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PODCAST

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons

The Fretboard Journal

Twice a month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons fields your questions on vintage tube amp repair, restoration and collecting. Often hilarious and always insightful, it"s like no other guitar podcast out there.

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All Episodes

01:28:38

Ep. 59: "Paper Airplanes and Some Soup"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/12/18

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 show: 5:13 The Truth About Recording & Mixing (launching January 2021!) 9:16 Building mic pre-amps 12:42 A "ripping" overdrive sound on a converted Vibro-Champ 17:51 A Red Bear amps service warning 21:36 Dr. Z Z-Air Brake, revisited; Joel Patterson; El

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01:24:57

Ep. 58: "Beards and Flattops"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/12/04

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. 3:57 Skip announces his retirement (not really) 10:50 The Roxy Theater's "Wall" sound system finds a new owner 23:20 Preserving an all-original Fender 5F10 Harvard 29:05 The non-Fender amps Skip sees the most 31:05 Salvaging a submerged Red Bear amp 37:18 Special Guest: Barry Grzebik of Grez

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01:09:53

Ep. 57: "Turn That Baby Down to Zero"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/11/17

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. 2:15 Baffler Corner: The power tubes on a transitional 1963 Fender Showman head; enchiladas without breaking tortillas; last week's noisy Marshall 9:22 What's on Skip's Bench: A Gibsonette 14:35 The entire 1996 Angela Catalog, now available as a download! (link here, proceeds go directly to

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01:20:23

Ep. 56: "I Want People to Dream"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/11/03

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. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 2:05 Skip checks out a Paul Bigsby-built tenor guitar, free stuff sent to your favorite podcast hosts 14:06 Revisiting Grez Guitars' pickle jar hack 15:13 Grounding 101 22:27 Antique Electronics Supply/Amplified Parts' Tolex sample packs 26:13 Advice on Ampeg M-12 / Mercury amps 29:16 Drawing a schematic

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01:26:17

Ep. 55: "Surfeit of Stuff"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/10/22

Once again, guitar amp tech Skip Simmons is fielding your questions on all things tube amp. This week's sponsors: Amplified Parts (use the discount code TAVA10 when you check out to save 10% off your order!) and Grez Guitars. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 6:50 The Truth About Vintage Amps Patreon Page: New contributions from Jesse at Acme Instruments 10:00 Trusting a repair tech and what to do with old, removed parts 12:40 A driver for a horn speaker; dogs chasing golf balls,

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01:10:08

Ep. 54: "A Great Big Tent"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/10/14

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: 4:12 A new Tony's: Pappa Earle's (link) 6:03 This week's sponsors: Grez Guitars and Amplified Parts 7:43 Eddie Van Halen (link to Zocala Public Square video mentioned) 14:45 The answer to Ep. 53's Baffler 18:30 A cabinet conundrum 20:23 Another Baffler! 21:36 Cleaning

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01:29:12

Ep. 53: "Kids Love It"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/09/30

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: 1:11 A new TAVA Baffler 4:41 An Angela Super Single Ended amp group build? 10:28 Mrs. Simmons' favorite amp? 13:16 Identifying the work of Fender's Lily, Lupe, Eileen, etc. 14:43 Strategies when you discover an amp with few original parts 19:50 Saving amps with

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01:32:46

Ep. 52: "Dogs Riding Bicycles"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/09/19

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

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01:10:28

Ep. 51: "Generator Edition"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/09/14

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

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01:57:06

Ep. 50: "Another Hobby, Another Hobby, Another Hobby"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/09/05

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps It's the long-awaited, prize-filled 50th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast! And, once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 6:11 Pyko de Gallo 7:09 Deluxe Amplification's El Pato Tone practice amp (link) 11:51 A circuit to investigate: the Kay K550 15:34 DJ Cruise Ship Derek 22:48 Hy Bloom,

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01:18:58

Ep. 49: "You Could Have Just Left It in the Trash"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/08/21

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

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49:39

Ep. 48: "Looking Out the Window"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/08/13

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Once again, Skip Simmons also fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 2:55 Special guest: Greg Cravener from Amplified Parts (watch the video on how Amplified makes can capacitors here) 33:27 Plate load resistor function 39:00 Power conditioners and vintage amps 41:23 Building a simple hi-fi from scratch 44:52 Building an amp with

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01:10:40

Ep. 47: "You Played for Money"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/08/06

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Once again, Skip Simmons also fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. This week, we are also joined by special guest Colin Cripps (Blue Rodeo, the Jim Cuddy Band, Kathleen Edwards), who helps shed light on some of the very special amplifiers to come out of Canada. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: :55 "The unluckiest dude that there ever was," Skip's advice to

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01:50:14

Ep. 46: "Man-Made Interference"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/07/29

Support the Truth About Vintage Amps through our brand new Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps Steve Melkisethian of Angela Instruments makes his eagerly anticipated second Truth About Vintage Amps appearance and it doesn't disappoint. Included: Tracking down vintage Marshalls in the UK, selling gear to U2, Ken Fischer, tube sockets, recommended books, Orange amps, Jesse Quitslund of Acme Instruments, Jef Brown, Steve plays drums for the Cramps, and more! Note: Steve recommends two

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44:58

Ep. 45: "I Sheared a Lot of Sheep"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/07/21

Once again, Skip Simmons also fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. Submit your question 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 Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 10:24 Chris' Tone Scoring System 14:12 The three colors of El Pato 17:07 Silverface vs. late Blackface Champs 21:46 A Sherwood Master 8422 amp 24:55 Installing a pre-amp switch on a pair of

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01:38:38

Ep. 44: "Heavy Rotation at the Prison Library"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/07/12

Once again, Skip Simmons also fielding guitar amp questions from around the world, but this week we have a special guest: Colleen Fazio of Fazio Electric! Submit your question 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 Some of the topics discussed on this episode: :54 A silverface Twin left on without a speaker 3:44 A tweed Deluxe with two serial numbers 5:58 Meet our new sponsor:

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01:15:56

Ep. 43: "We Need a Lifeline"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/07/01

Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding guitar amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or 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: 3:11 Making an amp cabinet out of a beehive, a new baffler 8:23 Winding your own power transformer (YouTube) 9:54 Flot-A-Tone Amplifiers 23:11 Octal tubes revisited 26:30 A kit Vibrochamp with an intensity problem

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01:11:23

Ep. 42: "The Other Half of the Class"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/06/20

Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or 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: 1:20 A request for the sold-erers 9:00 A "don't just think about it, do it" project: A Strat pickup on an acoustic 12:37 An input 2 fan from Ireland 15:30 DIY wiring harnesses for a speaker cabinet 18:52 Extra radio

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01:38:30

Ep. 41: "He's a Family Man"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/06/10

Once again, Skip Simmons is fielding tube amp questions from around the world. Submit your question to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or 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: 4:46 Bill Krinard's Silvertone Twin Twelve reverb fix (tease) 20:23 This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (watch RJ Ronquillo's demo video here) 21:20 Whatever happened to Jason's Stew-Mac Champ kit? 25:03 An input no. 2

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01:48:26

Ep. 40: "The Boogie Dumpster"

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons ·

2020/05/29

Vintage guitar and amp dealer/repairman Steve Soest joins us for a very special Truth About Vintage Amps episode. Steve shares stories of meeting Leo Fender, Doc Kauffman and other legends from the world of electric guitars; he recounts of some of his days of vintage gear buying and selling; and he even walks us through the time he joined Dick Dale's band. Plus: What to do with a free Hammond M-3 organ, the New Bedford Whaling Museum and much more... Submit your question to Skip here:

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