Fretboard Journal

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Channel • 6 Shows

Music History

Music History

Updated Fortnightly
Music Interviews

Music Interviews

Updated Weekly
Music Interviews

Music Interviews

Updated Bi-monthly
Music Interviews

Music Interviews

Updated 24/08/2022
Design

Design

Updated Fortnightly
Music Interviews

Music Interviews

Updated 20/08/2021

25 APR

"Kern County Wool Growers"

Episode 164 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons tackles all of your questions about guitar tube amps! Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics. Some of the topics discussed this week: :37 The Garnet book and Garnet ponderings (order the book: http://www.garnetamps.com/order_b.htm), bias supply voltage in optocoupler tremolo 6:13 Our sponsors! 8:21 Two Fretboard Journal videos to check out: Ryan Richter on playing Coachella with Dijon (YouTube link); Gabe Noel playing a Rickenbacker bakelite tenor guitar with matching amp (YouTube link) 14:12 Beginner's corner: Amp switching, comparing different cabinets; reheating white rice; Basque soup 23:25 Can I use my Champ as a bass amp? Bass amp hacks 28:02 Does anyone have spare silverface Fender pilot lot washers, or a toggle switch washer for a Fender? 30:23 Having built a tweed Princeton, Harvard and Deluxe, what should I build next? Spam and Dr. Pepper 32:48 Can you convert the XLR speaker jack on an Ampeg B-15N to a quarter-inch jack? 35:29 The week of three curveballs: A Princeton Reverb drawing too much current; codependent electrolytic capacitors; a reverb unit that eats power transformers; Dave Segal needs an amp on the Oregon coast 44:26 A black panel Fender reverb unit with a two-prong cord 47:17 A two-prong plug needed in Norway (postscript: Jason already sent him one); reading It to your kids, redux; science fiction recommendations? 52:40 The TAVA bookshelf: An '90s Guitar World article on Cesar Diaz; Loomis, California's High Hand nursery 57:06 Plate current on a Suhr Bella 44; Tucana (https://tucana.bandcamp.com/); homemade apple cider 1:05:27 What's with the deal with the little rubber donuts for tubes? Jason is running through the night 1:10:36 Why are the plate voltages so different on my tweed Fender Deluxe clone? 1:16:35 Skip's pre-barn sale barn sale (just call Skip) Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

25 Apr

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1hr 20min
2 MAY

The Music Emporium's Adam Dardeck and Andy Cambria

On this week's podcast, we're joined by Adam Dardeck and Andy Cambria of The Music Emporium. Founded in 1968 by Stu Cohen, The Music Emporium is one of the most successful retailers of boutique and vintage guitars in the world. The Lexington, Mass.-based store is sponsoring our 2026 Fretboard Summit and, thanks to their generous support, we're granting our first-ever scholarships to the guitar festival! To apply for the scholarship, go here. Follow The Music Emporium here. We talk to Adam and Andy about the new program, the Summit, how The Music Emporium has evolved over the years, 2026 retail sales, the brands that they are loving right now, and more. Plus: Even more Summit updates. Join us at our 2026 Fretboard Summit in Chicago for three days of guitar demos, concerts, workshops and podcast tapings with some of our favorite artists: https://fretboardsummit.org This year's Summit has over 80 luthiers and brands showcasing their new and prototype gear! Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

2 May

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51 min
28 APR

113. Sean McGowan

For episode 113 of Luthier on Luthier, I'm joined by guitarist and educator Sean McGowan. We focus on his recent Archtop Foundation recording project, featuring 20 tracks across nine exceptional Blue series archtop guitars, and dig into his detailed approach to capturing their unique voices in the studio. Sean also shares highlights from his musical journey, his work as an educator at the University of Colorado in Denver, and the realities of making a living as a modern musician. Link: https://seanmcgowanguitar.com/ Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

28 Apr

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58 min
2 MAR

"Tremolo Thursday"

Episode 161 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons tackles all of your questions about guitar tube amps. Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics. Use the discount code TAVA10MOD for a one-time, 10% discount on Mod Electronics orders at https://www.modelectronics.com. Usable on speakers, amp kits, pedal kits, reverb tanks, etc. Offer ends April 11, 2026. Some of the topics discussed this week: :42 Phil Upchurch and 'What It's Like to Be a Musician' 3:25 On the Bench: A non-working outboard tremolo by Skip, a unique Massie trem circuit, putting trem in a Bassman 100, bias modulating tremolo 9:57 A TAVA giveaway (Thank you, Union Tube & Transistor and Exile!) 14:44 An Electro-Music Baffler, answered; a vintage Roberts electric mandolin; Tiny Moore; Bob Wills in Sacramento 25:12 Follow our Instagram page and help us get to 10,000 followers, the Garnet amp book (link), the Garnet Herzog 28:16 An amp tech for Guam 36:12 Working on a Johnson Celestion, why were some volume pots in front of the first tube? the best spare 6V6s to seek out 42:02 Talking Micro-Frets guitars on the Fretboard Journal Podcast (link) 43:13 Why is my Fender Super 60 so noisy? 49:30 A 1968 Fender Super Reverb with replaced transformers, using the extra secondaries? bias talk 56:03 Homemade salsa 59:19 Recommended reading: Proper Records' 'Hillbilly Boogie' box set (Amazon link) 1:00:33 Recommended watching: 'The Life We Have' (YouTube link, warning: it's a tear jerker) 1:01:46 The Webster-Chicago 166-1 vs. the Voice of Music 160 amp schematics; homemade chicken wings Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

2 Mar

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1hr 11min
16 FEB

"Some People Can't Stand an Unused Triode"

Episode 160 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields all of your questions about tube amps. Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts. Some of the topics discussed this week: 1:09 Fishing and weather report, Tule fog 4:43 Skip's amp backlog 5:19 A West guitar amp with a Dynaco 454216 transformer, a paper plate breakfast hack 10:45 Our sponsors! 12:56 What's on Skip's bench: A 1950 Princeton, a White amplifier, a Tweed Deluxe AND a Vibrolux; Electromuse amps 14:39 The Lonesome Captain's music video (YouTube link) 17:31 A Webster-Chicago 166-1 with a post phase-inverter tone control 20:36 The Valco/National/Supro single 6V6 with reverb and tremolo 28:06 A Silvertone 1472 with replaced parts; terminal strip grounds 30:55 Two filter cap Princetons (link to TDPRI forum) 32:11 An original Garnet Session Man; modding a Masco ME-27; recommended reading 39:49 The Wood Wire & Volts show; the Benson Babylon (as mentioned on episode 158!) 44:16 Speaker impedance mismatch on a Danelectro amp and its effect on tone, Spanish rice, Goya pasta 50:21 Suggestions for an unused triode in a Geloso G226A amp 54:32 Bill Krinard's return?; Dr. Z's new, single-ended PhD amp; Emery Sound amps 57:18 A new speaker for my Traynor YGM-3?; Peavey amps; smoked pork tenderlions 1:03:35 Making a baby Leslie speaker at home and adding caps to filter out EMI/interference (check out more pics on our Patreon) 1:11:00 Getting spray paint off a grill cloth (3M Safest Stripper); fixing a Fender speaker baffle; and a cursed reverb unit 1:16:50 A Cunningham CX322 tube giveaway; Alembic stereo pre-amps, redux Note: Starting around minute 60, our Zoom connection went bad and Skip can be a little hard to hear. We tried to clean it up as best we could. Sorry! Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

16 Feb

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1hr 22min
24/12/2025

Ep. 158: "Not Just Living in Their Mom's Basement"

Episode 158: Chris Benson of Benson amps and Bryan Sours of Soursound transformers make their long-awaited returns to the Truth About Vintage Amps. Why? They want to tell us all about the logging truck of an amp they are currently building, a 700-watt(!) all-tube beast dubbed Babylon! The Babylon will feature 14 KT88 tubes, 16 total speakers, three knobs, and two power cords. It's literally the most powerful tube amp they could make without requiring a dryer outlet. Check our Instagram for a sneak peek at the creation. https://www.bensonamps.com/ https://soursound.com/ and honorable mention to... https://bottosbbq.com/ Hear the Babylon in person at the 2026 Wood, Wire & Volts festival (or anywhere within a mile or two radius of the show). https://www.woodwirevolts.com/ Deep cuts: Bryan's first appearance on our show can be found here (it's pretty epic) and Chris originally appeared on our 30th episode. Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts. And happy holidays to all of our listeners and Patreon members for their support! We'll be back in 2026. Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? 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.

24/12/2025

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1hr 6min
3 APR

Rhys John Stubbs (Bigfoot Engineering)

This week, we're chatting with Rhys John Stubbs, founder of UK-based Bigfoot Engineering. Rhys is best known for his effects pedals, but he just released a beautiful album of original acoustic guitar instrumentals called 'Zems.' We love it. We talk about Rhys' journey through music (and how a Fretboard Journal video with the Milk Carton Kids shaped his playing!), his love for acoustic guitars, pedal production, and so much more. https://www.bigfootengineering.com/ Listen to 'Zems': https://www.bigfootengineering.com/music.html#/ Our next Summit takes place August 20-22, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Register today: https://fretboardsummit.org We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com Mike & Mike's Substack: https://mmguitarbar.substack.com

3 Apr

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50 min
23 APR

Ryan Richter on Backing Dijon at Coachella

On today's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we mix things up. Our very own Ryan Richter (https://www.instagram.com/misterrichter/) just wrapped up playing two of the most talked-about sets at Coachella backing Dijon and we wanted to hear all about it. We discuss the prep that went into Dijon's Coachella performances, the gear that Ryan used, and more. Watch the whole interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zKatMHRKUgU Ryan's solo albums can be found here: https://ryanrichter.bandcamp.com Follow Ryan here: https://www.instagram.com/misterrichter/ Join us at our 2026 Fretboard Summit in Chicago for three days of guitar demos, concerts, workshops and podcast tapings with some of our favorite artists: https://fretboardsummit.org Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

23 Apr

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56 min
25 APR

Lyle Brewer

Guitarist, composer and Berklee professor Lyle Brewer joins us this week. We talk about his journey as a professional guitarist and educator, how he ended up teaching at Berklee (and what the students are listening to), his influences (from Pat Metheny to Andy Shauf), his love for nylon-string guitars, workshopping new music on the internet, and so much more. Brewer has a ton of insights on composing, songwriting, the future of AI and music, and more. https://lylebrewermusic.net Join us at our 2026 Fretboard Summit in Chicago for three days of guitar demos, concerts, workshops and podcast tapings with some of our favorite artists: https://fretboardsummit.org This year's Summit has over 80 luthiers and brands showcasing their new and prototype gear! Subscribe to the Fretboard Journal's quarterly print magazine: https://shop.fretboardjournal.com/products/fretboard-journal-annual-subscription We are brought to you by Peghead Nation: https://www.pegheadnation.com (Get your first month free or $20 off any annual subscription with the promo code FRETBOARD at checkout). Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar: https://mmguitarbar.com

25 Apr

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48 min
11 APR

"Thoughts Go to Cornbread" (Special Guest: Roy Rogers!)

Acclaimed guitarist Roy Rogers joins us this week to talk about his unique gear choices, working with John Lee Hooker, vintage amps and so much more! Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars; and Amplified Parts / Mod Electronics. Some of the topics discussed this week: :56 Eric Barbour's the Tube Dumpster in Vacuum Tube Valley: 6K6, 6F6, 6Y6 tubes 2:39 A flea market Tweed Bassman 8:51 A Garnet book giveaway! 13:42 What's on Skip's bench: A distribution pre-amp 17:12 Special guest: Roy Rogers: 'The Sky's the Limit' (his new album, out now!); Mesa Boogie Mark IIB and Epiphone Electar Zephyr amps; DeArmonds in flattop acoustics; Martin New Yorkers; his custom Chappell Guitars double-neck; Johnny Shines; working with John Lee Hooker; the Hot Spot soundtrack (with Roy Rogers, Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker, and Taj Mahal!!) Get Roy's new album here: https://royrogers.hearnow.com/ Order 'Gaynell's Kitchen - Down Home Cooking from A Wayward Southern Belle': https://amzn.to/41mcZBn 1:27:45 How can a Traynor Bassmaster Mk. II be rated at 90 watts, while the same power-tubed YBA-1 is only 40? 1:32:14 Is Skip related to Chris Shiflett? 1:33:01 Never trust, always double-check; output transformers 1:34:29 An October meetup at Skip's, maybe Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more. Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.

11 Apr

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1hr 39min

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