Ep. 121: "Plaid Bell Bottoms"

<p class="MsoNormal">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. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This week: Special guest Jim Kelley joins us (around the 28-minute mark)!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Want to be a part of the show? Keep the amp questions for Skip coming to <a href= "mailto:podcast@fretboardjournal.com">podcast@fretboardjournal.com</a>! Voice memos or emails are welcome.<br /> <br /> Don't forget we now have a Patreon if you'd like to support the show featuring weekly installments of what's on Skip's bench, random eBay finds, and surprise content: <a href= "https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps">https://www.patreon.com/vintageamps</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some of the topics discussed in this episode: </p> <p>5:31 What's on Skip's bench: A Bogen mixer from the 1940s</p> <p>6:35 What to do with a vintage MTI Tubes overdrive preamp stompbox</p> <p>10:02 What's the deal with Fender Ultra Linear amps?</p> <p>14:33 Australia's National Vintage Guitar Show (<a href= "https://www.cvguitars.com.au">link</a>, October 7-9, 2023); the Amigo Bay Area Guitar Show in January (<a href= "https://www.amigoguitarshows.com/baywinter-2/">link</a>; Skip will be there!)</p> <p>17:26 Repurposing old power transformers</p> <p>22:16 Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein; Russell Malone; Adam Levy; RIP Sammy Ash</p> <p>23:17 A "brown" Deluxe that needed repair from San Quentin State Prison! </p> <p>25:56 What to do with a 1973 Fender Princeton Reverb ground switch?</p> <p>28:39 Special guest: Jim Kelley! 4x6V6s, plate voltages, Fortune Amps, Line, using a great reference speaker; Dumble; the <a href= "https://emeraldcityguitars.com/products/2018-jim-kelly-prototype-head"> Kelley prototype head at Emerald City Guitars</a>; Jim's preferred parts; Vince Gill</p> <p>1:26:00 Tubes for a Marathon amp clone</p> <p>1:27:50 Building a point-to-point wired amp inside of a PCB Vox AC15VR chassis</p> <p>Our sponsors are <a href= "https://emeraldcityg