Author Topic: Furnace and Air Handlers - aka this is my rig (Read 255 times)

811952 · « **on:** May 05, 2005, 11:37:09 AM »

I hope this is the scariest-looking thing any of you guys see today. It actually sounds very, very good, even if it IS craptastic!!

John

stoney · « **Reply #1 on:** May 05, 2005, 11:44:31 AM »

Dude, what have you been smokin'?

(only kidding) that sure is an original if I ever saw one. I'd love to hear it, Ohhhh wait, I'm ONLY in Maryland, you're in Indiana. Bet if you turn it up just a little I'll be able to...

811952 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 05, 2005, 12:00:13 PM »

It rumbles real nice like. The Bogen power amps are conservatively rated at 200 watts rms apiece. They came out of an IBM plant that closed down 25 years ago, and are most likely around 40 years old (and built to run 24/7 for eternity). They sound great, but weigh a ton. I assume they are somewhat fragile, so I usually don't even use a hand truck on them, but hand carry them instead (anybody know a good chiropractor?). I am a creature of opportunity, so other than the Bass Pod, the rest of the pile is stuff that I have largely just stumbled across over the years. Amazingly, this configuration sounds remarkably clean and without the expected phase problems at crossover frequency. Of course, I'm playing in bars so it's not like I've been sticking an analyzer in front of the thing, but I digress. At any rate, there is enough for me to carry that I usually don't get stuck wrapping cords and pulling up duct tape.

I'd imagine you can probably hear my back crackling from Maryland if you step outside around 2:00 am this Saturday...

John

811952 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 05, 2005, 12:02:24 PM »

Oh yeah, the basses are all long scale, and I can actually reach the controls on the Bass Pod, even though I'm only 5'8 tall...
john

stoney · « **Reply #4 on:** May 05, 2005, 12:07:17 PM »

I tried playing a long scale but found myself chasing it around the room to reach the bottom fret.

Very cool rig.

811952 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 05, 2005, 12:10:34 PM »

Thanks.

The trick to playing a long scale Alembic is to not chase the bottom fret around the room, but to wait patiently until it comes back around to you. That, or wear the bass really high (which I find comfortable). F may well be the key of the Devil...

John

smokin_dave · « **Reply #6 on:** May 05, 2005, 02:36:06 PM »

One of these days I need to make the trip over to T.H. to hear this monster for myself.If you are ever plying in Indy,please let me know.

palembic · « **Reply #7 on:** May 05, 2005, 03:34:35 PM »

Hi John,
great rig indeed.
Jonathan ...just closing my eyes and seeing you chasing around the room behind the F.
Honey ...waht are you DOING
Watch out dear I am getting closer!

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Paul the bad one

bigredbass · « **Reply #8 on:** May 05, 2005, 10:55:28 PM »

A VERY busy session bassist friend of mine here in Nashville does lots of sessions using the preamp part of an old green-faced Bogen 'bingo-caller' amp, 50s vintage, as his direct box. The producers just rave about it!

J o e y

811952 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2005, 06:48:03 AM »

Joey,
That's an incredible idea. I've got at least one of those in the garage somewhere, and may have to give it a shot. My brother has (or at least recently still had) a pile of 50-watt DuKane tube amps out of school P.A. systems that he would occasionally refurb for guitar players. Those are awesome little tube amps as well...
John

kmh364 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 09, 2005, 05:16:09 AM »

John,

Other than it's a LOT to carry, there's nothing wrong with that rig. Your term Craptastic still cracks me up, LOL! As a kid, I'd have loved a mondo stack like that back in the day. Now with my bad back and my buddy Arthur^^ always lurking about, I'm into small portable stuff myself. Regardless, thats gotta be one kick *ss rig. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Kevin

^^ You ALL know Arthur...you know...Arthur-itis, LOL!

keith_h · « **Reply #11 on:** May 09, 2005, 06:41:47 AM »

Ah the infamous folded horn. I remember dragging two of them around with Acoustic heads along with two front loaded 15's in my younger years. Funny thing is they always seemed to gain weight whenever they saw a flight of stairs. :-)

Keith

811952 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2005, 12:35:38 PM »

The heaviest and most difficult to carry pieces are the power amps! I think they weigh as much as the speaker cabinets, and don't have wheels. The folded horn is very similar to the Acoustic 301 cabinet that went with the 370 head (the solid state system which replaced the Acoustic 360 as used by Jaco).
John