Monthly Archives: September 2010

I just wanna get up here and cook, man.

Posted on 09/30/2010 by admin

Downbeat is one of the oldest music magazines in the world.  They have been publishing since 1934. This is incredible.  Downbeat primarily covers jazz music.  Much of jazz was (and is) performed on acoustic instruments, or electric instruments where ‘fidelity’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Guitar Equipment, Publications, Synthesizers | 1 Comment

Mobile Personal Space

Posted on 09/29/2010 by admin

Finally got my act together. Moving to California. Got the van hooked up.   Custom Curtains. Chose the perfect window-shape to tell what I’m about… But most importantly- got the sound going. Found this company that made the sound system for … Continue reading →

Posted in Concert Sound, Icons | 4 Comments

Prepare The Piano! With a synthesizer?

Posted on 09/28/2010 by admin

‘Prepared Piano’ is a time-honored technique of altering a Piano’s sound “by placing objects (preparations) between or on the strings or on the hammers or dampers.” Wiki tells us that John Cage is the most noted proponent of this form, … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Synthesizers | 3 Comments

Microphone (hand) signals

Posted on 09/27/2010 by admin

Picked up this pair of circa 1951 Electro-voice 655A mics for $25 at the flea market yesterday.  These were the top-of-the line in 1951, retailing for today’s equivalent of $982 each.  Wow.  that’s a lot of money. They had no … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Microphones | 1 Comment

Getting your moods together

Posted on 09/26/2010 by admin

El Cajon, California was probably a pretty mellow place in 1978. This dude is killing it on stage. How about these likely lads? … and her… I am not sure what happened to “Musician’s Supply, INC” of El Cajon.  Does … Continue reading →

Posted in Publications, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TECH: antique theater equipment

Posted on 09/25/2010 by admin

It’s a sign of real accomplishment for an artist to have a monograph of their work published.  I would imagine that a few hundred are published worldwide by recognized publishing companies each year.  But much more rare is the collector’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Custom Fabrication, History, RCA, Technical, Western Electric | 5 Comments

ICON: Guild Instruments

Posted on 09/24/2010 by admin

Even if you have never played a guitar in your entire life, you are probably familiar with the Gibson and Fender guitar brands. These companies have existed for decades (a century for Gibson) and they are, at this point, American … Continue reading →

Posted in Guitar Equipment, Icons, Manufacturers | Leave a comment

Saul Marantz and The Roots of Great Design

Posted on 09/23/2010 by admin

A few years ago I bought a pile of old electronic parts from an anonymous junk dealer.  Random stuff- 5 lbs of crappy ¼” jacks,  some VU meters, a box of giant knobs, etc.  The dealer also had a box … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Icons, Manufacturers, Publications | 6 Comments

The Limits of Control

Posted on 09/22/2010 by admin

How much control over their audio do music-listeners want and need? At the very least, we can agree that they need to be able to turn the sound on and off.  Control over volume (level) is probably the next most … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Technical | Leave a comment

Mixtape: Fall 2010

Posted on 09/22/2010 by admin

I buy records.  I don’t seek out particular titles or pay more than a buck or two per LP; I go to estate sales and flea markets and dig and dig and dig for stuff that i have not heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Mixtapes, Recordings | Leave a comment