Before talking amps, we talk life! Longtime friend of the show John Vanderslice (Tiny Telephone) joins us to talk about moving to the Netherlands, the life of an expat, the equipment that he moved to Europe (and didn’t), staying curious with your gear, and so much more.

Around 50 minutes in, we get the answer to last episode’s Baffler, field various questions and do the usual TAVA amp troubleshooting.

Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics.

Some of the topics discussed this week:

:00 Special guest: John Vanderslice!

50:28 Our sponsors!

51:47 What’s on Skip’s bench: A Supro Galaxy

1:01:19 The O.W. Appleton guitar (link)

1:02:33 The answer to episode 155’s baffler: Two types of hum

1:07:03 The high and low power switch on a Music Man HD150

1:10:34 How can I swap the speaker on my 1949 Spiegel 79-C, pre-heating cast iron

1:14:35 Ranch Style beans, Herdez guacamole salsa, Electro-Harmonix 12AY7 mic-pre, Peavey Valverb, using an iso cabinet, using both jacks in a Princeton

1:24:37 Terry Foster at the 2026 Fretboard Summit 

1:26:11 How many speakers can a Silverface Champ drive safely? Why did Fender keep changing the Princeton schematic?

1:31:13 Skip at the Fretboard Summit?

Above and below: Listener Bernie’s Spiegel amplifier. 

Want amp tech Skip Simmons’ advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.

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Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.