Ep. 30: "That's What We're Having" - a podcast by The Fretboard Journal

Amp tech Skip Simmons is once again fielding guitar tube amp questions from around the world. 

Submit your question to Skip here: podcast@fretboardjournal.com or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848.

This week's sponsor: Grez Guitars (link)

Note: This episode was recorded on February 28, 2020 and pre-dates the passing of Little Charlie Baty, as well as much as of the news we now have on the coronavirus. (We just recorded a new show on March 19 that discusses both topics and we will be posting that next week.)

Some of the topics discussed on this episode:

4:10 The hillbillies from Olivehurst: A cursed Gibson GA-15RVT and an early ‘60s Gibson Melody Maker

11:09 A 1951 Fender Tweed Pro with a factory field coil speaker (with one end on the B+, the other end grounded)

14:38 A TAVA Facebook group? Looking for moderators (inquire within)

18:44 Frito Chili Pie

20:42 Biasing for Class A Fixed, Class A/B and Cathode biasing; A Fender 5F2A’s inverse negative feedback

30:49 Built-in power attenuators

35:40 Installing a headphone output jack on a vintage Fender Champ

37:16 The future reputation of modern amp builders (Carr, Dr. Z, Bartel, etc.)

47:04 More on Skip’s Retropolitan amps

50:35 Breaking-in a speaker with a looper pedal

53:49 Music recommendations: Stanley Turentine, Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, Shirley Scott

55:21 What’s wrong with Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup’s amp on his 1946 recording “That’s All Right”?

57:35 Vintage Australian amps: Goldentone, Vase & Moody

58:34 A Fender Blues Deville with too much reverb

1:00:58 The “tone expander” switch on a Gibson GA30RV “Invader”

1:02:20 Vintage Gibson cabinet talk: Redwood? Any available reproduction cabinets?

1:05:54 Music recommendation: ‘Unshaven: Live at Smith’s Olde Bar’ by Shaver

1:07:34 A John Vanderslice / Tiny Telephone update

1:09:07 Mac & cheese revisited

1:10:15 Picky goats

1:11:12 Selmer Triumph Reverb schematic

1:13:50 Grounding schemes, halloumi cheese

1:21:17 Special guest: Chris Benson of Benson Amplifiers! (Triad transformers, new releases, granola, cast iron)

1:39:19 Replace the bypass cap on your silverface Champ

1:40:10 Rodriguez & Searching for Sugar Man

1:42:01 Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven

Further episodes of The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons

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