Ask Amp Tech Expert Skip Simmons

In a rehearsal studio last night was happy to see what I thought was a 59 Bassman reissue. Tweed, tall and square. I played it and was pretty satisfied. 

However, it had a drive channel. It did not have a bright channel as I know the Bassman to have. It had master, drive, and volume knobs, and a channel select button. 

Was I playing a Bassman???

Hi Skip,

After playing this amp I just loved the versatility I was able to hear with it as I put this amp thru some experiments in the store.

a great price too...

The tone I want, crunch if I want, clean channel was so nice and the warmth of tone I wanted is right there for me but I was playing in an enclosed practice room trying to get some volume to no avail as the culprit is feedback as usual. Using a 520DX and a Buchanan hammer low impedance stick mic  I am into feedback very early. 50% max on gain/volume knobs. continue reading...

So awhile back I traded some gear and one of the things I got in the trade was what I thought to be a vintage pa head. I didn't do much of an inspection on it at first because I was excited about finally getting a vintage amp as I have been wanting one and have never even played through one.  Ok so long story short I get it home and take a closer look at the tubes configuration and it has the normal set up. 12ax7, 6v6gt (2x), 6c4 and a 5y3gt nothing too different right? So at this point I'm excited and wanna get this thing going. continue reading...

Anyone know about acoustic amps? I already have a big stage amp (Bassman) but am looking for a smaller amp for smaller venues, recording, practice.

What do you think about "acoustic amps", like the Marshall Acoustic or the Fishman Loudbox? Acoustic amps produce a cleaner sound, which would be good for playing different sorts of gigs (not just the Chicago style blues). continue reading...

Hi Skip

Is there any real difference between the Bassman LTD and the 'Blondeman'? (Other than the colour of course). The literature doesn't give much away regarding tech.

Thanks

Daren 

Skip, i've posted on this forum before about the rig I'm playing; a 1976 Princeton Reverb with a Boss 59 Bassman Pedal.  I've learned to adjust this rig to different situations and am happy now with the sound it produces.  I can dial in or dial out the dirt, bass response etc. I've ever learned to hear the difference between distortion that comes from the Drive knob, and that which comes from the Level knob (or my amp's Volume knob for that matter).  I prefer the latter. continue reading...

deer teacher

Im new with amp And I have sum questions.

I use my ipod touch with bullet mic shure 520dx, irig and manji harp. I try to use this gears for my lesson but I need help

I buy jamup pro with bias because I can acces bias( remember im newby ). I listen Blues for Mr B by Garry Smith and I really really love this sound.

I dont have clean wheel on amp

Im not sure how to set bass-midlle-trebble-presence for starting

inside bias, the key chain is :

-preamp

-eq

-tone stack

-poweramp

-transformer

-eq

-cab continue reading...

G'day Skip,

I'm hopeful you can help me with a question about my ampeg jet.

i obtained this amp in somewhat modified condition and have rebuilt it to original circuit as per schematic.

everything seems to work ok, apart from the tremolo.

the tremolo works too, but I think I may have hooked up the speed pot incorrectly. When I switch it on the tremolo starts fast and gets slower as I rotate the knob.  continue reading...

I've owned the delta blue for many years back when I played a lot of guitar.  Now that I"m learning to play harmonica, would it be reasonable to retube?  When I first got it I retubed with JJ ECC83-s and JJ EL-84 replacing the EH and Sovtek originals.  Would swapping the ECC83-s with 12AT7 or 12AY7?

Hi Skip

Can you explain anything about the differences or history of these two amps?

From what I can tell they look similar in layout. At least on the outside....

I haven't seen many MA-808s expect a few pictures. but other than the naming it looks like the 808 has a different logo which suggests to me it might have come along later in the lineup.

Does the ME vs MA prefix mean anything significant?

thanks for any info. 

Andrew