The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons
Episode 154: "Compromise the Windings"
Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Jason (Fretboard Journal)
Guest: Skip Simmons
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Truth About Vintage Amps, Skip Simmons dives deep into listener questions about classic tube amp repair, restoration, and collecting. The discussion meanders through Skip's adventures with vintage tractors, practical and philosophical takes on repairing amplifiers, and a host of technical queries from devoted listeners and tinkerers. The tone is conversational, humorous, and rich in practical wisdom for both seasoned amp techs and beginners.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Skip’s Tractor Tales and the Zen of Vintage Machines
(00:13–07:04)
- Skip reflects on his recent experience restoring and driving an early 1950s Ferguson tractor:
“Completely obsolete technology that just has such a charm… it would just keep on going.” (01:33)
- He muses on the dangers of old machinery versus modern safety expectations and reminisces about youthful risk-taking and life “before cell phones.”
- Memorable Moment: “There’s no beer drinking on that thing… if you fell off that thing, it would drive over you, then the mower would chop you into little pieces.” (02:07)
2. What’s On The Bench: Marshall Plexi Super Bass
(07:04–09:29)
- Skip shares an intriguing repair: a 100-watt pre-1970 Marshall Super Bass brought in by two young, vintage-curious brothers.
- Explains the nuanced differences between Super Lead and Super Bass models:
"It’s all about the brights. The bright caps... That’s why jillions of people will never play a Marshall.” (08:21)
- Discusses why vintage Marshalls are simpler than their mystique suggests.
3. Marshall vs. Fender: Schematic Navigation
(09:29–10:32)
- Skip admits being less “fluent” in Marshall circuits compared to Fender; UK amps’ color codes and layout pose extra challenge:
“They drive on the wrong side of the road there... all the color codes are all weird.” (09:44)
4. Personal Tastes & Influences
(10:33–11:41)
- Skip comes clean about his liking for the Pet Shop Boys ("Shh. Don’t tell anyone.") and expresses anticipation for the Searching for Robert Johnson documentary.
5. Sponsors Shoutout and Vintage Armand Amps
(11:41–13:33)
- Jason plugs Emerald City Guitars in Seattle and mentions a rare D’Armond R5T amp.
- Skip recounts driving a price spike for D’Armond after the “Guitar Pig” (Louis Garcia) revealed its similarities to a Tweed Princeton with a beefy transformer.
6. Technical Innovations: Champ Skunk Works
(13:33–17:13)
- Skip discusses recent "skunkworks" mods on Silverface Champs:
- Modified inputs so both become useful, high/low gain—“two amps in one.”
"I changed those two jacks to be truly like a high gain and a low gain, not just a resistor... I've made the two inputs both very useful.” (14:44)
- Boosted a Champ to 8 watts using a Sour Sound transformer (single-ended, massive output transformer).
- Modified inputs so both become useful, high/low gain—“two amps in one.”
- Practical Tip: Added automatic switching jack to f/s between internal speaker and external cab—no manual unplugging necessary.
7. Modding Philosophy & Secrets vs. Sharing
(17:13–18:07)
- Skip debates over sharing clever ideas vs. keeping some tricks up his sleeve:
"Torn between wanting to share a good idea and...maybe better hang on to that for a little while longer." (17:54)
8. Product Assessment: Sour Sound Transformers
(18:07–21:02)
- Shares positive experiences with Sour Sound output transformers, especially for upgraded Champs:
"All I can say is...they sounded great." (18:25)
- Notes pricing (under $200) and praises the builder’s dedication to winding transformers in 2025.
9. Procurement, Parts, and the Realities of Amp Repair
(21:07–24:41)
- Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars receive enthusiastic nods as sponsors.
- Skip describes the challenge of sourcing quality jacks and the realities of buying parts "by the hundreds."
"I just bought 200 more power cords... That's about £40.” (23:44)
10. Audience Q&A: Highlights
a) Low-Power vs. High-Power Twin Amps (28:01–31:46)
- Q: Are “low power” Fender Twins (5C8) truly better than high-powered ones?
- A: Subjective; all Tweed amps are great:
"If you can't get a good tone off of a low power Tweed Twin...you need to check yourself, go make a sandwich." (30:14)
- Tip: Use a Variac to start old amps gently, prolonging capacitor life.
b) Safety & "Widowmaker" Amps (33:34–37:06)
- Q: Is it safe to use a two-prong, transformerless "widowmaker" amp?
- A: Pragmatic: Don’t play barefoot on concrete floors, avoid microphones, replace electrolytics and test for out-of-spec resistors (especially on Dan Electro builds).
“Would Montgomery Wards and Sears... sell you stuff that you were going to die when you used it?” (35:02)
c) Starting an Amp Repair Business: Liability & Mistakes (38:19–43:31)
- Skip on handling mistakes:
“I'm not into animosity. I would just say, look, I did my best... let me start with refunding you every cent you have involved.” (39:09)
- No liability insurance except for property; anecdotes of handling difficult customers and “compromised windings.”
d) Common Amp & Speaker Mysteries (49:06–51:37)
- Caller’s “baffler” story about a speaker repair shop owner refusing to touch his Supro—Skip’s answer: The tech just didn’t want to fix it, likely due to age of both the speaker and proprietor.
e) DIY Output Transformers on Dan Electro & Silvertone 1485 (64:21–70:28)
- Q: Can you bridge dual output transformers in these amps for a single output?
- A: No, use two separate jacks; both must always be connected to speakers.
11. Amp Projects, Book/Media Recommendations, & Odds and Ends
(70:36–87:00)
- Book tip: The Birth of Loud (Fender & Les Paul history).
- TV: “The Sweeney” (1970s gritty UK cop show) and “Taggart.”
- Movie: Listers on YouTube—birdwatching documentary with “detectorists”/guitar nerd parallels.
- Skip shares a quirky Princeton Reverb choke repair story—a rare amp failure.
12. Hot Sauce and Delivery Guy Cuisine
(75:47–78:23)
- Listener Franklin recommends "Guacamaya" authentic Mexican hot sauce for seafood.
- Skip's FedEx driver impromptu serves him street ceviche out of a cooler:
“This seems even more dangerous than you driving that tractor.” (76:40)
13. Final Technical Q&A: The ESR Meter and Assessing Capacitors
(78:46–82:27)
- Listener Franklin (Kirkland, WA) asks about using the Capacitor Wizard ESR meter.
- Skip emphasizes testing known-good components to calibrate your expectations, ESR as a guide not an absolute test, and his philosophy of preserving original parts when possible:
"Test equipment is not infallible... Most important thing to do... is start testing stuff you know already." (79:40) "I usually use it to try to maintain as many old parts as I can." (81:59)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “If you do a lot of stuff, you kind of make some mistakes every so often, I guess.” (24:42, Skip)
- “Don’t compromise the windings. Never compromise your windings.” (40:47, Skip/B)
- “Don't assume you know anything, but even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while.” (47:51, Skip)
- “That tractor is a lot more dangerous than one of those widowmaker amps, I’ll tell you that.” (37:23, Skip)
- “Don’t be afraid to come over with $50 or even $10 and buy some junk. I got so many parts to build your own crap with...” (85:47, Skip)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:13–07:04: Tractor talk/Zen and the art of machinery maintenance
- 07:04–09:29: Marshall Plexi Super Bass - Marshall mods and mystique
- 13:33–17:13: Silverface Champ mods and output transformer upgrades
- 28:01–31:46: Comparing Tweed Twins & advice on amp longevity
- 33:34–37:06: Two-prong “widowmaker” amps: dangers and practicalities
- 38:19–43:31: Repair business, liability, mistakes, and “compromised windings”
- 49:06–51:37: Speaker baffler story and repair shop attitudes
- 64:21–70:28: Output transformers on Dan Electro/Silvertone amps
- 70:36–71:36: The Birth of Loud book, UK cop shows recommendations
- 78:46–82:27: How to use ESR meters and philosophy on capacitor replacement
Closing Thoughts
This episode is a dense, reassuring, and honest guide through the quirks and glories of vintage guitar amps—tempered by Skip’s blend of expertise, humility, and keen storytelling. The technical answers are grounded in lived experience, and the podcast delivers ample laughs, life lessons, and community spirit for amp nerds and the amp-curious alike.
Contact:
Listener questions: podcast@fretboardjournal.com
Sponsors: Emerald City Guitars, Grez Guitars, AmplifiedParts.com
Next episode: Special guest Steve Sost—send questions in advance!