It’s the 167th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields all of your tube amp and life questions.
Our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics.
Some of the topics discussed this week:
:00 Special Guest: Sebastian Gruenberg of Vintage Inspired Pickups (link); molecular biology; winding pickups, making potentiometers; cryo-tuning magnets; Emerald City Guitars; Gibsonette input jack ground issues; and more!
30:57 What’s on Skip’s bench: Magnatones; a Sears 40XL Danelectro; Traynors
34:07 Jonathan Richman, charming singer-songwriter and stone mason
36:17 An early National Dobro amp for sale; where’s Larry Chung?
38:51 The Fretboard Summit, August 20-22 in Chicago (register here); this year @vintagetubeamplifiers is bringing out a bunch of old & rare amps along with various other contributors/listeners!
39:50 A kitchen cleaning tip, Dutch ovens, Skip’s typewriter repair
44:07 Optocoupler repair in a classic Fender
45:57 The BBC’s Shipping Forecast (link)
48:54 Rattlesnake Milk’s ‘Midnight Train’, quick Asian rice, and TAVA buzzwords
50:54 Output tubes for Skip’s Mega Champ amp build (Champ with Soursound transformers)
54:38 A demonic Ampeg B-18N
59:04 A new caster for my 1966 Fender Pro Reverb, ‘The Magnificent Charlie Parker’ compilation; homemade gumbo; Mike Watt
1:06:12 What should I do with this Masco A-10 project? Using a Hammond 166M12 as a Variac; do old black metal pre-amp tubes like the 6SJ7 have glass inside?
1:12:02 A tie story; how can I slow down the tremolo on my modded Silvertone 1484?
1:17:46 Gourmet dog treats
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.
Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more.
Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.
Above: @patconnorbass‘ possibly haunted Ampeg bass rig, as discussed on this week’s episode.
