The elusive, highly influential Steve Melkisethian of Angela Instruments joins us on this week’s episode for what is quite possibly our most entertaining episode to date. For decades, Angela has provided DIY tube amp and hi-fi enthusiasts with tubes, parts, and brutally honest advice. Melkisethian tells us about the history of the company, his love for music (from John Fahey to Roy Buchanan and Fugazi), and shares plenty of stories from the vacuum tube frontlines. 

Submit your tube amp questions to Skip here: [email protected] or, better yet, leave us a voicemail or text at 509-557-0848. 

Some of the topics discussed:

0:00 Addendum: The tubes on Springsteen’s Mesa Boogie 3:25 Why Steve Melkisethian of Angela Instruments, this week’s guest, is important   6:56 This week’s TAVA sponsor: Grez Guitars 7:58 The Danelectro DM-25 reverb trick, redux 13:41 What’s on Skip’s bench? 17:02 Jason buys a Garnet 18:50 Pronouncing Tony Chachere, again; El Pato and Herdez 23:05 Speaker driven reverb schematic 29:06 Special guest: Steve Melkisethian of Angela Instruments (www.angela.com)