I'm going Southbound...no really, I'm going Southbound...
Friday 16 December 2011
Wednesday 2 November 2011
Monday 31 October 2011
Friday 28 October 2011
Wednesday 19 October 2011
My Homebrew Pedals
Here are some of my homebrew pedals, that I made in the last few weeks, they are from left to right, a preamp, a germanium fuzz, a buffer, an overdrive and my Levell Overdrive pedal...these last 2 are exactly the same pedal...which basically succesfully sounds much like a vintage Marshall Plexi super lead....all positioned on my 1968 Marshall Super PA....jtm100....
The pedals all have very old parts on them, such as old GPO Switchboard Opals, and the Level RC Transistor Oscillator TG 150M box ( I still have the innards in case I need to reverse the process) .. The TG 150M was part of the kit the Beatles techs used at Abbey Road.....it controlled the motor speed of the second tape machine when The Beatles were creating ADT effects....the large knob in the middle was twiddled by the engineer as the track was played and this would slow down one of a pair of signals (or speed it up even) so that chorusing/flanging/adt effects would be created....a good example of this is Eric Clapton's solo on While My Guitar Gently weeps, which may have also used a Leslie cabinet in conjuction with this...
Another freaky coincidence is that the Levell TG150M was made in Barnet - where I grew up from 4 til 18 - and part of the building that it was made in is now used by Steve Broughton of the Edgar Broughton Band for his Mirror Mad shop...he makes and sells fabtastic mirrors.....the Levell is the perfect box for one of my favourite sounding overdrives.....
The Blue light housing (1960's Arco, I think) in the middle of the Pre-amp was given to me an old friend in the early 1990's...and I remember these being used on amusements in arcades in places like Southend etc...so at age ten or whatever these things were flashing all around me on our days out to the seaside......one machine I remember was a horse racing machine..there was a track in the middle under glass with plastic horses, each jockey had a different coloured shirt...you would put 2p into one of about 6 different colours and make a bet on who was going to win....the winning colour would flash at the end of the race and a small payout would occur...there were around 8 or so different betting positions....I was there on my own and a light kept coming up on it's own as if there was a bet being made...I cashed in and got around 32p...several payouts...which funded many other games around the amusements....imagine that! 2p for a game on an amusement..now you need a freakin bank loan!
The pedals all have very old parts on them, such as old GPO Switchboard Opals, and the Level RC Transistor Oscillator TG 150M box ( I still have the innards in case I need to reverse the process) .. The TG 150M was part of the kit the Beatles techs used at Abbey Road.....it controlled the motor speed of the second tape machine when The Beatles were creating ADT effects....the large knob in the middle was twiddled by the engineer as the track was played and this would slow down one of a pair of signals (or speed it up even) so that chorusing/flanging/adt effects would be created....a good example of this is Eric Clapton's solo on While My Guitar Gently weeps, which may have also used a Leslie cabinet in conjuction with this...
Another freaky coincidence is that the Levell TG150M was made in Barnet - where I grew up from 4 til 18 - and part of the building that it was made in is now used by Steve Broughton of the Edgar Broughton Band for his Mirror Mad shop...he makes and sells fabtastic mirrors.....the Levell is the perfect box for one of my favourite sounding overdrives.....
The Blue light housing (1960's Arco, I think) in the middle of the Pre-amp was given to me an old friend in the early 1990's...and I remember these being used on amusements in arcades in places like Southend etc...so at age ten or whatever these things were flashing all around me on our days out to the seaside......one machine I remember was a horse racing machine..there was a track in the middle under glass with plastic horses, each jockey had a different coloured shirt...you would put 2p into one of about 6 different colours and make a bet on who was going to win....the winning colour would flash at the end of the race and a small payout would occur...there were around 8 or so different betting positions....I was there on my own and a light kept coming up on it's own as if there was a bet being made...I cashed in and got around 32p...several payouts...which funded many other games around the amusements....imagine that! 2p for a game on an amusement..now you need a freakin bank loan!
Friday 14 October 2011
Friday 7 October 2011
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Old MEM fuse box
I expect this fuse box was made in the 1930's/40's or 50's but if anyone knows please let me know.
I like the design of it, heavy ceramic body with ceramic based fuses and a nice bakelite cover with a 20's/30's influenced design...
I will undoubtedly use this box at some point.
I like the design of it, heavy ceramic body with ceramic based fuses and a nice bakelite cover with a 20's/30's influenced design...
I will undoubtedly use this box at some point.
Sunday 2 October 2011
Monday 19 September 2011
Wednesday 14 September 2011
Soundclips from our gig at The Brook - Southampton
We had a really nice time at The Brook in Southampton in August 2011...lots of people attended and we recorded the event....
Here is most of the gig for you aural delectation...enjoy.
Here is most of the gig for you aural delectation...enjoy.
Tuesday 13 September 2011
Home-made Overdrive Pedal "The Levell Overdrive"
I have been making pedals...outright fuzz, for myself and Sean, a buffer for Ant, and now an Overdrive pedal for myself.
I bought an old Level Transistor Oscillator...not really know ing what it was but there is some cool info about it here:
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=781014&page=4
and
http://www.beatles-unlimited.com/2008/04/11/that-beatles-sound/
Here is a clip of the beast and some pictures....it took me about a week or so to make and I'm very happy with it..it is a very "amp-like" pedal. I drew the circuit, etched it, put the components on, tried different values and voila! The Levell Overdrive.
The meter reads the voltage that the battery is putting out.
I bought an old Level Transistor Oscillator...not really know ing what it was but there is some cool info about it here:
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=781014&page=4
and
http://www.beatles-unlimited.com/2008/04/11/that-beatles-sound/
Here is a clip of the beast and some pictures....it took me about a week or so to make and I'm very happy with it..it is a very "amp-like" pedal. I drew the circuit, etched it, put the components on, tried different values and voila! The Levell Overdrive.
The meter reads the voltage that the battery is putting out.
Sunday 7 August 2011
Annette Peacock - "young," directed by Dale Hoyt
What a beautiful track....Annette Peaock - "Young"... fantastico....
Monday 1 August 2011
Tonight's gig in Barnes cancelled - Hand Injury!
Last night whilst working with electronics cable and stuff I cut my hand very badly and will be unable to play guitar for a week or two....tonight's gig has had to be cancelled...Johnny Warman will stand in with a solo performance of some great tunes....
all right now.MTS
My band at Whetstone All Saints Arts Centre on 23 July 2011.
The Royston of Smith, the maniacal Johnny Warman, the rocker Ant Wellman and the mighty Jeff Rich.
I had played there back in the early 1980's with some pals...it was a nostaglic but brilliant gig...very good venue, atmospheric and vibey...and the sound in that place is fantastic, helped along by the brilliant sound team: Vince and Mark.
Wednesday 27 July 2011
Birth of a Guitar Pedal
I just made a pedal over the last day or two..and here it is....
My new homemade pedal - "The Spitfire Returns"
Some of the wire used was taken from a 1940's GPO telephone switchboard, solid good copper conductor , in a waxy cloth insulation...compared to modern plastic cable it is just so much nicer to work with.....
A variation on the big muff....and I will do a youtube video soon to demonstrate the fantastical diabolicalicious fuzzysound this pedal makes...
My new homemade pedal - "The Spitfire Returns"
Some of the wire used was taken from a 1940's GPO telephone switchboard, solid good copper conductor , in a waxy cloth insulation...compared to modern plastic cable it is just so much nicer to work with.....
A variation on the big muff....and I will do a youtube video soon to demonstrate the fantastical diabolicalicious fuzzysound this pedal makes...
Saturday 2 July 2011
Open House Art Exhibition
We opened up our house for two weekends starting today 2nd July. 4 artists show their work:-
Jane Townsend, Sue Czapska, Ann Froomberg and Karen Fraser.
Here we have Sue with her beautiful painting like photographs...
This is Karen's photographs with Ann's scarves.
Sue and Ann's work, left and right respectively...
Ann's cards and textiles
Sue and Karen's slideshow and films....
Jane Towsend's painting above the church pew...on which are Ann's lovely hand painted cushions...with Ann's paintings on the right hand wall....
Jane's paintings and Ann's textiles hanging on the cupboard....
Karen's photographs and films.....
Ann Froomberg.
Ann's paintings....
Sue's photographs....
Karen with her photographs and her beautiful cards.......
Ann's beautiful hand painted scarves.......
Ann's hand painted cushions....
Ann's miniature....
Ann's bow ties....
Karen's cards and the visitor's book....
ermmm, snack time.......
Jane Townsend, Sue Czapska, Ann Froomberg and Karen Fraser.
Here we have Sue with her beautiful painting like photographs...
Sue's photographs....
Tuesday 28 June 2011
Vinyl - UK by UK
An LP made by a kind of supergroup in a way...all virtuoso musicians...
Allan Holdsworth providing beautiful fluid melodic solos and deep cello like rhythms...
Bill Bruford makes the album swing and never lose momentum...he really adds so much to this record....had a more standard thinking drummer played on ths record I don't think the album would have made it....essential drumming...great time signatures that really work, lots of rock groove.....
Great keyboards and violin...and heavy duty vocals...
An aggressive but compelling album......once on you have to listen to the whole thing.....
Allan Holdsworth providing beautiful fluid melodic solos and deep cello like rhythms...
Bill Bruford makes the album swing and never lose momentum...he really adds so much to this record....had a more standard thinking drummer played on ths record I don't think the album would have made it....essential drumming...great time signatures that really work, lots of rock groove.....
Great keyboards and violin...and heavy duty vocals...
An aggressive but compelling album......once on you have to listen to the whole thing.....
Vinyl - Can't Buy a Thrill - Steely Dan
Still sounds very nice, the opening track congas, unmistakable...
Lyrically excellent and a nice set of tales/ideas, you feel like your tapping into American culture at street level somehow...
Lots of nostalgia...great LP...nice guitar solos, a sitar solo...
Monday 13 June 2011
VIDEO - JTM 45 Rectifier experiment
Here is a video using hte same settings etc of a Cranked homemade version of a Marshall JTM 45, no pedals used....switching between a good old glass GZ34 rectifier and a modern copper cap rectifier which is supposed toemulate the old fashioned one....
You can feel a difference and it is subtle but to me it makes a huge difference to feel of the amp...
You can feel a difference and it is subtle but to me it makes a huge difference to feel of the amp...
Wednesday 8 June 2011
WORD - Little Richard
"And I'd like to give my love to everybody, and let them know that the grass may look greener on the other side, but believe me, it's just as hard to cut."
Little Richard
Singer/Songwriter
Little Richard
Singer/Songwriter
Friday 3 June 2011
Wednesday 1 June 2011
Insight - Mark Twain
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
Mark Twain
1835-1910, Author and Humorist
Mark Twain
1835-1910, Author and Humorist
Tuesday 24 May 2011
Monday 16 May 2011
Wtf is this? Council or Police CCTV? or Streetview? DVLA?
Cameras? One on each corner?
Does the answer appear on this page? http://www.speedcam.co.uk/van3.htm
Saturday 14 May 2011
Early rehearsal memories
Then within a stone's throw or three, there was the old house I used to carry my guitar and amp up to, in Park Road Barnet EN5. We used to jam there...sunshine of your love, our own songs etc...we'd do chillums and play hide and seek...I must have been 15/16, it must have been 1980/81...
Very Happy Days...
How huge that house looks now..back then there were lots of spaciosu places...now every single square cm is bought up and patched up and exploited...
the house back then was bare boards, minimal old furnishings...it was a palace..I'd much rather be there then than in a modern sterilised house...where the atmosphere has been stripped away in the pursuit of PRIDE...how silly we are....
Very Happy Days...
How huge that house looks now..back then there were lots of spaciosu places...now every single square cm is bought up and patched up and exploited...
the house back then was bare boards, minimal old furnishings...it was a palace..I'd much rather be there then than in a modern sterilised house...where the atmosphere has been stripped away in the pursuit of PRIDE...how silly we are....
