40 Years Ago This Weekend - @rogers-tennison-band

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:23:56 -0400

Elvis - August 16, 1977 - @rogers-tennison-band

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 11:23:19 -0400

Elvis died 32 years ago today.

Raise a glass in toast to the kid from Tupelo.

Gear / Instruments - @rogers-tennison-band

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:30:27 -0400

I have had the good fortune of finding and purchasing a vintage (1966) Ampeg B18N head. It is the classic portaflex design. It looks quite similar to a McIntosh tube amp from the 1960's. It is pristine (almost NOS) shape.

My intentions are to use it both as an amp head, as well alternatively as the middle of a new DI I am building. The front end will use a tube driven Trace Elliot GP12xv - the famous pre-Gibson chrome front pre to the largest old school Trace tube heads. The middle section will use the B18N (with a load resistor on the speaker out). The end section will be a stereo Focusrite Compounder (with expansion and compression).

The Focusrite's xlr lo-signal out will run into the MOTU ADA interface into the DAW.

I should be able to range from true clean / hi-fi sound, down to true OD grit. Stay tuned.

08/12/2009

Equipment / Gear Questions - @rogers-tennison-band

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:54:40 -0400

Re: INSIDE BASEBALL

[First "no" obviously that is not my pic. Second I am a serious GH fan both as a musician and a person. Third if you did not know that was George Harrison - or worse you do not know who George Harrision is, do not proceed any further. Do not collect $200. Although odds are you will not understand that either probably. ]

Anyway:

I have been PM'd by people asking about gear / equipment. I will try to answer as best I am able. I am answering based on recording gear.

I have a handful of guitars. My primary instruments are an early 2000's Fender Telecaster (USA), an early 2000's Ibanez baby-Benson, a late 1960's Martin D35-12, a late 1970's Guild G-12, and a 2008 Takamine auditorium 6.

I primarily use a Vox Tone Lab SE (the original old blue one) and a Line 6 POD (vers. 2). I DI the electrics normally, and I mic the acoustics. (See mics below)

I also use a fairly well beaten-up old Les Paul Junior (Melody Maker). I have a Seymour Duncan hybrid split rail on it. It also has a Roland GK3 (midi) p/up. I run the midi through the Roland GR-20 and a Korg Triton Rack.

I have a handful of basses. My primary bass is a late 1990's 8-string Washburn Custom Shop. It plays like a 12 string guitar. It has active Bartolinis with a J-MM set up. The name of my 8-string Washburn is "Kelvin." [It is absolute coolness. If you do not get it, google Kelvin.]

My other daily play is a late 1980's fretless (solid bubinga) Warwick Corvette.

I normally DI the bass.

I use an early 1980's (pre-Gibson) valve driven "Chrome" Trace Elliot pre / DI. It has 12 band graphic, Trace modelling, adjustable cross-over, stereo out. I have it serviced at British Audio Service in Chicago. It is an unbelievable pre / DI. [I also have an Ampeg SVP / BSP DI. I don't use it much because I like the Trace so much better. I like a cleaner sound than I can get out of the Ampeg.] I use a Focusrite Compounder as my stereo compressor for the bass.

If I am going to live mic the bass I use a David Eden (115H) cabinet driven by a pre-Gibson early 1980's Trace Elliot SM7 head, or a late 1960's Vox Essex, or a small GK (110) combo.

I have a Yamaha digital piano. Although it has midi I/O, it has no pads. It is a dedicated piano although I use it to trigger the GR-20 and the Korg Triton Rack.

For mics on the acoustics I normally use a Rode NT4, an older AKG C-4000-B, and a matched pair of SM81's.

For voices we have been using a KSM44 or a Rode NTK. For pres I have been using a Focusrite strip, a Joe Meek (3Q) and some PreSonus boxes.

For outboard EQ I have a stereo matched pair of 1970's era UREI 23 band graphic EQ's. I also use an older 23 band parametric EQ made by White Audio Labs (Austin TX).

For ADA I use MOTU thru a 426 PCIx card. (This is far faster than firewire and it has less load on the PC.) I use a dual Xeon IBM - 2 x 2.6ghz P4's).

I use Nuendo 4 / Cubase 5.

For monitors I use Yamaha NS-10M's. I also use a pair of 1970's era Klipsch Heresey's. I drive both sets by older Crown DC-60's.

I use ATH-M50's for primary headphones.

Hopefully this helps answer your questions. [Goodness I hope so. ]

@ROGERS-TENNISON BAND - blog

40 Years Ago This Weekend - @rogers-tennison-band

Elvis - August 16, 1977 - @rogers-tennison-band

Gear / Instruments - @rogers-tennison-band

Equipment / Gear Questions - @rogers-tennison-band