Joining us this week is the one and only Ben Harper with a few questions for Skip ahead of his concert in Lyon, France. Ben keeps us entertained with stories about a rare Weißenborn spotted on a Disneyland ride, Dumbles and skateboarding before the show (which Skip is a little concerned about). He also tells us about his new touring amp of choice: a Two-Rock.
Before Ben joins us, we have our usual assortment of listener-submitted questions about tremolo and speaker impedance, references to amp engineer Larry Chung, and a Tamale suggestion.
Would you like to be part of the show? Get the amp questions ready for Skip and come to Podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Voice notes or emails are welcome.
Don’t forget we now have a Patreon if you want to support the show.
Some of the topics covered in this episode:
:34 Special thanks to Shure for the MV7 that Skip is using; the Fretboard Summit (24-26 August in Chicago; www.fretboardsummit.org)
1:51 PSA: Skip is retired until September
2:23 A forthcoming Danelectro documentary on early Epiphone Model M amps built by Nat Daniel
15:32 This week’s sponsors: Emerald City Guitars, Stringjoy Strings (use code FRETBOARD to save 10% on your first string order), Amplified Parts and Grez Guitars.
19:05 Peter Jensen’s Magnavox 12″ speaker
20:54 Don Pepino canned tomato sauce (thanks, Rob), Remington Model 5 typewriters
22:27 A 1964 Fender Vibrolux Reverb with the power transformer replaced… but not really; Larry Chung visits Skip
29:46 The dangers of playing a bass through a small guitar amp; Versatone amplifier; Los Hernandez Tamales in Union Gap, Washington (https://www.loshernandeztamales.com); “Overhead at Darrington” by Bruce Harvie & the Sound Flea (Bandcamp link)
38:47 A humming Ampeg GS-12 Reverberocket: Did the speaker affect the reverb spring?
43:26 Changing the tremolo depth on an Ampeg Jet
46:12 Skip’s favorite Trem stretch; a massie that modulates the guitar signal; Chris Vincent (https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/)
51:03 Tube Amp Kits (Mod 102 and Mod 102+ from AmplifiedParts.com https://www.amplifiedparts.com/products/amp-kit-mod-electronics-mod102-guitar-amp); grilled asparagus; good old Grateful Deadcast
59:54 The rising cost of everything
1:02:17 Speaker impedance for a Gibson Falcon GR-19RVT Crestline
1:02:53 What to do with the reverb of a Silvertone 1484? JHD Audio Ice Cubes
1:06:09 Special guest: Ben Harper! Forestry; a vintage Weissenborn spotted on Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride; Ben’s new Two-Rock Bloomfield Drive (Link); Marcus Eaton; Jimmy Page sees David Lindley’s kaleidoscope; guitars by Liuteria Guarnieri (https://www.liuteriaguarnieri.com/en/acoustic-guitars/); Dumbles are like Basquiats; skateboarding before a concert; stepping Princeton reverbs; technician Bill Webb; and vintage Gibson amps
Recorded on July 19, 2023.
Hosted by amp engineer Skip Simmons and co-host/producer Jason Verlinde of Fretboard Journal.
Support us on Patreon.com for additional content and the occasional surprise, and don’t forget to subscribe to Fretboard Journal (link). Digital subscriptions start at just $30. Ben has a big feature in our 53rd issue!
If you want to see all the topics we’ve covered since our first episode in one extremely Long webpage (ideal for searching), just click here.
Above: One of Ben’s Dumble Overdrive Specials. Photo: Doug Van Doren / Fretboard Journal
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