1985: The “Twang” by IC Sound, presumably an open-chord-tuned (or ocatve/5ths????) lap-steel with built-in fuzztone.
Author: chris
Categories
Keyboard Pluralism: 1980-1982
Above: The Yamaha CS70m (1982)
Today on PS dot com: some oddball keyboards from 1980-1982. Check out the incredible heterogeneity of the offerings here: analog monosynths, analog polysynths, electric organs, electro-acoustic pianos, analog “electronic pianos,” and super-high-end digital workstations. In just one year, Yamaha would release the world’s first affordable digital synth, the DX7, and this would soon lead to the overwhelming popularity of the dreaded “Rompler” (Korg M1 anyone?): keyboards which were difficult for the player to easily program. The result was two decades of generic, predictable synthesizer sounds appearing in much pop and rock music. Luckily, we now have affordable, easy-to-use analog synths again (most notably from KORG); and those shitty old romplers? Personally, I run mine (a Kawai K-1) through a whole string of guitar pedals, chop+slice, and sometimes that’s just the sound the track needs…
Below: Synclavier II, one of the two ‘popular’ early digital super-synths, introduces control software (1981) to allow easier programming; Rhodes Mark III EK-10, one of the last of the original mechanical Rhodes pianos (1980); Oberheim polyphonic sequencer for CV/Gate synths (1981); Moog THE SOURCE analog monosynth with digital patch memory (1981); The Kustom 88 ‘electronic piano’ (1981); Hohner Pianet T Electric ‘Piano’ (more like an electric glockenspiel IMHO) (1981); The Fairlight CMI digital workstation, the other early digital monster (1982); EKO bass pedal board (1981); The Crumar Toccata electric organ (1981) and DP-50 electronic piano (1982).
*************
*******
***
We had a SOURCE when I was a kid (around 1993, JR?) and it was impossible to get it to play in tune; I briefly had a Pianet T and WOW do I regret selling it: i’ve had just about every model of Pianet and I can say with total confidence that the T is the one to get. Smaller, less hassle, passive electronics… I really wouldn’t advise fkkn around with the earlier models. Besides those two, I’ve never used any of these. Anyone using ’em these days? Shit, anyone using an M-1 these days? Send us some modern tracks with fresh use of the M-1? There’s a zillion of those things out there, someone’s gotta bring em back…
Above: The Browning And Rice brand Dual Compressor and Expressor circa 1980. There seems to be zero online information regarding these intriguing devices. Who are these Mssrs. Browning and Rice? As you might imagine, it is v v difficult to research the keywords ‘Browning’ ‘Rice’ on the internet. Anyone?
Combining a Rickenbacker-esque body shape and BC-Rich style electronics, these circa 1986 Vigiers are pretty interesting, unlike the staid ‘super-strats’ that the company offers today. (Is it even the same company? Let us know,,,,). They also remind me a bit of certain older models of Killer, the high-end Japanese brand that’s never been offered in the US. These 80s Vigiers were astronomically expensive, so it’s not surprising that I’ve never actually seen one. Anyone?
Remember when you absolutely NEEDED a mixer? And a dozen compressors and FX units, and a mile of cable, just to make a basic mix of a track? That sort of kit still serves a valuable purpose, and most better studios still keep it all in play, but plenty of folks these days get by fine with just a few pieces of ‘outboard’ gear and a good DAW. All those big ole mixers that we used in the 80s and 90s though? And I am not talking about Neves and Tridents, or anything with ‘cult’ value…. all those big, garden-variety consoles are still out there, waiting in the basements and attics and backrooms of this great country, too boring to use, too… well, too ‘this thing cost a fortune new!’ to scrap. Above: The AUDY Model 2000 circa 1981. Below: the Walker AV 40 series, The Tascam Model 15, The Tapco Series 72 and 74, the StudioMixer c. 1981, The StudioMaster 16-4-2, Soundcraft series 800, The NEI 164XM, The Canary 16:6 and 24/4 circa 1981, the BiAmp 83, The AudioArts 8000 and 4000, the Allen and Heath 16:4:2. If yr using any of these, if you can advocate for em… drop us a line and weigh in… plenty of this stuff on the Craigslists of America… let’s find out which are worth saving!
We recently featured the 1986 AMR (aka Peavey) Series 1 four track; also in the running for ‘KING OF THE CASSETTE 4 TRACKS’ was the Audio-Technica RMX64, introduced in 1985. Six input channels, phantom power, 4 sub outs, 2 effect sends, 2-band sweepable EQ (switchable from shelf to peak!)… man I would love to find one of these. Anyone?
Categories
Gibson Guitars in the 80s
Above: The Gibson Victory MV-X model guitar c. 1982
Gibson Guitars had a tough time in the 1980s; starting the decade, quality was indifferent at best, competition from Japan was intense, and Gibson’s strength as a ‘heritage’ brand was out-of-sync with the NEW NEW NEW vibe of hair metal, slick RnB, and new wave. The turnaround of this brand at the hands of Henry E. Juszkiewicz, David H. Berryman, and Gary A. Zebrowski was one of the most dramatic in the history of instrument-manufacture, and maybe even American industry in general. From a near-zero valuation in 1986, they grew the brand into a massive enterprise and improved quality significantly. I am perhaps a bit biased because Gibson was a generous and helpful benefactor of my brief career as a performer; and as I have noted before on these pages, I recently bought a shiny new (yup) J-45 and the I think the thing is just fantastic. But anyhow. Here are a few images from Gibson’s darkest decade.
Above: The Victory Bass (1982), The Les Paul Custom (avec ‘Ferrari’) (1986), The Les Paul (1981), and the introduction of the ‘BB KING’ ES-355 variant (1981).
Categories
Fall 2013 Mixtape
It’s Fall 2013 and things are getting weird. It’s been a while since we’ve had a new mixtape around here, and it seems to have gone in a much darker, druggier direction this time. Maybe it’s all the weird Criterion shit I’ve been watching on Hulu Plus. Christ, I saw this thing last night and it kinda made sense to me. This might not be a good thing. As per usual, all of these cuts are from LPs I found digging through 100s of 1000s of dirty old records at the flea markets, estate sales, and thrift shops of southern CT… mastered in pro tools via my trusty Benz Micro cartridge. Where youtube links are available, I’ve provided them below. If you see me, ask me for a copy of the CD…
1. Endle St Cloud “Street Corner Preacher”
2. The Beacon Street Union “Mystic Mourning“
3. Street “If I Needed Someone”
4. Edwin Starr “My Sweet Lord”
5. David Porter “Didn’t Know Love Was So Good”
7. Mandrill “Afrikus Retrospectus”
8. Lonnie Liston Smith “In Search Of Truth”
9. Backstreet Crawler “It’s A Long Way Down To The Top”
10. Lee Clayton “I Ride Alone”
11. The Devil’s Anvil “Karkadon”
13. Smokey John Bull “The Mighty Quinn”
14. Potliquor “Beyond The River Jordan”
15. Don Nix “Until Tomorrow”
For detailed track information and more of the best album-artwork of all time, click the link below to READ ON…
I’ve been buying and selling guitar effects pedals for a long time; I currently have maybe 60, and have probably had 300-400 pass through my hands at one time or another. There are just so many of the fkkn things out there that I’m bound to find at least a couple every month for $5 – $10 at the yard sales and flea markets of Southern CT. I also have all the available books on the subject, but even still, there were just so many of these things made that I am bound to be surprised regularly. Here are three interesting units that I have never come across. Above: The VestaFire R-1X digital reverb c. 1988.
Above: Sescom, 80’s maker of some pretty excellent DI boxes, also made a guitar compression pedal in 1981? Probably worth checking out. This thing was crazy expensive at the time, btw, $254 in ’13-bucks. Anyhow, as deep+ wide as the pool of vintage pedals is, can you even imagine how nuts its gonna be 25 years from now, what with the huge explosion in ’boutique’ and ‘DIY’ pedal-craft of the past decade. It’s really taken on folk-art proportions.
Above: The Castle Phaser III of 1981. Goddamn folks loved the shit outta Phase Shift way back when.
Categories
Yu Brother, I <3 U
Above: best ad ever. “Yu Brother” (what???) of Taiwan introduces their line of microphones and guitar effect pedals in 1981. “From popular to professional type, we have got it all!” Yes you do, brother. This might as well be from another planet.