It's the 140th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons eventually fields your questions on all-things-tube amps!
As always, use all advice at your own risk.
Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com.
Some of the topics discussed this week:
2:35 What's on Skip's Bench: A modified ES-150 Charlie Christian amp with a non-field coil speaker
4:22 Smilin' Skip's: Stuff for Sale
5:15 Loma Rica's Aztec Recording Studio; the Ralph Shine Blues Band; Skip's new guitar; Sylvia Massy (Sylvia's shop); Weed, California; the Fretboard Summit 2025 (register here)
18:01 Our sponsors (and baby goats): Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts (Jensen speakers are currently on sale!)
23:42: Alamo and other budget amplifiers; the COVID gear boost has deflated
25:35 Amp bargains (look for two transformers); a black panel Super Reverb; Silvertone Twin-Twelve and optocouplers
28:53 The Alembic Pre-Amp in a pedal (or two): Frog Pedals (link); Sushi Box FX (link); Mexican Pizza with Boboli pizza crust; starved plate loads
35:41 PSA: You can buy WD-40 by the gallon
38:22 Should I put the original transformer back in my 1966 Fender Princeton?
44:07 Preferred replacement 12AT7 reverb driver tubes
47:26 Two-prong shock in the studio
50:35 A converted Stromberg-Carlson; speaker-driven effects channel? Rudy Van Gelder; the usable range of a bright cap
57:55 A Plush 3000G tubes and tremolo with a mystery rectifier tube
1:03:08 What's with the lettering on my 1950s Rauland Lyric transformer
1:06:47 Putting a JBL in an Ampeg Rocket 2; a Traynor Studio Mate
Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.
Don't forget, we have a Patreon page. Join us to get show updates and get to the front of the question line.
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