The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons
Music
About
Twice a month, guitar amp guru Skip Simmons fields your questions on vintage tube amp repair, restoration and collecting. Often hilarious and always insightful, it's like no other guitar podcast out there.
Episodes
- Ep. 165: "There's an Ethos?"
Episode 165 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 o…
- Ep. 164: "Kern County Wool Growers"
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 o…
- Ep. 163: "Thoughts Go to Cornbread" (Special Guest: Roy Rogers!)
Acclaimed guitarist Roy Rogers joins us this week to talk about his unique gear choices, working with John Lee Hooker, vintage amps and so much more! Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars ; Emerald City Guitars ; and Amplified Parts / Mod Elect…
- Ep. 162: "The Temple of Music"
Episode 162 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons tackles all of your questions about guitar tube amps! This week, we go deep on Canadian amps, tremolo tweaks, and tech tips. Plus: Rumors of a possible TAVA m…
- Ep. 161: "Tremolo Thursday"
Episode 161 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 . Use th…
- Ep. 160: "Some People Can't Stand an Unused Triode"
Episode 160 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields all of your questions about tube amps. Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars ; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts . Some of the topics discussed this…
- Ep. 159: "TAVA, Again...Exclamation Point"
Episode 159 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Beans, two-prong ASMR, peeling diodes (and faceplates) and more! Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars ; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts . And honarary mention to Rancho Gordo beans. Some of…
- Ep. 158: "Not Just Living in Their Mom's Basement"
Episode 158: Chris Benson of Benson amps and Bryan Sours of Soursound transformers make their long-awaited returns to the Truth About Vintage Amps. Why? They want to tell us all about the logging truck of an amp they are currently building…
- Ep. 157: "Coyote and Deer"
It's the 157th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amps. Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars ; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts Some of the top…
- Ep. 156: "A Hoop and a Stick"
It's the 156th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amps. This week: Special guest Jack Weston joins us with a great Allman Brothers story. Thank our…
- Ep. 155: "Realistic Carnival"
It's the 155th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amps. This week: Barn finds, lost dogs, an extra-grounded Jason (amp pun intended) and more! Some…
- Ep. 154: "Compromise the Windings"
It's the 154th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amps. Some of the topics discussed this week: :42 Skip is back on the Ferguson TO-35 tractor; Roy…
- Ep. 153: "A C in Chemistry"
It's the 153rd episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps and Skip is having a happy day fielding your amp questions. From cleaning tweed to Magnatone varistors and all points in between, it's 90 minutes of tube amp knowledge, laughs, and som…
- Ep. 152: "Gridley Bias"
It's the much-delayed 152nd episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps! Thanks, as always, for being a part of the world's finest call-in tube amp repair show. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join us by sen…
- Ep. 151: "It Starts Out Cool"
It's the 151st episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps! Thanks, as always, for being a part of the world's finest call-in tube amp repair show. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join us by sending your voi…
- Ep. 150: "Throw It In the River"
It's the 150th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps! How did that happen? Thanks, as always, for being a part of the world's finest call-in tube amp repair show. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Join u…
- Ep. 149: "Have Fun" (Special Guest: Jim Campilongo!)
Support our sponsors: Amplified Parts ; Grez Guitars ; Better Help , and Emerald City Guitars ! Acclaimed guitarist Jim Campilongo joins Skip and Jason to talk about his music and gear journey, vinyl treasures, George Barnes playing "Littl…
- Ep. 148: "Lining Up"
We're back with episode 148 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Jason survives a month in Peru; the schematics of acupuncture; speaker break-in; and more! Our sponsors: Amplified Parts ; Grez Guitars ; Better Help , and Emerald City Guitars T…
- Ep. 147: "Kosher Sound"
Episode 147 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Jason is headed to Peru, hemp speakers, resistors, modding PAs for harps, Lilly vs Lily at the Fender factory, kosher sound, and more! Fluidics: https://acoustics.org/pressroom/httpdocs/132nd/2a…
- Ep. 146: "Where the Spot Is"
Episode 146 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Troubled drummers, bulk Gatorade, more typewriter and Rockford Files talk, and a bunch of amp questions. Reminder: Amplified Parts now has amp kits ! Thanks, as always, for being a part of the w…
- Ep. 145: "I Have a Swimming Pool"
Episode 145 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Kahlua brie, replicating Nirvana's In Utero sound, hissy reverb units and more! Thanks, as always, for being a part of the world's finest call-in tube amp repair show. Want amp tech Skip Simmons…
- Ep. 144: "You've Got to Feed Those Things"
Episode 144 of the Truth About Vintage Amps: Flashing Flukes, reflections on NAMM, variable plate capacitors, hot buttered rum (and popcorn!), and more! Need some help with your tube amps? Be a part of our show by sending your voice memo o…
- Ep. 143: "The Girl Who Never Rained"
A throwback, lo-fi landline episode just for the purists! Caller waiting beeps, the state of the guitar show, an energized Skip, and more. Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.co…
- Ep. 142: "Paul Jerky"
It's the 142nd episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps! Join Skip and Jason as they field all of your pressing guitar amp questions. Plus...recipes, music and book recommendations and more! Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a qu…
- Ep. 141: "I've Got an Alamo That I Want to Forget"
Missing your rambling relatives this holiday season? You're in luck! Tune in to Jason and Skip as they ramble through weather reports, amp fixes, book recommendations, reflective impedance, reverb-driven line-out and more on our 141st epis…
- Ep. 140: "Tiny Bits of Tingle"
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…
- Ep. 139: "I'm Going Negative"
It's the 139th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps! Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.co…
- Ep. 138: "Check for Ticks"
It's the 138th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps! This week, we pay tribute to Angela Instruments founder and former guest Steve Melkisethian (1950-20…
- Ep. 137: "Walk Around the Yard"
It's the 137th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps! This week, we talk to special guest, Steve Carr of Carr Amplifiers! Want to be a part of our show? J…
- Ep. 136: "Release the Curd"
It's the 136th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps! Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.co…
- Ep. 135: "Liquor, Candy, Model Airplane Magazines..."
It's the 135th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amps. Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.co…
- Ep. 134: "A Little Debbie Swiss Roll"
It's the 134th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amp. This week, we're joined by jazz guitarist Jonathan Stout where we talk EH-150s, field coil speakers a…
- Ep. 133: "A Spicy Tomato Sauce"
It's the 133rd episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amp! Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com…
- Ep. 132: "Start Dark"
No guests or special theme this week...just an all-new, old-school episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all-things-tube amp. Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question o…
- Ep. 131: "Sandy Soil"
Illustrator/musician/underground comix legend Robert Armstrong (Mickey Rat, Couch Potato, the Cheap Suit Serenaders!) joins Skip and Jason this week for a very special installment of the Truth About Vintage Amps. Want to support our show?…
- Ep. 130: "America's Hat"
It's a very special, all-Canadian episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amp repair! This week, we have special guests Calvin McCormick (Hiwatt…
- Ep. 129: "Summer of the Comet"
Welcome to ep. 129 of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amp repair. This week, it's an (almost) all-Fender episode! Reminder: You should join our Pat…
- Ep. 128: "The Smells Were Overwhelming"
Welcome to episode 128 of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amp repair. The first hour of this show probably belongs on our Patreon, but I'm feeling…
- Ep. 127: "The Rogue Hoe"
We're closing out 2023 with special guest Bill Krinard of Two Rock! https://www.two-rock.com I won't even attempt to annotate this episode but Bill joins us at 5:36 and fields a bunch of listener-submitted questions on transformers with di…
- Ep. 126: "They Do Eventually Die"
Transformer talk, spaghetti carbonara, goat horn jazz, and more transformer talk...it's the 126th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps! Want to be a part of our show? Submit your question or voice memo to podcast@fretboardjournal.com .…
- Ep. 125: "Put Your Hands on the Hood"
It's the 125th installment of the Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons! 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: :51 Skip works on…
- Ep. 124: "Night Train"
It's the 124th installment of the Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons: Conductive paints, speaker impedance mismatches, pizza hacks and lots of dad jokes! Want to be a part of our show? Just email us a question or voice memo to podc…
- Ep. 123: "Salt to Taste"
Today, we celebrate the millionth download of our podcast with one of our favorite conversations to date: Longtime TAVA contributor Larry Chung joins Skip and Jason to talk about the zen and art of early tube amp restoration and so much mo…
- Ep. 122: "A Low Ceiling Situation"
** Note to the Amp Purists: There is virtually NO amp talk on this episode. If that's what you're seeking, stay tuned for TAVA episode 123, out tomorrow, where we'll have two hours of deep amp knowledge with special guest Larry Chung. Ever…
- Ep. 121: "Plaid Bell Bottoms"
It's the 121st episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amp. This week: Special guest Jim Kelley joins us (around the 28-minute mark)! Want to be a part…
- Ep. 120: "One Call"
It's the 120th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amp. This week in a nutshell: Is this the Fender Yale?; lots of Fretboard Summit love; Skip sneak…
- Ep. 119: "Painting Some Dots"
It's the 119th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on all things tube amp. Want to be a part of the show? Keep the amp questions for Skip coming to podcast@fretboardjo…
- Ep. 118: "Pirate Ale" (Special Guest: Ben Harper)
This week, we're joined by the one-and-only Ben Harper, who has a couple of questions for Skip right before his Lyon, France concert. Ben regales us with tales of a rare Weissenborn spotted on a Disneyland ride, Dumbles, and pre-show skate…
- Ep. 117: "Tommy, Time for Dinner"
It's the 117th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where legendary amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on guitar amps and their repair! Want to be a part of the show? Keep the amp questions for Skip coming to podcast@f…
- Ep. 116: "Or Something"
It's the 116th episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, where legendary amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions on guitar amps and their repair! Want to be a part of the show? Keep the amp questions for Skip coming to podcast@f…