Monthly Archives: October 2011

Stancor Amplifiers and Full Transformer Data c.1937

Posted on 10/28/2011 by chris

The Stancor ’306′ 6-watt PP audio amplifier Download the 1937 (‘third edition’) of Stancor Transformers’ ‘Amplimanual,’ a 24pp publication which conveniently combines schematics for ten original audio amplifiers with full data for their entire line of transformers.  If you (like … Continue reading →

Posted in Publications, Technical | 3 Comments

Microphones? Why would you ever use a microphone?

Posted on 10/27/2011 by chris

More seventies nonsense Shit, man, just record all that shit direct!  You don’t need to mic it!   Naturally, a surface-transducer manufacturer would make such a suggestion.  But could you imagine?  Awful.  The sound of a great player with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Most Tragic Bands of All Time, part 1.

Posted on 10/26/2011 by chris

Badfinger endorse the Connecticut-made Ovation acoustic/electric guitar What is it about Ovation guitars that repulses me so?  They don’t sound awful.  They were made in Connecticut.  They are very very circa ’71.  I once even saw a video of Thom … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecticut Audio History, Guitar Equipment | Leave a comment

PA systems of the Seventies

Posted on 10/25/2011 by chris

Gibson GPA-100 PA system circa ’73 Seems like ’100 watts’ was the likely answer to all yr PA system needs in the seventies.  I can’t imagine how folks were using SVTs and Twin Reverbs side-by-side with 100 watts for vocal … Continue reading →

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Some 70s electronic oddities

Posted on 10/25/2011 by chris

The Computone Lyricon is an analog synthesizer with a wind controller interface.  The horn-controller responded to three input parameters: the keys (‘valves’) themselves, lip pressure, and wind force pressure.  It sounds beautiful.  Listening to this thing, I can’t help but … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

Electronic Music Labs, INC, of Vernon CT

Posted on 10/25/2011 by chris

Electronic Music Laboratories, INC, was based in Vernon CT from 1968 through 1984.  The company’s founders included Dale Blake, Norman Millard, Dennis Daugherty, Fred Locke, and Jeff Murray.   Apparently EML synths used op-amps rather than transistors in certain circuits, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecticut Audio History, Synthesizers | Tagged | 1 Comment

Vladamir Ussachevsky, electronic music pioneer and educator

Posted on 10/23/2011 by chris

“Does this qualify me for a prophet? Well, perhaps partially.” Imagine if this dude had been your college music professor.  Read a 4-page essay by Mongolian-born composer Vladamir Ussachevsky as printed in the 1/17/74 issue of DOWNBEAT magazine.  Ussachevsky was … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Electronic Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Shure Unisphere Microphone

Posted on 10/22/2011 by chris

Mick and Keith on a lone Unisphere The Shure Unisphere was the predecessor to the ubiquitous SM-58.  It’s basically a dual-impedance SM-58 from what I can gather.  Check out these 40-year old adverts for the Unisphere and consider that despite … Continue reading →

Posted in Microphones, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

ARP Synthesizer Endorsers of the early 1970s

Posted on 10/21/2011 by chris

Stevie Wonder endorses the ARP 2600 in this early 70s advert Billy Preston likes his ARP Pro-Soloist Les McCann and the Arp Pro-Soloist Edgar Winter apparently used the ARP 2600 on his cheerful Doobie-Bros-esque hit record ‘Free Ride’; those wind … Continue reading →

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Univox-branded Synth+Drums

Posted on 10/20/2011 by chris

Billy Preston with a Univox Compac-Piano Univox (brief company history here) was a US company that marketed a huge range of musical products in the late 60s and into the early 80s.    Most famous is their ‘Hi-Flier’ electric guitar, aka, … Continue reading →

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