Podcast Summary: Ep. 148 "Lining Up" – The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons

Release Date: June 1, 2025

In Episode 148 of The Truth About Vintage Amps podcast, hosts Skip Simmons and Jason delve into a blend of personal anecdotes, vintage amp restoration tales, and insightful listener questions. This episode, titled "Lining Up," offers a rich exploration of vintage tube amp culture, intertwined with lighthearted conversations and practical advice for enthusiasts and collectors alike.

1. Peru Trip Anecdotes

The episode kicks off with Skip and Jason reminiscing about Jason’s recent trip to Peru, where he participated in a chaperoned group excursion involving 14-year-old students.

• Challenges Faced: The journey was fraught with typical travel woes, including altitude sickness and food poisoning among the participants. Jason shares, “Every single day, a new batch of kids got sick” ([02:19]).

• Cultural Observations: Jason describes the vibrant scenes in Peru, from bustling city life to serene rural villages. He mentions encountering flutes for sale and a luthier in Cusco crafting classical guitars, though language barriers limited his interactions.

• Meeting a Listener Abroad: A serendipitous encounter with listener Chris at the airport highlights the tight-knit community surrounding the podcast. Jason reflects, “The group of weirdos that you've put together over the last... has been amazing” ([05:03]).

2. Vintage Amp Restoration Stories

Skip shares a compelling story about restoring a vintage Tweed Harvard amp that had survived a fire in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

• Amp's Resilience: Despite significant damage to the cabinet, the chassis remained intact. Skip remarks, “It shows you what a handmade, solid, serviceable thing can survive and still work” ([12:16]).

• Surprising Longevity of Tubes: Even after the amp was engulfed in flames, the tubes continued to function, underscoring the durability of vintage equipment.

• Connection with Jack White’s Team: The discussion transitions to the restoration efforts by Jack White’s team, who refurbished a massive console from the Roxy Theater. Skip appreciates the journey of these instruments, stating, “it's not just sitting somewhere... it's making some sounds. Fantastic” ([22:49]).

3. Listener Questions and Insights

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to addressing listener-submitted questions, offering Skip’s expert advice on various technical aspects of amp maintenance and usage.

a. Using a Vintage Hi-Fi Amp (Daniel Tashian) [32:04]

• Question: Daniel seeks guidance on repurposing his father-in-law’s Bell 2122C integrated mono tube amp for guitar use, turntables, or tuners.

• Skip’s Advice:

  • Versatile Applications: Skip suggests using the amp with a good FM station or streaming services for background music, emphasizing practicality over conversion to a guitar amp.
  • Speaker Recommendations: He advises experimenting with different small speakers to complement the mono setup, recommending models like the Radio Shack Minimus 7 for their balanced sound.

  “If you have a good FM station nearby, I'm a big fan of tuners and radio because no matter how many records you have, it's always fun to let someone else pick...” ([33:18])

b. Selecting the Right Speaker (Victor) [50:59]

• Question: Victor, a DIY hobbyist, inquires about criteria for pairing speakers with amps, focusing on specifications like dB sensitivity and resonance frequency.

• Skip’s Advice:

  • Practical Testing Over Specs: Skip emphasizes hands-on testing over relying solely on spec sheets, advising listeners to “hook it up to my speaker, the one I've had forever, that I've played countless amps through, and I go, that sounds about right” ([62:08]).
  • Sound Over Numbers: He highlights that sound quality often trumps technical specifications, encouraging experimentation to find the best match.

  “There is no one thing. The way you change the sound of your amp is by how you hit the strings, not by putting a different speaker in there...” ([62:09])

c. Modding a Harmony Model 420 Amp (Jamie) [63:02]

• Question: Jamie shares his successful modification of a Harmony 420 amp, blending it with a Fender AB763 Deluxe Reverb schematic to enhance its performance.

• Skip’s Insights:

  • Enhancing Gain Stages: He discusses the addition of a gain stage and the removal of global negative inverse feedback, noting the balance between increased gain and potential distortions.
  • Customization Benefits: Skip applauds Jamie’s technical skills and the improved tonal qualities achieved through thoughtful modifications.

  “He got in and he built an additional gain stage in the amp because only half the 12 AX7 is being used and the other half is sitting there with nothing connected to it.” ([67:00])

d. Adding Cooling Fans to Amps (Greg) [69:23]

• Question: Greg seeks advice on installing cooling fans in vintage amps to prevent overheating without introducing electrical noise.

• Skip’s Guidance:

  • Installation Tips: He recommends placing small, inexpensive 12 VDC fans on the incoming AC line before the power transformer to minimize noise.
  • Practical Solutions: Skip suggests using fan clips from stores like Walmart for easy installation, ensuring that the airflow targets critical components without compromising the amp’s integrity.

  “Fans can be a good idea... but if you look around thrift stores, you know, Walmart types of places, pretty sure you're going to find a little handy dandy clip on fan that just plugs right into the wall.” ([71:12])

e. Using Guitar Amps for Bass (Bart) [74:12]

• Question: Bart asks whether a Fender Bass 6 should be used with a guitar amp or a bass amp and if high volumes could damage guitar speakers.

• Skip’s Response:

  • Suitability: He explains that while bass can be played through guitar amps safely at low volumes, cranking up the volume may strain the speakers due to the thicker strings and lower frequencies.
  • Preventative Measures: Skip advises monitoring volume levels to prevent speaker damage, emphasizing that high-quality bass amps are better suited for handling low-end frequencies.

  “If you're distorting and cracking that speaker up, then you might blow it up someday. But oh well, right, yeah.” ([71:23])

f. Breaking in New Speakers (Bob) [82:01]

• Question: Bob describes his experience with reconed JBL D130F speakers and seeks advice on further breaking them in for optimal performance.

• Skip’s Tips:

  • Controlled Usage: He recommends gradually increasing the cone movement through regular listening sessions, likening it to restringing a guitar for better sound.
  • Sound Quality: Skip explains that breaking in helps the speaker's suspension become more flexible, enhancing bass response and overall sound quality.

  “Anything you can do to make that part of it a little bit more flexible will make the speaker sound more full and less tight...” ([83:45])

g. Repairing Tremolo in Standell Solid State Amp (Nate) [87:07]

• Question: Nate seeks assistance in fixing the tremolo function of his 1969 Standell solid-state amp.

• Skip’s Advice:

  • Technical Expertise: Skip offers to connect Nate with a specialist in Nashville capable of creating new modules for vintage amps, highlighting the challenges of working with solid-state components.
  • Maintenance Caution: He warns against tampering with complex modules, advocating for professional repairs to preserve the amp’s integrity.

  “There are some people that are so into Standell that they figured out some ways around that...” ([90:21])

4. Cooking Tips from Listeners

Throughout the episode, Skip and Jason incorporate listener-shared recipes, blending culinary tips with their technical discussions.

• Daniel Tashian’s Salsa Chicken Recipe [32:04]: A detailed guide on slow-cooking chicken breasts with salsa, ideal for easy and delicious meals.

  “Take a jar or can or two of whatever your favorite salsa is. Put three chicken breasts in the slow cooker and pour the salsa over it...” ([33:04])

• Victor’s Spanish Rice Enhancement [58:01]: An intricate recipe for a flavorful rice dish, showcasing creativity in the kitchen.

  “Get a pot of rice going in the rice water. You want to add in a half teaspoon of turmeric and a half teaspoon of adobo...” ([58:01])

5. Book and Movie Recommendations

• Books: Skip recommends Patrick O'Brian's The Wine-Dark Sea and Jerry Portnoy’s Dancing With Muddy, highlighting their relevance to vintage and musical enthusiasts.

• Movies: The classic film Duel by Steven Spielberg is suggested as a must-watch, particularly for its portrayal of vintage car mechanics and suspense.

  “...a guy named Jerry Portnoy, who is a white guy who played harp in Muddy Waters Band... it's called Dancing With Muddy.” ([91:36])

6. Upcoming Episodes and Guests

• Next Guest: The duo teases the upcoming episode featuring Jim Campalongo, promising insightful discussions on his unique approach to guitar playing.

  “And we are recording another episode one week from today with the one and only Jim Campalongo.” ([29:05])

7. Conclusion and Health Updates

As the episode wraps up, Skip mentions recovering from a cold and the importance of health in managing demanding projects.

“Thanks to you all. Thank you, Skip. Thank you, bud. We'll talk soon.” ([95:16])

Notable Quotes:

• Skip on Vintage Amp Resilience:
  “It shows you what a handmade, solid, serviceable thing can survive and still work.” ([12:16])

• Skip on Speaker Selection:
  “There is no one thing. The way you change the sound of your amp is by how you hit the strings, not by putting a different speaker in there.” ([62:09])

• Skip on Breaking in Speakers:
  “Anything you can do to make that part of it a little bit more flexible will make the speaker sound more full and less tight...” ([83:45])

• Skip on Master Volume Circuits:
  “If you floor the volume and just barely crack up the master, it doesn't sound all that distorted.” ([75:28])

Key Takeaways:

• Community and Connectivity: The episode underscores the strong community around vintage amps, illustrated by unexpected meetups and listener interactions.

• Technical Expertise: Skip’s vast knowledge shines through as he addresses complex technical questions, offering practical solutions and encouraging hands-on experimentation.

• Passion for Preservation: Stories of restoring vintage equipment highlight the dedication to preserving and maintaining the legacy of classic amps.

• Engagement with Listeners: The interactive format, featuring detailed listener questions and personalized responses, fosters a sense of inclusion and shared enthusiasm.

For more insights and detailed discussions on vintage amp repair, restoration, and collecting, tune into Episode 148 of The Truth About Vintage Amps podcast with Skip Simmons and Jason.