Archive for January, 2009

Gibson Amp book featured in Gibson.com giveaway

January 30, 2009 at 6:47 pm · Filed under Music writing

Enter Now for a Chance to Win the Definitive Gibson Library

Want to become an expert on “All Things Gibson?” We have collected four of the best books dedicated to the Gibson brand and over 100 years of the finest musical instruments ever made.

Enter now for a chance to win

Contest ends March 31, 2009

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Contests/2009/Gibson-Library/

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“I remember looking at that picture and thinking, ‘It’s going to be hard to be John Sebastian for a while.’”

January 29, 2009 at 9:08 pm · Filed under Music

Here is a really neat, short piece on John Sebastian. This guy is best know for having sung the theme song to the TV show “Welcome Back Kotter.” I’m not a gigantic fan, in fact his ultra-folkie image definitely clashes with my punk sensibilities. I’m fascinated by the guy simply because he appeared at both the Woodstock and the Isle of Wight festivals, in 1969 and 1970, respectively. So here is one guy who stood in front of two of the biggest music audiences ever assembled and lived to tell about it.

http://www.vintageguitar.com/features/artists/details.asp?AID=3289

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Alternate photo from Gibson Amp book

January 28, 2009 at 6:22 pm · Filed under Music writing

In writing the book Gibson Amplifiers, 1933-2008: 75 years of the Gold Tone I had the wonderful experience of seeing close-up a huge selection of really interesting amplifiers. This amp was really intriguing: a custom order GA-83 Stereo-Vib with two side speakers instead of four. The owner of this amplifier told me he bought it from the original owner who had himself ordered it from Gibson.  The story goes that this man felt dsc_00441four side speakers were too much, too complicated, so he ordered it with two. To my eye, it’s still a complex amplifier. The preamp section is up top, the power section on the bottom of the case. Controls include concentric knobs for volume and tone controls for each channel separately. That means you have ganged potentiometers, which are visible in this photo. There’s a good shot of a Stereo-Vib control panel in the book.

In stock configuration, the Stereo-Vib would send signal pulses to each speaker in succession, creating a whirling effect.  I didn’t get to play this custom-order amp, but I would assume it utilized the same interesting concept. As the boutique amp market gets more and more saturated, it would be interesting to see how way-out designs like this one would fare.

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New book

January 26, 2009 at 10:46 pm · Filed under Music writing

Wanted to let you know that my new book on Gibson amplifiers was officially released January 16 at the NAMM show in Anaheim. The book is published by Blue Book Publications, Inc. I wrote it over this past year.
 
“Gibson Amplifiers, 1933-2008: 75 years of the Gold Tone” is an overview of the entire history of Gibson amplifiers. There are numerous photos and catalog shots, a 16-page color section, and a complete guide to all Gibson amp models from 1933 to today. The first chapter is devoted to the early days of amplification, beginning with the telephone in the 1870s.
 
One of the major features of this book is a CD-ROM copy of the 1964 Gibson Master Service book. This book holds a wealth of information for both Gibson amp fans and those interested in amp circuitry. Included are schematics for all Gibson amps from 1936 to approximately 1964 in addition to user’s manuals for many models. We were lucky enough to be able to borrow a copy of this book from Jeff Krumm of Savage Audio, Inc. fortuitous, because these books go for hundreds of dollars if and when you can find them.
 
“Gibson Amplifiers, 1933-2008: 75 years of the Gold Tone” is currently available through the Blue Books website at www.bluebookinc.com
The book will be available in music stores and book stores in the next month and on Amazon around that time.
 
I hope you enjoy the book and I look forward to speaking with you if you have further information on Gibson amplifiers. For those who buy the book I plan to post some alternate photos and copy that didn’t make the final edit of the first edition.Sales card for Gibson Amplfiers book
Thanks!

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