma.pollard In Episode 11 I also discuss discernment, which one develops when they begin living their truths. When we have discernment we can be assured that our decisions are the right decisions. So, if we are endeavoring to achieve something, be it a short-term goal or lifechanging career move, we will be less fearful in moving forward. Suitably, music on the episode is from the surf sounds of The Vivisectors, found on the free music archives. Find them at vivisectors.bandcamp.com. Visit @friendlyrivermusic on Facebook, or check their website at friendlyrivermusic.com. Please share the podcast with friends and family. Baker Street can be found wherever you can listen to podcasts, as well as at bakerstreet.buzzsprout.com. My website is eyesopenproductions.com. Please stop by and say hi!
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. 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: 2:05 Skip works on a barn-find 1960 Fender Tweed Bassman 6:10 Parenting tips – get a riding lawn mower 7:50 Jason confesses to Skip that he got a Stew-Mac Champ kit; DIY amp tips 12:33 Skip’s music picks 16:05 Building a tube stereo amp (Dynaco Stereo 70, for music playback) versus a guitar amp 19:39 A synth repairman gets a contact high thanks to LSD residue 20:33 Disgusting things found in old amplifiers 21:16 Last week’s Baffler (a noisy Princeton Reverb, listen to episode 11) responses and answer 27:37 This week’s Baffler (view the image on our new Instagram page): What is the thing used for? 28:45 A listener in a hurry fixes his Les Paul thanks to Skip’s tube amp advice 30:34 Preserving (sloppy) originality on a CBS-era Fender or making it better than original 35:13 A non-reverb Silverface Fender Princeton with a weak vibrato 40:48 A reissue ‘63 Fender Vibroverb that needs more clean headroom 45:42 How do amp circuits get named? 47:40 Cleaning vintage pots 49:49: An ‘80s Tusc amp with EQ 51:06 What to do with a ‘70s Silverface Champ with no maintenance history 54:14 A ‘66 Ampeg Reverberocket with an unusual distortion sound 1:01:18 A ’69 Fender Bassman with both fixed and cathode bias 1:05:20 Rebuilding an amp found in a Hammond M-3 organ and melted wax on power transformers 1:07:52 A glimpse at the Fender Musicmaster Bass amps 1:11:40 Differences between an amp schematic and layout 1:13:24 A bargain Ampeg cabinet with four Altec 417 speakers 1:15:28 Sleeper pedal steel amp recommendations 1:17:00 An ‘80s Mesa Boogie SOB amp with a red-plating 6L6BC tube 1:20:01 Alternatives to the 6C10 tube on a ’82 Fender Super Champ 1:22:40 Negative feedback: What is it? Adjusting it. 1:29:21 A 1963 Gibson Discoverer Tremolo (GA-8T) amp with too much treble 1:32:01 Skip’s brief tutorial on speaker efficiency
Spear Shakers w/Kelly Richey a new power duo, tears up Guitar Radio Show!
In part 2 of our Truetone Lounge interview with guitarist Rob McNelley, we talk about the gear he uses both on the road, and in the studio. Rob talks about, and then demonstrates 3 of his most used instruments; his 1953 gold top Les Paul, his P90 equipped Senn Pomona, and his prized 1965 Stratocaster that was formerly owned and played by his father. He also goes in-depth with his pedal board, and talks about his vintage Princeton Reverb, his favorite grab and go amp.
60 Cycle Hum has our first official sponsor! Check out Nystrum Guitars!In this Episode Ryan and Steve talk about a jacked up 1964 Stratocaster, a guitar builder from the Land Down Under and a silverface Princeton Reverb. Then the guys wax poetic about the EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter. For this weeks topics, Ryan and Steve talk about JHS, amps and ice chips.This weeks music was sent to us by Sean Corkery.