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The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons


Dec 26, 2019

Special guest Charles Baty returns to the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast for our final episode of 2019.   

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

* SUPPORT TAVA & ANGELA INSTRUMENTS * 
Order a PDF download of Steve Melkisethian's tweed Princeton amp project here

This week’s sponsor: Grez Guitars (link)

Some of the topics discussed on this episode:

1:46 An update on the Angela 5F2 Princeton schematic/article

4:23 TAVA Podcast Giveaways: A Stew-Mac Champ kit; an A/B box from Skip (winners to be announced during episode 27)

12:43 Reserve one of Manbroidery's two-prong TAVA hats (Instagram link

14:33 More cast iron

17:26 Triad Electronics' return to guitar amp transformers, plus Benson Amps

25:02 Charles Baty returns: Red Norvo, Tal Farlow, Chico Hamilton, Red Garland & Chile Colorado!

48:21 Gibson GA8T (Discoverer) amps

51:14 A 1966 Fender Vibro Champ with a mystery hum

57:02 Silverface Fender Champs versus 1960s Gibson Skylark / Atlas / etc.

59:11 Sonic variations between vintage matching, serviced Fender amplifiers

1:03:59 Using a Variac and a power strip to power up multiple amps simultaneously

1:07:53 Vintage guitar amps with built-in legs

1:12:25 A request for a single-episode Champ schematic walk-through

1:12:46 25uf cathode bias 12ax7 cathode-bypass caps on Champs

1:17:19 Getting up to speed on electronics basics

1:20:08 Amp class

1:23:14 Buck Nickels and Loose Change – "Makin' Wine" (Larry Cragg in action! YouTube link.)

1:23:39 A new speaker configuration for a Danelectro DS100 cab

1:28:08 Gibson Invader amps

1:31:11 Grid leak biasing vs. cathode biasing

1:34:56 Modifying the Angela dual-singled amp with Russian 6P1P-EV tubes

1:36:35 Australia, Toyota Land Cruisers and fly fishing guides

1:38:43 Swollen caps in a 1979 Fender Deluxe Reverb and tips on drilling holes in a chassis

Special thanks to TAVA listener Eric Casimiro for helping us edit this week's episode.