Episode 104: No special guests, but plenty of amp questions answered, plus lots of schematic talk, A/B/Y boxes, a recipe or two, and a parenting tip!
Some of the topics discussed:
1:03 A 1954 Fender extension cabinet (tweed, but spray painted black); Fender Amps: The First 50 Years (Amazon link); asbestos in amps
7:04 Why are the PA amps I’m restoring so noisy? Masco MA-25; Stromberg-Carlson AU42
12:49 Resistance versus impedance; the functions of a choke in an amp
18:37 What happened to the quick & easy recipes? Canned soup hacks; replacing a broken terminal strip
23:13 Putting a three-prong plug on an old Variac; movie recommendation: Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World (link)
27:08 A one-tube reverb circuit (link); Kodak projectors; a voltage doubler
30:15 Getting your kids interested in electronics; paper airplanes; candle powered boats (Amazon link)
Amplified Parts pedal kits (link)
35:21 Working on early Carvin tube amplifiers
39:09 Jack’s Darr’s Fender schematics
40:48 A 6G3 clone with a tube rattle; tube rings; goats
46:59 A Vega Commander Fidelity Amp Model No. 51; 1273 tubes
52:57 A “pop” whenever you turn your pedal on
57:15 Why don’t more players use an A/B/Y and play multiple amps at once?
1:00:02 The bass control on a Gibson EH-185 schematic, amps that don’t use the Baxandall tone control
1:03:03 What is the amp that came with my lap steel, what’s with the 80 tube, how do I find a schematic for it, and what do I do with it?
1:09:20 Metal tubes versus glass tubes
1:11:50 The history of Rogers hi-fi’s; beer bread pizza
1:14:58 Recommended: The Computer Clinic of Chico, California
This week’s episode is sponsored by Calton Cases, 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 the podcast via podcast@fretboardjournal.com and don’t forget to share the show with friends on social media.
The Truth About Vintage Amps is hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons. Co-hosted and produced by the Fretboard Journal‘s Jason Verlinde.
Want to see all the former topics discussed on the TAVA Podcast? Click here for all the show notes on one page.
Above: Listener Dayn’s lap steel and amp.
Below: Listener Scott’s Vega Commander amp.
