Episode 137: "Walk Around the Yard" – Exploring Vintage Amp Mastery with Steve Carr

Date Released: August 20, 2024
Host: Skip Simmons and Jason from The Fretboard Journal
Guest: Steve Carr of Car Amps Rambler

Introduction and Welcome (00:11 – 02:08)

The episode kicks off with Skip and Jason engaging in light-hearted banter, setting a relaxed and friendly tone. Jason introduces the special guest, Steve Carr from Car Amps Rambler, highlighting his expertise in vintage tube amp repair, restoration, and boutique amp building. They briefly mention their collaborations, including recent video shoots featuring the Car Sportsman amp at the Fretboard Journal office.

Steve Carr’s Journey and Business Evolution (02:08 – 14:35)

Steve Carr:
Steve delves into his impressive 26-year journey in the amp-building industry, starting with the release of his first model, the Slant 6V, in 1998. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a consistent design philosophy, particularly his continued use of Solen polypropylene capacitors for power supplies and carbon composition resistors—despite their growing scarcity. Steve highlights his long-term partnership with a transformer supplier dating back to 1999, underscoring the reliability that comes from trusting established suppliers.

Quote:
"Using the Solen polypropylene capacitors for the power supply, that's still what we do. Carbon comp resistors, primarily what we do, though those are pretty much now obsolete and hard to get." (04:10)

Steve discusses how his approach has evolved while retaining core elements that define his amps' sound and reliability. He introduces newer collaborations, such as working with Chris at Jupiter Capacitors for signal and bypass capacitors over the past six to seven years.

Design Consistency and Noise Reduction (14:35 – 28:24)

Steve Carr:
Steve explains his strategies for minimizing noise in amps, drawing from his experience with vintage models like the Fender Deluxe Reverb. He employs a grounding bus system where all grounds converge at a single point, reducing hum and noise. Additionally, Steve shares his troubleshooting techniques, such as using clip leads to test different ground points and identifying problematic areas in the circuit.

Quote:
"Having an amp that's very quiet is a fantastic thing... it's almost like a star ground, kind of like a little ground bus where everything joins and then it connects in one point." (07:52)

He recounts anecdotes about unexpected noise issues and the methods he uses to stabilize circuits, including isolating specific grounding points and ensuring robust solder joints.

Teamwork and Manufacturing Excellence (28:24 – 39:19)

Skip Simmons:
Skip praises Steve for maintaining quality and value in his amps over decades, noting that only a select few modern companies achieve such longevity and esteem. He compliments Steve on his business acumen and team-building skills, recognizing that a dedicated crew is essential for sustaining a boutique amp business.

Steve Carr:
Steve elaborates on his team dynamics, highlighting how musicians on his team bring a unique perspective to amp building. He expresses gratitude for his dedicated staff, who not only build amps with precision but also contribute ideas for continuous improvement. Steve mentions the balance between hands-on craftsmanship and managing the business side, noting that while he enjoys prototyping and designing, the operational aspects are efficiently handled by his team.

Quote:
"The guys... have been able to buy houses and they get married. It's a real job and so that's a great pleasure to be able to provide that." (14:06)

Speaker Selection and Cabinet Configuration (39:19 – 54:21)

Steve Carr:
Steve discusses the critical role of speaker selection in amp design. He explains his prototyping phase, where he typically uses a standard test speaker to evaluate new amp designs before experimenting with different speaker models. This approach ensures consistency during development. Steve also touches on the nuances of open vs. closed-back cabinets, explaining how each configuration affects the amp's sound and performance.

Quote:
"We tend to develop some go-to speakers because they're expensive, and we tend to buy speakers by the pallet full." (51:24)

Skip Simmons:
Skip adds his perspective on cabinet designs, emphasizing the significant differences between open and closed-back cabinets. He points out that while closed-back cabinets offer more bass and projection, open-back designs provide a more dimensional sound that many guitarists prefer.

Quote:
"The most, by far the most important thing is open back and close back and both have their purposes." (49:54)

Prototyping Process and Innovation (54:21 – 73:34)

Steve Carr:
Steve outlines his meticulous prototyping process, which spans 9 to 12 months. He describes how he experiments with different circuit elements, integrating features from classic amp designs and adding unique functionalities. This iterative process involves building multiple prototypes, each incorporating lessons learned from previous versions until he achieves a refined and reliable design.

Quote:
"It's usually about 9 to 12 months. Process not continuous, because I'm doing all that clerical stuff and we're making our regular amps and buying parts and all that other stuff." (36:16)

Jason:
Jason probes into Steve’s inspiration sources, asking whether they stem from vintage amp designs, artist collaborations, or personal experimentation.

Steve Carr:
Steve responds by likening his design approach to that of a collage artist, drawing inspiration from various classic rigs and blending them with modern innovations. He emphasizes a balance between homage to vintage sounds and the incorporation of new features that meet contemporary needs.

Quote:
"It's a lot of times I think of myself as a collage artist, but then you have to have that background... to make sure it can all function together." (31:47)

Listener Questions and Expert Solutions (73:34 – 98:56)

The latter half of the episode shifts focus to listener-submitted questions, with Steve and Skip providing detailed technical advice.

1. Warped Fender Eyelet Board (Frederick, Sweden):
   Steve suggests that warping typically doesn’t impair functionality and recommends either leaving it as-is or fabricating a new board if necessary.

2. Combo Amps vs. Head and Cab (Frederick):
   Steve and Skip discuss how cabinet design (open vs. closed back) affects amp sound, with Steve favoring combos for their simplicity and portability, and Skip highlighting the distinct tonal qualities each configuration offers.

   Quote:
   "Now, as far as the question of the vibration, hard to say." (50:46)

3. Flattening a Warped Fender Eyelet Board (Rob Montana):
   Both agree that physical warping doesn’t typically cause operational issues and suggest focusing on ensuring all electrical connections are secure.

4. Microphonic Amp Issues (Joe, Denver):
   Steve advises checking solder joints, grounds, and components like ceramic disc capacitors. He also mentions the importance of isolating specific problematic tubes.

   Quote:
   "These amps should work and play perfectly well. If you were had it on the back of a jeep driving up a dirt road, they just shaking it or physically smacking on it should not make any change in the sound or cause a noise." (63:04)

5. Combining Preamps with Existing Amp Preamps (Jeff, Pennsylvania):
   Steve clarifies that adding an external preamp can enhance distortion capabilities without harming the amp, provided speaker protection measures are in place.

6. Ballast Resistors and Tubes (Larry Chung):
   Discussed the role of ballast resistors in stabilizing power supply voltages and their potential to regulate B+ voltages. Steve expresses interest in further researching ballast tubes for accurate explanations.

   Quote:
   "So, yes, if you had a high B plus in your amp and you were willing to put a 50 watt, that 20k resistor from B plus to ground, it probably would lower the B plus, but that resistor would get super hot." (96:08)

7. Potentiometer Replacement and Control Range (Greg, Indianapolis):
   Steve explains that variances in pot resistance are common and encourages continued experimentation to achieve desired control sweeps.

   Quote:
   "It's nice to have a potentiometer that's doing anything. Have a real even sweep of whatever it does from 0 to 10." (93:10)

Food Tips and Lighthearted Banter (Throughout Listener Q&A)

Interspersed with technical discussions, Skip and Steve share culinary tips, such as roasting Brussels sprouts with olive oil, garlic, Parmesan, and bacon. These segments add a personable and relatable touch to the episode.

Quote:
"I made some meatballs last night for the people here, my boys, my wife. Yeah, I did it much in the same way that amps. I found a recipe online and that had 30 ingredient ingredients. We had 10 of them here. So I just vamped on what we had and it came out. I mean, I thought it was good." (45:38)

Closing Remarks and Upcoming Events (98:56 – End)

As the episode winds down, the hosts promote the upcoming Fretboard Summit in Chicago, encouraging listeners to attend and engage with the amp community. They express gratitude towards Steve for his insightful contributions and mention the continuous flow of listener questions fueling future discussions.

Final Quote:
"It's nothing like it. Nothing like it. It's a niche of its own. Thanks for being here, Jason. Without you, we wouldn't do it." (99:16)

Notable Quotes Highlight

• Steve Carr on Component Choices:
  "We prize, we prize, of course, great sound and great feel maybe more than anything. But also repeatability and reliability are just essential." (04:10)

• Skip on Cabinet Designs:
  "The most, by far the most important thing is open back and close back and both have their purposes." (49:54)

• Steve on Prototyping:
  "It's usually about 9 to 12 months. Process not continuous, because I'm doing all that clerical stuff and we're making our regular amps and buying parts and all that other stuff." (36:16)

• Steve on Teamwork:
  "The guys... have been able to buy houses and they get married. It's a real job and so that's a great pleasure to be able to provide that." (14:06)

Conclusion

Episode 137 of "The Truth About Vintage Amps" offers listeners an enriching exploration of vintage tube amp building and repair, guided by the seasoned expertise of Steve Carr. From intricate design philosophies and component selection to practical troubleshooting and community engagement, the episode serves as a comprehensive resource for amp enthusiasts. The blend of technical depth, personal anecdotes, and lighthearted exchanges makes it both informative and entertaining, embodying the essence of what makes "The Truth About Vintage Amps" a standout guitar podcast.

For more insights, questions, and to support the podcast, visit podcastfretboardjournal.com. Don’t forget to join the Fretboard Summit in Chicago from August 23rd to 25th for an immersive experience with industry experts and fellow amp aficionados!