It’s the 172nd episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions about tube amplification…and life.

Thank you to our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts.

Some of the topics discussed this week:

1:53 What’s on Skip’s Bench: A Silverface Vibro-Champ with all-new parts; the importance of capacitors, even for tremolo; a Gibson Falcon with no reverb

8:25 How many people fix amps thanks to this show?

11:33 Jason goes for a neighborhood stroll and spots some free tube gear

14:57 Garnet amp book nuggets (order the Garnet book here); schematic art; Jason’s Land Cruiser; Skip’s boots, redux; managing expectations

21:48 Barn finds: A Sunn PA head; an Ampeg V4B bass amp; a guitarron; and more!

24:56 Skipapalooza update

29:30 Ampeg: The Story Behind the Sound by Gregg Hopkins & Bill Moore (order it here); the Ampeg R12RT

33:57 Bill Krinard and the new Divided by 13 BW 1969 amp (six position rotary switch that changes the gain of the pre-amp)

40:02 What should I do with my 1973 Traynor YRM-1?

50:44 Purslane and a Hammond homebrew amp

59:39 Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider

1:00:40 Selling or keeping a 1962 Brownface Princeton? Why would a power transformer need to be replaced?

1:04:50 An AI apology; keyboard monitors; boneless chicken; an RCA MI-38480

1:13:16 Amp tech tips: Speaker spade connectors and #11 / #12 switchcraft jacks; simple tofu

1:15:58 A vintage Silverface Vibro-Champ in a head cabinet; a Harmony 303 and more

1:22:12 A mystery Tweed Deluxe

Want to be a part of the show? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too.

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

Above pic: Jeff Scicchitano’s RCA MI-38480.

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

Above: Listener Bernie’s Bogen Pacemaker PM10.