Ep. 172: "A Schematic of Life"
Ep. 172: "A Schematic of Life"  
Podcast: The Truth About Vintage Amps with Skip Simmons
Published On: Fri Oct 23 2026
Description: It's the 172nd  episode of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, the call-in show where amp tech Skip Simmons fields your questions about tube amplification...and life. Thank you to our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts. Some of the topics discussed this week: 1:53 What's on Skip's Bench: A Silverface Vibro-Champ with all-new parts; the importance of capacitors, even for tremolo; a Gibson Falcon with no reverb 8:25 How many people fix amps thanks to this show? 11:33 Jason goes for a neighborhood stroll and spots some free tube gear 14:57 Garnet amp book nuggets (order the Garnet book here); schematic art; Jason's Land Cruiser; Skip's boots, redux; managing expectations 21:48 Barn finds: A Sunn PA head; an Ampeg V4B bass amp; a guitarron; and more! 24:56 Skipapalooza update 29:30 Ampeg: The Story Behind the Sound by Gregg Hopkins & Bill Moore (order it here); the Ampeg R12RT 33:57 Bill Krinard and the new Divided by 13 BW 1969 amp (six position rotary switch that changes the gain of the pre-amp) 40:02 What should I do with my 1973 Traynor YRM-1? 50:44 Purslane and a Hammond homebrew amp 59:39 Martinelli's Sparkling Cider 1:00:40 Selling or keeping a 1962 Brownface Princeton? Why would a power transformer need to be replaced? 1:04:50 An AI apology; keyboard monitors; boneless chicken; an RCA MI-38480 1:13:16 Amp tech tips: Speaker spade connectors and #11 / #12 switchcraft jacks; simple tofu 1:15:58 A vintage Silverface Vibro-Champ in a head cabinet; a Harmony 303 and more 1:22:12 A mystery Tweed Deluxe Want to be a part of the show? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.