amp-0.7.6 on Slackware

Can any slacker get /usr/bin/amp to successfully open an audio device on 14.2 or -current? I've tried suspending and killing pulse, I've checked alsamixer, aplay, etc., and my current hypothesis is that amp's just plain too old.

Note:

* I haven't bothered looking at the source.

* I'm not asking for assistance with audio. I'm comfortable with that.

I'm just wondering if anyone's actually been able to use amp as an audio player (it's quite useful as an mp3->wav converter).

Thanks!