The Fretboard Journal

The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons

Music EN ↓ 171 episodes

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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The Fretboard Journal

Episodes

Ep. 43: "We Need a Lifeline" 01.07.2020 1:15:56

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 ) 9:5...

Ep. 42: "The Other Half of the Class" 20.06.2020 1:11:23

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 1...

Ep. 41: "He's a Family Man" 10.06.2020 1:38:30

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 Ronq...

Ep. 40: "The Boogie Dumpster" 29.05.2020 1:48:26

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...

Ep. 39: "I Assumed He Was a Bass Player" 26.05.2020 1:25:58

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: 4:00 Satan & Adam on Netflix 5:38 How to pronounce Tony Chachere ( link ) 7:13 A step-up transformer for a guitar 1...

Ep. 38: "Thousand Dollars or Get a Job" 12.05.2020 2:20:17

The elusive, highly influential Steve Melkisethian of Angela Instruments joins us on this week's episode for what is quite possibly our most entertaining episode to date. For decades, Angela has provided DIY tube amp and hi-fi enthusiasts with tubes, parts, and brutally honest advice. Melkisethian tells us about the history of the company, his love for music (from John Fahey to Roy Buchanan and Fu...

Ep. 37: "Bury It in the Yard for a Year" 08.05.2020 1:12:57

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...

Ep. 36: "They Only Gave Me One Night" 01.05.2020 1:32:42

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. Some of the topics discussed in this episode: 4:41 One for the Tweakers: Putting a filament transformer in a HiWatt, backwards 7:38 Unfreezing pots with rubb...

Ep. 35: "He Just Crashed Into the Ground" 27.04.2020 1:25:13

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. 2:39: Special Guest: Bill Krinard ( Two-Rock Amplifiers ): Troubleshooting a Fender Tonemaster that pops when turned off; Bodega red potatoes; Bill's current projects; flipping t...

Ep. 34: "I'm Not Waking the Baby Up" 17.04.2020 1:49:20

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. (Apologies for the Skype noise/buffering at the start of the podcast... our small town internet needs some WD-40.) 21:39 This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars ( link ) 22:33 A Musicm...

Ep. 33: "I Can Deal With Nuts" 10.04.2020 1:26:50

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 Bicy...

Ep. 32: "Let's Make Cookies" 03.04.2020 1:26:45

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. 8:04: Good Goo: TR3, SiliKroil 11:53 Our new Facebook Group ( link ) 13:13 Vacaville, CA's hardware store (Pacific Hardware) 15:32 This week's sponsor: Grez Guitar 16:44 The Fr...

Ep. 31: "And You Thought We Had Problems" 26.03.2020 2:15:56

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...

Ep. 30: "That's What We're Having" 19.03.2020 1:44:32

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. This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars ( link ) Note: This episode was recorded on February 28, 2020 and pre-dates the passing of Little Charlie Baty, as well as much as of the news we...

Ep. 29: "Filter Capacitors and You" 02.03.2020 1:36:01

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. This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars ( link ) Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 3:34 Skip goes to see Temple Grandin 10:20 A Facebook group for the TAVA Podcast? 10:48 Ma...

BONUS EPISODE: Satellite Amplifiers 05.02.2020 34:39

Jason and Skip get Adam Grimm (Satellite Amplifiers) on the line. https://www.satelliteamps.com

Ep. 28: "It's the Cranberries" 05.02.2020 1:19:47

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 th...

Ep. 27: "A Big Grizzly Bear with a Duck Head On It" 15.01.2020 1:50:31

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...

Ep. 26: "The Benny Goodman Stare" 26.12.2019 1:55:48

Special guest Charles Baty returns to the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast for our final episode of 2019. Submit your vintage amp questions to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or, better yet, leave 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 . This week's sponsor: Grez Guitar...

BONUS EPISODE: Larry Cragg 10.12.2019 38:21

Jason and Skip get special guest Larry Cragg (Santana, Neil Young, Magnatone) on the line. A companion to our 25th episode.

Ep. 25: "Defensible Space" 10.12.2019 1:54:12

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 ....

Ep. 24: "Half-Finished Malt Liquor" 27.11.2019 1:50:55

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 d...

Ep. 23: "He's a Hugger" 07.11.2019 2:18:57

This week, Skip and Jason are joined by a very special guest, John Vanderslice. John is a prolific singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and engineer. We have a candid, unfiltered conversation about vintage amps, food, life, the music industry and so much more. Seriously, just listen... After our chat with John, we once again field your questions about all things guitar amplification. As a...

Ep. 22: "A Crouton in Every Bite" 24.10.2019 2:00:17

Special guest Charles Baty joins us on this week's Truth About Vintage Amps podcast! Twice a month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons fields your questions on vintage tube amp buying, restoration and repair. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal 's Jason Verlinde. Submit your guitar amp questions to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or by leaving us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Some of th...

Ep. 21: "Bases Loaded, Full Count" 10.10.2019 1:56:07

Twice a month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons fields your questions on vintage tube amp buying, restoration and repair. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal 's Jason Verlinde. Submit your guitar amp questions to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or by leaving us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 8:00 Cloning vintage knobs ( video link , h/t Joh...