About this episode
Twice a month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons fields your questions on tube amp buying, restoration and repair. Co-hosted by the Fretboard Journal 's Jason Verlinde. This is our eleventh (and possibly most philosophical) episode to date. Submit your guitar amp questions to Skip here: fretboardjournal@gmail.com or by leaving us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. Some of the topics discussed on this episode: 4:00 The Fretboard Journal silverface Fender Champ mods (it's awesome, btw) 13:17 Skip's four amp switcher / mixer / pre-amp 19:48 Looking at the Fender 5F1 Champ schematic, part two 31:37 This podcast now has an Instagram page 32:30 The problem with Skip's Ep. 10 Baffler (on Fender tremolo circuits) 34:00 This week's Baffler: A recently-serviced Fender Princeton Reverb with noisy pots 37:08 The smell of vintage tube amps 40:42 Gibson Falcon mods 45:00 Skip's preferred NOS tubes 51:02 Loose tubes on a Gibson GA-6 Lancer 56:38 Thoughts on vintage Magnatones and the Magnatone pitch-shifting vibrato 1:02:36 A listener with a rare Hohner Contessa CA-300 amp asks for tips on keeping terminal strip/point-to-point wiring repair tidy 1:09:44 Why the 5E3 tweed Fender Deluxe is so loud, even with the volume turned down… plus the perils of replacing vintage pots 1:13:06 More Snufferstick talk and a Fender 6G15 reverb tank that hates high humidity 1:16:38 Tips on finding a good amp tech 1:26:45 A battery-powered(!) Gretsch Safari owned by a member of the Blue Man Group 1:29:15 Finding tube amp treasures through Ham radio enthusiasts 1:33:54 Sleuthing on the origin of a Venice-branded amplifier 1:36:06 A repaired 1966 Ampeg Reverberocket 2 with some quirks 1:43:18 A hissing 1967 Fender Vibrolux Reverb and a great Danny Gatton tale Plus: Travis Wammack's "Scratchy;" a cardiologist chimes in; Skip's disappointing beer of choice; why you should befriend your dentist; the novels of Patrick O'Brien and much more. This episode is sponsored by Grez Guitars and Mono Cases .