triceratops

Thanks for the encouragement! Michael--it does look like a dinky midhorn (Heresy size?) but it has the same mid-driver as my Klipschorns--don't know how good the sonic match would be but I'm willing gamble on it! So far no response from my message to the seller. If anybody knows how to get in touch with the seller other than using craigslist message service (which may be unreliable?) please let me know by email. Thanks! triceratops

Gilbert, Since you're out on this one, I may try and go for it. I hate this "best offer" crap though. Oh well, here goes! triceratops

Sounds good to me! "Dazed and Confused" was a transitional song that was played live by the Yardbirds before they morphed into the Zep, so I think we're covered... triceratops

Buckster and Michael, You both make some excellent points and I'm rethinking my position. The Yardbirds left a very limited discography, and it would be hard to pick an album that is representative of their influence. An obvious choice would be Yardbirds' Greatest Hits, but I don't think that is in keeping with the spirit of the 50 Albums list. Some of the Yardbirds music was great. The originals like "Shapes of Things", "Over-Under-Sideways-Down", and "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" all defined the use of furious instrumental breaks, modal scales, Far-eastern tonalities, and flat-out psychedelia, before the Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin or anyone else did that. And their remarkable interpretations of blues numbers like "I'm a Man", "Smokestack Lightening", and "Train Kept a Rollin' " really changed the idea of what was possible with a traditional musical context. Unfortunately, most of the albums released in the States by the Yardbirds were just compilations of singles and repackaging of other records. A great band with some great music, just not a great discography. Some might suggest Roger the Engineer as the album for the list: all original songs, both Beck and Page playing on that disc, "Shapes..." and "Over-Under..." are both represented. Unfortunately, it was never released in the States in its original form until recently. Thanks to both of you for your insights. triceratops

Michael, I think we're in agreement on this one, except I stand by my suggestion that the entry should be for an ancestral band that included Page--The Yardbirds, as far as influence on a genre of music. Without the Yardbirds, no Led Zeppelin. Remember that Led Zeppelin was called "The New Yardbirds" until Keith Moon told Page that name "would go over like a lead zeppelin..." triceratops

The items Michael mentioned on sleep hygiene are definitely a good starting point. I think the over-the-counter stuff (Excedrine PM, etc) that uses an antihistamine or dextromethorphan may knock you out, but it disrupts sleep architecture so you don't get the same kind of rest as normal sleep. Alchohol is like that, too--you may be face down in the carpet for a few hours but you don't feel very rested when you wake up. Trazodone and Remeron are also poor choices, IMO. They are antidepressants that stay in your system all day, so they may help you sleep but you're drowsy all the time. Plus they are probably no better than the above for sleep architecture. Mostly they get prescribed because they are cheap and health plans want you to use cheap meds so they don't have to pay. Melatonin is a naturally-occuring nutritional supplement which works about as well as any nutritional supplement. In other words, I think you would be better off spending your money on boutique speaker cable. Ambien or Ambien CR are different preparations of the same molecule (zolpidem tartrate) and is the best hypnotic out there, IMO. I have used both forms and I choose dosage and type based on how much time I have before I have to be functional again. Ambien has some risks, like any med that actually does something, but it has been around for more than 10 years and the risks are minimal and well known. Although it is a controlled substance (which is why it is restricted in rehabs, etc) it is not a narcotic. The reason it is controlled has more to do with the history of hypnotics (i.e. Haldol) rather than the actual risks of the drug. This med is much safer than being sleep deprived and then falling asleep while driving! Just my two cents--not a qualified medical opinion! Up late again, triceratops

A couple of observations: Nice to see Liege and Lief by Fairport Convention on this list. It is a fabulous album that is probably unfamiliar to most folks here, and features the brilliant electric guitar playing of a young Richard Thompson alongside the remarkable voice of the late Sandy Denny. The album mixes all sorts of Celtic and modal influences with rock. At the time Thompson was right up there with his Brit peers Beck, Page, and Clapton in stretching the limits of the guitar. Sweetheart of the Rodeo is an oft-cited album with all the alt-country stuff out there these days, but I think Younger Than Yesterday was the Byrds' true masterpiece. YTY was one of the most important rock albums ever, IMO. A Brit list with no mention of the Yardbirds? I don't know what to say about that. BTW, I think the reconstituted Yardbirds are touring the East Coast until the end of the month. See them if you can--they came through Portland, Oregon a couple years ago and they still kick ***! triceratops

Hey Marvel, I had one of these many years ago, with the 4X12 (yes that's right 4x12's) Portaflex cabinet. The whole thing was really huge and with the head stored inside the cabinet it weighed a ton and was a bear to move. So I unscrewed the Portaflex panel from the amp section and latched it to the cabinet and then sold the cabinet without the amp. I bolted the amp section to a pine board and put some feet on it. It sounded pretty good but it wasn't really protected by a cabinet anymore, so it was a little tricky to transport. I finally sold the amp head to a friend of mine in the early 1980's for $40. I recently tried to buy it back from him, but he doesn't respond when I bring it up! I think my old Ampeg is probably long gone--after all, that was over 20 years ago--LOL. Marvel, if you decide not to get this, I wonder if I should try to buy it. What is the cosmetic condition like? How original do you think the amp is? Best in horns, triceratops

Tom, We'll talk about the Laurels. Dean, I sent you an email and PM. If you have any time today, please give me a call or let me know a convenient time to call you. My number is XXX-XXX-XXXX. Thanks! Best in horns, triceratops

Hey Jordan, That sounds like a very cool project. I was really impressed with the single Jubilee that Roy set up for the listening session at the Pilgrimage. I've got a soft spot for wood horns too--that would be a great way to top off the Jubilee... Best in horns, triceratops

Mike, Please keep us posted on your progress on the Jubilee. My hat is off to you for taking the plunge. Did you get them to do the cabinet in Birch Raw? Best in horns, triceratops

Jordan, If for some reason Bob decides not to get the Mac 6200, can you put me on the list? Also are you actually looking for another pair of Khorns or were you kidding? Best in horns, triceratops

"Summer in the City" was by the Lovin' Spoonful featuring John Sebastian. I think their guitarist--Zal Yanovsky--was one of the more underated guitarists of the era. The guitar riff in "Summer in the City" was pretty damn cool! I never saw the Spoonful, or Gary Lewis for that matter. But I did see Sebastian in '69 at Woodstock--when he was way into the tie-dye lifestyle... triceratops

My first live show by a recorded band was The Electric Prunes at the Clearfield County Fair in central Pennsylvania in August 1967. They showed those farm kids what garage rock was all about! It was a great show that was similar to the Prunes' historic bootleg "Stockholm '67" which was recorded a few months later on the European leg of their tour. "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" and "Get Me to the World on Time" were their minor hits. triceratops

The 2006 Klipsch Pilgrimage was my first pilgrimage and I was completely blown away by the event. Trey and everyone else from Klipsch went all out to make this a truly memorable experience for everyone who attended. That said, I am confident that it would be impractical and unreasonable for us to think Klipsch could produce an event on this scale for Forum members every year. My feeling was that this was a special event in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the company and I feel lucky to have been there. But I think an annual Klipsch event would be a great thing, especially something formalized to a specific weekend every year. Maybe we could do a few things to encourage this to happen--I would like to see us show our support for Klipsch rather than the other way around! I don't want the pilgrimage to become a drain on Klipsch employees. To that end I think Forum members could formally take on a lot of the functions of the Pilgrimage. We could pay for the event banquet and make the arrangements, handle much of the logistic stuff (organize hotels, draw maps, compose registration lists, create event agenda), arrange and equip the off-site listening rooms and organize the off-site sessions for broader appeal, do set-up, tear-down and clean-up of everything off-site. You'll notice that this list includes some things that Forum members are already doing or helping with, but I think we should just expand and formalize our responsibilities so the ultimate responsibility doesn't fall to someone from Klipsch. If we did that, and Klipsch could open their facility to us for some specific activities, and have a few key employees available for limited hours we could have a regular event that wouldn't become a burden for our hosts. Additionally, I think alternating between Hope and Indy would be appropriate to appreciate the entire Klipsch organization. Best in horns, triceratops

This probably fell off of a loading dock or was dropped from a fork lift--nothing can survive that kind of impact. A few years ago I was fooling around with a pristine pair of KLH 17's from the 1960's I had just picked up at a local yard sale. I had one of the cabinets sitting on the dining room table when my dog caught a leg on the extra run of speaker cable. He heard the speaker start to move so he took off, which yanked the cabinet right off the table and it fell about three feet down to a heavily carpeted floor. Much to my dismay, the shock tore the magnet right off the basket on the woofer! I think the same thing would have happened to any large basket speaker, and the cabinet was only slightly damaged! This Klipsch speaker must have taken a heck of a hit! If you bid on this one, make sure it's fully insured--wouldn't want it to be damaged in shipping! Best in horns, triceratops

With all due respect to Billy, I think the 5th Beatle title has been applied to Pete Best, Brian Epstein, Eric Clapton, George Martin, and possibly others. But even if Mr. Preston was the sixth, seventh, or eighth Beatle, they owe him a depth of gratitude for his inspired playing. In the old days studio musicians were rarely credited on albums, and I think they just got paid for their session time--no royalties. It wasn't just the Monkees who used studio musicians extensively--some really great bands with competent chops had studio guys filling in on a regular basis--especially on singles which were so important. My understanding is that the only Byrd that actually played an instrument on "Mr. Tambourine Man" was McGuinn--the rest were session guys with the Byrds only providing the vocals. Ry Cooder claims that the Stones took advantage of his playing and then never even paid him for it! At least Billy was recognized for SOME of his session work and frequently toured with the folks he backed up in the studio. That says a lot about his talent and charisma! RIP Billy!

Artto, Have you ever played through the old Acoustic Control Corporation 301(?) bass cabinet, with Electro-Voice 18" driver in a rear-loaded, bi-furcated folded horn cabinet? Just wondering how it compared. Thanks! Triceratops

Did I hear you say you had Belles??? What finish? If oiled walnut, maybe we can work out a trade. That is really my end goal and all I need to complete my speaker match. Hi JMON, Yes, they are oiled walnut from 1975--all stock with AA networks. Did you ever sell your rosewood Belles? Planning any trips to the Northwest? Best, triceratops

Not trying to be argumentative, but... I'd like to challenge the conventional wisdom that you should never ship Klipsch Heritage. I think the success that we have had with the Cornwall vault (thanks Dean for instigating the construction of this nifty item) shows that it can be done successfully and with reasonable safety. But it is a major pain in the butt to do it right. Regarding going to pick up your Klipsch--well, I've done that too. Not as far as some folks, but 950 miles round trip for my Belles was a pretty serious haul for me. I admit that shipping has its risks and it is always better to pick up Heritage speakers in person. But driving has its risks, too. Especially if you are driving long distances alone, and pulling an all-nighter! One thing there is no argument about is that Charles has offered some beautiful speakers on the Forum for great prices. I can't understand why they haven't sold a dozen times over. Vermont is a beautiful place to visit and not that far from a lot of densely settled East Coast metro areas--I know because I used to be an East Coaster myself. Geez, I used to drive a few hundred miles just to go to a bike race... I don't think it's that Forum members are too cheap, or too lazy. I think it's probably that a lot of folks on here are up to their eyeballs in Klipsch, and the only way to justify additional purchases is when stuff comes up locally. Which makes me think I should drop a line to JMON--those birch Khorns look real nice! Let's see, how many miles are you from Eugene... Best in horns, Triceratops

Hi Jordan, I have a friend who lives in the Bay Area and is moving up to Portland (near me) soon. In fact he and his wife are driving up next week to look for an apartment. I think I could probably get him to transport stuff for me if something worked out with your friend on a transaction. I am interested in the 19's, but I am wondering about the price (maybe some Forum experts can chime in). I thought they were similar to a Cornwall in sound, size, and cost--although maybe slightly higher due to better drivers? A Mac preamp would sure be handy to have around. Do you know what models he has, condition, price? Should I talk with him directly or go through you? Thanks! Best in horns, triceratops

Clarence, Nice to read your post. I think that a lot of people assume that tube audio gear is inherently better sounding than solid state audio gear and that expensive gear is inherently better than inexpensive gear. Unfortunately, this audio hobby is more complicated than that and Klipsch speakers reveal all sorts of deficiencies in equipment that most of us would rather not have known about. I myself had a big Sony ES home theater receiver a few years ago that sounded great with my Magnapans, ADS's, and other "forgiving" speakers I connected it to. Then along came a pair of Klipschorns. I bought them, hooked them up, and was horrified by what I heard. I even tried a few other receivers and the results were only incrementally better. So I blamed the Klipschorns and sold them cheap. Fortunately, I kept reading the Forum and gradually learned that I gave up on the horns too soon. I have since bought many varieties of Klipsch Heritage speakers and have run them successfully with both tubes and solid state, both cheap and not-so-cheap. For me some of the biggest revelations have been some of the good sounding inexpensive solid state gear, along the lines of the NAD you mentioned. Some perennial favorites on the Forum have been the Harman Kardon X30 Twin-powered series from the 1970's, championed by former Klipsch employee Andy, aka HDBR Builder. I have also had good luck with the Nakamichi Stasis receivers (Nak licensed the design from high-end amp builder Nelson Pass) and with several Denons I have tried (recently the DRA-545R). I'm sure there are many other inexpensive units out there that others have discovered that have a good clean first few watts, and really shine with the Klipsch Heritage speakers. On the other hand, don't give up on your Dyna. It seems like vintage tube gear is a little like a vintage British sports car. You need a good mechanic (e.g. Craig aka NOS Valves) or learn how to do it yourself, but once you get everything running just right--well, it can be magic! Have fun with your Heresy III's! Best in horns, triceratops

Well Michael, maybe you should check out the model Who recommended--With all those speakers you can't have too many amps, right? Best in horns, triceratops

Thanks Chris, That's nice to hear--quite a range of these available at a good discount. Seems like they are well reviewed also. Do you know anything about the history of this company? Best in horns, triceratops

Thanks Doc! Seems like the XLS 602 at $349 with free shipping and a no-fault return policy is a decent deal then. I probably won't bite on this myself, because I've already got three SS power amps that I need to start playing with before I bring any more amps in here. The funny thing is that I bought all of my SS amps used and none of them was as inexpensive as this Crown is brand new! Hope somebody looking for a low-bucks SS power rig can benefit from this deal. Best in horns, triceratops