RT FAN

First good news I've heard in weeks JM, I'm glad for your family.

I would have a hard time thinking that a pair of 1974 Heresy's in need of refinishing would go for more than $300. New grill cloth, time expended on refinishing as well as new badges, would add up in a hurry. I recently saw badges go on ebay for $30 a pair. If the crossovers need work etc, the tab just goes north from there. They are probably worth buying outright for $250 or so. I can't speak to the value of the equipment you are considering swapping. I would carefully examine and test the speakers first. Good luck.

Here a a couple of cds I can recommend wholeheartedly: John Hiatt: Stolen Moments. In my opinion his finest album. Great songwriting and musicianship. Flat out rockers like Child of the Wild Blue Yonder & Rock Back Billy. Excellent ballads as well with Bring Back Your Love to Me and Through Your Hands. All of his talents on display. A seamless effort. http://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Moments-John-Hiatt/dp/B000002GJ4 Los Lobos: Kiko. One of those albums meant to be listened to in a single sitting. Garnered much critical acclaim and deserving of all of it. The peak of their considerable powers, at the time maybe the best band in America. Multiple singers and songwriters as well as instrumentalists in the band, they really have a diverse sound.Rockers like Whiskey Train and That Train don't Stop here Anymore, to darkly brooding songs like Dream in Blue and Kiko and The Lavender Moon. Other highlights, include Wake Up Dolores---nevermind the whole record is a highlight.http://www.amazon.com/Kiko-Los-Lobos/dp/B000002LRZ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1236269414&sr=1-1 Robert Earl Keen Jr: Walking Distance a superlative effort from this Austin, Texas singer songwriter. Countryifed Texas Bluegrass with a tinge of rock, best describes this seminal album. Opening with Down That Dusty Trail, through the 4 song suite which ends the album just a great American record. If New Life in Old Mexico don't get your blood moving, ther's not really much hope for you anymore. http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Distance-Robert-Earl-Keen/dp/B00000DFSN/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1236269760&sr=1-4 Richard Thompson: Mock Tudor. What do you mean you've never heard of the man many regard as one of the best guitarists to ever come down the pike? Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan have played with him and everyone from Nanci Griffith to the Pointer Sisters have covered his songs. This is a good introduction to his more modern style, which has continually evolved over the last 40+years, from his folk rock days with Fairport Convention, though his successful collaboration with then wife Linda and his varied solo career. Great Songwriting, Cooksferry Queen, Sibella, soaring electric guitar work on Hard on Me nad his brilliant acoustic work on Uninhabited Man and Sights and Sounds of London Town. His interplay with the great bassist Danny Thompson, ex Pentangle-no realtion, is worth buying the record for alone. http://www.amazon.com/Mock-Tudor-Richard-Thompson/dp/B00000JPEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1236270251&sr=1-1 Lyle Lovett: Joshua Judges Ruth. The first Lyle album I ever owned, excellent songwriter and singer, the album has many worthy tunes that would be the highlight of an average record. Foot Stompers like I've Been To Church and You've Been so Good Up Till Now as well as excellent ballads like NorthDakota and She's Alreadt Made up her Mind. Highly recommended. http://www.amazon.com/Joshua-Judges-Ruth-Lyle-Lovett/dp/B000002OIY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1236270900&sr=1-1 I would be glad to make some more suggestions if you like these. []

Might not be exactly what you are looking for but it could help: http://www.digitaldeckcovers.com/audiophile-vintage-cart.htm Oh, and maybe put the cat on a diet? [*-)]

Welcome Gil, good quality pictures will help the folks around here establish a reasonable bid for your speakers. Good luck.

John Lee Hooker: The Healer, title track features Mr. Hooker with Carlos Santana and his band. Slow intro, lots of different percussion, timbales etc. Searing, soaring guitar playing from Santana with the deep burnished vocal of John Lee. Should give you a pretty good idea of how good the speakers are. I read from a professional reviewer that he always used vocals, in particular women's vocals, to audition speakers. His reasoning was that the human voice was difficult to reproduce. YMMV.

If you like the Portwood style, might I recommend GlenMorangie Portwood Finish. A fantastic single malt, neat in a snifter, its a beautiful thing.

If you can rent a house for $800 why would you buy? Your buddy has negative carry of $6000 a year on his house, i.e. $1300 mortgage payment less $800 in rent. Granted some of that is a concession in that he is renting to someone he trusts who will not trash his house. When rents in your area exceed the mortgage payment is when you buy. Sounds like housing prices in your area need to fall 20-25% before it is worth your while to buy a house. In the meantime, live your life exactly how you have and put the $125 per month you will be saving directly into your saving account so that you will be able to put a substantial down payment on the house you want and thereby reduce the amount of the mortgage you will need to borrow. Good luck in your move, sorry I'll be busy that weekend! []

It's not gonna be easy, they all took straight jobs...

American Cabs have gotten a little pricey and it is hard to find a decent one under $20 and under $15 they are scarcer than hen's teeth. I have been spending my money on Aussie Shiraz, more bang for the buck. Here are two I can recommend: 2006 Strong Arms Shiraz, produced by the talented winemaker Chris Ringland, this wine got 91 points from Robert Parker and is a killer value, the price did bump up once the review was released. Initially $10, now 10-13. If you see the '06 grab it, the current release will be the '07. That has not made it's way to NYC yet. I went through two cases of this and would have bought more if it didn't sell out. 2006 Marquis Phillips Shiraz, nothing subtle about it. Either you will love or hate the wine, there is no middle ground on the wine boards on this one. 92 points from Robert Parker, should run you about $14 a bottle. Both of these wines would benefit from an hour of air time,(decanting), before drinking them. Best served with food. Should be served at cellar temperature, don't be afraid to stick it in the fridge for ten minutes before you drink it.

Talk about making a swan out of an ugly duckling! Those are some fine looking speakers, you should be very proud. []

Someone had pretty good taste in music. Congratulations on the best $2 you've ever spent. Crank up "Peace Frog" from Morrison Hotel, great tune off of that record. I've got a Mono version of it somewhere.

I only have to do one "performance piece"' then I can just run off copies on my computer. if I ever get any ambition, I plan on doing the same with some of my LP collection.

Like most folks the 401K is down 35% tracking the S&P, house is down about the same. My wife and I live pretty close to the vest, cars are paid off. The economic horizon is pretty bleak from where I sit. B of A and Citi both trading under $5 a share is not the sign of a healthy economy. I would recommend to anyone here on the forums to pay down the credit cards and try to build up your savings to at least cover 6 month's worth of expenses.

A few years ago I broke down and bought this little jewel: http://namm.harmony-central.com/SNAMM01/Content/Tascam/PR/CC-222.html, a Tascam CC-222 cd burner with a built in cassette deck. I am slowly burning my old bootleg tapes onto cd. I run the tapes off my Nakamichi tape deck through an old EQ to clean up some of the hiss, etc and burn them. The only drag is that you have to create individual tracks by pausing the recorder, so I have to fade out and then in to create the next track. It requires some diligence and two hours dedicated to making the cd. I am starting with the best sounding shows, usually radio broadcasts that my brother and I recorded off NY radio stations (WLIR,WNEW) back in the 70's and 80's. My last two projects were Bonnie Raitt "72 w/ Lowell George and Steve Winwood Cleveland '86, The results so far have been excellent. Hey Colter, somewhere in my collection I have a mint Deep Purple radio broadcast, probably off King Biscuit or Westwood 1, I'll check it out over the weekend, if you don't have it I'll make a copy for you. I also have some early Zep BBC broadcasts, although they became more widely available later on. I'll let you know.

FINI: Here is Parker's review of the current release of the Falesco Vitiano, 89 points for $8 a bottle is tough to beat. It is widely available here in NYC, I picked up my last case at my local Costco. 2006 Falesco Italian Other, Vitiano Rosso/ Lazio $7.99 "A terrific bargain ..., it exhibits a deep ruby/purple color, a rich bouquet of black cherry jam, licorice, tobacco leaf, and spice box, surprising density, and medium body. As I have written before, it's almost too good to believe at this price." WA89

Thanks Groomlake, I was asking in reference to my Chorus grills which have a slight stain on the bottom. Sounds like a spring outdoor project.

It was a boozy 3 day weekend for me. 2006 Sonoma Cutrer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay with a roast chicken on Friday. On Saturday I made Osso Buco for the wife for Valentine's day, paired it with a 2004 Antinori Pian Delle Vigne Brunello Di Montelcino, a bottle we had received as a gift, a very tasty gift I might add. Sunday with grilled salmon, 2006 Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay Last night with some take out Italian food, Falesco Vitiano, a red blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Sangiovese and one of the great bargains in the wine world. $8 a bottle and it usually gets good reviews from Robert Parker. The perfect pizza wine. There were some assorted sundries in there as well, some Spaten, Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, and a few Manhattans to stave off the wintery chill. []

Matt, could you enlighten us as to how you cleaned your grills? Thanks.

Last night a bottle of Marietta Old Vine Red Lot # 46, served with some Beef Bourguignon that I had made over the weekend. A tasty red zinfandel blend with Petite Sirah and smaller amounts of Cabernet etc. Sometimes referred to as a "field blend." An excellent match with spicy bbq such as ribs, it is a soft full red wine that won't conflict with bbq sauce. Good for folks who don't like the tannic aspect (the drying, tea like quality) of red wines. Marietta is a respected winery and this is their introductory level wine. Available for around $12 a bottle.

Somehow I thought this thread was going to be about rapper Chris Brown:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,489725,00.html

I've got to agree with you Cigarbum, 18 year old Macallan is a thing of beauty. "Macallan, the Rolls Royce of single malts." Author Michael Jackson. Some recent acquisitions: Alan Jackson, George Strait & Jimmy Buffett Live at Texas Stadium. A great live show, Alan Jackson is a great singer. Sandy Denny A Boxful of Treasures, The most recent expansive retrospective of this most gifted singer. My favorite female vocalist. For an excellent overview of her work see this album, No more Sad Refrains: http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1094890 Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road Martina McBride: Evolution Toni Price: Hey. Another great musician out of the Austin music scene, the hotbed of American music over the last 30 years. See Stevie Ray Vaughan, Marcia Ball, Angela Strehli, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Lou Ann Barton, Doyle Bramhall, etc. New Orleans might be the most important city in the US as far as music is concerned, particularly as to the development of Jazz, but Austin has clearly made its mark as well. Teddy Thompson: Up Front & Low. A fine young singer ventures into Country standards, great reviews, just got it. I'll have to drop it into the cd player to night. Looks like I've been catching up on some female singers of late. I've been trying to pick up some Eva Cassidy on Ebay, but my bids keep getting topped. I never see her cds for less than full retail, $15.99. I'll keep bidding to try and get Songbird and Live at Blues Alley.

I'll throw out the Twin Anchors bar for ribs, cheap and great ribs. I'm sure your son is tired of navy grub. http://www.twinanchorsribs.com/our_restaurant.php

Watch the Garage Sale section here on the forums and you'll probably come across some Cornwalls more attractively priced than what has been on Ebay of late. Some of the pricing has been fairly unrealistic. $650->$750 should get you a pair of CII's in pretty good condition. Patience, the market is coming your way.

I first heard Klipsch around 1981 when a buddy of mine came home from the Navy with a pair of Heresy speakers. He invited me over to his parents place and cranked up "Marie, Marie" by the Blasters. Best pair of speakers I ever heard. Took me awhile before I got my first pair of Klipsch. In 1990 I went to Continental Sound over on Queens Blvd to audition some Klipsch for my first apartment. I listened to Forte II's and said if these sound that good I'll take the next model up, which were the Chorus II's. Paid $1500 plus $100 for some groovy speaker wire and have been thrilled with the sound ever since. I had two of my buddys help me move into my studio apartment on a Saturday, the bummer was the one elevator in the building was out and wouldn't be repaired until Monday. My boys were not too happy about carrying 90+lbs speakers up six flights of stairs! [:$][] Let's just say that little incident cost me several rounds of cocktails.