It’s the 140th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons eventually fields your questions on all-things-tube amps!

As always, use all advice at your own risk.

Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com.

Some of the topics discussed this week: 

2:35 What’s on Skip’s Bench: A modified Gibson ES-150 Charlie Christian amp with a non-field coil speaker

4:22 Smilin’ Skip’s: Stuff for Sale

5:15 Loma Rica’s Aztec Recording Studio; the Ralph Shine Blues Band; Skip’s new guitar; Sylvia Massy (Sylvia’s shop); Weed, California; the Fretboard Summit 2025 (register here)

18:01 Our sponsors (and baby goats): Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts (Jensen speakers are currently on sale!)

23:42: Alamo and other budget amplifiers; the COVID gear boost has deflated

25:35 Amp bargains (look for two transformers); a black panel Super Reverb; Silvertone Twin-Twelve and optocouplers

28:53 The Alembic Pre-Amp in a pedal (or two): Frog Pedals (link); Sushi Box FX (link); Mexican Pizza with Boboli pizza crust; starved plate loads

35:41 PSA: You can buy WD-40 by the gallon

38:22 Should I put the original transformer back in my 1966 Fender Princeton?

44:07 Preferred replacement 12AT7 reverb driver tubes

47:26 Two-prong shock in the studio

50:35 A converted Stromberg-Carlson; speaker-driven effects channel? Rudy Van Gelder; the usable range of a bright cap

57:55 A Plush 3000G tubes and tremolo with a mystery rectifier tube

1:03:08 What’s with the lettering on my 1950s Rauland Lyric transformer

1:06:47 Putting a JBL in an Ampeg Rocket 2; a Traynor Studio Mate

Recorded November 1, 2024. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

Photos: Larry Chung’s Rauland Lyric Model 1615 (thanks, Larry!)

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