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The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons


Feb 1, 2023

Episode 109: A long build-up to the amp troubleshooting, but plenty to discuss, including a new puppy, the realities of vintage guitar shows, grandmothers getting run over by reindeer, and ferrite beads. Some of the topics discussed this week:

:34 Meet Junior

5:59 Skip's report from the 2023 Bay Area Amigos Guitar Show; Dr. Elmo buys a Grez (Wikipedia link); the dangers of parking at a produce stand

23:26 This week's sponsors: Grez Guitars; Amplified Parts (Hammond products are currently on sale!); Iztotope (use Fret10 as your discount code); and our Patreon patrons.

24:38 Listener Nate sends Skip an autographed copy of the Jack Darr book

26:01 Why do we twist lead wires?, a 5U4 rectifier in a 1965 Deluxe Reverb, 'Heartworn Highways'

35:02 Fixing a broken, grounded plug

37:49 Seamless Joe from Italy, "Nature Boy" (Wikipedia link)

44:39 A Super Reverb with dying tremolo

48:20 5G cell tower interference and ferrite beads

52:14 Getting the sticker back on a vintage Fender footswitch

53:51 Improving the tone stack on a Harmony 420

59:42 Transformers for a 5C1 Champ build; to choke or not to choke

1:06:53 An EL84 Filmosound with a buzzing transformer

1:09:08 Junior has an accident

1:09:45 Why doesn't my Knight 93-320 PA head have a fuse?

1:11:32 Actual logging truck tales on 'Odd Lots' (Apple Podcasts link)

1:12:06 A Teisco/Checkmate/Northland Baffin III

1:15:35 Why is there an angry crackle on my Magnasync Moviola 1800 whenever I touch my guitar?

1:18:29 Toots & the Maytals cover "Country Roads Take Me Home" (YouTube link)

1:20:06 Why is my Bassman's plate voltage so high with this GZ34 tube?

1:22:33 Dolly Sinatra's pasta sauce (Edit: Duquesne is a town in PA, not a PA...stupid autocorrect!)

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There's a giant index page with nearly all the former topics we've discussed in our first 108 episodes found here

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