Allan Songer

Well, the last time I checked my voltage swings from a low of about 112 to a high of about 118. W. Befroe I put in a new 200 amp service and BEGGED Edison to put a new pot on the pole in the alley behind my house, my voltage would swing from as low as 104 to a high of 117.

The VRDs are obviously messed up and Craig just doesn't want to fix them for Lisa. (snark) How about shutting this thread down before someone goes down in flames?

Pond pumps on the same circuit as all of your hi-fi/video gear? Uh, maybe you should consider a new 200 amp service and a dedicated circuit for your A/V stuff. If you have a raised foundation and your stuff is on the first floor, this isn't such a huge job. Call an electrical contractor and tell him what you need. When I did this a few years ago I couldn't BELIEVE how much quieter all my gear became over night.

Lisa-- I still am of the opinion that a power regenerator will solve ALL of your problems. I know they are expensive, but they WORK. And you obviously have SERIOUS issues with voltage. I know this can be a huge problem, as I went through similar fits with voltage that was WAY too low--sometimes dropping to as low at 104-105 volts.

Hey Gilbert--that IS a saxophone! A soprano saxophone!

The Dual is worth about $100-$125 if it's in excellent working condition. This is an idler drive Dual--pretty nice entry level table for the money. The Scott 299 is worth about $250-$325 if it's in untouched working condition--add $100 if it's got the original walnut case. The 310C is a really nice mono tuner--I used one for a couple of years--can't believe it's not worth at least $100--but maybe it is worthless--I dunno. If it's dumpster material, then this isn't such a hot deal I guess! Shipping these has to be worth at least $75 - $100 if done right. So, Craig is right--$600 isn't a steal, but it's a fair price. Offer him $500--then you'll have an really good deal! For some reason I thought Scotts were selling in the $400 range these days--I'm wrong. Maybe they were up to that level at one point when the Scott craze was full-blown a couple of years ago?

Those are 20th century prices. In other words, a steal in today's market. . . . If you pass, there are plenty of folks here who would jump on this . . .

You could be right about the pressing plant being the second letter.. Like I said, I don't know very much about Columbia pressings--just what I've heard from others in passing. Now, ask me about Blue Notes and Contemporarys I can speak with confidence. I just looked at my mono KOB--no second letter, 1-A on both sides. I pulled out my Stereo copy-- 1-AC on side one, 1-B on side two. WTF? Somebody somewhere knows the answer I am sure. All I know is that the mono KOB sounds way, way better than the stereo version!!

I am no expert when it comes to Columbia pressings, but what I've learned from the late Leon Levitt and more recently from Jack Seaton, every time Columbia made a new stamper they changed the matrix number. The first pressing of any title would have "1-A" at the end of the matrix, second pressings would end with 1-B. So one of yours comes from the first run and another comes from the second. The true "First" pressing end it 1-A with no second letter. Every time a stamper was used they added a letter, so 1-A for the first run, 1-AB for the second, etc. Not sure how many in a run, but someone told me only a few hundred at most, so the 1-A pressing is like one of a few hundred--or so I've been told. What I don't understand is that you see some copies with 1-BA on one side an 1-BJ on the other, with doens't jibe with this info. Suffice it to say, 1-A pressings are "first" pressings and 1-B are second. But, as Miles might have said, "So What?"

Wow. Brings back memories. I bought baggie-sealed original 6-eye 1A pressing of Kind of Blue from Leon Levitt about 15 years ago--paid what was then a bundle for it. It took me about 12 seconds to open it and slap it on the table once I had it home. I still have it. I still play iit. And the best part is that it's MONO--thost masters were ALWAYS the right speed!!

Video of Andrew's last performance, from about three weeks ago.

He passed away early today. I know it's an often overused term, but Andrew Hill was a genius, a truly unique voice on the piano and as a composer as well. I was lucky enough to hear him play a half a dozen times--the last time at The Jazz Bakery a couple of years ago. It was a cold midweek night and there were only about 20 of us there and I was alone in the small balcony absolutely transfixed looking down at him. Magic--pure magic. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=13551 This is one of the greatest albums of the 1960's. (NO MATTER WHAT GARY SAYS!--one day you'll want that perfect Stereo New York copy back!)

I've got it. It's called "Herman" on Jam records--from the early 1980's. I see copies now and then here in the shops--next time I see a copy I'll pick one up for you!

Video is great! Herman didn't pull out the soprano much in the last few years and it's a real treat to see him really tear it up on the straight horm!

My wife and I will be attending the memorial service. That's a killer obit. Thanks for posting . . . Scott--I think Jon Mayer said "what key?" when Herman called a standard and Heard said--"Herman doesn't give a sh!t." Which meant Herman will play in whatever key you want, Jon!! And so Jon laid down the introduction and off they went. What made this hilarious is that Herman changed keys almost IMMEDIATELY after jumping in, which sent Jon Mayer though a SERIOUS loop--he looked like a bus hit him--it was great to watch and hear!!! Herman was so playful and and full of adventure on the bandstand--what a joy it was to listen all these years . . . .

Tip of the hat to Scott for finding this on You Tube. Herman Riley with Jimmy Smith in the early 90's playing soprano.. Herman toured with Jimmy off and on for about ten years. So, here you go folks-- JUST IN CASE YOU FORGOT HOW BAD HE HE REALLY WAS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwLRIAqkWLg

Final wiring--just got this from Craig. Amp will ship TOMORROW!!!

Back at you!!

I strongly disagree.

One of my favorite musicians just died on Sunday. Herman Riley, monster of the tenor sax and a fixture on the Los Angeles jazz scence for as long as I can remember has passed away. DAMN! Herman was a warm, gentle man and one of the greatest improvisers I have ever heard. I will miss him so much. This town never did realize how great Herman was, perhaps because he was so quiet and unassuming. I must have heard him play live at least 100 times. He could make your heart stop when playing a ballad and just flat-out TEAR THE ROOF OFF when blowing what has to me my favorite Herman Riley original, "Mamalina." I am so incredibly bummed out right now . . . First Teddy Edwards, then Bill Perkins and now Herman Riley. My three favorite L.A. tenors are gone . . .

Mahogany with 15 coats of hand rubbed lacquer. The rest of the office system will consist of a Conrad Johnson PV10B preamp, a Linn LP12/Ittok/Lingo/Trampolin/Adikt, a Conrad Johnson DV-2b tube output CD player and a pair of Linn Kan speakers. Should be pretty nice.

bingo

LOL! Craig and I exchanged an email today so that's a start! I was thinking of having him return the amps without the end caps so I can paint them properly but I don't think he's going to want to touch them. They have a Hammerite type paint on them now so I'll probably stick with that and just mask everything off pristinely and spray them. I'm a good painter. I just thought a cover would be nice also. I have bigger fish to fry with Craig. Like new top plates. You can strip the hammertone in about 3 minutes with some paint stripper--that's what I did. I then sprayed 6 very thin coats of lacquer--about half flat and half semi-gloss. You can get the same nice result with Krylon "Semi Flat Black" which you can get at Home Depot. The whole project should take you about a day and a half including drying time.

No on/off switch on old McIntosh amps. In the old days you plugged the amp into the preamp. Does the Juice Bar have an on/off button? You can just shut the whole system down that way . . .

You can send your VRDs back to Craig and he can configure them to run with 350B NO PROBLEM. I think the really nice 6L6 type tubes are much sweeter and warmer sounding tube than the KT-88--at least in my limited experience. One thing, though--your VRDs will make considerably less power with the 350B--probably wont make more than 40-45 watts each.