Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: elwoodblue on May 14, 2016, 09:38:45 PM
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Forgive me for not posting this sooner?
Sometimes you just gotta thank the stars (sometimes they are the only ones up late)...
I've determined that I have some rack units that were part of Phil's rack in the 80's.
I'd love to find out more about the specific connectors that were used, supply voltages, etc.
so that I might revive the two units that require special connectors and supplies.One of the units
is 110v two prong and 1/4" jacks, I used that for more than a year at home in my rack before I
knew it's origins. Crazy Mojo just sittin' there :-X
I saw one of the units behind Jerry in a photo that was used for the Trio sessions album
with Rob Wasserman and Edie Brickel. That was an exciting moment!
I looked at many backstage photos,wall of sound pics...looking for any clues.
Maybe a month later I was on my stationary bike thumbing through the big Dead Gear book.
I saw a black rack box with three knobs in a real small picture (I'll find the page) of Phil with his rack...and I knew it was the same unit I had here now.
I've found that starting in maybe '81, until about '88...these units were a staple in Phil's rack.
Rob Wasserman or Jerry must have borrowed it for the Trio project. I also see it was used at a '91 concert with Neil Young.
I must have looked at thousands of dead photos during this 'research'. It doesn't get old...so many nice people and great times. I'll post some photos/links that have clear shots of these units in use. (Google 'Phil Lesh NASA ',or '4-30-88 Palo Alto) if you can't wait)
I've yet to open them up ( might be some service stickers ), but I bet this will be interesting to
the bunch here...and good for archiving a little bit of history.
Here's a shot of each...I'm hoping engineers here and Philheads might help me research each units history and function.
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Unit #2
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Unit #3
Do those connectors ring a bell? I've been looking at ebay listings for that exact make.
I've seen similar but I bet you FOH guys could help.(Love those FOH guys!! ;))
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Here's a shot of Phil in '82 with a good view of the rack...
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...and the Trio Session's photos:
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Elwood,
Those multi pin connectors we used to call "Elco" connectors. They were used on various consoles.
Similar to "DL" connectors but a bit sturdier and the elcos have a fork in them for connections and the base gets screwed in to the chassis. You need a special crimping tool to install.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=elco+multi+pin+connectors&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=elco+multi+pin+connectors&_sacat=619
Hope this helps, its been a while :)
Pete
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Cool story Elwood.
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Elwood,
Those multi pin connectors we used to call "Elco" connectors. They were used on various consoles.
Similar to "DL" connectors but a bit sturdier and the elcos have a fork in them for connections and the base gets screwed in to the chassis. You need a special crimping tool to install.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=elco+multi+pin+connectors&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=elco+multi+pin+connectors&_sacat=619
Hope this helps, its been a while :)
Pete
That's what they look like to me. If you go to the Remote Recording forum at Gearslutz, you'll find that the moderator is all about these connectors. He's an amazing location recordist and apparently a master crimper.
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Thanks Edwin,
I was hoping for your input :D . I'll do that soon.
I might find those XLR's and 1/4" jacks are in parallel with the snake feed, so finding the connectors might not be essential to it's revival...but then again they might. I might have time tonight to peak inside.
So far I haven't seen an Elco without the center post...but I'm early on this
learning curve. Some of the older square Amphenol/Tuchel (C-146) connectors look close but I've yet to see this configuration.
There are 45 pins, here's a close-up (and what may be a brand mark or just a scratch).
...and a pic of Dan Healy at an 80's show, showing some of the connectors from the board.
(I do remember that these came from a guy in Santa Rosa.)