November 16, 2015

The Allman Brothers Band. An iconic band, part of the "New South" music happening at the time which had a profound impact on rock and blues music for years to come. Guitarists Duane Allman and Dickey Betts both were perfect examples of great tone and technique. Tonight we delve into that legendary tone! Willie Perkins, who was the tour manager for the band from 1970 to 1984, and Jack Weston, an Allman Brothers memorabilia collector, have put out a book on everything Allman Brothers: "The Allman Brothers Band: Classic Memorabilia 1969-1976" which covers more than just the gear: artwork, patches, all sorts of merchandising and even tickets to the gigs! To help us explore the gear used by the Allman Brothers during their legendary years we are joined by guitar and amp tech Skip Simmons, who was commissioned by Jack Weston to completely restore Dickey Betts original 1964 Bassman amp. Skip is a renowned tech known globally for his expertise, especially on Fender amps. We will hear the story of how Dickey's amp was saved and restored and take a closer look at proper amp restoration and servicing. My guest host is guitarist and tech Don Butler, who is an expert on Marshall amps, having worked on Robin Trower's Marshalls used on his current tour. Don was a guest, previously, on the FLO Guitar-Enthusiasts Radio show. We delve into the Allman Brothers sound and explore the world of amp restoration to boot!