Ask Amp Tech Expert Skip Simmons

I recently bought an MA25 and not knowing, plugged it in and turned it on without it being connected to a speaker.  As soon as I flipped the power switch there was a spark from that switch.  I immediately unplugged it.  Someone told me that could fry the transformers.  is there any way to test what damage, if any, has been done.  Are there fuses etc i should check.  I know very little about electronics clearly.  It's very possible that i had the rectifier tube in it's socket incorrectly because the rectifier tube trhat came with it was for some reason miss continue reading...

Hello Skip,

I have a 53 Gibson GA-20 with a tube lineup 5y3gt 6v6gt 6v6gt  6sl7 6sj7 6sj7. I'm looking to get some more room before feed back. Those dials don't turn far at all before feedback. Would you suggest changing out to a lower gain tube and if so which one or using a device like an attenuator to lower the signal from the microphone? 

Thanks Skip!

Hello Skip,  Where can I purchase a Laney Cub 10 tube amp on the West coast.  Are you familiar with American Music Supply in NJ?  Appreciate any info that you can offer about a reputable company.  

Hello Skip. Can I use 5881 tubes in place of 6L6’s? Can I do it in any amp? Thanks!

Hey Skip,

Thanks as always for being such a phenomal resource!

I have a used Fender Bassman RI that I bought a couple of years ago from a guitar player.

I have swapped some tubes and changed a couple of resistors because I have a 12au7 in V3 just to be safe.

I love the amp. I'm happy with the sound i get out of it and break up when I push it.  continue reading...

I replaced the stock speaker on my VHT Special 6 with an Eminence Little Buddy, which is an 8 Ohm speaker.  The stock speaker was rated at 16 Ohms.  I did this in order to gain volume.  The Little Buddy is a more efficient speaker.

The speaker is attached is with a plug similar to this: https://www.angela.com/images/products/detail/CordTwo.jpg

There is an internal plug rated at 16 Ohms in the inside of the cabinet where the speaker is plugged in.  On the outside of the cabinet, there are 3 plugs meant for an external speaker for 4, 8, and 16 Ohms. continue reading...

Hey Skip,

Can you direct me to a reliable source on the internet to purchase new tubes to repalce old ones?

Or should I bring it to you? I'm just a hop and a Skip past Loma Rica in Quincy Ca. The amp is a Silver Face Fender Champ that just started getting some intermittent background noise.

Thanks

Dan

Can you recommend an amp for a beginner that has a little more distortion?

I ask because I’m not able to get a fully airtight seal around the harp and my mouth as I play using one hand. Waching one of David’s videos on amps he mentioned an amp with a little more distortion may be beneficial to players who are not using a completely air tight cup/hold. 

I realise this is not going to be the magic solution for me but if there is an amp that may help then it’s certainly worth looking at.

Thanks. 

Hi Skip

I hope you are well

I wan to street busk on harp but i tried a Roland cube.. 

i found acoustic wise soudn is good but feedsback if i stand too close.

I can work with that but .... is there a battery powered amp for busking that you woudl recommend for harp?

to get a slightly more distorted sound?

(the reason why I ask is because i got loads of feedback and "squeel" when using the built in "sounds" of the rolan cube - unless i was using only the clean channel (it's for guitar so im guessing they aren't relevant to harmonica ?) continue reading...

I just purchased a Fender SuperChamp X2 and it has one 1/4" input. I wanted to play my backing track music from my laptop through this amp as well as my harp mic.  Would a little 4 channel mixer with seperate volume controls on it work?