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.

Above: Listener Tom’s Deluxe Reverb sporting a Bassman tube chart, as mentioned during this episode.