Apr 25, 2026
Episode 164 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp
tech Skip Simmons tackles all of your questions about guitar tube
amps!
Thank our sponsors: Grez
Guitars;
Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics.
Some of the topics discussed this week:
6:13 Our sponsors!
8:21 Two Fretboard Journal videos to check out: Ryan Richter on
playing Coachella with Dijon (
YouTube
link); Gabe Noel playing a Rickenbacker bakelite tenor guitar
with matching amp (
YouTube
link)
14:12 Beginner's corner: Amp switching, comparing different
cabinets; reheating white rice; Basque soup
23:25 Can I use my Champ as a bass amp? Bass amp hacks
28:02 Does anyone have spare silverface Fender pilot lot washers,
or a toggle switch washer for a Fender?
30:23 Having built a tweed Princeton, Harvard and Deluxe, what
should I build next? Spam and Dr. Pepper
32:48 Can you convert the XLR speaker jack on an Ampeg B-15N to a
quarter-inch jack?
35:29 The week of three curveballs: A Princeton Reverb drawing
too much current; codependent electrolytic capacitors; a reverb
unit that eats power transformers; Dave Segal needs an amp on the
Oregon coast
44:26 A black panel Fender reverb unit with a two-prong
cord
47:17 A two-prong plug needed in Norway (postscript: Jason
already sent him one); reading It to your kids, redux; science
fiction recommendations?
52:40 The TAVA bookshelf: An '90s Guitar World article on
Cesar Diaz; Loomis, California's High Hand nursery
1:05:27 What's with the deal with the little rubber donuts for
tubes? Jason is running through the night
1:10:36 Why are the plate voltages so different on my tweed
Fender Deluxe clone?
1:16:35 Skip's pre-barn sale barn sale (just call Skip)
Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp
projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need
relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written
questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com!
Include a photo, too.
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Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason
Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.