tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86001010508373661342024-03-17T20:03:18.034-07:00Origami Night LampShedding Wan Light On Random ObjectsJames Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-34943937744900630512023-03-13T15:19:00.014-07:002023-08-27T04:49:57.168-07:00Poetry Week, Day 7, Song Lyric: "In Redondo"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiavdORWsUjb-nC0vWEFLodS7WQsaUztdAgo4ZTJLTpGLShTKvx5XrNILZsrQz5LZ0QbBjicfywu6cfiBlDVpROR6_ud-n7Yd4CR44dpXI2EdMVnA0O54fZb8_0LmSFVtjM04WqqQDo1i7eY2woDJvMWpEiMmB9Qna2s-mRKlRTAY0f8W_9YoVVeR45w/s1920/InRedondo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiavdORWsUjb-nC0vWEFLodS7WQsaUztdAgo4ZTJLTpGLShTKvx5XrNILZsrQz5LZ0QbBjicfywu6cfiBlDVpROR6_ud-n7Yd4CR44dpXI2EdMVnA0O54fZb8_0LmSFVtjM04WqqQDo1i7eY2woDJvMWpEiMmB9Qna2s-mRKlRTAY0f8W_9YoVVeR45w/w640-h426/InRedondo.JPG" width="575" /></a></div> <br /><b>In Redondo</b><br /> <br />Walking on a windy beach with headphones on<br />I've got a beat up iPod full of Elliot Smith songs<br />Foaming waves run up the sand in the shimmering heat<br />The cool polluted water feels good upon my feet<br />In Redondo<br /> <br />In the hazy distance mountains rise above the sea<br />Coming slowly closer, a runner on the beach<br />We smile and wave to each other when you get near<br />You pass by and say hello, but I cannot hear<br /> <br />Sometimes nothing is exactly what it seems<br />Pick up a spiral shell and then, wake up from a dream<br />In Redondo<br /> <br />I shake the sand out of my shoes and walk in the door<br />You left another note but I can't read them anymore<br /> <br />We try to hold on to a ghost of everything we once knew<br />Someday I may lose the memory of you<br />In Redondo<br /> <br />- Instrumental interlude -<br /> <br />Nothing lasts forever, now I know that's true<br />Someday I will lose the memory of you<br />The memory of you<br />In Redondo, Redondo<br />You and me in Redondo<br />In Redondo<p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * *</p><p>All the best songs have snappy, direct and hard hitting lyrics; a great example of this is Bruce Channel's smash hit (on Smash Records!) "Hey! Baby", which topped the charts at #1 for three weeks in 1962. The first verse of that song is:</p><p>"Hey, hey baby<br />I wanna know woh oh<br />If you'll be my girl"</p><p>And the second verse is:</p><p>"Hey, hey baby<br />I wanna know woh oh<br />If you'll be my girl"</p><p>Doesn't get more direct and to the point than that, and success speaks for itself. The songs that come to me aren't close to being in the same league, but we do have fun playing them anyway. <br /></p><p>Song lyrics need music to be complete, and "In Redondo" has an accompaniment, with liberal use of fragmented and vague sounding chords neither major nor minor, that might help convey some of the feeling of isolation, uncertainty and loss that we were going for. But although incomplete without the score, do the lyrics by themselves have any poetic value? Maybe.</p><p>It's set in a mythical, imaginary place called Redondo, located somewhere and nowhere. I've always liked the sound of that word or name, which my sister says means "fat round one" in Spanish or Portuguese. (And no, it's not Redondo Beach, which is also a poetic place but in a daytime nightmare kind of way) Wow- a fat round one... Hey, hey baby, roll me a Redondo, would you?</p><p>Thanks to David for the beat up iPod, without which this song, and poem, wouldn't be possible.<br /></p><p> <br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-18843443108512648402023-03-12T11:38:00.006-07:002023-03-14T03:57:28.656-07:00Poetry Week, Day 6, Refrigerator Word Magnet Poem: "Bridget, Midge, Gidget, Rutledge, Rodger, and Madge"<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPKAKZ-6awRCwPm0Ph4rQWzoVb1tCH94jFbkSCed2zZJDoTTnthUt3QxrualQbtG3NloA1DKqKwBDPw2wypGX3mMeOeitFy6aak8FqyVjxJyuft-HtPaJK0LIcvSXUWYrAzD52nqDSR7sulJK9Y2x6bVgEF1yetS7a4Fl65pqUYN629bkhJjjq9nzDg/s1735/FridgeWords.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1735" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPKAKZ-6awRCwPm0Ph4rQWzoVb1tCH94jFbkSCed2zZJDoTTnthUt3QxrualQbtG3NloA1DKqKwBDPw2wypGX3mMeOeitFy6aak8FqyVjxJyuft-HtPaJK0LIcvSXUWYrAzD52nqDSR7sulJK9Y2x6bVgEF1yetS7a4Fl65pqUYN629bkhJjjq9nzDg/w640-h424/FridgeWords.jpg" width="575" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">Bridget, Midge, Gidget, Rutledge, Rodger, and Madge</span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span></span><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><b>B</b>ridget cadged a ride to the lodge with a badger in a Dodge</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>And trudged to put wedges of fudge in the fridge</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>Midge was a lodger on a budget with a ledger and a gadget:</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>A hodgepodge of kludges and widgets made by a hedgehog named Gidget</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span></span><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>Rutledge, a fidgety curmudgeon with knowledge of didgeridoos</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>And Rodger the judge, a full fledged midget with a badge and a grudge</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>Nudged budgerigars with cudgels and pledged not to budge</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>Not even a smidge</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>From a smudge on a hedge made of sedge on the ridge</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span></span><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>But Madge grabbed a sledge from a ledge by the kedge of her dredge</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>And bludgeoned both drudges off the edge of a bridge…</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span></span><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>Into sludge<br /><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span>* * * </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>A fairly new form of poetry came along a few years ago: the really fun Refrigerator Word Magnet Poem. In a family or roommate or visiting friends setting, a poem or story created becomes ever evolving; anyone who comes to the fridge can be an instant editor or co-creator, just by swapping or rearranging words.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>As a writing tool, the basic premise is intriguing: starting with a preset limited, finite vocabulary, move those few words around until some sort of narrative emerges. During a period of reading mostly murder mysteries set in the UK and written by British authors, I noticed how many words and names there were that had the consecutive grouping of three letters: d, g, and e.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>With an initial gathering of 39 "dge" words, combined with a bare minimum of others thrown in, a very short story emerged. Eventually this became 56 words, in one of which the grouping occurs twice; every time a new dge word was added, the plot changed a bit. The funnest part was creating and describing the villains, and the heroine that saves all in the end, using only those few words.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span>Probably there's a lot more "dge" words in our basically English language, and as they make themselves known this pretend word magnet poem done on an imaginary refrigerator will grow.<br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><br /></span></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-33531267447986008652023-03-11T11:09:00.006-08:002023-03-13T12:02:01.097-07:00Poetry Week, Day 5, Limerick: "Love, Geometrically"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix422UYyJHt2TDKAndSNUG9WF6lbU0_pAun5lgE1kWFbu-Q0aV9efsN2stJm5bj17asAiZmtMCYketa9QlsO8NDmOFvYK9OBfEOxTnafttEZyppXtlUSw3GrZf2OnTY5ERiND4qMKIOwFvQXMkaF7ELvU5G2ap-tI3fbttLKTwxECRG5PxwhMyCDVKpg/s1067/Pythagoras%20and%20Girlfriend2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1067" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix422UYyJHt2TDKAndSNUG9WF6lbU0_pAun5lgE1kWFbu-Q0aV9efsN2stJm5bj17asAiZmtMCYketa9QlsO8NDmOFvYK9OBfEOxTnafttEZyppXtlUSw3GrZf2OnTY5ERiND4qMKIOwFvQXMkaF7ELvU5G2ap-tI3fbttLKTwxECRG5PxwhMyCDVKpg/w640-h484/Pythagoras%20and%20Girlfriend2.jpg" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">π</span></span> Are Squared, <span style="font-size: large;">≥</span> <span style="font-size: large;">∞<br /></span></b> <br />
<b>A</b><i><b> </b></i>young man from Greece named Pythagoras<br />
Was feeling philosophically amorous<br />
To his love he said "I<br />
Have made you a Pi,<br />
'Though its form and its function aren't obvious!"</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * *</p><p style="text-align: left;">A Limerick, according to Oxford, is <span><span>"a </span><span>humorous</span><span>, frequently bawdy, </span></span><span><span>verse of three long and two short lines rhyming <i>aabba</i>, popularized by Edward Lear". Why this poetic form is named after the Irish city or county of Limerick is unclear. Possibly because a high percentage of its residents are </span></span><span><span>humorous</span><span> and frequently bawdy?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-30225256503544897752023-03-10T14:03:00.010-08:002023-08-28T00:42:30.640-07:00Poetry Week, Day 4, Broadside Ballade: "Near Crystal Lakes"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gJ6ej2vrayuMDAWF9PKHJU1czGpkq4Io12W1vH_TAaRCVIFfiYfEApqG-cyCRI5oM9VczwWD8qjYt_ipL11WsyoU0KE4RG0zVQR-_GF697kBay99bYIhiImhTBqeYt1NLZ8OT72yK6OXvJ1sOSe2LQ7CX3VajBwYa8S2b42-lPzapCohxJp43283pw/s970/NearCrystalLakes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="970" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gJ6ej2vrayuMDAWF9PKHJU1czGpkq4Io12W1vH_TAaRCVIFfiYfEApqG-cyCRI5oM9VczwWD8qjYt_ipL11WsyoU0KE4RG0zVQR-_GF697kBay99bYIhiImhTBqeYt1NLZ8OT72yK6OXvJ1sOSe2LQ7CX3VajBwYa8S2b42-lPzapCohxJp43283pw/w640-h442/NearCrystalLakes.jpg" width="575" /></a></div><p><br /><b>Near Crystal Lakes</b><br />Being a Broadside Ballade in 14 1/2 Quatrains,<br />By Frederick Roy Thomas and James Aoyama<br />Half term project assignment<br />Grade 11 Creative writing class, room 218, Mr Warfield</p><p style="text-align: center;">* * *<br /></p><p><b> N</b>ear Crystal Lakes where the tall trees grow<br />A mounted horseman rides<br />To meet his love ‘neath a shady grove<br />And there to be his bride<br /> <br />Ride, ride, ride<br />Your lover does await<br />And from her eye doth fall a tear<br />Long awaiting your arrival<br /> <br />The high road is long and the way is hard<br />Over vale and sward<br />Strong beats the heart of an honest man<br />Riding ever onward<br /> <br />His thoughts did dwell on a lady far away<br />In that shady grove<br />He longed for her lovely face to see<br />And her hand to hold<br /> <br />Ride, ride, ride<br />Your lover does await<br />And from her eye doth fall a tear<br />Long awaiting your arrival<br /> <br />In a misty copse appeared three desperate men<br />Of allegiance unknown<br />Fled from the field of honor they be<br />Fugitives of the Crown<br /> <br />They cried out “For your money we have stopped you here,<br />Give us all your gold!”<br />The honest man replied “I’ve naught but silver in my pouch,<br />And I sleep out in the cold!"<br /> <br />He sprang from the saddle and unsheathed his sword,<br />Saying "Come! Who e'er thou art!"<br />An arrow from behind, and the horseman fell<br />The bolt had pierced his heart<br /> <br />The varlets rushed forth to where the rider lay<br />To rob while his life ebbed out<br />In her anger and grief his steed reared up<br />To bring the shrieking cowards down<br /> <br />One knave crawled away, to walk again no more<br />The others paid in blood<br />Mighty blows of iron shod hooves did leave<br />Them broken and dying in the mud<br /> <br />His faithful mare went to her master then<br />With lowered head she stood<br />His last breath came slowly as he bid farewell<br />And she departed through the silent wood<br /> <br />Miles away in the shady grove<br />His true lover cried<br />In that same instant her own heart had gone cold<br />She knew he would never arrive<br /> <br />Ride, ride, ride<br />Your lover does await<br />And from her eye doth fall a tear<br />Long awaiting your arrival<br /> <br />Near Crystal Lakes where the tall trees grow<br />A mounted horseman rides<br /> <br />Ride, ride, ride<br />Your lover does await<br />And from her eye doth fall a tear <br />Long awaiting your arrival<br />Long awaiting your arrival<br /> <br /><b>F</b>inis.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * *<br /></p><p> Instructor's grading comment:<br />Overall, a good piece of work, and shows a lot of time and effort put into it. I'll have to deduct a couple points due to your occasional slipping between Elizabethan or Shakespearean idiom and modern English, and I believe that a quatrain is a form of verse, so the correct term should have been "14 1/2 stanzas". Also your depiction of the action scene was a bit too detailed and could be considered blood-thirsty; on the other hand I'm pleased your telling of the protagonist's longing for his bride-to-be wasn't quite so lurid. Good work boys! A solid A-.<br />Note: Your titling this as a "Broadside Ballade" would imply a song form, and you might consider performing it for the class on an upcoming Free Form Friday session.<br /> <br />Me to Fred: "A-minus?! I think Old Man Warfield needs to wake up!”<br />Fred: “Hey Jim - we could toss a firecracker in his trash can on Free Form Friday!"<br />Me: “Let's do it!"<br />Narrator: This did not end well.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /><br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-11666962017177867842023-03-09T11:10:00.013-08:002023-03-13T12:01:07.537-07:00Poetry Week, Day 3, Free Verse: "Wondrous Things"<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrSyYLSa8LedAdoTsIiIuTGC_uVrzu1obOSw-sGxlr3yJ-xoRWI6gQIrX-hsSe1dKXwgPDmK5g79abIJ9AWCUIpZfdIKFEhZgkSYrxmtQeITm26dzJi40qIVVCkKmD-mpFSL7uoOT07tguXQb8_7sKV9LT0vPiCP4DKORATNZNktPiMf2D4Xee57ISA/s1920/SloanSquare.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="1920" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrSyYLSa8LedAdoTsIiIuTGC_uVrzu1obOSw-sGxlr3yJ-xoRWI6gQIrX-hsSe1dKXwgPDmK5g79abIJ9AWCUIpZfdIKFEhZgkSYrxmtQeITm26dzJi40qIVVCkKmD-mpFSL7uoOT07tguXQb8_7sKV9LT0vPiCP4DKORATNZNktPiMf2D4Xee57ISA/w640-h420/SloanSquare.jpg" width="575" /></a></p><p></p><p><b>Wondrous Things</b><br /> <br /><b>L</b>ate as usual, rushing through the square on an unsettled morning<br />There, ahead, an almost familiar face-<br />Perched on the edge of a park bench<br />A someone who could be me<br />But for wild hair, bent spectacles, undone buttons, mismatched socks<br />Staring about, or listening<br />Intently<br /> <br />I should stop, I'm thinking<br />Say hello, maybe talk awhile<br />Of whatever wondrous things this someone sees or hears:<br /><br />About god -like rumbling threats from yet-unseen clouds<br />Tortured eyes staring from wooden fence boards<br />The baroque languages of dogs<br />Leering demon faces grinning up from puddles of rain<br />The unbearable shrieking pain of newly mown grass<br /><br />A fantastic world easily entered, impossible to leave<br />I should not ask where the doorway is, and yet <br />I would<br /> <br />But not this morning, I must hurry on<br />For I also imagine<br />Many things to do, places I must go<br />And meetings<br />With important people<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * *</p><p>100 years ago and more, this would not have been considered poetry, since there are no rhymes, and a cadence only an insane person could sense. Until recently, when there were such things, organized poetry recitals and beat poet slams were occasions to hear or declaim thought worthy bits of free verse. Now we can only go around muttering stuff to ourselves while most are staring into their portable entertainment devices as they walk into oncoming traffic. So who actually <i>are</i> the crazy ones?<br /><br /><br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-11157139924499028802023-03-08T13:14:00.007-08:002023-03-14T03:55:58.358-07:00Poetry Week, Day 2, Haiku: "Sakura Haiku"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6nXH1iwGbNMvrnQdfYgCYlnwatbPNdCFaF-0b3vnwaqFpaKExXLUWwyr0xY-Pfuf9XxoPh_1pPoS0_0wFPLRusBYKeP5G44PJ_2t-_eGop5rfgPRoaFOpEVQvBoyYFUhg0nsl8JZ7Xmx0KtIdJEjnvExR_vUUcv8Vb1t1pvGMLlNTLsN7ZXlNygdjg/s1920/SakuraSnow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1920" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6nXH1iwGbNMvrnQdfYgCYlnwatbPNdCFaF-0b3vnwaqFpaKExXLUWwyr0xY-Pfuf9XxoPh_1pPoS0_0wFPLRusBYKeP5G44PJ_2t-_eGop5rfgPRoaFOpEVQvBoyYFUhg0nsl8JZ7Xmx0KtIdJEjnvExR_vUUcv8Vb1t1pvGMLlNTLsN7ZXlNygdjg/w640-h428/SakuraSnow.jpg" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>Storm at Lake Ashi</p><p>Sakura falling on snow</p><p>We bid sad farewell</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVVzJLrq-7Ryux4vp1wINMKWm1LpGFjFy0z5_5uSHhxO3gxABmKcggmFOoeH_yVcVYYohf896ByrVIjmWMLJ27DYHof4oCbLGBg6_eN2pFiyp8YsWhgOvsiVS7UVbRyF8oYLNhWcTM-TPk9mqOwx69sZ3CVb_0ZUSQDe0wULG656Rs5jxfbtYFs_tDw/s900/SakuraBridge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVVzJLrq-7Ryux4vp1wINMKWm1LpGFjFy0z5_5uSHhxO3gxABmKcggmFOoeH_yVcVYYohf896ByrVIjmWMLJ27DYHof4oCbLGBg6_eN2pFiyp8YsWhgOvsiVS7UVbRyF8oYLNhWcTM-TPk9mqOwx69sZ3CVb_0ZUSQDe0wULG656Rs5jxfbtYFs_tDw/w640-h426/SakuraBridge.jpg" width="575" /></a></div><p>Bright red umbrella</p><p>Down the lane past Temple Hill</p><p>Fading though snowfall</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6noLspdSAMgXu4GTB1m-Ss9TljON_gdeNQgHSG8UPD4B6FiVOu67SYt9d9wp-ARa3GoyDbjQ0E95iTBspjaBFQqYn2EUtUVzMC5gcu5fKDFPfmPlSkPTvoODBKKaZHV4Uilv4Zk-MNSmFjMFa2IKEujpWUjlnBFOszHpd2bZCRXy4-2l3QH2gVlB9w/s1920/Cherry%20Flowers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1920" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6noLspdSAMgXu4GTB1m-Ss9TljON_gdeNQgHSG8UPD4B6FiVOu67SYt9d9wp-ARa3GoyDbjQ0E95iTBspjaBFQqYn2EUtUVzMC5gcu5fKDFPfmPlSkPTvoODBKKaZHV4Uilv4Zk-MNSmFjMFa2IKEujpWUjlnBFOszHpd2bZCRXy4-2l3QH2gVlB9w/w640-h400/Cherry%20Flowers.jpg" width="575" /></a></div><p>Brushed ink on paper</p><p></p><p>Cherry tree near my window</p><p>Sakura Haiku</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /> * * *</p><p>No comment needed. Everyone's heard of Haiku. Oh, you haven't?- well...<br /></p><p><br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-59658191224425850132023-03-07T18:36:00.013-08:002023-03-13T12:00:23.423-07:00Poetry Week, Day 1, Small Poem: "Randy and Rhonda"<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Iz-Y4KJpckuV_3i5jN5cgi2MR-hokBC3f5Kkrr0qc6TGnxSN3ItrEwvtJwz_3E19BuMyraRrbaFzBYZ6khO5OGHLwCQTsApyzGHN37O-NCqPE6INhYI12VRsKty-1Ng0N2GtvjRtkaM7lrlAIDnM4nVr3iG6pS6BKPECY0Krr5_L5OEC8Ty62Hg4QA/s1382/YellowKitten.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1382" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Iz-Y4KJpckuV_3i5jN5cgi2MR-hokBC3f5Kkrr0qc6TGnxSN3ItrEwvtJwz_3E19BuMyraRrbaFzBYZ6khO5OGHLwCQTsApyzGHN37O-NCqPE6INhYI12VRsKty-1Ng0N2GtvjRtkaM7lrlAIDnM4nVr3iG6pS6BKPECY0Krr5_L5OEC8Ty62Hg4QA/w640-h402/YellowKitten.jpg" width="575" /></a></p><p></p><p><b>Randy and Rhonda</b></p><p><b>R</b>andy Biddle was hidden<br />His acquittal<br />Forbidden</p><p>Rhonda Smittle was smitten<br />By the spittle<br />On his mitten</p><p>And a little yellow kitten<br />Who told a riddle<br />Was bitten!<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * *</p><p style="text-align: left;">Most, but not all, poetry considered "small" or "little poems" are written for small or little people - that is, children. One definition is a poem of nine or less lines, and this one barely qualifies, as well as being too strange to be in a Little Golden Book.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">In the '00s, my business was repairing rural folks' satellite TV systems, almost anywhere and everywhere throughout Oregon. In the same day, I had a pair of customers with rather poetically complimentary names: Randy Biddle and Rhonda Smittle. One of them lived in the wild woods near Elmira, and the other just off the scenic highway between Cottage Grove and Lake Dorena, that runs alongside the now-defunct Skunk Line railroad that played a prominent role in two classic films, Buster Keaton's "The General", and Rob Reiner's "Stand By Me".</p><p style="text-align: left;">Besides trying not to run off the road while gawping at the scenery, or avoiding head on collisions with drivers high on legal psychotropic medication, there wasn't much to do between jobs besides drive while mentally writing odd bits of poetry and snatches of song lyrics or melody. A normal person would have listened to the radio and absorbed other people's hallucinations, whether in song or rant. I instead would make up my own.</p><p style="text-align: center;">* * *</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span>It's
been almost a year since there's been a new post on this blog, and it
seemed like a good way to celebrate an entire year of inactivity by
having an event. Especially since although spring hasn't yet sprung, at
least here in western Oregon it's definitely springing. Also it's the
final week of Time As We Know It, and in just a few days most of us in
this otherwise fine country get to engage in our yearly mass societal
delusional temporal displacement known as Daylight Savings Time.</p><p>So
I'll hereby declare a blog-wide Poetry Week, with a daily posting of
verse in various styles, starting with the bit of absurdism above.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-75051635434233128042022-03-28T15:49:00.012-07:002022-04-16T19:03:44.505-07:00Meanwhile In The Back Yard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vJfx0rbPKVufeAfDmXjOD_sALXJ-MGJTCMbzBuVAajYbibv7XDCXuE7aa7bPLLksm3W9B3XB8MVpJ_hAGBJT0d4QC9xZna75xw2xacotJmvhxrq-nHr8jKrerlZSkUHuLqu1n9L7aT-hGnAzkBDmeig4QwNMPE8O3iQLFg-OOMe8dzUs6rZQZYLRcw/s4608/P1180003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vJfx0rbPKVufeAfDmXjOD_sALXJ-MGJTCMbzBuVAajYbibv7XDCXuE7aa7bPLLksm3W9B3XB8MVpJ_hAGBJT0d4QC9xZna75xw2xacotJmvhxrq-nHr8jKrerlZSkUHuLqu1n9L7aT-hGnAzkBDmeig4QwNMPE8O3iQLFg-OOMe8dzUs6rZQZYLRcw/w640-h426/P1180003.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span>n a chilly rainy morning, there was a brown squirrel resting and keeping dry in a homemade bird feeding box. It may have been sleeping with its eyes open - when I came out into the yard it took awhile to notice me taking its picture. Do squirrels even have eyelids, and if so, do they ever blink? The answers are: yes, and not very often.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JOUoUwjX0c_eHiBIyZMcv5ObBRBokRTuE76Ra4Tvb31GDHAkstQcNR3w_XEdqjzvHLpQTP10J8jnfnrQnUGwKFZA49OfNIb3G_wfruanTz3KUAzWd4gvjDrSLQvMNK_0Jyx9kurTcUTkw3sjA5N4RdQZADcpdZV8HsmEFf0Da1mRe7R96krH-CIgCQ/s1920/Haze%20Cloud.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="575" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JOUoUwjX0c_eHiBIyZMcv5ObBRBokRTuE76Ra4Tvb31GDHAkstQcNR3w_XEdqjzvHLpQTP10J8jnfnrQnUGwKFZA49OfNIb3G_wfruanTz3KUAzWd4gvjDrSLQvMNK_0Jyx9kurTcUTkw3sjA5N4RdQZADcpdZV8HsmEFf0Da1mRe7R96krH-CIgCQ/w640-h640/Haze%20Cloud.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p>While up on a ladder hanging
some suet feeders for the birds, I sensed, in peripheral vision,
something moving above me. Looking up, I almost
fell off the ladder when I saw these hazy tendrils of floating mist
coming fast from the south. Pretty amazing in a subtle way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1alXUiWNU_IQjVpKz5lI_xsuEtpVdKQUHQUQOV_Vvn90419yFUcjsCIhxOVM-6x6IwoEj4LnD_LojEaq2cZ8cn3ETekG0AOvB_2SuvBnUlSPPA-TeA54kQ6Z4nkKG6ASz48MZk37VRKbi2mCeqAe7pdDxKbDMY3SqU1QNRY2dU9s3b59VFUUD2O08Q/s1915/P1180072%20copy%203.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1915" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1alXUiWNU_IQjVpKz5lI_xsuEtpVdKQUHQUQOV_Vvn90419yFUcjsCIhxOVM-6x6IwoEj4LnD_LojEaq2cZ8cn3ETekG0AOvB_2SuvBnUlSPPA-TeA54kQ6Z4nkKG6ASz48MZk37VRKbi2mCeqAe7pdDxKbDMY3SqU1QNRY2dU9s3b59VFUUD2O08Q/w640-h428/P1180072%20copy%203.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>This is sort of an update to the post "<a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2022/02/first-signs-of-approaching-spring.html" target="_blank">First Signs of Approaching Spring</a>". A couple weeks later, sure enough more flowers have come up and opened: grape hyacinth, daffodils, and the first tulip. Up until recently the only things green in the yard have been grasses, but now that's changed. Soon those first few iris shoots will be waist high all along the back fence, and already it's time to get the lawnmower and trimmer out before the grass takes over everything.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99Zft6Zv6nIyOgMhbXL71xTE4n7ntTARlTDvucO1fd1jp8_yUwdVakRCFEd7CJuGC6mVHMtIfFn2xBjOVae77xYOudpjcWJqwJmuGhKeeSNQ2XjZO7eBpNU_GPLiXgkAWaO6wnntfXextqJFnTXiv-grn9MIKvHZJeZ5uh9G7_148e2WrDMGPVy825w/s1920/SleepyMourningDove.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99Zft6Zv6nIyOgMhbXL71xTE4n7ntTARlTDvucO1fd1jp8_yUwdVakRCFEd7CJuGC6mVHMtIfFn2xBjOVae77xYOudpjcWJqwJmuGhKeeSNQ2XjZO7eBpNU_GPLiXgkAWaO6wnntfXextqJFnTXiv-grn9MIKvHZJeZ5uh9G7_148e2WrDMGPVy825w/w640-h480/SleepyMourningDove.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p>You know what they say: "Let sleeping doves lie". That's probably also true for doves that are only resting. This mourning dove feels secure enough under the new spring foliage of a blueberry bush to take an open-eyed siesta in the early morning sun.</p><p>A couple of weeks ago when most of the yard was still fallow, a red shouldered hawk came down amidst a flock of 18 doves foraging for seed, quickly snatched one up, and flew off, all within a couple of seconds. There were feathers everywhere, and doves haven't been back in quite those numbers since. We're glad to see two or three now, and hopefully more as the leaf cover habitat for them improves.</p><p>*Update on the squirrel in the bird box: Probably the same squirrel, taking a short nap out of the rain:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGSeDXI1hIGuTS-JxtUyr08LvWA_DhfGsLDOf0-FP40PfLAuuNi1X85Jf58avcb-SShjmF6Lu-dhCQ57T942j00jlrrtZZeQ4-BjklCowNDASSIvP-POJ3bKOChzorcbEZFLD-JQZ8YK57yC9RrUHYNxh489DJzED-3mGPIch3f3idgvWoQTlLXAefw/s1920/P1180212%20copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="575" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGSeDXI1hIGuTS-JxtUyr08LvWA_DhfGsLDOf0-FP40PfLAuuNi1X85Jf58avcb-SShjmF6Lu-dhCQ57T942j00jlrrtZZeQ4-BjklCowNDASSIvP-POJ3bKOChzorcbEZFLD-JQZ8YK57yC9RrUHYNxh489DJzED-3mGPIch3f3idgvWoQTlLXAefw/w640-h640/P1180212%20copy.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p><br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-62871748167814553722022-03-02T15:04:00.377-08:002023-03-11T14:09:57.001-08:001977 Gibson Les Paul TV Special, Model 55-77<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggEtqTdTQ7xcVsFfBZVcivWgCrf7eExX70E-6kM18YpCdRw593Iya-JxybRaqVUhiZ_G-3sSRo0jeHOeUmSQH7eQxRMQpUkWtnTY58qvH_4ckKO7qMOw5_35MflaqUjYDdsWcif-msJuFUOYl6pU1_vXyMoo3ek84tnQHW09VAqUPUy4sINjOC9Q52Zg=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggEtqTdTQ7xcVsFfBZVcivWgCrf7eExX70E-6kM18YpCdRw593Iya-JxybRaqVUhiZ_G-3sSRo0jeHOeUmSQH7eQxRMQpUkWtnTY58qvH_4ckKO7qMOw5_35MflaqUjYDdsWcif-msJuFUOYl6pU1_vXyMoo3ek84tnQHW09VAqUPUy4sINjOC9Q52Zg=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>n an <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2016/10/my-arsenal.html" target="_blank">earlier post</a>, I started a series on my limited bunch of guitars:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTl1dqv83n1-1m52PT9KDw86OK0I4SSZiTV2jqmcgRPEONYUPDOXMirGZYqhCdltYcVZDDjsAIk-9Ye1pl9GV4Q41Q2UrarBLLDvub-D3_S5i5taVDHjsfVLJrMAGvBRDKRJpw3f0jj7wIUEvnS95m7GDITpO6tt18qjW3zhOiMZv412Llzd0W7z6j0g=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTl1dqv83n1-1m52PT9KDw86OK0I4SSZiTV2jqmcgRPEONYUPDOXMirGZYqhCdltYcVZDDjsAIk-9Ye1pl9GV4Q41Q2UrarBLLDvub-D3_S5i5taVDHjsfVLJrMAGvBRDKRJpw3f0jj7wIUEvnS95m7GDITpO6tt18qjW3zhOiMZv412Llzd0W7z6j0g=w640-h426" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>After doing a follow-up featuring an <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2016/11/1959-danelectro-double-cutaway-and.html" target="_blank">old Danelectro</a>, other things came up and I sort of dropped the thread. Today it's bitter cold out and cloudy; sounds like a good day to pick up where we left off, and do a post about my 1977 Gibson Les Paul TV Special, which I bought brand shiny new in 1978.<br /></p><p>We won't be focusing on Gibson Les Pauls in general, their construction and development, or mythology and arcane lore - that's all been done before, <strike>millions</strike> billions of words already written. This post is about one particular electric guitar, what I know about it, and a few of my impressions and experiences. </p><p>Let's start with a view of the back of the headstock:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5k1cflebFWjTfi0CLGv_k026saIXLLNd-1kFDvdLbg8AKF6b0ZIhRGnLvEiWuHM5OSpefJqAqOz5sZ7cQmJaPSpFvERbjMb5cYU1iRld3MVP1LxwqbW8tJ0ExHoWYds8eglKzQK1LiOJP21asTmRFBGQlwRwYtQO3nXETZ22ySzI4T6lQ-qPXk3UL0Q=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5k1cflebFWjTfi0CLGv_k026saIXLLNd-1kFDvdLbg8AKF6b0ZIhRGnLvEiWuHM5OSpefJqAqOz5sZ7cQmJaPSpFvERbjMb5cYU1iRld3MVP1LxwqbW8tJ0ExHoWYds8eglKzQK1LiOJP21asTmRFBGQlwRwYtQO3nXETZ22ySzI4T6lQ-qPXk3UL0Q=w640-h426" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>That stamp tells us about this guitar: it's a Les Paul model 55-77, it was made in the U.S.A., and there's a production serial number which might or might not be useful in finding additional information. One question I get asked is whether it was made in Kalamazoo or Tennessee, and the answer is I don't really know. Experts have told me that, a) it's from one place, b) it's from the other, and c) there's no way of knowing. That's all I need to know; living with a minor mystery is in itself a fun thing.</p><p>I should apologize for masking the serial number in the above photo, but as Randy Newman says, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_IOsLYVKkY" target="_blank">It's a jungle out there</a>". A jungle full of con- artists, scammers, and online agents of bad actor governments, such as, for instance, russia.<br /></p><p>Here's a frontal shot of the peghead:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi52HUmV4WgSJhQ4qIZXZ3m4p142Kch3ttmapiqYZSRB9sbf9UrX57dpua1ga6eh2yet9GvhD78KgeWAE2Y_nBu-x9_qwHuL8znWBzX586y6WTSi7ogzgDqW1dAzCqAuN8Djz9Riq4Vsyf9fGpv2r59B8Gr8ijafBt8afR6M-_6yxFlIatFHHHH5XiK-g=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi52HUmV4WgSJhQ4qIZXZ3m4p142Kch3ttmapiqYZSRB9sbf9UrX57dpua1ga6eh2yet9GvhD78KgeWAE2Y_nBu-x9_qwHuL8znWBzX586y6WTSi7ogzgDqW1dAzCqAuN8Djz9Riq4Vsyf9fGpv2r59B8Gr8ijafBt8afR6M-_6yxFlIatFHHHH5XiK-g=w640-h426" width="575" /></a></div><p>Not much to see here, looks like many other Les Pauls. Note the pencil lead graphite in the 3rd string nut slot. Also, around the tuner shaft bushings are circular impressions left behind by the large washers which were part of the original tuning machines (see below for more info). And yes, the truss rod cover is upside down. Why? Idle hands, devil's playground, evil weed, 1980. <br /></p><p>Another pic of the obverse of the headstock:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvqz_DT7Qw6gMX6VRoJY4_njx8JP0XKHr3oA1ZkuLsZvBSihY30XPRj-Ygo07mlY3olnf-FaC_gqSpQczYsOitPfQogn6KHHgyksKE8ZjzByFjtciUMSuHREt0vfFL0oAX11MlQMEhCaCrV7fNKiXZNcI1_HK3-gDtbFZUhnQbNn8gZY8rCvcv2L0lAA=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvqz_DT7Qw6gMX6VRoJY4_njx8JP0XKHr3oA1ZkuLsZvBSihY30XPRj-Ygo07mlY3olnf-FaC_gqSpQczYsOitPfQogn6KHHgyksKE8ZjzByFjtciUMSuHREt0vfFL0oAX11MlQMEhCaCrV7fNKiXZNcI1_HK3-gDtbFZUhnQbNn8gZY8rCvcv2L0lAA=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p>These are Gotoh open back tuners. They're kinda sorta copies of the world's greatest machines, the famed Waverly tuners. And since they're Japan made Gotohs, they are ultra fine and precision, easily the best tuners this guitar has had, and it's had a few.</p><p>In the beginning... the LP Special came with ugly and merely okay tuning machines: Gibson branded, possibly made by Schaller, with plain nickel backs and plated steel "tulip" Keystone knobs. Almost immediately one of the key posts got bent in action and they were replaced with a set of Gibson Schallers that looked a lot like vintage Kusons (with golden creamy colored plastic Keystones), except they were cast body tuners. Although I prefer vintagey style light weight pressed sheet metal machines, that set of cast Gibson/Schallers were good enough, and fit into the larger modern style holes. They lasted about two years of gigging until they wore out, and were replaced with another set of the same.</p><p>Since those first three sets, a few other tuners have been on the 55-77, either due to getting busted up at some of the wilder gigs it went to, or not making the grade quality wise: 4) old Grovers; old = pre-worn out = bad. By that time adapter bushings to retrofit vintage style machines into headstocks drilled for cast tuners became available. So next were: 5) New foreign-made Klusons, really pretty but sub-par quality. 6) Japanese Gotoh Kluson copies, very nice, but green tulip knobs = yuk. 7) Gotoh small white knob Kluson clones - take the pickguard off, and voila! instant Les Paul Junior. And finally, 8) these fine Gotoh open-gear beauties, keepers for sure.<br /></p><p>Here's a shot of the original store sticker from Bobby's in Denver:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwRoIvsc89f1PrgjWPzItDRheVzJ1ixx9Co6dC-Q1x52TaOG50LV0gZOEFQ0sFHfF5r_2eaZ7Bzk3k9EQuOKH3AIYy60DtQL-T352L5zVL8AoVrkCFbWAJ2NorS-5tmOdFoZqTSJrlfAdnk6mxWoQC237u8pQW6lfs2H77NkgrytXgVay831UfL61YVg=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwRoIvsc89f1PrgjWPzItDRheVzJ1ixx9Co6dC-Q1x52TaOG50LV0gZOEFQ0sFHfF5r_2eaZ7Bzk3k9EQuOKH3AIYy60DtQL-T352L5zVL8AoVrkCFbWAJ2NorS-5tmOdFoZqTSJrlfAdnk6mxWoQC237u8pQW6lfs2H77NkgrytXgVay831UfL61YVg=w640-h426" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>Very classy. Underneath that clear sticker, you can see a hint of what the finish originally looked like - a shade somewhat lighter than what the 55-77 aged into over the decades. If you look carefully, you can see the seam lines between each separate piece of mahogany.<br /></p><p>It's hard to take a photo that accurately shows the neck, so I didn't. Basically here's a description in a few words: It's made of a three piece mahogany sandwich, with alternating grain, so it's really strong, no fear of the headstock getting sheared off like a lot of older Pauls do. This guitar has fallen from stands and slipped off amps it was leaned upon, bumped into mic stands and drum hardware during frenetic shows, and even dropped onto a couple stages when straps have broken - snapping off tuner knobs - and never had a cracked or distressed neck.<br /></p><p>The neck profile is a bit different than most other guitars - it's wide and slim at the first couple frets, and gradually becomes really hefty by the 12th fret, over an inch thick there. Modern descriptors such as C or V or U just can't do justice to how it feels in your hand. If you play this Les for any amount of time, you'll always know where your fretting hand is, just by the differing thickness of wood under your thumb, coupled with varying fingerboard width as you get up the neck. The perfect "close your eyes while soloing" guitar.<br /></p><p>A close up of the rosewood fretboard and some of the wide, low profile frets:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWT3dDMWlAIrzB4LVkgQ-jhiUgtrGmKcVVTk59EL2chHXRxGML_JKUMwKjAaC1udHIl4vFnIUQYMeE2AflNLYV_Y5h4xLXOyc88v2ovWM6jpRKvPGfBY7H7yu-XCMBV3KzgYeBNLqlFTTKYZuYNOScmIkGtrFO8MgwADFH8JvtpVHiydSqzjFLPUmMeg=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWT3dDMWlAIrzB4LVkgQ-jhiUgtrGmKcVVTk59EL2chHXRxGML_JKUMwKjAaC1udHIl4vFnIUQYMeE2AflNLYV_Y5h4xLXOyc88v2ovWM6jpRKvPGfBY7H7yu-XCMBV3KzgYeBNLqlFTTKYZuYNOScmIkGtrFO8MgwADFH8JvtpVHiydSqzjFLPUmMeg=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p>Note the slightly flattish tops of these frets: all due to my own particular habit of doing note bends and wiggly vibrato. Also, there's no gouges or trenches in the rosewood; I fret with enough pressure but don't do the "death grip" thing.<br /></p><p>Stock and never been filed down or re-crowned, made of some indestructo material, they're the toughest frets I've ever seen, besides stainless, showing little wear although played a lot over the years. I've never really liked low frets, but that didn't stop me from playing the Special. Sure, I have a definite preference for a certain type of beer, but that doesn't prevent me from drinking and enjoying whatever brewski you hand me. All three of my electric guitars, the <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2021/05/ongoing-strat-partscaster-project-part.html" target="_blank">Parts-O-Caster</a>, the <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2016/11/1959-danelectro-double-cutaway-and.html" target="_blank">'59 Danelectro</a>, and this Gibson Special, feel very different in the hand, and have almost radically dissimilar tonal output. But hey, if all my friends were alike, life would be dull indeed; same with guitars.<br /></p><p>A lovely body for sure:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiHXy50wFqkcp8e3XQAAdPhkD5dXEi8fOgywnQy_WOYGp7Y0WejPJBP3TtmaUrTFRz5bNByBIyfuRZZmsY0GZd9dw6TZMTbNihJ0UsBIuRJOIRN5w-yFKQuqPO5Ya_V1qWnsP_2t8UD53XjEVMk3_vupbLJy80-dt4BlU7BQwmuPgy_7NOIwuAFP--lQ=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiHXy50wFqkcp8e3XQAAdPhkD5dXEi8fOgywnQy_WOYGp7Y0WejPJBP3TtmaUrTFRz5bNByBIyfuRZZmsY0GZd9dw6TZMTbNihJ0UsBIuRJOIRN5w-yFKQuqPO5Ya_V1qWnsP_2t8UD53XjEVMk3_vupbLJy80-dt4BlU7BQwmuPgy_7NOIwuAFP--lQ=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Unlike the neck the body is only one piece of very solid and heavy mahogany, no seams anywhere. <br /></p><p>As you can see, the control layout isn't like the usual Les Paul. Not too long after getting the Special I rewired for in/out of phase and series/parallel pickup selection, but that didn't last long. Like Jekyll and Hyde, my mad scientist brain enjoyed drawing circuit schematics and getting at it with a soldering iron, but my simple minded playing brain didn't like having to think at all. So the controls got dumbed down to where it's been ever since: single volume and tone, switch below the bridge - straightforward enough for the young Neanderthal rocker, and still okay with me.</p><p>The chicken-head knob (a vintage 1940s or '50s part, a gift from a friend) on the upper bout is attached to a pot with wires that go nowhere and do nothing. Looks cool though and fills in an empty hole. The cream colored pickup covers are a bit pinkish looking under certain lights, and I've been meaning to change them for decades. There's an un-plated solid nickel one in the parts bin, and next string change we'll see how it looks on the 55-77. The original black covers were replaced after messing up the bridge pickup cover during a late night experiment I'm not proud of - Dr Jekyll again. Don't ask.</p><p>As you can see, in bright sunlight the pickup covers aren't pinkish at all: <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiV-ZYws1D86kjQ_O68uUDhZpmejhZfQE5SN72HAy8TKHBTl01WJif_V1BFUct6j2lzoHgJUHmZhIjhiQEiRC31fVyBtU3ThFuu39kyReJh-wF-b9mhRazusQkVk0lhYHPqjJqPutgASiLLyENRzK3sullJC_1eXs4DP10md84YYU_09Y9Ex6mZU9FfIg=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiV-ZYws1D86kjQ_O68uUDhZpmejhZfQE5SN72HAy8TKHBTl01WJif_V1BFUct6j2lzoHgJUHmZhIjhiQEiRC31fVyBtU3ThFuu39kyReJh-wF-b9mhRazusQkVk0lhYHPqjJqPutgASiLLyENRzK3sullJC_1eXs4DP10md84YYU_09Y9Ex6mZU9FfIg=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>When one of the original black "speed" knobs fell off and got lost at a gig, I installed gold volume and tone knobs. One of those two split in half, and the ones on there now are almost new. The original aluminum strap buttons got changed to what the guy at the store in Nebraska in 1986 called "bass buttons" - nickel pegs larger than the usual ones - after the stock one at the tail end of the guitar broke off and disappeared. Packed away in a bag inside a bin, within a box on a shelf in the closet, there's a small collection of miscellaneous original parts; a strap button, three speed knobs and a couple of pots, two black pickup covers (one with holes in it), a corroded switch, switch plate and black knob...<br /></p><p>The Thomas sticker, which used to be on the Strat, is a gift from our youngest kid. There used to be a Tigger sticker on the pickguard, put there by his older sister (yellow + black guitar = Tigger), but it literally got played to shreds. I'm looking for another one like it, something like this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR5rEvl3HgiHSPInc4vm-tNQeom2JG1L8i3teiSqJntoU6gJVXYP9tW4cU_y_DAAAvPCqFY1URWKoIT9UsICIqTP-1tdNjbqoutNvCptN6-mC05UMCKgDEFEzvRAkTKvg7B_cLO_p5CzqCmpTpsl7sLV9IAdzR0N-fy8ufW2pTzb4srMal_IHShPkYEQ=s321" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="321" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR5rEvl3HgiHSPInc4vm-tNQeom2JG1L8i3teiSqJntoU6gJVXYP9tW4cU_y_DAAAvPCqFY1URWKoIT9UsICIqTP-1tdNjbqoutNvCptN6-mC05UMCKgDEFEzvRAkTKvg7B_cLO_p5CzqCmpTpsl7sLV9IAdzR0N-fy8ufW2pTzb4srMal_IHShPkYEQ=w400-h345" width="400" /></a></div><p>That's about it for mods. </p><p>Let's see - what else? That's the original bridge and tailpiece, recently cleaned and de-grunged; never had a reason to change
those, they work fine and stood up to hard usage, only had to replace one saddle. Same with the pickups - what we used to call "Gibson single coil
pickup", but are now known as P90. Very nice tone and texture,
moderately high output, non microphonic. I've tried a few different tone capacitors through the years, but went back to the stock little green one. With a pleasing tone and smooth non- peaky rotational response, it's a good match for these pickups - even better than Bumblebees or Black Beauties, Brown Blobs, Orange Drops, or Blue Hot Dogs. People actually give capacitors pet names - weird, huh?.</p><p>Through its life, the 55-77 has usually had various brands of regular gauge 10, 13, 17, 26, 36, 46 nickel strings. For a couple years it had a custom set: 10, 12, 17, 28, 38, 48; and currently it's got the slightly heavier GHS Gilmours: 10.5, 13, 17, 30, 40, 50, with a bit higher action for both finger and slide stuff.<br /></p><p>Here's some fun had with natural elements:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoAf3tQb6VYHwgWjuDZ52qpaQ1i1CysDiBwg35McIowkbfVFpviQRxJwirzHCLGcLkrKiQJ-qbm0ARnnxXKtsZ8yMpUMHkOppglhcEKkEl5WSpIvnRRZNMNcrtIYPAWWSrdiB6JJ2l0un_Dd1L_s7gbzxTDTQU_NtdNVwXBaT60tPjxqr_r_HTkxqWgg=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoAf3tQb6VYHwgWjuDZ52qpaQ1i1CysDiBwg35McIowkbfVFpviQRxJwirzHCLGcLkrKiQJ-qbm0ARnnxXKtsZ8yMpUMHkOppglhcEKkEl5WSpIvnRRZNMNcrtIYPAWWSrdiB6JJ2l0un_Dd1L_s7gbzxTDTQU_NtdNVwXBaT60tPjxqr_r_HTkxqWgg=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>When it was new, this Paul just looked too nice and newish. And though I wasn't treating it gently, the heavy polymer finish didn't get broken in like the older guitars I had. So being the young idiot I was, I set about giving it some visual history. Took it
to gigs, rehearsals and the studio without its case, just thrown into the
back seat. One really cold 5 degree day in the Colorado Rockies, I forgot it was there and left it in the car overnight.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4LZjqa6-0D7LUjSillx0qLXwqOc7tG9CIJwdpWjAQA8IPF7wVdO19BpvhRHL_jn2WHt43dCHvftyItoHx4CpxJQIVnErZDoNH3wLQpDwdA0yRsAoV7Enje9-7Y8juRB_eVUa1OSbuTtfrQtyonnu6smarztx9jGGKu0vWRAhbbvLAVC0wCrdE5dXoIg=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4LZjqa6-0D7LUjSillx0qLXwqOc7tG9CIJwdpWjAQA8IPF7wVdO19BpvhRHL_jn2WHt43dCHvftyItoHx4CpxJQIVnErZDoNH3wLQpDwdA0yRsAoV7Enje9-7Y8juRB_eVUa1OSbuTtfrQtyonnu6smarztx9jGGKu0vWRAhbbvLAVC0wCrdE5dXoIg=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>It wasn't exactly done on purpose, but the resultant finish cracking was like instant character:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjRd1IuDarPn0JBGmwVXWdBgpq7xJ9nFGj7WpTuyq3HPxdyTlsaK4zHLNRXqBWWh7heCpge-_hBiVLdt7PavW3QJ2rGQLnb3urnzKB87bJwv7QpH7uxzjM3hJCYDHwTlCO3jniQk8iZ6KOJNTvjtlMgnm2lyvkWsH7EMqLrT1doVeOstBiVEZnIEH5_A=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjRd1IuDarPn0JBGmwVXWdBgpq7xJ9nFGj7WpTuyq3HPxdyTlsaK4zHLNRXqBWWh7heCpge-_hBiVLdt7PavW3QJ2rGQLnb3urnzKB87bJwv7QpH7uxzjM3hJCYDHwTlCO3jniQk8iZ6KOJNTvjtlMgnm2lyvkWsH7EMqLrT1doVeOstBiVEZnIEH5_A=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>You can see by the photos above that the finish is fairly thick, a typical 1970s sort of coating. If it was a more retro nitro, or even just plain paint like what's on my 1959 Danelectro, this guitar would be even more visually interesting. In the modern age, it's considered cool to take sandpaper to an instrument and artificially "age" it, but that's so obviously phony you wonder why anyone would do that.<br /></p><p>There are a few nice real dings:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF2O1SgXSryi3Fv5eeJQdwD4YBvjS5uKuFDVCg-B0A3C1pVvzxynvCEPQn3ub3_uhJieO6GtIKjmO3TojzGWmkC5KamZs2J-bQQPiiq-A-_4iR85oelRxa4UJVgyBcGZyMPBkZX28Sa5WUXwl9NVaapZEIGKPLJWUzpoeeUPRhjrgFQoqLcIFRXLg4eQ=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF2O1SgXSryi3Fv5eeJQdwD4YBvjS5uKuFDVCg-B0A3C1pVvzxynvCEPQn3ub3_uhJieO6GtIKjmO3TojzGWmkC5KamZs2J-bQQPiiq-A-_4iR85oelRxa4UJVgyBcGZyMPBkZX28Sa5WUXwl9NVaapZEIGKPLJWUzpoeeUPRhjrgFQoqLcIFRXLg4eQ=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>That's some thick and tough skin on there! Due to its heavy finish, most of the Paul is free of deep divots, not because I was being careful, which I wasn't. Tough skin, 3-piece neck, monolithic single piece body - this thing is built like a tank.<br /></p><p>In my younger days I wore a heavy rose pattern, cast brass belt buckle that did some cool damage to the backs of other guitars, but not so much here. Just a few gouges that didn't faze the finish:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsRox5uXUFxl-KZs7vcJx7Zt7YWDTYDR1QifJ6VadPzdDLdDpy4rMCzHjaYsZwpUydiJIPRFtPrVvhPN0C_wLU_NzBH5h3o_2cOrOcg8f0JSQugKynzy_hhqO_eHD_RUGl8fN3c13V0B4vozuQlT_JW-lyjV3lFOYCnqlx82l1WN4-Vx3j7-k-s5pYjA=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsRox5uXUFxl-KZs7vcJx7Zt7YWDTYDR1QifJ6VadPzdDLdDpy4rMCzHjaYsZwpUydiJIPRFtPrVvhPN0C_wLU_NzBH5h3o_2cOrOcg8f0JSQugKynzy_hhqO_eHD_RUGl8fN3c13V0B4vozuQlT_JW-lyjV3lFOYCnqlx82l1WN4-Vx3j7-k-s5pYjA=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>Here's a picture of the back of the Les Paul Special, in dim Oregon winter cloudy daylight:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8Kuqc0mC-JmkOOuyfO0pdx6Kc3RN9BgNi-vPdGsDvzzpFi5lxut91Ysv97zgnBgz-CPkrf-1_UHg7cxQbb6C3EnUFzed1-B-RAJyyRiw0jgfypRYLIr_dVr73fljyZsLdjoCylfcL19UQ0luABtUJl6towur05nQcrKunEZ8bc2EP7QWyG4lIwUFjjQ=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8Kuqc0mC-JmkOOuyfO0pdx6Kc3RN9BgNi-vPdGsDvzzpFi5lxut91Ysv97zgnBgz-CPkrf-1_UHg7cxQbb6C3EnUFzed1-B-RAJyyRiw0jgfypRYLIr_dVr73fljyZsLdjoCylfcL19UQ0luABtUJl6towur05nQcrKunEZ8bc2EP7QWyG4lIwUFjjQ=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Nice chocolate brown control covers, stock and original. Once I tried getting a matching brown pickguard made at a specialty shop in SoCal, but after a strange conversation with someone who appeared to be living on another astral plane, it didn't seem like a good idea. Especially when he suggested leaving the Paul at the shop overnight.<br /></p><p>Ever since it was new, the Special has always felt great, played great, and sounded great, and it's still all that today. My first quality guitar, a 1947 Martin D18, had tall narrow frets and a chunky V shaped neck, and this Les Paul's wide flat fretwire and slimmer neck felt a bit odd at first. But that was immediately forgotten as soon as I plugged into a '50s Fender Deluxe and cranked it up - the tone was there, effortlessly perfect at any spot on the volume knob, with all the fidelity, grit, and sustain I could ask for.<br /></p><p>In my (and the guitar's) gigging days I would often get offers to buy it, sometimes for ridiculously high amounts, but never once considered selling. Over the years, I've lost the Special three times, not knowing if I would ever see it again. Each incident is a long story in itself - one involves a somewhat evil guy, twice there were saints and a series of fortuitous and improbable events, and in the end it always came back. I suspect that means the 55-77 is mine for all time, and that's all right with me.<br /></p><p>One last photo of my old friend, the 1977 Gibson Les Paul Special 55-77:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWgkyvReXduf-lIVUHU_6RAycD8_WEE7lIPCAI2beiGICRAWE0wahzZVnJ865s9_Q1SIUoldXATJuanCbNamDVmu15KbZgmZzKKFmUUZNbezQTxnPPLzDOInDYFWG_8VGWiAk2gAUtCZ4RkWHfZlcdma6-FVsihJUrc0U3aNaaDqLAVF1u5m_z_mSobw=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="575" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWgkyvReXduf-lIVUHU_6RAycD8_WEE7lIPCAI2beiGICRAWE0wahzZVnJ865s9_Q1SIUoldXATJuanCbNamDVmu15KbZgmZzKKFmUUZNbezQTxnPPLzDOInDYFWG_8VGWiAk2gAUtCZ4RkWHfZlcdma6-FVsihJUrc0U3aNaaDqLAVF1u5m_z_mSobw=w480-h640" width="431" /></a></div><p><br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-74611600083904643102022-02-27T17:44:00.007-08:002022-03-04T08:33:16.703-08:00First Signs of Approaching Spring<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid1V5QO_D5lVH_eMvIoG-krRkWbvMeosQJKOzxtNUgi3ZCZt7ImUgp8SSjA1A-iqKOLn23JCcH926f6MMMceQ5MuIkwTSUXVRDxf8OHMa94Mv2cwd6edhoZjGPbtghCVbkRkGrnwE7R2Zh4m8ifndYOF6keAPTcwI89a38DTDZuK3G8odrfV_luQAt9g=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid1V5QO_D5lVH_eMvIoG-krRkWbvMeosQJKOzxtNUgi3ZCZt7ImUgp8SSjA1A-iqKOLn23JCcH926f6MMMceQ5MuIkwTSUXVRDxf8OHMa94Mv2cwd6edhoZjGPbtghCVbkRkGrnwE7R2Zh4m8ifndYOF6keAPTcwI89a38DTDZuK3G8odrfV_luQAt9g=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t hasn't been a very good winter here in Oregon's Willamette Valley, unless you're one of the newly arrived from warmer and sunnier climates. There was a <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2022/01/saab-u-snow-car-of-north.html" target="_blank">snowy couple of days</a> in early January, and that was great, but overall there's been only a fraction of the usual amount of rain. The long multi decade drought cycle in the western United States continues, possibly to historic low levels of precipitation.<p></p><p>No matter what form our winters take, it's still always a welcome event when we see the first indications that spring is on its way. Over the last week and a half the temperatures dropped into the teens overnight, with highs not much above freezing, but the previous two days saw some warming, and today, although overcast, it got up to 60 degrees. Coincident with that, the first flowers in our yard popped up and opened out: spring crocuses, yellow and violet and white.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBlN4BXt75XAaJ4nI22qgRwNfSBu_DfUOU5f4SRoAUCkV_NLECswjlCjLrYBY1uGtaKdz-yW5KGG8CBCteFqdQ21VOmrpymERk60trq427ktU_OANsKdZNHbdaKv3TAfo1xFdNXbD8NIrP1oYYco7pRXb5qx4I_vCkzAJCZapWK9slcdKL7zDyWCcnYQ=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBlN4BXt75XAaJ4nI22qgRwNfSBu_DfUOU5f4SRoAUCkV_NLECswjlCjLrYBY1uGtaKdz-yW5KGG8CBCteFqdQ21VOmrpymERk60trq427ktU_OANsKdZNHbdaKv3TAfo1xFdNXbD8NIrP1oYYco7pRXb5qx4I_vCkzAJCZapWK9slcdKL7zDyWCcnYQ=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>It won't be long now until tulips, daffodils, and grape hyacinths also show up to welcome the arrival of longer and warmer days. In the meantime, it's a cheery scene, to look out and see crocuses here and there, the first signs of spring.</p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Seen through open door -<br />First sign of approaching spring<br />One yellow crocus</i></span><br /></p><p><br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-50519720920440355292022-02-24T12:00:00.006-08:002022-03-31T00:06:25.858-07:00Thrift Store Fun: Vintage 1960 Norelco AD-4877M "Labor of Love"<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaRBuNlcncuRZmVEHee2MN5-a1v8H6MeqQBw7Za33K0NwZbaUcR1iqSO6Ng6lx6QL5eErJwBOi1gL07WUhNk7VjAWKMrD5K4Zcgi6-CSqHh70WYIYTACiJH5OOcFPPCYLCZ9mHFFnZoH2O_q11I0sIX6LQaN3sW95yZdA0YQxZ8m9ciQnH8NmdgEtkXQ=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaRBuNlcncuRZmVEHee2MN5-a1v8H6MeqQBw7Za33K0NwZbaUcR1iqSO6Ng6lx6QL5eErJwBOi1gL07WUhNk7VjAWKMrD5K4Zcgi6-CSqHh70WYIYTACiJH5OOcFPPCYLCZ9mHFFnZoH2O_q11I0sIX6LQaN3sW95yZdA0YQxZ8m9ciQnH8NmdgEtkXQ=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>ednesday was a dental appointment day in neighboring Springfield, and afterwards we stopped by the St Vincent's thrift store on Q St. There were some interesting Asian ceramic pieces in stock that day, and my eye was caught by a pair of brightly</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> painted</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> home made speaker cabinets.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">According to the staff, some idiot removed all the screws holding the back panels on, yet still couldn’t get them off, and then grabbed the burlap grill cloth of one cab and ripped it, just to see what the speaker looked like. Seeing a dual “whizzer” cone, he left in a huff, leaving a bunch of screws laying around.</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">No doubt due to their appearance, these cabs were priced low, so I took a gamble since I’ve had good luck in the past with brightly painted home brewed cabs built in a certain era. It was obvious to me what they were: a labor of love by a 1950s or ‘60s do-it-yourselfer home handyman with a limited tool selection:</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> an electric jig saw, drill,
screwdriver, caulking gun, pencil and probably a long ruler, were all that was needed to build
up these cute yellow cabinets</span></span></span></span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeSAGkUWks13JkPqsnpyjjeykzzm0tR5frsQeIHKKPh1W8rh1ohpvZ-U3oL5uUR7-aeZaB58jRJTCYQ89Ky2SNBFAa2xjnRQJW2AOe-_nNolZYvMWhwRzjIBpz3n1GM6uiJch-VlYKcsKBfzzvUQ_PiRH2yufNNbT9QUzzDCgkPykiaaq8pKb3cFreFA=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeSAGkUWks13JkPqsnpyjjeykzzm0tR5frsQeIHKKPh1W8rh1ohpvZ-U3oL5uUR7-aeZaB58jRJTCYQ89Ky2SNBFAa2xjnRQJW2AOe-_nNolZYvMWhwRzjIBpz3n1GM6uiJch-VlYKcsKBfzzvUQ_PiRH2yufNNbT9QUzzDCgkPykiaaq8pKb3cFreFA=w640-h640" width="554" /></a></div></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Mr Handyman also had a novel solution for framing the
grill material; in spite of having few tools to work with, he was an intelligent and most likely a creative sort of person.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">One
indication that these speaker cabs were valued by the builder was a
blue Allied Van Lines sticker on one, showing he thought enough
of them to pay to transport them as part of a whole house move, most
likely to another region of the country.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6Wq8A_aMWE8UjVPU4z_cf4ZzQudAhLtMfi_mjqAtqcT2_y8a1coBG8JsJwYkDQiEp5CnUejgvEq6cHZaGPwR7QIIs9ngEX73K_AukP2rRqUpwDZ3G1OW-V9hiKc6VoYRJtQZOjUmd8-UWmvAaUcM4X7IDdcRwLL6xrYSM6Q2sOglnPKa2ahlFX9Uzrw=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6Wq8A_aMWE8UjVPU4z_cf4ZzQudAhLtMfi_mjqAtqcT2_y8a1coBG8JsJwYkDQiEp5CnUejgvEq6cHZaGPwR7QIIs9ngEX73K_AukP2rRqUpwDZ3G1OW-V9hiKc6VoYRJtQZOjUmd8-UWmvAaUcM4X7IDdcRwLL6xrYSM6Q2sOglnPKa2ahlFX9Uzrw=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Nice heavyweight terminals:</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYdMGu8DrEq6H-QP0NSoEdbiKLm8de-kACAn5Dt0aiIDnVvpxYu7BpGY1RwVkfgkQfJCPXJ-FroU2aSEYuhz2sgcZzNOwSIL08QCUDrN1GbTmw_FTq8bQE-LYr4nZuE8Yehle_8Qb4KBLn9NfujeipkCzARmuFThlDhQ85BerxEl4z8ZQCbP4aCO5_gw=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYdMGu8DrEq6H-QP0NSoEdbiKLm8de-kACAn5Dt0aiIDnVvpxYu7BpGY1RwVkfgkQfJCPXJ-FroU2aSEYuhz2sgcZzNOwSIL08QCUDrN1GbTmw_FTq8bQE-LYr4nZuE8Yehle_8Qb4KBLn9NfujeipkCzARmuFThlDhQ85BerxEl4z8ZQCbP4aCO5_gw=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">They metered out as okay:</span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhobkX1rigPlOLY2wejQpKrTdXdHmeAwVQt-uxJltIDZvslfu5vYEC01er9Kt9UbdNypDqCpL-RpsAzBnVkX0BFanSITMDmEhZFJqojNNPDVnx9JZw554HwmOtLIK6VltFm9VUBiW9N2kLLf3J-jpZOkJReYqlyIH7QELTIqq0e2q-Ziu8H4cpBp0sPFA=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhobkX1rigPlOLY2wejQpKrTdXdHmeAwVQt-uxJltIDZvslfu5vYEC01er9Kt9UbdNypDqCpL-RpsAzBnVkX0BFanSITMDmEhZFJqojNNPDVnx9JZw554HwmOtLIK6VltFm9VUBiW9N2kLLf3J-jpZOkJReYqlyIH7QELTIqq0e2q-Ziu8H4cpBp0sPFA=w640-h640" width="554" /></a></div><p><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The jerko Vinnie’s customer couldn’t get the backs off because the entire cabinet was caulk sealed. Using a very small pry bar, it came apart easily, with a sharp snap and pop noise as the 60 year old caulking separated.</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The cleats were screwed in place:</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAFGb1lQkNySIBwGae-kejYfqVP2vhovIg0UlQnu8cibON78SnNWf_kbnNvDGvFS_PwkLsl6Qs_T5BgAXVJnAPNrymvYTOjrL0yBgZxApd-tdFA3PblA9jW0KViUifktpnV-ASmoJYkgJHLKRp3iR_xSog3GcQJkJ_AaL2Uw43sT_iIEBdldSTRWTekg=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAFGb1lQkNySIBwGae-kejYfqVP2vhovIg0UlQnu8cibON78SnNWf_kbnNvDGvFS_PwkLsl6Qs_T5BgAXVJnAPNrymvYTOjrL0yBgZxApd-tdFA3PblA9jW0KViUifktpnV-ASmoJYkgJHLKRp3iR_xSog3GcQJkJ_AaL2Uw43sT_iIEBdldSTRWTekg=w640-h640" width="554" /></a></div><br /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The builder had totally stuffed every cubic inch of the sealed non- ported cabinet with fibreglass batting. Although not done very often anymore, at the time it was sort of a popular concept in the DIY projects as seen in magazines like Popular Mechanics.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3C7yCfRbY2wL-_KfTLvnnzCCwPEQLwQ7Dr7PKxwRaHYaH67Tix5eF8oeNJ8J4QRhZw6mTMLA07j_XLiAtTZFMcTc6rdMM5e10u4Du5T4kfxfJqQQwId2eV2jYp0lv_OQGWhLEFirge6pyIHoIgzjLr9OZ0t5higTZTMqSmVeIQjlhQhThgRm7hGwagw=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3C7yCfRbY2wL-_KfTLvnnzCCwPEQLwQ7Dr7PKxwRaHYaH67Tix5eF8oeNJ8J4QRhZw6mTMLA07j_XLiAtTZFMcTc6rdMM5e10u4Du5T4kfxfJqQQwId2eV2jYp0lv_OQGWhLEFirge6pyIHoIgzjLr9OZ0t5higTZTMqSmVeIQjlhQhThgRm7hGwagw=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Down at the bottom of all that carcinogenic stew was this:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjM3P2HLVZvtOU0T-R45pQWwZo7TzdkTnvmmBLDwCNbHUucjZySSoIdCFUzDWTQKi5_Bhm3ElFmdSZIsFx2JOxq6vYYcp-sLdGpiesbWdfqwYFDgS-_vl2RVYoVh_zw5Ib5dtLrYKTzIA15FAZIfEFFz6Ow57GhDdTEOvBT3MQvBF-ci65y__V7ZwR50Q=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1920" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjM3P2HLVZvtOU0T-R45pQWwZo7TzdkTnvmmBLDwCNbHUucjZySSoIdCFUzDWTQKi5_Bhm3ElFmdSZIsFx2JOxq6vYYcp-sLdGpiesbWdfqwYFDgS-_vl2RVYoVh_zw5Ib5dtLrYKTzIA15FAZIfEFFz6Ow57GhDdTEOvBT3MQvBF-ci65y__V7ZwR50Q=w640-h540" width="575" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span><p></p><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Cool. The magnet cans look amazing, and the 8" (nominal size) speaker drivers themselves are really heavy.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggQwiz1_YOEaKcwI6QdDXx85VwzcYjhndtRffs9TS0DQyEJoy628nAiSOUoNncWLabMHk8krBRKkPlKl87d65rXf2bNJ_VJrJmCcNzwqbRwGc0QV1us6ulp8EQwzAIrUgAFDRsAfaA7MbHv0XBFwrxSOkFLF9bDS__7zpe5bwIFW5VK9I7zx7vHK3LUA=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggQwiz1_YOEaKcwI6QdDXx85VwzcYjhndtRffs9TS0DQyEJoy628nAiSOUoNncWLabMHk8krBRKkPlKl87d65rXf2bNJ_VJrJmCcNzwqbRwGc0QV1us6ulp8EQwzAIrUgAFDRsAfaA7MbHv0XBFwrxSOkFLF9bDS__7zpe5bwIFW5VK9I7zx7vHK3LUA=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The cones are in overall excellent shape, except for a small bit of damage to one surround, caused by the Gorilla of St Vincent's. Which sounds like the title of some story by Edgar Allen Poe.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQDeekcjcNV5q5o7ElHRnzgtrZt3SzERvtAdAYyoC6iEMeJGkOpYEnKEjKRbAN5F69rHlyqm0kjlN2op9O_E9GUeJRgUX42B2ELO7W3p5_DLBf4bD3nAd3VSAP45W8FLOwTQrLe3VqIC0I9NYv0-OJJADKkY2ZJWjl8QP1t0Fq2f2bfWwYfcjJ6rv7WA=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQDeekcjcNV5q5o7ElHRnzgtrZt3SzERvtAdAYyoC6iEMeJGkOpYEnKEjKRbAN5F69rHlyqm0kjlN2op9O_E9GUeJRgUX42B2ELO7W3p5_DLBf4bD3nAd3VSAP45W8FLOwTQrLe3VqIC0I9NYv0-OJJADKkY2ZJWjl8QP1t0Fq2f2bfWwYfcjJ6rv7WA=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjL82iUVqJr-EUXPFz8LEElrzhTtsjNGct-ErVhImVFmEbznIDsrS05P28puQw8Ot5JlPZ10CFTK5QqkThEnNOhagnv0KXaSXzsoA_mWuphcxGno6Y0UfalEvywr1_dLZLOQsGocjAhP6HBCjk4OS-HCSeIwYqSGewyMye1a1W-kWCwlM4N6ZOd8Fyhog=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjL82iUVqJr-EUXPFz8LEElrzhTtsjNGct-ErVhImVFmEbznIDsrS05P28puQw8Ot5JlPZ10CFTK5QqkThEnNOhagnv0KXaSXzsoA_mWuphcxGno6Y0UfalEvywr1_dLZLOQsGocjAhP6HBCjk4OS-HCSeIwYqSGewyMye1a1W-kWCwlM4N6ZOd8Fyhog=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><br /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">"What a maroon!”, as Bugs Bunny would say. (hint for those not familiar with classic Warner Bros cartoons: Bugs meant to say "moron")</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Here’s the label:</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjltE8ZQK1EokPgJTCzk34ZSvoxG33aMx2EmkeRLgB8lyYqitHP8i06YdZ25mtzqxxp4k6ef2irwhm6-Ygz8U7t_Xqd5770t-qa66tWqOe_5Gm0bKXh1wEfW7veQNynNHCo_N-IZLYrs-nK2pi1LNyoje6bUjQ-9EMqcuT-HkHKu_CxVmSAMlvi_O9oFQ=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjltE8ZQK1EokPgJTCzk34ZSvoxG33aMx2EmkeRLgB8lyYqitHP8i06YdZ25mtzqxxp4k6ef2irwhm6-Ygz8U7t_Xqd5770t-qa66tWqOe_5Gm0bKXh1wEfW7veQNynNHCo_N-IZLYrs-nK2pi1LNyoje6bUjQ-9EMqcuT-HkHKu_CxVmSAMlvi_O9oFQ=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><br /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">An online pdf of a vintage Norelco hi-fi ad shows these AD 4877M drivers as costing $26 apiece back in the day, which is the equivalent of over $600 for the pair in today’s money - no wonder the builder / owner kept them through a long distance move.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiITIQuCX5Tq3aWmTnI0ErUaxGNoqo0Q6UgLw3F2oatx27d7e9ht5TNcSm6PqjcvvjM4WVKBp4T2DDnX-Cq-k4kiiw71L6yS6GAZqRVrXWM7lKfR2Dkd-6LtTTVLfp00PqroyUC8moMJbOkmcycawXc-7o_48ZUDvwnUipmEC3E_36lp4ngv7rYJma98w=s1390" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="1390" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiITIQuCX5Tq3aWmTnI0ErUaxGNoqo0Q6UgLw3F2oatx27d7e9ht5TNcSm6PqjcvvjM4WVKBp4T2DDnX-Cq-k4kiiw71L6yS6GAZqRVrXWM7lKfR2Dkd-6LtTTVLfp00PqroyUC8moMJbOkmcycawXc-7o_48ZUDvwnUipmEC3E_36lp4ngv7rYJma98w=w640-h476" width="575" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">In the pre-internet days I'd seen a magazine article mentioning Norelco and Philips Alnico magnet drivers as being well suited for use with flat panel "open baffle" speaker design. Checking online today, it’s hard to say if that was so - one of many things gone down the internet memory hole. </span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />Well, let's see what these Norelco speakers sound like.<span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> I hooked up the cabs, one as-is sealed and chock full o’ fibreglass, and the other with no batting and the back removed to approximate an open baffle audio experience, and had a listen to some</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> pieces on the local classical station, KWAX</span></span></span></span></span>, and selected tracks from a few of my favorite test CDs:</span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Sarah Vaughan, "Sarah Vaughan" (1954); Bill Evans Trio, "Sunday at the Village Vanguard" (1961); Bill Morrisey, "Songs of Mississippi John Hurt" (1999); Modern Jazz Quartet, "Django" (1953-1955); Beach Boys, "Pet Sounds" (1966); Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, "Jazz Samba" (1962); Dread Zeppelin, "Un-Led-Ed" (1990) - If you haven't yet heard Dread Zeppelin, you're in for a unique listening experience: Led Zeppelin tunes done by an ultra tight rock group in a Reggae style, with vocals by an Elvis impersonator.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Also auditioned were a rare String Quartet in E minor by Giuseppe Verdi (Joe Green!), JS Bach's French Suites played by Andras Schiff, Samuel Barber's Symphony No 1, and one of my all time faves, "Graceful Ghost Rag" by William Bolcom.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh64MDibTKfJgJ8z6pMHk93i1ZjYygd40Xr2QDlxiOgYC-2E8iab2Yz8qa_tQbCtSL3ukOc5u4JEYflB1xqlOgd1KvsMNQDnnLHRszxRKV2Ry99LQEP5ARz-hoEwcdp-w5BEns3JATKWPeAZgYPzZ1abt0pHMt5yBbT84Wm9rXeUqT1NuyNqKdtWagCQw=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh64MDibTKfJgJ8z6pMHk93i1ZjYygd40Xr2QDlxiOgYC-2E8iab2Yz8qa_tQbCtSL3ukOc5u4JEYflB1xqlOgd1KvsMNQDnnLHRszxRKV2Ry99LQEP5ARz-hoEwcdp-w5BEns3JATKWPeAZgYPzZ1abt0pHMt5yBbT84Wm9rXeUqT1NuyNqKdtWagCQw=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Never mind the slightly comical looking cabinets - these are nothing less than the greatest sounding single driver speakers I’ve ever heard, and very efficient - at a guess I’d say at least 25% higher efficiency than the Wolverine 8” loaded (plus 12” woofer) Electro-Voice Leyton speakers I have in the living room. Truly astounding detail - I could hear every nuance of brushes caressing the snare skins on vintage jazz recordings, Sarah Vaughan at conversational volume level sounded like she was right there in the room, the separation of moving harmony lines in the Verdi string quartet was incredibly lifelike, and Carl Wilson's vocal on the Beach Boys Pet Sounds album cut “God Only Knows” was sweeter and more angelic than I’ve ever heard it.</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Since Pet Sounds is a mono mix I panned between the two cabs to hear differences in the cabinet configuration, and found the open back cab to be a bit more efficient (louder), and the closed one to have a slightly better low end, but not by very much.</span></span></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHFkWCnwokfgsnvrNYRbdgsEbDcsFHRAc-3KuWVFkRrobXhZYOs9PlRchYctdaZqHRA6RzXEeeBPCxJrQWalfjrRFQWC46XPj7yyG3M7FBVVFS-glgZd2FWVzJBVSx0xIhEDHHvpJQjQY_9x-ZcGJQVa5r0QG0kEnsJMt7Aupw2RhMNi93saF7S1uSqQ=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHFkWCnwokfgsnvrNYRbdgsEbDcsFHRAc-3KuWVFkRrobXhZYOs9PlRchYctdaZqHRA6RzXEeeBPCxJrQWalfjrRFQWC46XPj7yyG3M7FBVVFS-glgZd2FWVzJBVSx0xIhEDHHvpJQjQY_9x-ZcGJQVa5r0QG0kEnsJMt7Aupw2RhMNi93saF7S1uSqQ=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Uh oh, I feel another project coming on. Maybe build a pair of solid pine open back cabinets the same size as these yellow things (external dimensions 13.5" x 19" x 12", 1/2" plywood baffle). Or maybe just keep those funky 1950s labor-of-love cabs just the way they are, enjoy the wonderful sound, and who cares what they look like?</span></span> <br /></span></span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-39194167181937426812022-02-04T10:54:00.033-08:002022-02-19T01:32:59.774-08:00Fourteen Random Photos<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUKmGUxoKHdrWeN8dYr1pf3cUMWH-7g_EFr9azSrEq9pDjhm6iLQ_I27m8X69dEn6MpWMsvoD9EXhEUKTD6Nl2EKkxQ0hGkTULAt_xY64ZgVWW46EH0WAydVWvGUOJXgMP7quJ8Ek6m5xNHDgrVUXp9AUsxRpSXgGTqtVTpSsYsGCAnl8jbnoST_vQpg=s1920" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUKmGUxoKHdrWeN8dYr1pf3cUMWH-7g_EFr9azSrEq9pDjhm6iLQ_I27m8X69dEn6MpWMsvoD9EXhEUKTD6Nl2EKkxQ0hGkTULAt_xY64ZgVWW46EH0WAydVWvGUOJXgMP7quJ8Ek6m5xNHDgrVUXp9AUsxRpSXgGTqtVTpSsYsGCAnl8jbnoST_vQpg=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixie Houses<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>ere are fourteen randomly selected photos. Taken with a variety of cameras and phones, some are recent, some not so new, and one is quite antique.</p><p>In the picture above, we were hoping that some small creatures, whether mythical or actual, would take up residence. Possibly they did, but if so they were invisible except to the mind's eye.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggRWFkbLfGFKF6ZWueIlZVrjYj3yPkCorBqHnokitgaeqxwx6ECSr2BVvCRrKEaTbcwZT8P4BJhNKJrvV35ROYwmpFwortlQs1vn3vT65GJ331RGP046yxoHgz6GX0QdIgoFe7Xc3SRfXuTQx4utxEnhP636_MRLn8KiP9ZePcqGFJ33qBrfFzSk6yDA=s1920" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggRWFkbLfGFKF6ZWueIlZVrjYj3yPkCorBqHnokitgaeqxwx6ECSr2BVvCRrKEaTbcwZT8P4BJhNKJrvV35ROYwmpFwortlQs1vn3vT65GJ331RGP046yxoHgz6GX0QdIgoFe7Xc3SRfXuTQx4utxEnhP636_MRLn8KiP9ZePcqGFJ33qBrfFzSk6yDA=w640-h640" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Two Yams<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> Two Yamaha acoustic guitars (CSF-60, FS800T), plus other stuff.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbdBbVhc1cbxnKxgsV6HPWuwhIWa0bXRKRB0JesK3crrdvxKndx0ITwT-9fsOGwQaP64h4v96mUYfFIuM-rfdjgjiumqsw-zi0-d1nBUiCl2bqo8vKjMWDqzJcBDUA_UAQHZpWNsQksvjLb5VJpFENGPHinazd6KdoJhw1z0WgburL4J8zIVZFbTy5rw=s1920" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbdBbVhc1cbxnKxgsV6HPWuwhIWa0bXRKRB0JesK3crrdvxKndx0ITwT-9fsOGwQaP64h4v96mUYfFIuM-rfdjgjiumqsw-zi0-d1nBUiCl2bqo8vKjMWDqzJcBDUA_UAQHZpWNsQksvjLb5VJpFENGPHinazd6KdoJhw1z0WgburL4J8zIVZFbTy5rw=w640-h640" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Studio<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>At Kyle's studio, featuring his wall sized homage to Elliot Smith's "Figure 8" album cover. Also semi- hidden but in plain sight is my old Danelectro / Silvertone bass.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXcd8ky-BDYCd-BvV-BWL6DAUCXvX7nV4azUR7Jp8Jy2P1I3t3KsDfWc_f2JMV9Pry23eNhH_bUxAVutWre1-XtYFRMkbj9cWc6_D7aGh_q5RsivgtGTqL8sKG4JG3tq7Z6vjoXr1FkIx1xYSsXeOm0SMhhgrmMxWSJxqD0Qs9r_mFZD2TrXu43API7g=s1480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1480" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXcd8ky-BDYCd-BvV-BWL6DAUCXvX7nV4azUR7Jp8Jy2P1I3t3KsDfWc_f2JMV9Pry23eNhH_bUxAVutWre1-XtYFRMkbj9cWc6_D7aGh_q5RsivgtGTqL8sKG4JG3tq7Z6vjoXr1FkIx1xYSsXeOm0SMhhgrmMxWSJxqD0Qs9r_mFZD2TrXu43API7g=w640-h512" width="575" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impressionistic Jimmy<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A crop of an image posted on this site earlier, "<a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2020/05/one-day-at-la-pointe-de-fermin-1971.html" target="_blank">Un Jour à La Pointe de Fermin, 1973</a>". My humble attempt at emulating a painterly impressionist style.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZQad0cEZ95eHsUUCK_LEBWEcnXYmIavQ9PlX-eE0z-E1FiG6yrckGyE6jSI2D3CvZ8vpo4ARxt3NEZM9pNKEn_3P5iOrmB31Nu1egxckEpRGoUEyh4DZ22rgOYaWG6iqLBIprRguwcF8xBKNOTseh0gjIMTSzn-CrpOzhD_NBS_MBvlxM5tINS86pLQ=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZQad0cEZ95eHsUUCK_LEBWEcnXYmIavQ9PlX-eE0z-E1FiG6yrckGyE6jSI2D3CvZ8vpo4ARxt3NEZM9pNKEn_3P5iOrmB31Nu1egxckEpRGoUEyh4DZ22rgOYaWG6iqLBIprRguwcF8xBKNOTseh0gjIMTSzn-CrpOzhD_NBS_MBvlxM5tINS86pLQ=w640-h426" width="575" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Deer<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Christmas is a fun time around here. Besides a fully decked out tree, door wreath, and holly draped piano, there are also various decorations throughout the house, including this bookshelf display of tiny deer and bottle brush trees.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg10QIi6WDNHJY6o3r4ImnnlpN7kTSIZ75PQGVwGBWfVmHqdg7p8p585vdUlxnPg0XtgAPNNPC364DqKURkWsmSx0Yfg3lHQhmAcLDDy5UHBT_6xvMXs6bAU3hbkrH75DLIpcHqhTyb8ulRw4i84N-NFkDq3bCHAXeyx5O6aLXMtoqpgQvQAmvt5vHdEg=s1371" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1371" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg10QIi6WDNHJY6o3r4ImnnlpN7kTSIZ75PQGVwGBWfVmHqdg7p8p585vdUlxnPg0XtgAPNNPC364DqKURkWsmSx0Yfg3lHQhmAcLDDy5UHBT_6xvMXs6bAU3hbkrH75DLIpcHqhTyb8ulRw4i84N-NFkDq3bCHAXeyx5O6aLXMtoqpgQvQAmvt5vHdEg=w640-h404" width="575" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isuzu at the Canoe Launch<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>It was a perfect day to go canoeing: warm, light breeze, and mostly overcast, so there was little danger of sunburn. Actually, cloudy is a way of life here in western Oregon.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiDZmhl94uW4-yPRIdY3UF-Kosp3HZrW2OlfzguCnGYCgbXckUQke3ZcfSqCoP6bHOCm2MokcTC4vs7-qgRHBwl5JDXjN0LF3PyBTjPnRIt-yelAEl7PnKmg329ulXBk1zdH3nUmuGd-jjA75465xfJyDrWs31jhZCeJhBGFfY27p94Izbx9-XaHwrbw=s1920" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiDZmhl94uW4-yPRIdY3UF-Kosp3HZrW2OlfzguCnGYCgbXckUQke3ZcfSqCoP6bHOCm2MokcTC4vs7-qgRHBwl5JDXjN0LF3PyBTjPnRIt-yelAEl7PnKmg329ulXBk1zdH3nUmuGd-jjA75465xfJyDrWs31jhZCeJhBGFfY27p94Izbx9-XaHwrbw=w640-h640" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost Perfect Pie<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Sometimes a home made pumpkin pie will turn out perfectly, and this is one of those rare and wonderful events. Absolutely a slice of heaven served with freshly whipped cream, subtly flavored with sugar and vanilla.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC7IPeAdgMC3JOKnQG-RXNZvktILCGaVhIGLVNAatLG_9dOWf_SxcE7_lAPZSOokBHsTXVHc1jC2ARBV4_I42FibYPkEGe6Qh7nFWlEeu5oCt10uVUUTQDhHebJeHBbICsdR7gCM13rfO76pLJZS7s2laAOleinHgTTzz_bCStkH1gbVvewP5ELxGHKA=s3648" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC7IPeAdgMC3JOKnQG-RXNZvktILCGaVhIGLVNAatLG_9dOWf_SxcE7_lAPZSOokBHsTXVHc1jC2ARBV4_I42FibYPkEGe6Qh7nFWlEeu5oCt10uVUUTQDhHebJeHBbICsdR7gCM13rfO76pLJZS7s2laAOleinHgTTzz_bCStkH1gbVvewP5ELxGHKA=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial Dragonfly</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Came out of the neighborhood medium sized supermarket, and found this amazingly calm dragonfly perched atop the radio antenna. It stayed on the aerial for about two blocks of slow driving, before it flew off to fulfill its destiny.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiE-dFg2izQSSGgEZbjfCLhzt6bfkeqjZGgbeZt2FufzFoK6U7SWkNox2ZHcqhBQRaecdhvyLXlgm7Nxdx5iat7oH1QSSWEvq6Vkx0DjvQszPAQoSJZ0GQYQhLpj3l9T6CcmAAVohs1ZdcnGKzijzLAnw8IioHqdDHC6Yfa4k1Csg41XsCJv2Clb_fENg=s1920" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiE-dFg2izQSSGgEZbjfCLhzt6bfkeqjZGgbeZt2FufzFoK6U7SWkNox2ZHcqhBQRaecdhvyLXlgm7Nxdx5iat7oH1QSSWEvq6Vkx0DjvQszPAQoSJZ0GQYQhLpj3l9T6CcmAAVohs1ZdcnGKzijzLAnw8IioHqdDHC6Yfa4k1Csg41XsCJv2Clb_fENg=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eugene Toy & Guitar<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>With no logo decal, the headstock on the long-term project <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2021/05/ongoing-strat-partscaster-project-part.html" target="_blank">Strat Parts-O-Caster</a> has been looking sort of barren since the new one-piece FujiGen maple neck was installed. A sticker from the Eugene Toy & Hobby store might just be the answer.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT1pcr51y50v0rJWN2xKdKdrS9M0ixu_4d-E-OgZLvAOPtdmPivHKySR6Z1mq8HrIidrMNZM7GtHvhePr3nye3yesCQG9g9IfiX9z_j4IKx-ZdwEy1Ox1YMUF5QuxEMp-WVR5PUqVj94nT5432ZYNAhxsIjdKuurKPafjIGih50NwFPC7ZjLW-yPiIXw=s2400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT1pcr51y50v0rJWN2xKdKdrS9M0ixu_4d-E-OgZLvAOPtdmPivHKySR6Z1mq8HrIidrMNZM7GtHvhePr3nye3yesCQG9g9IfiX9z_j4IKx-ZdwEy1Ox1YMUF5QuxEMp-WVR5PUqVj94nT5432ZYNAhxsIjdKuurKPafjIGih50NwFPC7ZjLW-yPiIXw=w640-h640" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chops in the Wild<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Taking a portable charcoal grill along when car- camping at campgrounds in National Forests and Parks can be a delicious thing. Thick burger-sized chops perfectly done, served on buns with barbecue sauce, Joe's dipper corn chips and guacamole, a fruit bowl at hand, and beer or lemonade. Life is good.<br /></p><p>And please don't come at me about the state of the grill. Exactly what part of "Camping Barbecue Grill" don't you understand? <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh85zMGgH1up2zmenLmcGjaiySjoGUJWYHzofbui-8HpRhpiDHjxBIiMT26wnuLG4F8pcmwRHTpww3B5QxH0ExdZ1rIReNsao05il490Y72eAqbn5Al1CWN5plrupVEXZo5t376jfaUvnex2vxbWdiu1a6Wqp3E1qWulifZuje2MFw3Ly55eJff3nSbRQ=s1920" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="1920" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh85zMGgH1up2zmenLmcGjaiySjoGUJWYHzofbui-8HpRhpiDHjxBIiMT26wnuLG4F8pcmwRHTpww3B5QxH0ExdZ1rIReNsao05il490Y72eAqbn5Al1CWN5plrupVEXZo5t376jfaUvnex2vxbWdiu1a6Wqp3E1qWulifZuje2MFw3Ly55eJff3nSbRQ=w640-h460" width="575" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matryoshka Amplifier<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>These nesting Matryoshka dolls were a gift, and a great place to display them is on top of the amplifier that drives a pair of 1970s JBL audio monitors. Every time I sit down to do some editing, they make me smile.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE-31Ezvqd_gR1Z2IgyJwsI90Pf_uAW_F7ciqeonEavWJQcXNikyXhZ_7wpsf6S3T0HL1fLTQ4WEQ_emq1cq1A6YPzosNmfDh30Ygb20v4xylt-3N5BX2VSasu8-AwXRpd1h2qxS5gPbtxiiKnDtZEZrM14hImq_sX976ADL8z8VgHSWaj5viUNpFk5g=s1280" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE-31Ezvqd_gR1Z2IgyJwsI90Pf_uAW_F7ciqeonEavWJQcXNikyXhZ_7wpsf6S3T0HL1fLTQ4WEQ_emq1cq1A6YPzosNmfDh30Ygb20v4xylt-3N5BX2VSasu8-AwXRpd1h2qxS5gPbtxiiKnDtZEZrM14hImq_sX976ADL8z8VgHSWaj5viUNpFk5g=w640-h640" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beat Up Altec<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>You might ask- how on earth does a speaker get so beat up? This Altec 417-8C was a brand shiny new gift when I first got it, but that didn't last long. Always installed in various Fender tube combo amplifiers, usually one of my mid-60s Deluxe Reverbs, it saw constant gigging duty.</p><p>After a show, often a one-nighter many miles of bad roads from home, we would toss equally beat up effects pedals, cables, and a Shure 545 mic into the back of an amp, and then chuck the whole thing into a car trunk or pickup bed. The bottom line was: whatever didn't survive that experience wasn't worth keeping. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCUmiGl9gaFarakLT3E5csZ4u5rozNHnixs_bMHFLZL4_VvBo_TNYy13D0aKw9Pjll32mPsZpED5bGQkT72CITK-7BMTJxoCdZrDWNpqYuG2jdoiAbpSO7SoZn5pqLLx6WBacw-ySLG6B2kzS-5E1gaDcShWSaVEqZrogcJ27ry2643W0ecbOgAPSBpw=s1920" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCUmiGl9gaFarakLT3E5csZ4u5rozNHnixs_bMHFLZL4_VvBo_TNYy13D0aKw9Pjll32mPsZpED5bGQkT72CITK-7BMTJxoCdZrDWNpqYuG2jdoiAbpSO7SoZn5pqLLx6WBacw-ySLG6B2kzS-5E1gaDcShWSaVEqZrogcJ27ry2643W0ecbOgAPSBpw=w640-h640" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spirit Lanterns<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>We like to have fun on the holidays. Okay, Halloween isn't really an official holiday, and in recent years the Lizard People have tried hard to kill it, but this Pagan rite still survives. Great family fun is having everyone create their own pumpkin jack-o-lanterns.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbzuAgjtQdrqlY9zOwrM2hoFetPTQ0IVSNUG1KrlwBa8rY09K6Nr7wjyNwNimNsI1VVeXvt-gjehOPOXfJ5G_8gKqvP0m7fBqPh2hUeuE48iGYXYteSuUH0p7uZm5rWIYYk7e4GZ2pUCtvKtHt3HIq_XUajnHSBX7r3_vlMOa8AZMZHokHzOUvlnY0bg=s1920" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1384" data-original-width="1920" height="415" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbzuAgjtQdrqlY9zOwrM2hoFetPTQ0IVSNUG1KrlwBa8rY09K6Nr7wjyNwNimNsI1VVeXvt-gjehOPOXfJ5G_8gKqvP0m7fBqPh2hUeuE48iGYXYteSuUH0p7uZm5rWIYYk7e4GZ2pUCtvKtHt3HIq_XUajnHSBX7r3_vlMOa8AZMZHokHzOUvlnY0bg=w640-h462" width="575" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Night<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The last thing I see before switching off the wood and paper night lamp. Good night!<br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-87806114832579948752022-01-29T13:20:00.023-08:002022-02-04T12:40:40.952-08:00Jonsan's Bridgestone XO-1 Build<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzYmwTHGHMbzjFW6tv0N8QGYIO4NZquHDUAQhAi-5HI6JO6eYg4DqU_TD7oOdizrC7MVsQd2QQT-WJbTDX01YiemngQAIdBkVvqYcS3qQHVJLmIvw1jhDwyuh2Y_RusiclAQV4_syFyM9sqPMnQdpsaiqi4vS6RoHyHmpFxscr9wJ1NAAkg4KXfG6d2w=s2016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzYmwTHGHMbzjFW6tv0N8QGYIO4NZquHDUAQhAi-5HI6JO6eYg4DqU_TD7oOdizrC7MVsQd2QQT-WJbTDX01YiemngQAIdBkVvqYcS3qQHVJLmIvw1jhDwyuh2Y_RusiclAQV4_syFyM9sqPMnQdpsaiqi4vS6RoHyHmpFxscr9wJ1NAAkg4KXfG6d2w=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>ere's a special treat, another beautiful bike build from my younger, smarter brother, Jonsan. In an earlier guest blogpost from him, about his then- latest project, a <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2014/09/gazelle-cyclocross.html" target="_blank">Gazelle "Crossframe"
cyclocross</a> bicycle, I wrote this:</p><p>"My brother Jonsan has always had some cool and interesting bicycles,
including the very first fixed gear bike I'd ever seen, a mid-80s
Schwinn Madison (which now lives in my garage, and sometimes roams the
streets of Eugene). He'll find a rare and/or beautiful frame and then
build it up with top quality components, and every once in a while he
sends me photos of his incredible creations." And now, without further ado, here, in his own words, is Jonsan:</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">For approximately a decade I have been wanting to find a 1993 Bridgestone XO-1. Among its unique features was a frame built with standard road tubing but sized for 26” wheels and the very unique moustache handlebar. While it originally came with 1.25” (32mm) tires which were considered wide-ish for the day it had clearance for much wider tires, a precursor to how the now popular “gravel” bikes are equipped. According the the 1993 Bridgestone catalog, only 1000 were made and my understanding is that they weren’t too popular and lots were leftover when they were discontinued the following year. I had a 1992 model which had similar specs but different colors for the frame and sidepull brakes but the 1993 which had an orange ("Construction Pumpkin” in the catalog) frame and cantilever brakes is the most desirable one to own.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtS2fwKRX9757nNAhEVVIwqQ2VfuaJ1fE3dFOXYiJ-2iqTBMb1GwaiWMfs5Rd2XpfWdF2NzsksZHDTj6adeSaswp-JK-bWVXgZz_7fvxy_wLyh-ragNs4jFxE1kyg-MYxPx-4vyk4jhFdvxnvMaUWQNmtRYnUZpHnL1cxaYTfiZRvzp5hXy-iOA-x9Uw=s2016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtS2fwKRX9757nNAhEVVIwqQ2VfuaJ1fE3dFOXYiJ-2iqTBMb1GwaiWMfs5Rd2XpfWdF2NzsksZHDTj6adeSaswp-JK-bWVXgZz_7fvxy_wLyh-ragNs4jFxE1kyg-MYxPx-4vyk4jhFdvxnvMaUWQNmtRYnUZpHnL1cxaYTfiZRvzp5hXy-iOA-x9Uw=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I found this in the local craigslist as a frameset only. It was in very nice shape for a frame that is close to 30 years old, so it appears to have not been ridden much. The gentleman who sold it is a big Bridgestone XO and Rivendell fan. He bought it knowing he was too tall for it hoping to trade it for a larger frame which didn’t materialize so he decided to sell. It wasn’t cheap (don’t ask) but it was priced several hundred dollars less than complete bikes go for, which is $$ saved for me as I had a specific build I wanted to do that didn’t include any of the original parts anyway.</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">All of the parts were already on hand to assemble the bike so no trips to the local bike shop or online purchases were necessary. The bottom bracket wasn’t the right length for the crankset I used and when I removed it the whole works were covered in metal shavings. I could still see paint on the outside edges of the bottom bracket shell so presumably the frame was prepped at the factory and then painted without cleaning up the mess beforehand! The headset felt a bit gritty to me so I disassembled it to regrease and adjust, and it was similarly full of shavings. Except for the headset cups (I did replace the bearings and their captive holders as I was too lazy to soak and clean the shaving encrusted moving bits) no other component is original to the bike.</span></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9uGvyjjxCM111-qwuY_hUueHJYG4l3f4OxrWf9bI6cD4Y8mwBoBTsGH01zUeKnQwL3LFHpsOslrLRYboyBSnwiGlaSR7a8I3fZEz9xIJBemZfdpf6pXGRFWQrquK6tJARi1DKrvdObWylrBJTK0iZAn1-ZQxbmi2ep0kp92lOibjwjrx8LcdyD0LDtA=s2016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9uGvyjjxCM111-qwuY_hUueHJYG4l3f4OxrWf9bI6cD4Y8mwBoBTsGH01zUeKnQwL3LFHpsOslrLRYboyBSnwiGlaSR7a8I3fZEz9xIJBemZfdpf6pXGRFWQrquK6tJARi1DKrvdObWylrBJTK0iZAn1-ZQxbmi2ep0kp92lOibjwjrx8LcdyD0LDtA=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The bars and stem are set up for an in-between riding position, not leaning too forward or too upright, which I think suits the bike well. It climbs and accelerates good but not great, partly due to how my body is positioned and the rather pedestrian tires it is currently shod with. It does have a great ride quality and I love the way it looks, so I'm sure it'll be one of the last bikes I would ever part with.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-8H30N6A1dcuUGMWP4KXgNNRq-tJJdf3x9S1fYaiJ2rpV0ou-uEPT6kl8-sdhwCi56dBbozCQ6waIJyxJHlfQ73zFdEe2kB3YBcISEIQRHuX3JgaJ-AfooVBjJvKE1g7et_tec8Oy1YPCgbqFZ5sMln6MDA5BU9kHlPp8gop8TwTCqpNWAfT2nG6ibw=s2016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-8H30N6A1dcuUGMWP4KXgNNRq-tJJdf3x9S1fYaiJ2rpV0ou-uEPT6kl8-sdhwCi56dBbozCQ6waIJyxJHlfQ73zFdEe2kB3YBcISEIQRHuX3JgaJ-AfooVBjJvKE1g7et_tec8Oy1YPCgbqFZ5sMln6MDA5BU9kHlPp8gop8TwTCqpNWAfT2nG6ibw=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Here's a build component list for those interested. I may make some changes along the way but I am in no rush to do so. Ignore the long-ish cable ends hanging out - I usually go for several rides to make sure everything is adjusted properly before I trim and attach the end cap thingies:</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Panaracer Pasela 26x1.75 (42mm) tires</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• NOS Suntour XC Pro hubs laced with Sapim butted spokes to Mavic 317 rims by Ryan Mason of Mason Cyclewerks who sadly (for me) moved from Long Beach to northern Cal so I gotta find another wheel builder.</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Nitto "Young" (I think) stem</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Ahearne/MAP handlebars, made and sold by Joseph Ahearne and Mitch Pryor, a couple of custom frame builders. Pretty much a copy of the Cinelli "Priest" bars but with a 25.4 clamp diameter and a 22.2mm grip diameter and quite a bit heavier too. Also similar to the Nitto 2522 “Jitensha” handlebar except for a 1” rise instead of being flat.</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Velo Orange cork/rubber grips</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Real Design brake levers</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Suntour LD-2800 thumb shifters</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• American Classic 27.0mm seatpost</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Brooks B17 saddle</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Campagnolo cantilever brakes - OK, these are actually made by Tektro presumably in Taiwan but I like ‘em and they are way easier to adjust than the older post style cantis<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• TA Cyclotouriste crankset, 42/32 chainrings</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• MKS touring lite pedals with MKS alloy toe clips</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Sachs 13-26 7 speed freewheel</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Suntour ARX front derailleur</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Suntour Sprint 9000 rear derailleur with Bullseye pulleys</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Nitto touring bottle cage</span><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• Silca framefit pump</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">• </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Acorn M/L saddlebag </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">- Acorn bags are made here locally in Gardena by a husband and wife team who makes a batch of bags each month and posts them for sale on their website and sell out in a few minutes. My saddlebag fetish is due to influence from my older brother; all of my bikes have a bag, each with a Tarik Saleh Bike Club button attached. There are 2 club rules: "Ride bikes" and "Try not to be an ass":</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivPeP0ip7NW4oduUKJg5FzVhqYm4O4-IIe9S1cMS5U4x58b8ydGFUXwOzNVndaXrT5j27BLl-23zvd9j64sHuJSsESfzSFaQjuXUqsK6K5LNEbmfZnTvrwruPTdYIo4iEs56NdpXOQt4uJBYj2QWx0lRXic4zNQI5zivlk6cvVoncy_365ELnjzbJSag=s2016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivPeP0ip7NW4oduUKJg5FzVhqYm4O4-IIe9S1cMS5U4x58b8ydGFUXwOzNVndaXrT5j27BLl-23zvd9j64sHuJSsESfzSFaQjuXUqsK6K5LNEbmfZnTvrwruPTdYIo4iEs56NdpXOQt4uJBYj2QWx0lRXic4zNQI5zivlk6cvVoncy_365ELnjzbJSag=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ6FdaKHrlmal2mVXdM-KdaLFX_aPQiyCaQ4wAlsrkLJXAlA6DFCssasRcyBaGJ3fl6uO-671pH0V74IsD85tbilrixIhdjHoqgOSuG_cqBqU7A3fhaIFn6Si1ObwiCkrciUDuydvgQBn2SdV6TI6Un6h8y3om1qQyOrpyb7Nj8F_-xowQAhatDEutXw=s2016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ6FdaKHrlmal2mVXdM-KdaLFX_aPQiyCaQ4wAlsrkLJXAlA6DFCssasRcyBaGJ3fl6uO-671pH0V74IsD85tbilrixIhdjHoqgOSuG_cqBqU7A3fhaIFn6Si1ObwiCkrciUDuydvgQBn2SdV6TI6Un6h8y3om1qQyOrpyb7Nj8F_-xowQAhatDEutXw=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> * * *<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Editor's note: Another classic bicycle from the 1990s that had a similar design ethic and geometry as the Bridgestone X0-1 was the economy level <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/search/label/Bicycles" target="_blank">B-Stone CB-0</a>.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first and last photos above of Jonsan's XO-1 show it parked at the edge of
the known world - at the sudden, cut-off southern end of Pacific Ave in <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2020/05/one-day-at-la-pointe-de-fermin-1971.html" target="_blank">San Pedro</a>, where the rest of the street had fallen down the cliff towards the Pacific Ocean in the semi-major earthquake of 1933.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Beyond the fence is an area that's always been known since the quake by San Pedrans, unofficially, as the "Sunken City". As late as the 1970s there were still recognizable remnants of the houses and shops that once lined that scenic seaside drive, but those ruins, now almost a century old, have become less visible as the years pass by and the soft sandstone cliff continues to crumble slowly into the sea.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-63528089441785217762022-01-20T20:11:00.000-08:002022-01-20T20:11:26.209-08:00Foo Pup<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVo9gSKEWW5Ksghm-JMS52D0wYwI1m2pVtFZu5mITsabp56_nN03YLhxv2ZGfK28gtPnqqSqTkSCZXOvvK9zPoMXOCmG85k9EWmx1YuCzHsNxGAK-mz_tSH_cO9Ffm23XNYMLcqJFRkdHjOawkqIV7M1WepC3bQs3j-cJt_h-kow_OUpOx7Kz-myPz4A=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVo9gSKEWW5Ksghm-JMS52D0wYwI1m2pVtFZu5mITsabp56_nN03YLhxv2ZGfK28gtPnqqSqTkSCZXOvvK9zPoMXOCmG85k9EWmx1YuCzHsNxGAK-mz_tSH_cO9Ffm23XNYMLcqJFRkdHjOawkqIV7M1WepC3bQs3j-cJt_h-kow_OUpOx7Kz-myPz4A=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>e've been trying to figure out what this. It's cast ceramic, and the glaze appears to be in the deliberately imperfect Japanese style known as Wabi Sabi. And it certainly is cute ("Kawaii"), so that also suggests that it was made in Japan, whatever it is.</p><p>I'm going to make a wild and completely non-academic guess, based on no evidence at all: this piece of ceramic art is a young, immature version of what is commonly called a Foo (or Fu) Dog, also known as a Guardian Lion in China.<br /></p><p>Here's a large and apparently grown up Foo Dog / Lion guarding the main entrance to a fairly big house or possibly a temple:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAcb1eLJNfDX3Vph9cqgfNmKLDcb_8WgUsLWmdgshlQrlbx-JvsZvGllFJw5Re7TCi1CmeTPEd4YKbNWZW6dRRweiTyTEj1-FdedHh5nmeCoCELhjWxZJ-8jTPg_EOgem9j4sdkDOMjMUiT-OPXqdwSA73E93mSo4lW-lLI75YxRknRF_7wmdsKGmf0A=s1983" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1415" data-original-width="1983" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAcb1eLJNfDX3Vph9cqgfNmKLDcb_8WgUsLWmdgshlQrlbx-JvsZvGllFJw5Re7TCi1CmeTPEd4YKbNWZW6dRRweiTyTEj1-FdedHh5nmeCoCELhjWxZJ-8jTPg_EOgem9j4sdkDOMjMUiT-OPXqdwSA73E93mSo4lW-lLI75YxRknRF_7wmdsKGmf0A=w640-h456" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>A much smaller white Foo stands guard atop our piano:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgc-u7wWUi6zOxsg1dbm_rDUrB3KaAITM80om8d1Pr_xKWrIvuCQGjt01cCKvLJ-jwnwU1jElxldIwgKDCh7jIvisRER2yAkmK-GdeI7aZaewCiLw2tq0ybIH5yW5uFzEWvK9IxyNV9a6Noh6UyEDgqN9sqXFTEI6-VwhLhDepnXMCB86c_MENApGoFng=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgc-u7wWUi6zOxsg1dbm_rDUrB3KaAITM80om8d1Pr_xKWrIvuCQGjt01cCKvLJ-jwnwU1jElxldIwgKDCh7jIvisRER2yAkmK-GdeI7aZaewCiLw2tq0ybIH5yW5uFzEWvK9IxyNV9a6Noh6UyEDgqN9sqXFTEI6-VwhLhDepnXMCB86c_MENApGoFng=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>No doubt that when they get older, Foos become fiercer and even scary looking, and that's probably a large part of their appeal as spiritual guardians of the material world. But I'd be just as happy if our little Foo Pup never grows up, and stays as cute as he or she is today.</p><p>Here are a couple more photos of the Foo Pup:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9FO5SmopCl5bJS39XW_DU2M7bw5HA_teByI2B6paXTPCqKlkmCEip-InjK2IQ4aTvagUnMYbJZtHv9-zAenTj0DdmOXkEIDAS7TrOxV3DRXvdovc6Tu3VN-mnx9Xcu1RUA9SKyF6rnUQXOybkOyN6ZRdL5pnskqYNqekf44QhQG1Eu07v8WJz7kCV7Q=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9FO5SmopCl5bJS39XW_DU2M7bw5HA_teByI2B6paXTPCqKlkmCEip-InjK2IQ4aTvagUnMYbJZtHv9-zAenTj0DdmOXkEIDAS7TrOxV3DRXvdovc6Tu3VN-mnx9Xcu1RUA9SKyF6rnUQXOybkOyN6ZRdL5pnskqYNqekf44QhQG1Eu07v8WJz7kCV7Q=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv-CyOt9t1KLPEciH-PrDznF4WkKT4zebxW1EWPqyKttkYaiD5GwsgDh4fhQAoGwLdM2trzzmpFI0fnzbxjMcB9MnJHGezSzb3y5HIXxzbI4dGmjJXVx16ySqWYtXL1fJlF4pzwG3Aj-L-zLQ0Doa9bhUk8xQmH3YK_j35zmA7OSzDJ5drpX_cqRuC3w=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv-CyOt9t1KLPEciH-PrDznF4WkKT4zebxW1EWPqyKttkYaiD5GwsgDh4fhQAoGwLdM2trzzmpFI0fnzbxjMcB9MnJHGezSzb3y5HIXxzbI4dGmjJXVx16ySqWYtXL1fJlF4pzwG3Aj-L-zLQ0Doa9bhUk8xQmH3YK_j35zmA7OSzDJ5drpX_cqRuC3w=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-31090138965777184622022-01-13T14:50:00.015-08:002022-03-05T00:45:18.735-08:00Saab-u, Snow Car of the North<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKaJ56yGMPkd4ULitCdJ1YJ2COLp7rsRCS3gAE2kAcXcUL_kCAlZnrejn3asZ7gm_SKqa8eDvHshx6wkV-svzxIlqbQS6vEyYgLlZCoQilArjomFCSMhL_1Hlh69Po2_97Vi1UYt5pJB3H8vPGiBYcUGNDiIdgKYJmXzMzrJm43bDjsSdOdodW70k70w=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKaJ56yGMPkd4ULitCdJ1YJ2COLp7rsRCS3gAE2kAcXcUL_kCAlZnrejn3asZ7gm_SKqa8eDvHshx6wkV-svzxIlqbQS6vEyYgLlZCoQilArjomFCSMhL_1Hlh69Po2_97Vi1UYt5pJB3H8vPGiBYcUGNDiIdgKYJmXzMzrJm43bDjsSdOdodW70k70w=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t snowed here on Christmas day, almost a foot falling over 24 hours. This was an increasingly rare event for the southern end of the Willamette valley in Oregon; the last time we had any real snow was three winters ago. Last year, there wasn't even a hint of snow, and the year before that there were a few flurries but nothing stuck. With very little real wintery weather here, we've never felt a need to have an all wheel drive car. For the few days when the roads are rough going, it's a good excuse to just stay home and enjoy the hot cocoa, rather than be out on the streets rubbing elbows and smashing fenders with the teeming masses.</p><p>To the right in the picture above, you can see the beginning of digging our car out for a grocery run on the morning of the 27th. By the second day after the holiday, our food stock was down to stockings full of chocolate, crusty ends of snack sausage and questionable cheese, horrid glazed popcorn finger food, and worst of all, no beer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrTcqTLmHG9psdk3-v2h1PnhAjr3pzahBfG6LI8VZSlhylXTp56pMJ2u2vhUVKstrm8DN05cpx1ZfWh1o-DjX4L52ZhDNurHhgC9NxRzujPE-PuBALlAfPMu_WF6Mni8F2qOv7uxhV19829h_0qWoCWP8BQ-mGypqm7SDUnbxRUMpQwlLQVh-fYsQP1g=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrTcqTLmHG9psdk3-v2h1PnhAjr3pzahBfG6LI8VZSlhylXTp56pMJ2u2vhUVKstrm8DN05cpx1ZfWh1o-DjX4L52ZhDNurHhgC9NxRzujPE-PuBALlAfPMu_WF6Mni8F2qOv7uxhV19829h_0qWoCWP8BQ-mGypqm7SDUnbxRUMpQwlLQVh-fYsQP1g=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>Back when we lived in Montana, Minnesota, and Illinois, digging cars out from under a pile of snow was a real chore. In Colorado and northern New Mexico it was a job not needed very often, and here in western Oregon, it's actually fun. </p><p>Here's the car, a 1996 Saab 900SE, after we got back from a short but complete shopping trip (Trader Joe's, The Kiva, and the neighborhood Safeway). By that time the beautiful sunshine had gone, replaced by the usual dreary cloudy ick, and threatening to rain.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY5KFyklXNaFRv-Jol7R-EsCAGHL-58FW_vVG5X2HEQNFpNPNuTJx4m55us5qUBGEc_JSRM9g-HyFIdiP-_233fX2wREGN_DGrlMNcS2kb-tA9ThWpaG2Xs5lhE5vqkFnlDrnh3zyYE_HoD2uFO-jCfeLahJonwdEJFaRlA3ZMh_vHvjCUADuwm_Nu0A=s3600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="3600" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY5KFyklXNaFRv-Jol7R-EsCAGHL-58FW_vVG5X2HEQNFpNPNuTJx4m55us5qUBGEc_JSRM9g-HyFIdiP-_233fX2wREGN_DGrlMNcS2kb-tA9ThWpaG2Xs5lhE5vqkFnlDrnh3zyYE_HoD2uFO-jCfeLahJonwdEJFaRlA3ZMh_vHvjCUADuwm_Nu0A=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>In fact that's what it did, and after a day of that, almost all of the clean fluffy white snow was melted, leaving only a few dirty piles here and there, left over from plowing and shoveling.<br /></p><p>Now, let's talk about why we renamed this car "Saab-u, Snow Car of the North":</p><p>We never thought our '96 Saab was going to be very driveable in winter weather. Although it's true that it was designed and built in Sverige (Sweden), by actual Swedes who should know a thing or two about long and snowy winters, this particular Saab was the "sporty" model for that year. Stanced lower than the regular 900 line, with very little ground clearance, and shod with wide low profile tires on rims too wide to fit any reasonably narrow tires for good traction, it was made for flinging around curves at speed, not for any sure-footedness on snow and ice.<br /></p><p>Our usual get-around grocery, kid and canoe hauler, a made in Nihon (Japan) Isuzu Oasis - a re-badged 1st Gen Honda Odyssey - was stuck in the steep driveway with tired 3 year old tires (shown here alongside the lovely McKenzie River, when the rubber was new):</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiM-acInMLRI5GD9q_7c8NzPWfl7xepFLgqTdvBdgfwHOT9hYrNaJLrk7yVZzsEc1DrLsRF7fGTrecWhbTNRAHmvypxStQD99wnba63CqSJCiJ4ZiuaDcknolcVdRq6mrt-oNablnaJbU9PXN8VyIjeIJLGuP2OlK39jfaC5jwe_K19vCxS_9TBZyFEsw=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiM-acInMLRI5GD9q_7c8NzPWfl7xepFLgqTdvBdgfwHOT9hYrNaJLrk7yVZzsEc1DrLsRF7fGTrecWhbTNRAHmvypxStQD99wnba63CqSJCiJ4ZiuaDcknolcVdRq6mrt-oNablnaJbU9PXN8VyIjeIJLGuP2OlK39jfaC5jwe_K19vCxS_9TBZyFEsw=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Saab's skins are nearly new, so we decided to dig the 900SE out and see how it did in snow, although we didn't expect much from it. Surprisingly, in spite of being the "wrong" car for the job, it did amazingly well - it smoothly got out onto the slippery street and down the hill to town with a minimum of wiggle and drift, and just generally behaved itself. Coming back, the Saab marched up the snow packed and ice-glazed hilly streets of our part of town, with no problems or odd handling at all, then backed into its parking spot and sat there (I think) with a satisfied grin on its cute face.<br /></p><p>This should not have been the surprise that it was. After all, this model of Saab was one of the last "real" made in wintry Sweden Saabs to be designed and built prior to General Motors getting its filthy hands on the company and eventually driving it into bankruptcy - not before foisting some really horrible cars on an unsuspecting public, such as rebranded Saturns. The Saab "9-2" model, basically a re-badged Subaru WRX, wasn't bad at all, but by then it was too late, and yet another limited production maker of interesting, innovative, and practical cars ceased production.<br /></p><p>Here's a "real" Saab:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ6fLwfx5c1BmmqyUZzcba1lGYd-_54g1PCwyfxZAWdAUoMvoqcZeTqrziZlRcESJ8-Bk4YMqNmQGjCX-o48m4KKDm6V3gelatmYFdHZGHR8gEBRuGUrOmx53C8XGDFFtkF8Cn21iTSYJHeTAzbHbVYPcnZOK1lLqudyq8rqJrbnhlnjSmhOVU3Idjsw=s1129" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1129" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ6fLwfx5c1BmmqyUZzcba1lGYd-_54g1PCwyfxZAWdAUoMvoqcZeTqrziZlRcESJ8-Bk4YMqNmQGjCX-o48m4KKDm6V3gelatmYFdHZGHR8gEBRuGUrOmx53C8XGDFFtkF8Cn21iTSYJHeTAzbHbVYPcnZOK1lLqudyq8rqJrbnhlnjSmhOVU3Idjsw=w640-h428" width="575" /></a></div><p>A 1984 Saab 900 Turbo, it's the only car I've really regretted selling. Almost perfectly engineered in every way, fast and stable, easy and fun to drive, with sensible 15" wheels that easily fit narrow 185/65x15 tires for great traction in snow rain or sunshine, and able to haul an incredible payload under its well designed rear 3rd door. And no, that's not a "hatchback"; those that know classic Saabs call it a 3rd or 5th door, since it goes all the way down to the top of the rear bumper, creating an easy to get into and out, flat load floor.<br /></p><p>At the time we had one too many cars, and we let this Saab go. The guy I sold it to promised to love it forever, but within a couple years he, like GM, drove the Saab 900T literally into the ground. It's now sitting in the weeds, defaulted, at a Saab mechanic's lot in Jefferson Oregon, with peeling paint, ruined interior, and unknown mechanical problems and uncertain title status. Very sad to see an old friend fallen upon hard times. <br /></p><p>We kept this made in Bayern (Bavaria) 1975 BMW 325:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1j8VuU8-AaTnXgQGM6CU82nCfnfqyEP6b_BcXWUSnO0O6AeDW5FgdmUYFCQms7X6d7mFzcOwIClKHDY6GKlsmdMd7tVseCkGdn_w_9h8zGES6ZrYYl05SjPQakCZ0xJjhb9SFw-sKvH5vS0C-HDvVxvnS0Cd046BylePaDvNXZO_-O4BGwFpzvYSeMA=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1j8VuU8-AaTnXgQGM6CU82nCfnfqyEP6b_BcXWUSnO0O6AeDW5FgdmUYFCQms7X6d7mFzcOwIClKHDY6GKlsmdMd7tVseCkGdn_w_9h8zGES6ZrYYl05SjPQakCZ0xJjhb9SFw-sKvH5vS0C-HDvVxvnS0Cd046BylePaDvNXZO_-O4BGwFpzvYSeMA=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p>A real tiny terror, with a fairly large straight six somehow shoe-horned into the smallish engine compartment, it was also very fun to drive, and almost trouble free for the time we had it. But it was not a snow car; whenever we took it out in winter weather it would, like a cat, stop every now and then and shake its paws and whine. Not very confidence inspiring. When the 325 got to a certain age and mileage we replaced it with the '96 Saab 900SE.</p><p>Now that we know what a competent snow car Saab-u is, we'll be looking around for a set of narrower 15" rims, and replace the "performance" wide profile 16" tires with some sensible shoes. And look forward to the next time it snows here, maybe in 2 or 3 years.</p><p>Here's a couple more shots of Saab-u:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaozx4Ji-1vhw3iotuuzm2P2lU2cOfJolYzywVNuDqeSHsshAeubTDvUgn7HOgfMa5sz-L9-f79uyA_jyqtjompw7lYbYWfcZ7sbY91vSZvjojvtSzopkfE9wrzbheXmFdlFivDUnoWEKujk15t5NBVCyqMU79lpdvkfvbMrNpLH1S2_QCsC6DCXgjUQ=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaozx4Ji-1vhw3iotuuzm2P2lU2cOfJolYzywVNuDqeSHsshAeubTDvUgn7HOgfMa5sz-L9-f79uyA_jyqtjompw7lYbYWfcZ7sbY91vSZvjojvtSzopkfE9wrzbheXmFdlFivDUnoWEKujk15t5NBVCyqMU79lpdvkfvbMrNpLH1S2_QCsC6DCXgjUQ=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLAZi5z4f66gXqgGWJL8-mftf0-MMgN76ft5Bm3XJPmxaH0ljPqFsBhpuDdK_KqtZHbFV_bqS3FCQysep27AslAhgXpb1RwQYeFN6rKAu-L7MoNOoYBNr1iK20hvvZ2tNSry1NZMRj6Eft_3yyjSzri3uzNBCA8nsktnn6t_yck7CM1ZQJ3X5mmcVwfQ=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLAZi5z4f66gXqgGWJL8-mftf0-MMgN76ft5Bm3XJPmxaH0ljPqFsBhpuDdK_KqtZHbFV_bqS3FCQysep27AslAhgXpb1RwQYeFN6rKAu-L7MoNOoYBNr1iK20hvvZ2tNSry1NZMRj6Eft_3yyjSzri3uzNBCA8nsktnn6t_yck7CM1ZQJ3X5mmcVwfQ=w640-h480" width="575" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-88892411932694532412021-05-17T12:13:00.023-07:002023-03-20T01:25:23.425-07:00Ongoing Strat Partscaster Project, Part 5: A New Neck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubW4ptKkntjnuTOWGztR7uZ9HgNAo4ieH-7IwunylLnjSn92LCIFSpItebckdqF7yRc_TU-Xv3PtIBD6PNS6Y_5eoVwO_J4tE-_TXRxT-8BAuahDJfmew1T6vPuPtH4SJ0r_Xhrb-ffwt/s1920/StratoParts.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1373" data-original-width="1920" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubW4ptKkntjnuTOWGztR7uZ9HgNAo4ieH-7IwunylLnjSn92LCIFSpItebckdqF7yRc_TU-Xv3PtIBD6PNS6Y_5eoVwO_J4tE-_TXRxT-8BAuahDJfmew1T6vPuPtH4SJ0r_Xhrb-ffwt/w640-h458/StratoParts.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>his Parts-O-Caster project was started about seven years ago when I bought a 1991 MIM Strat from friend David, who had saved it from an early death and did a major overhaul on it. It was a fine playing and great sounding Stratocaster, but I couldn't resist messing with it, and over time, bit by bit, every component has been replaced. A few weeks ago the really nicely set up and slim '91 rosewood fingerboard neck was taken off and a new girthy Allparts one piece maple neck took its place. At this point it feels like a done project, with no foreseeable changes in the near future. With zero parts left of that original Strat, it's mission accomplished - I've totally messed it up.</p><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a quick parts rundown:</div><div style="text-align: left;">• 1995 Fender Japan '57 Reissue Series (made by FugiGen) alder body and neck plate</div><div style="text-align: left;">• 2020 FugiGen made Allparts nitro finished neck w/ a substantial .92" to .97" V profile and 7.25" radius fretboard</div><div style="text-align: left;">• USA Fender gold anodized aluminum pickguard loaded w/ Squier Classic Vibe Duo-Sonic alnico magnet pickups - all of which are around 6K in DC resistance, one 500K CTS volume pot and one 250K Bourne tone pot (the Bourne is also a "neck pickup on" pull switch), Sprague Bumblebee .02uF capacitor, and Oak Grigsby 3-way switch</div><div style="text-align: left;">• Gotoh trem bridge w/ zinc block and '70s style Allparts cast saddles</div><div style="text-align: left;">• Gotoh vintage style tuners, jack boat, and strap buttons</div><div style="text-align: left;">• and a Fender vintage style round string guide which hasn't been installed yet</div><p>If you're wondering about some of the unusual parts choices, I'll just say I've never been a fan of the typical "thin" Strat tone, and the resultant sum-total sound of this odd combination of components is anything but thin and zingy. In fact, even the in-between switch settings have no trace of "quack" factor.<br /></p><p>There's still some stuff needing doing, such as a fret level and recrown, and eventually replacing the nut, which is currently an experimental zero-fret conversion thing which will probably never work correctly. Besides that, the Partsocaster sounds as great as it always has, and I'm really enjoying squeezing notes out of the hefty "V" neck. One former issue, a tendency for notes played on the high E string to be slightly dull sounding, has gone away with the addition of the one-piece maple neck. I always wondered - was it the bridge or the neck that was causing that? Now I know.<br /></p><p>Since the vintage-spec Allparts neck has the truss rod nut mounted at the heel of the neck, I put a notch in the body to make any adjustments a bit easier. This mod works best with a Telecaster with a body-mounted neck pickup - all you have to do is remove the pickguard, and the adjuster nut is easily accessible. On a Strat, with all three pickups mounted on the 'guard, it's not so convenient - the real reason I added the notch was so the guitar could be strung up and played for a week or so without a pickguard, until the brand new neck had settled in place, and then adjust as needed before finally installing the 'guard.</p><p>First, some cuts with a fine tooth hobby saw:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1F54eJzYy9bslYVFR_5oadLqH-oYduM6rJH3Ip6S76V8HD2J73Tj8TY-aeLJjL7QBJtVWGyvCnmqaroYo-Ls36seRV-gU9fOzsFl45EeDF4NCWVCVEj_TR6HVrLWSklvzOf6p9wVgjFXl/s1920/Saw.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1F54eJzYy9bslYVFR_5oadLqH-oYduM6rJH3Ip6S76V8HD2J73Tj8TY-aeLJjL7QBJtVWGyvCnmqaroYo-Ls36seRV-gU9fOzsFl45EeDF4NCWVCVEj_TR6HVrLWSklvzOf6p9wVgjFXl/w640-h480/Saw.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>Next, knocking out wood between the cuts:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SVBapGHt42E1TeTpK2KOMkXYopkmQwSEZbb75hVA57IxgKV7z6gR__PlAHe2lACyGiiHoSEmVVx-Axlhm4FlHMDloZkckyqT2hP6xKzJRaCqY6gbYSUzw_Yr_hxSatLs3R_xc8c8_bOY/s1920/Hammer.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SVBapGHt42E1TeTpK2KOMkXYopkmQwSEZbb75hVA57IxgKV7z6gR__PlAHe2lACyGiiHoSEmVVx-Axlhm4FlHMDloZkckyqT2hP6xKzJRaCqY6gbYSUzw_Yr_hxSatLs3R_xc8c8_bOY/w640-h480/Hammer.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>The resultant notch is a bit rough looking. If this was done for someone else, I would have cleaned it up nice and purty, but it's my guitar and I don't care if I want to:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7tzBN48n0vJw-KQSAHZd0a4zTPdy1S6QTarp7lrGbcz3wEwOeS0T1kL7xdM9GX0yUY1MOx-x3iQPNphYgAjlQVAtw3aHBtuvXd86iL43VQT06pamTpFYnilsTrYpOWc-BpoEzhloBpH3/s1920/Notch.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7tzBN48n0vJw-KQSAHZd0a4zTPdy1S6QTarp7lrGbcz3wEwOeS0T1kL7xdM9GX0yUY1MOx-x3iQPNphYgAjlQVAtw3aHBtuvXd86iL43VQT06pamTpFYnilsTrYpOWc-BpoEzhloBpH3/w640-h480/Notch.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>Now it's easy to get a screwdriver in there:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQQj-9tVTkEppBQ25B7rj_9k5_hYvjK6NnZ9s3M9oDKsXHPLRnWXoA4YaXwisaTwJt0_v0OVS6rLhVqo7Ftq1S_Kgna_u8WHVmugHfKwRaQ_e5XyoF97gzU4wkqd_eZ82TLAwiMJekFjD/s1920/Screwdriver.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQQj-9tVTkEppBQ25B7rj_9k5_hYvjK6NnZ9s3M9oDKsXHPLRnWXoA4YaXwisaTwJt0_v0OVS6rLhVqo7Ftq1S_Kgna_u8WHVmugHfKwRaQ_e5XyoF97gzU4wkqd_eZ82TLAwiMJekFjD/w640-h480/Screwdriver.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>Or a StewMac truss crank:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_OSIy-pNu6RBZps3xzBD-qEG0OvmxPbhN6sjp5thgmtVZiKQJ__5Qx745UGXddJuPGmK8Vtsrp4CvBeqZE0Y5cmk2yFlyCSGWaRqrt76xOmM15V21S9unwjS2yj4xbnDyWw7JfMTy205/s1920/Truss+Crank.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_OSIy-pNu6RBZps3xzBD-qEG0OvmxPbhN6sjp5thgmtVZiKQJ__5Qx745UGXddJuPGmK8Vtsrp4CvBeqZE0Y5cmk2yFlyCSGWaRqrt76xOmM15V21S9unwjS2yj4xbnDyWw7JfMTy205/w640-h480/Truss+Crank.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>Next is a shot taken just after the mounting holes had been drilled into the heel of the new Allparts neck. With a drill guide, getting the holes drilled nice and perpendicular was easy. For a mounting screw hole pattern I used the the traditional Fender factory specification, which also says that all necks should have the holes in the same locations - that simplifies mating of neck to body, and allows for easier neck substitutions, often not possible with the modern revisionist custom hole drilling. Warmoth also uses the old style neck mount hole placement on their necks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxTY-yIGyFsosO6CZxiCGQk1ovSLwGwCiS8sT8pn5BNarGCvS-YWMfEhwon4-m-QNX6FcCGwy1HUr64ioQcHnS8Ox6uyFIWPBou0jCdPOKw3z4XS1xisqnqaXj1yWTp-OMgbJzArunOOy/s1920/Heel.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxTY-yIGyFsosO6CZxiCGQk1ovSLwGwCiS8sT8pn5BNarGCvS-YWMfEhwon4-m-QNX6FcCGwy1HUr64ioQcHnS8Ox6uyFIWPBou0jCdPOKw3z4XS1xisqnqaXj1yWTp-OMgbJzArunOOy/w640-h480/Heel.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>Placing the mounting screws, well lubricated with old fashioned Kirk's Castile Soap, through the neck plate and then through the four holes in the body's neck pocket, there was no "seeking" or uncertainty. All four screws (many of you call them "bolts", but screws they are) went quickly and precisely into their respective pilot holes in the neck heel, and tightening was a breeze.<br /></p><p>With the neck attached, here's what it looks like with the pickguard placed back down:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSR1YPk4QhgQLSwtVFKvgvuyxt43GQ4g8xNWyl0EH1Cqp2eSoRQa9iptq4UZJ4o8ULjznHW5knmCntzI1mAVRGyYQKGCmXRSfBmJmjb7P0faKLvDvb8iyijjjlomkTi_7Dxytak4kN0FS9/s1920/Neck+Pickup.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSR1YPk4QhgQLSwtVFKvgvuyxt43GQ4g8xNWyl0EH1Cqp2eSoRQa9iptq4UZJ4o8ULjznHW5knmCntzI1mAVRGyYQKGCmXRSfBmJmjb7P0faKLvDvb8iyijjjlomkTi_7Dxytak4kN0FS9/w640-h480/Neck+Pickup.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>As you can see, the truss rod nut is just barely not accessible; many older Fenders had a semi-circular notch cut out of the pickguard to allow a screwdriver to get in there, and I'm thinking I'll do the same eventually. That all depends on how much this neck does the seasonal warp thing - somehow I have a feeling it won't move much, it's a fairly hefty chunk of maple.</p><p>A comparatively rare neck plate, found only on certain Japanese production Fenders, and on no USA or Mexico models:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjsm7TQebzSVAjVW923DZ_4iHJPgBnfj6Kw2kRkhrJBvBeJ6i56xpubfDSjfMDGTxO98nkJ5KVAsBtJ3Owk4UpQjKMwdIIBsc6dL4sFrTGdPYQWVG3guGhUJYs3xAUp6BoBn8T4nxz_Vn/s1920/Plate.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjsm7TQebzSVAjVW923DZ_4iHJPgBnfj6Kw2kRkhrJBvBeJ6i56xpubfDSjfMDGTxO98nkJ5KVAsBtJ3Owk4UpQjKMwdIIBsc6dL4sFrTGdPYQWVG3guGhUJYs3xAUp6BoBn8T4nxz_Vn/w640-h480/Plate.JPG" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Strat after mounting the new Allparts neck:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfYTGWQiDAA3t91ABPPOjqR_feSQyE4SIKSghjTXtH0DXWVqoWIqNkGS77Rma5goz_l45qVhxhtucA4v0udWfeqnivOCB9GUHqgwyNKc0ySV6Dw-X2YZ3aPGZ2QQRIcvzWxivpuV9NxPB/s1920/New+Neck.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="525" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfYTGWQiDAA3t91ABPPOjqR_feSQyE4SIKSghjTXtH0DXWVqoWIqNkGS77Rma5goz_l45qVhxhtucA4v0udWfeqnivOCB9GUHqgwyNKc0ySV6Dw-X2YZ3aPGZ2QQRIcvzWxivpuV9NxPB/w640-h640/New+Neck.JPG" width="525" /></a></div><p>Except for some minor fret work, this guitar is done, and it's time to focus on building up a big-neck Telecaster project. Most of the parts for that have been collected, including a precision cut knotty pine body from ToneBomb in Calgary Alberta, and another FugiGen Allparts neck, this time an unfinished one to match the body. If I don't end up totally messing that project up, there will be photos and misc ramblings posted here at Origami Night Lamp. Or who knows, I might just document the disaster.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * *</p><p>Here are links to previous posts about this Parts-O-Caster project:</p><p><a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2014/07/1991-mim-stratocaster-pt-1-vintage.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a></p><p><a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2014/11/1991-fender-stratocaster-part-2-messing.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a></p><p><a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2015/03/1990s-stratocaster-mij-mim-parts-o.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a></p><p><a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2016/11/1990s-stratocaster-mij-mim-parts-o.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-85663493550916875442021-05-17T00:40:00.003-07:002022-02-04T12:41:50.527-08:00Eugene Sign Haiku Pt 4: "Doggy Styles" Pet Grooming Shop, N Hwy 99<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EbyEeVlaTZ8zBklXg0oRiBj6US_6W8e5r58GPjpUYLHkVWpOKqVDkoza39nV7qmZzfGuFGW2g_Kp4HVg2C-yo_jAbPuscHUkUoD1yzqAzid32SilIG7w7ntPNBLsIFXg1UEEwJHAdWR1/s1208/Pet+Grooming.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1208" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EbyEeVlaTZ8zBklXg0oRiBj6US_6W8e5r58GPjpUYLHkVWpOKqVDkoza39nV7qmZzfGuFGW2g_Kp4HVg2C-yo_jAbPuscHUkUoD1yzqAzid32SilIG7w7ntPNBLsIFXg1UEEwJHAdWR1/w640-h480/Pet+Grooming.png" width="575" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>urn around and smile</p><p>As I'm up on two hind legs</p><p>It's love, Doggy Styles!</p><p style="text-align: center;">* * * </p><p>For more Eugene Sign Haiku:</p><p><a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2018/03/eugene-sign-haiku-pt-1-i-love-rocks_20.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a></p><p><a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2018/03/eugene-sign-haiku-pt-2-jesus-saved-spot.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a></p><p><a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2018/03/eugene-sign-haiku-part-3-lust-drags-you.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a><br /></p><p><br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-40957930940232610222021-05-14T16:20:00.010-07:002022-02-04T12:42:41.548-08:00How to Be a Bass Player<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUs3wSY5f9zmtNiMRFMx-DxYhfCGbzsBH4ohGzQdcfRQD239qhpfDO6S2Zf-jZQlgCXgDyshcOv2Qg_Xjj26L22xWEEU85H0zu8qc0exzzD8NLlf-Fwxu8-Ongc7ZL0NewCS3SWsy4488/s1600/Bassist2000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1600" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUs3wSY5f9zmtNiMRFMx-DxYhfCGbzsBH4ohGzQdcfRQD239qhpfDO6S2Zf-jZQlgCXgDyshcOv2Qg_Xjj26L22xWEEU85H0zu8qc0exzzD8NLlf-Fwxu8-Ongc7ZL0NewCS3SWsy4488/s640/Bassist2000.jpg" width="575" /></a></div><p>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>he above illustration by a genius artist named Hopkins, clipped out of an old issue of Musician magazine, has been inside my bass case, underneath either a 1962 Precision or a '61 Danelectro, for a long time now. Every time I see it, unpacking before a gig or a jam, it makes me smile. It's a three-second bass lesson, an inspiration and affirmation, and a quick reminder of what's important no matter what kind of music you play: who you are, why you're there, what it is that you want to happen.<br /></p><p>1) Jazz. Ron Carter, Charlie Hayden, Charles Mingus, Scott LaFaro... Listen to jazz combos, especially trios - the bass not only holds the root down through the changes, but sets the mood and direction of both the song, and the band. A well played bass line is the living breathing bridge between the rhythmic (Yang) and the melodious (Yin).<br /></p><p>2) A quake, a seismic deep rumbling disturbance, a rift opening upon the earth's crust. It's the <i>groove, </i>man: deep, wide and pulsating-- dance as close as you can on the edge without falling in. It's within the power of your fingers to excite the rhythmic beast and bring down the house, or lay back and float after the eruption, on a mellow stream of cool vibrations.<br /></p><p></p><p>3) Shake that booty. What else needs to be said? Shake it baby, shake it all night long.</p><p><br />
<br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-26740142040991446592021-03-18T15:21:00.025-07:002022-06-17T15:51:51.194-07:00From Within The Imminent Grove: Track 2: Sakura Falling Onto Snow<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBeWmYE1vTnDXYCJT8AoH-DcJwKM7R_zbn6E7gdwLL1lDRP8SfwMO3FNoC-Miz6TqhUkj27zdOqtY2Rv6KJLgj4mOM29OZZyjn6gpqKThahGyqFtfcQWO2Hrffc5hdxZwLm8BATGtAiEI/s1360/Imminent+Songs+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1360" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBeWmYE1vTnDXYCJT8AoH-DcJwKM7R_zbn6E7gdwLL1lDRP8SfwMO3FNoC-Miz6TqhUkj27zdOqtY2Rv6KJLgj4mOM29OZZyjn6gpqKThahGyqFtfcQWO2Hrffc5hdxZwLm8BATGtAiEI/w640-h480/Imminent+Songs+2021.jpg" width="575" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span>ne year ago, in March of 2020, I went into Kyle Everett's <a href="https://www.robotboyrecords.com/" target="_blank">Robotboy Records</a> studio in Eugene to start a recording project. The original plan was to do a few demos, translating what there was inside my head into at least some form of basic song structure, and take them home to listen and see which tracks had potential to expand upon and eventually build up into something more than just an idea.</p><p>And then the plague hit, and a lot of plans had to be put on hold, for a lot of people. Before the studio closed for the duration of the pandemic, we had five solid song demos with basic guitar + beat + vocals, recorded over two relaxed four hour sessions. Any of those could have been morphed into a completed song with the addition of more instrumentation, and there was also a sixth sketch track of a germinal sci-fi folk tune.</p><p>Last summer, after seeing that things weren't going to return to normal anytime soon, I put together a home recording setup in a quiet upstairs bedroom, and began learning how to record, edit, and mix on my own. For a guy whose concept of hi-tech is assembling and blowing up high compression air cooled VW engines and designing and building tube amps made to be detonated - both 1920s level technology - working with 21st century digital recording was a steep learning curve, but the journey was more fun than not.</p><p style="text-align: center;">* * * <br /></p><p>Note: There should be an embedded YouTube vid below, with the song Sakura Falling Onto Snow, but if you're reading this on a phone or iPad, it's probably not there, Google only knows why. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo3AaIWzQSw" target="_blank">Here's a direct link to the song on YouTube.</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * * <br /></p><p>Sakura Falling Onto Snow was little more than a sketch of a song last March, and none of its previously recorded demo tracks were kept. Since that time the key has risen two steps and the melody evolved, the tempo slowed a few bpm and new words written, and gradually a somewhat different song emerged from what was once a string of Haikus held together by a guitar pretending to be a Koto.</p><p>As of now, Sakura Falling Onto Snow is a work in progress, more than simply a demo version, yet not quite complete. You may notice there is no bass line to complement the lowest pitched wooden drum, and eventually it would be great to have another solo instrument added to the bamboo flute - perhaps a Koto or a violin.</p><p>If you do decide to honor this humble song with a listen, please consider doing so with headphones or some sort of speaker system besides the tiny ones in a phone, in order to get into the spirit in which it was, and continues to be, created.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="395" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mo3AaIWzQSw" width="475" youtube-src-id="Mo3AaIWzQSw"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Sakura Falling Onto Snow</div><div style="text-align: left;">Words and music by James Aoyama</div><div style="text-align: left;">Copyright 2021</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For Kaede, Audrey, and Takeo</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Basic tracks recorded at home with vintage gear </div><div style="text-align: left;">Remix, mastering, and additional tracks recorded by Kyle Everett at Robotboy Records, Eugene, Oregon: https://www.robotboyrecords.com/</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">James Aoyama: guitars, vocals, bamboo flutes, intro synthesizer</div><div style="text-align: left;">Kyle Everett: DX7 synth and percussion</div><div style="text-align: left;">Taiko drums by Jim and Kyle <br /></div><p>Thanks and credit due to the memory of science fiction and fantasy goddess <a href="https://www.neh.gov/article/ursula-k-le-guin-was-creator-worlds" target="_blank">Ursula K. Le Guin</a> for the title of the collection, "From Within The Imminent Grove".</p><p style="text-align: center;">* * *</p><p>Contact James at <a href="mailto:aoyamajim@gmail.com">aoyamajim@gmail.com</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-79193231168703893822020-10-31T16:02:00.003-07:002020-10-31T16:47:29.667-07:00Oregon Red Maple and a Kalamazoo Special<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt55Uqvxub5m2wWhDD4MXI2ptvB3cqD0CyBfL4eegEvwcTRA11bPpMGQm_gxMC5d3422ZhVElwAe5OGApntf_mwOENJxGa8UfQzVlrCPifaP9xn5x4yPsxi9gghemV8nZG4PaNZTK1c17Z/s1920/Les+1920.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="autumn, foliage, red maple leaves, '77 Les Paul Special, TV blonde, TV, blonde, Gibson, limed oak finish, modified Les Paul, Oregon autumn color, Eugene, made in Kalamazoo, Michigan," border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt55Uqvxub5m2wWhDD4MXI2ptvB3cqD0CyBfL4eegEvwcTRA11bPpMGQm_gxMC5d3422ZhVElwAe5OGApntf_mwOENJxGa8UfQzVlrCPifaP9xn5x4yPsxi9gghemV8nZG4PaNZTK1c17Z/w480-h640/Les+1920.JPG" title="1977 Gibson Les Paul TV Special" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">W</span></span>ent out back this afternoon to scatter seed for the birds and squirrels, and found a nice autumn scene in a corner of the yard. It's a pretty image as it is, and also a great backdrop for a portrait of an old friend, a 1977 Gibson Les Paul TV Special. We've seen a lot of autumns together since the late '70s, and hopefully there's still a few more yet to come.<p></p><p><br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-53249662119815711652020-10-16T11:53:00.006-07:002022-02-04T12:41:08.716-08:00Knotty Pine Offset BarnCaster Project, Part 4: Completed Parts-O-Caster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbhfmF87qfRcy-tPaWvKcNGBS9ngO9iX5Zh9Sd99qHvflpRyobku23TRbLeCrdONn0fP20XiofxLQQ7dHU7i2wmzTfuoju5QmOPzOpTzpwK5a_RJyCsdQrrVI2Tcyj4cw3_AkgSdnz4V0/s1920/P1160782.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Knotty, pine, offset, Telecaster, Barncaster, Jazzcaster, Telemaster, Partscaster, Parts-O-Caster, 1991, ’91, MIM, Stratocaster, neck, rosewood, maple, relied, aged, Warmoth pickguard, Tex Mex neck pickup, Fender, ’62 bridge pickup, Gotoh, Wilkinson saddles, brass, compensated, NoMoonLaser body, project guitar," border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="1920" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbhfmF87qfRcy-tPaWvKcNGBS9ngO9iX5Zh9Sd99qHvflpRyobku23TRbLeCrdONn0fP20XiofxLQQ7dHU7i2wmzTfuoju5QmOPzOpTzpwK5a_RJyCsdQrrVI2Tcyj4cw3_AkgSdnz4V0/w640-h372/P1160782.JPG" title="Knotty Pine Offset BarnCaster Project, Part 4: Completed Parts-O-Caster" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's been fun putting the knotty pine offset BarnCaster together, and it is now as complete as I envisioned it to be at the beginning of the project. Quirkily attractive, comfortable and well balanced whether on a lap or a strap, plays really well, and sounds astounding, both acoustically and through an amp.</p><p>Also really enjoyed playing it throughout the assembly process, but now that it's done, I'm not going to do that anymore. This Parts-O-Caster was always meant to be put up for sale when it was finished, to finance a couple other projects, and I'm certain if I make too much more music with it, I'll fall in love and never want to let it go.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonpGC1yfKVYu0FeDSs1Zg8gb09uqHm-06lUavv2RVHaJVSAwlSpi2B2N1POFAw-fVTHhcmizZYsElYNcT0Ea65Nu35XqmOveVqeWwsdd5LxjNX5CbtmWVNCjpJkQZegr8jVefcIRMbFML/s1920/D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Knotty, pine, offset, Telecaster, Barncaster, Jazzcaster, Telemaster, Partscaster, Parts-O-Caster, 1991, ’91, MIM, Stratocaster, neck, rosewood, maple, relied, aged, Warmoth pickguard, Tex Mex neck pickup, Fender, ’62 bridge pickup, Gotoh, Wilkinson saddles, brass, compensated, NoMoonLaser body, project guitar," border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="1920" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonpGC1yfKVYu0FeDSs1Zg8gb09uqHm-06lUavv2RVHaJVSAwlSpi2B2N1POFAw-fVTHhcmizZYsElYNcT0Ea65Nu35XqmOveVqeWwsdd5LxjNX5CbtmWVNCjpJkQZegr8jVefcIRMbFML/w640-h500/D.JPG" title="Knotty Pine Offset BarnCaster Project, Part 4: Completed Parts-O-Caster" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-ENqX53UHfuypo3UuAgbCeq3igfjYEVEqR9wmhGl46tLBNrlcImOvgHPX52aGRzrr7NnwSla9jMnXD8lBPMDHrEWW1mWoEzZJ-yS7t6PFVURYA0-OG7Sfvtabo56pkotVE2L0jQWxSEv/s2048/3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Knotty, pine, offset, Telecaster, Barncaster, Jazzcaster, Telemaster, Partscaster, Parts-O-Caster, 1991, ’91, MIM, Stratocaster, neck, rosewood, maple, relied, aged, Warmoth pickguard, Tex Mex neck pickup, Fender, ’62 bridge pickup, Gotoh, Wilkinson saddles, brass, compensated, NoMoonLaser body, project guitar," border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="2048" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-ENqX53UHfuypo3UuAgbCeq3igfjYEVEqR9wmhGl46tLBNrlcImOvgHPX52aGRzrr7NnwSla9jMnXD8lBPMDHrEWW1mWoEzZJ-yS7t6PFVURYA0-OG7Sfvtabo56pkotVE2L0jQWxSEv/w640-h470/3.JPG" title="Knotty Pine Offset BarnCaster Project, Part 4: Completed Parts-O-Caster" width="575" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3VytxwRSSoAY_kzs4cV1IQ0rve3KKCqi9mBBxVDIiAI-jRK2nIgwNpVm3_4w_WZC5ifzOxj-Ufe1q08q-WsXei2x_09P9zfQpqSu1GNh0EXQKtKDLjt4U3h7ASYFAG6T2HpqnCsTW2ML/s2048/8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Knotty, pine, offset, Telecaster, Barncaster, Jazzcaster, Telemaster, Partscaster, Parts-O-Caster, 1991, ’91, MIM, Stratocaster, neck, rosewood, maple, relied, aged, Warmoth pickguard, Tex Mex neck pickup, Fender, ’62 bridge pickup, Gotoh, Wilkinson saddles, brass, compensated, NoMoonLaser body, project guitar," border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3VytxwRSSoAY_kzs4cV1IQ0rve3KKCqi9mBBxVDIiAI-jRK2nIgwNpVm3_4w_WZC5ifzOxj-Ufe1q08q-WsXei2x_09P9zfQpqSu1GNh0EXQKtKDLjt4U3h7ASYFAG6T2HpqnCsTW2ML/w640-h426/8.JPG" title="Knotty Pine Offset BarnCaster Project, Part 4: Completed Parts-O-Caster" width="575" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_zQife53ZuUNTYqGTABkXGRDQrEPnCGcm53BnnUHZfOZKuSUUA9jSG1wnMPUglI1nvQyyKlvJskgmkl2uZ2-6cf78fSGos_HmpocaLjujJzypeA1LX0Yc3RK5WXRTLCXu_TZkdRxY9gB/s2048/9.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Knotty Pine Offset BarnCaster Project, Part 4: Completed Parts-O-Caster" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_zQife53ZuUNTYqGTABkXGRDQrEPnCGcm53BnnUHZfOZKuSUUA9jSG1wnMPUglI1nvQyyKlvJskgmkl2uZ2-6cf78fSGos_HmpocaLjujJzypeA1LX0Yc3RK5WXRTLCXu_TZkdRxY9gB/w640-h426/9.JPG" title="Knotty, pine, offset, Telecaster, Barncaster, Jazzcaster, Telemaster, Partscaster, Parts-O-Caster, 1991, ’91, MIM, Stratocaster, neck, rosewood, maple, relied, aged, Warmoth pickguard, Tex Mex neck pickup, Fender, ’62 bridge pickup, Gotoh, Wilkinson saddles, brass, compensated, NoMoonLaser body, project guitar," width="575" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDgfSeUXeqV_2syKZ7O5IsFRlY3chhNoQS3I0K99cLP8B3dnIVQTFqIiaiE5MKqT1GZiCK0RK2yFayPmVdGi8IiLSTVnHWlgA-DA-YJ7bF9kFMPpeRmPfqxxaUxoTSg95NvefV4yxmpnE/s2048/6.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Knotty, pine, offset, Telecaster, Barncaster, Jazzcaster, Telemaster, Partscaster, Parts-O-Caster, 1991, ’91, MIM, Stratocaster, neck, rosewood, maple, relied, aged, Warmoth pickguard, Tex Mex neck pickup, Fender, ’62 bridge pickup, Gotoh, Wilkinson saddles, brass, compensated, NoMoonLaser body, project guitar," border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDgfSeUXeqV_2syKZ7O5IsFRlY3chhNoQS3I0K99cLP8B3dnIVQTFqIiaiE5MKqT1GZiCK0RK2yFayPmVdGi8IiLSTVnHWlgA-DA-YJ7bF9kFMPpeRmPfqxxaUxoTSg95NvefV4yxmpnE/w640-h426/6.JPG" title="Knotty Pine Offset BarnCaster Project, Part 4: Completed Parts-O-Caster" width="575" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfcNsL-La-t1fiQa5mTi4vHU_i5ZYLeeyPAaVbPj_D2JMgW9waX9TLeLneJzlW-bNLgdJUG0usJ2g_UTbe6RRyb0hbL9JHI3pL5WtG04eNsCUQIv01iVemGONFw8zNj52g1iRuGjcjYlT/s2048/12.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Knotty, pine, offset, Telecaster, Barncaster, Jazzcaster, Telemaster, Partscaster, Parts-O-Caster, 1991, ’91, MIM, Stratocaster, neck, rosewood, maple, relied, aged, Warmoth pickguard, Tex Mex neck pickup, Fender, ’62 bridge pickup, Gotoh, Wilkinson saddles, brass, compensated, NoMoonLaser body, project guitar," border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfcNsL-La-t1fiQa5mTi4vHU_i5ZYLeeyPAaVbPj_D2JMgW9waX9TLeLneJzlW-bNLgdJUG0usJ2g_UTbe6RRyb0hbL9JHI3pL5WtG04eNsCUQIv01iVemGONFw8zNj52g1iRuGjcjYlT/w640-h426/12.JPG" title="Knotty Pine Offset BarnCaster Project, Part 4: Completed Parts-O-Caster" width="575" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU7z7zHhDKqcB46WzbDiNBAKV-FAqetdYnk_qvd6oaPeXqV0TZPSR1kiIs3Q6JkAugtx0PS5ttG2xTLqwrH7N6IQdPDdYoahM5uei-imTUt7ocQFSUPb81y6eiVzDXc2q6wsk85GsO15c/s1325/Controls.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Knotty, pine, offset, Telecaster, Barncaster, Jazzcaster, Telemaster, Partscaster, Parts-O-Caster, 1991, ’91, MIM, Stratocaster, neck, rosewood, maple, relied, aged, Warmoth pickguard, Tex Mex neck pickup, Fender, ’62 bridge pickup, Gotoh, Wilkinson saddles, brass, compensated, NoMoonLaser body, project guitar," border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1325" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU7z7zHhDKqcB46WzbDiNBAKV-FAqetdYnk_qvd6oaPeXqV0TZPSR1kiIs3Q6JkAugtx0PS5ttG2xTLqwrH7N6IQdPDdYoahM5uei-imTUt7ocQFSUPb81y6eiVzDXc2q6wsk85GsO15c/w640-h430/Controls.png" title="Knotty Pine Offset BarnCaster Project, Part 4: Completed Parts-O-Caster" width="575" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDdenSpKahbDH6mgNhOcSSwquAMngkK7We0rYrdZi9mTaXa9j6VAiqG9_BWtRfgf7QGc3TweyyoPkDShNAXtrXvN-aObC2tRG8MxtcyAMQLQIYXgf7S271nP_rdT4xDtaOKUThKwhj9gi/s1920/P1160781.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Knotty, pine, offset, Telecaster, Barncaster, Jazzcaster, Telemaster, Partscaster, Parts-O-Caster, 1991, ’91, MIM, Stratocaster, neck, rosewood, maple, relied, aged, Warmoth pickguard, Tex Mex neck pickup, Fender, ’62 bridge pickup, Gotoh, Wilkinson saddles, brass, compensated, NoMoonLaser body, project guitar," border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="1920" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDdenSpKahbDH6mgNhOcSSwquAMngkK7We0rYrdZi9mTaXa9j6VAiqG9_BWtRfgf7QGc3TweyyoPkDShNAXtrXvN-aObC2tRG8MxtcyAMQLQIYXgf7S271nP_rdT4xDtaOKUThKwhj9gi/w640-h396/P1160781.JPG" title="Knotty Pine Offset BarnCaster Project, Part 4: Completed Parts-O-Caster" width="575" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;">* * *</p><p>And... it's sold. To a nice young couple in Nome, Alaska. It's going to be a Winter Solstice holiday present for their beloved lead sled dog, Rupert, and may he enjoy it well. Something about accompanying the team's nightly howling jam sessions.<br /></p><p>For more about the Barn-O-Caster, see <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2020/08/pine-barncaster-project.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2020/08/knotty-pine-barncaster-project-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a>, and <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2020/08/knotty-pine-offset-barncaster-project.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a> in the mini-series about it.<br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-57884475749297923722020-09-15T20:37:00.011-07:002022-03-01T11:08:26.298-08:00Tube Amp on a Plank # 1: RCA Victor RS-193 Single Ended Stereo Hi-Fi Amplifier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRI6_vSaTNkJvmN68S4tesQzGLtSgL5q_7oMITr07H67z_H4yG9dV07snYYjgKze8OVOIS-6jUIyvQjpjvaIO5oy8Z1Vwqox63UNOzjtva_vQXHKxta44AiYyAP-AXIOcLCLgJJJQem09/s1600/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford,RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A," border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1600" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRI6_vSaTNkJvmN68S4tesQzGLtSgL5q_7oMITr07H67z_H4yG9dV07snYYjgKze8OVOIS-6jUIyvQjpjvaIO5oy8Z1Vwqox63UNOzjtva_vQXHKxta44AiYyAP-AXIOcLCLgJJJQem09/s640/1.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A," width="575" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></span>ummer before last, there was a big charity yard sale here in our neighborhood, proceeds of which benefited a local pets help society providing among other things, low-cost veterinary services. During this time in our nation's history when a sizable percentage of the population is morphing into a grievance driven neo-fascist authoritarian cult, rejecting anything related to the common good (and all you soulless gun-clutching lizard people know who you are), I'm thankful that our family lives in an old fashioned American town, now considered "socialist", where helping others still matters. Also parks, swimming pools, libraries, arts and music, summer activities for kids, senior centers, hiking and running trails, post offices, an Amtrak station, and dog play parks!<br />
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I helped others (and their pets) out by buying a few things: a pair of new Converse low tops, some Yakima rooftop rack bars, a few interesting books (<a href="https://keithmccafferty.com/" target="_blank">Keith McCafferty</a>'s fly fishing detective murder mysteries), and an early 1960s RCA Victor stereo hi-fi console:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdMTKqOJWFtSz_zilkwBbJjnJ-D76YRrFtr4sDUqgrFdwBozqGbioC3ijeJx_NKi87emLfDIMOiWkS3GccAP55KguvnYT_YEmrEKOztwtt9TXho-mBYJfoFPnyKQ-KLAKkplTHI_XzShN/s1600/RCA+Console.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford,RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier," border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdMTKqOJWFtSz_zilkwBbJjnJ-D76YRrFtr4sDUqgrFdwBozqGbioC3ijeJx_NKi87emLfDIMOiWkS3GccAP55KguvnYT_YEmrEKOztwtt9TXho-mBYJfoFPnyKQ-KLAKkplTHI_XzShN/s640/RCA+Console.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier," width="575" /></a></div>
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Don't know the model name or number of the console, but the amplifier section has an ink-stamped "RS-193D" on its top surface; see circuit description below. This console didn't have an AM-FM radio tuner, only a 3-speed phonograph record changer turntable, with a high output (near line level) ceramic element cartridge + stylus assembly. When I got the console home, I plugged it into power, let it warm up for a bit, put an LP on the platter, and turned the knob on the turntable to "Play". The stylus arm didn't automatically move over and plop the needle onto the record, as it should have done, but the platter spun, and the arm let me pick it up and place it on the outer LP grooves. Here comes the West Coast Dixieland sound of <a href="https://www.discogs.com/Jake-Stock-And-The-Abalone-Stompers-Live-At-The-River-Inn-Big-Sur/release/14951050" target="_blank">Jake Stock and his Abalone Stompers</a> - it works!<br />
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As expected, the musical tone could have been better, but it was okay, and surprisingly quiet and hum free. Next, as a test, I disconnected one side of the speaker-out leads, and hooked that up to a known good sounding speaker, and wow - that was a huge improvement over the stock built in drivers. It was all there - deep tight low end, detailed mids, and shimmery and almost magical sounding highs.<br />
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Since, 1) the record changer was basically not totally operational (and I wouldn't have trusted it with some of our vintage LPs anyway), 2) the console's speakers weren't exactly audiophile quality, and 3) as furniture, the console cabinet had seen better days, the next step was obvious. Rescuing the really great sounding tube stereo amp section and re-purposing it sounded like a fun project.<br />
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The amplifier was removed, and the console cabinet, with turntable, was sold on craigslist (really cheap) to someone looking for a vintage piece of furniture to refinish and use for storage - the full width hinged top lid was a great feature for that purpose.<br />
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Here's a quick rundown of the amp's basics:<br />
<br />
- There
are two high level (near line level) inputs into a dual section 6EU7
voltage amplifier / output driver tube, with its plates driving the
input grids of a pair of 6BQ5 (EL84) output tubes<br />
- Estimated output power: 3 to 5 watts per channel<br />
- Controls consist of a dual section loudness potentiometer, dual passive bass and treble (also dual section) controls, and a balance pot<br />
- 5Y3 rectifier tube<br />
- Two separate output transformers<br />
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The next picture shows the amp innards, after I'd done a few minor changes:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kvg6bZW27QFbnU4I6NLr6p2zCcTnb4YqrTRa-8ojOJWf2-DjxrXgS_cA5iiVp2romF2GCZtputKricOMSHbxvpkJJOz7JH4pN_d1WuM2LVBKurgqQqjEbOJtGkOtuk7ztl3KAB-aPdTf/s1600/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kvg6bZW27QFbnU4I6NLr6p2zCcTnb4YqrTRa-8ojOJWf2-DjxrXgS_cA5iiVp2romF2GCZtputKricOMSHbxvpkJJOz7JH4pN_d1WuM2LVBKurgqQqjEbOJtGkOtuk7ztl3KAB-aPdTf/s640/3.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A" width="575" /></a></div>
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In the above photo, note the flat brown "blob" in the upper left corner - that's a separate component board, encased in some sort of soft mastic-y material, that holds the loudness control sub-circuit. That's one of the keys to this amplifier's sound; not only a volume level control, the loudness circuit also has a variable level Fletcher-Munson EQ compensation, subtly boosting the lows and highs at lower volume settings.<br />
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A short list of the non-invasive "mods" performed on the amp:<br />
<br />
- Added a power on/off switch (originally done at the turntable's "play" knob)<br />
- Added an easy to access fuse holder<br />
- Installed a larger gauge 3-conductor grounded AC cable, with strain relief<br />
- Lifted one leg of the 6.3VAC tube heater loop from ground, and installed 2x 100 ohm resistors referencing both heater legs to chassis ground<br />
- Removed the original hard wired audio input terminals, and replaced with a pair of standard RCA jacks<br />
- Installed a low light-level LED power status lamp, hooked up to one leg of the heater supply; the added terminal strip at the bottom of picture just right of center, shows the voltage dropping resistor and IN4007 diode<br />
- In place of the original control knobs, which had shafts long enough to reach through the 3/4" cabinet panel, four vintage made in Chicago Dakaware Davies style knobs were fitted<br />
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At some point in the past, some professionally done servicing had been done to the amplifier - note the pair of large orange .047uF Sprague coupling capacitors, and a replaced 220K plate load resistor. Nice to know this old stereo had been loved enough to be well taken care of.<br />
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A great part of doing this project is that since it was in fantastic shape and sounded good as is, no major repairs or circuit changes had to be done; in fact, the audio pathway in this tube amp is all original and unmodified. Also, no additional holes had to be drilled in the chassis, although some had to be enlarged to accommodate added parts, such as the fuse holder and power switch.<br />
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Here's a view of the back of the amp. The General Instruments multi-section can style capacitor is still in excellent condition after all these years - not even a bit of audible hum. The output transformers were made by Midwest Coil And Transformer, in January of 1962:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5k_6_1xRnUCWooc2TB5dQgowVtNqx9wb_R56QCLZUtwJQEwKq7f7UfQWfHa4FBeUejXvetEFn6MWw8glIRWgjKEYWUZ-A_LzbbDjfE6NUg-9PMJwVRhKyVLQ2OlkCp3CvHYkC0QSt5aq/s1600/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5k_6_1xRnUCWooc2TB5dQgowVtNqx9wb_R56QCLZUtwJQEwKq7f7UfQWfHa4FBeUejXvetEFn6MWw8glIRWgjKEYWUZ-A_LzbbDjfE6NUg-9PMJwVRhKyVLQ2OlkCp3CvHYkC0QSt5aq/s640/4.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A" width="575" /></a></div>
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A top shot. Note the AC cable, stolen from an Apple MacBook Pro power supply:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQNBPJTtCwD1aa8DU9EezFqo8cMIZ1FYdDSRPLWbZNZ_DxvaYSQXvNku_xZcfVoH3DmYR5Wrm9qPJs0yF8Vl7BpZgBj663db7OoamFNyLclMvI4P3ae1t9quGmvLQZ1tPvSgJEzV_x7D8/s1600/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1600" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQNBPJTtCwD1aa8DU9EezFqo8cMIZ1FYdDSRPLWbZNZ_DxvaYSQXvNku_xZcfVoH3DmYR5Wrm9qPJs0yF8Vl7BpZgBj663db7OoamFNyLclMvI4P3ae1t9quGmvLQZ1tPvSgJEzV_x7D8/s640/5.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A" width="575" /></a></div><p>
The amplifier chassis was mounted on a piece of rustic finished old growth Oregon alder board, reclaimed from a house being remodeled in Eugene Oregon, originally built in 1964. This board, previously a part of a utility room shelf, had no finish on it. After cutting it to length, a light sanding got it down to clean wood, and two coats of amber shellac were applied, with a steel wool rub down between coats. The last step was polishing with a rag cut from an old favorite cotton flannel shirt.<br />
<br />The RCA Victor logo badge, with the classic style "His Master's Voice" dog and wind-up Victrola, was originally on the front of the console that this amp was removed from. The badge, made of plastic, has two round pins on its back, which fit into two holes I drilled into the front edge of the plank:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_N2Qnw7xew1wWculM0MgD_nKKY7-IZgSEVz1vmOLZMR3VS70WMAJ8Fz-iaSed57RCCryVFRKTsvx-iQsyio5RX71o7BqnNJVFuAAb5vc1PE6tmR2BrIoIYdqJJpukKyaVig5Un1s-ipD/s1600/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_N2Qnw7xew1wWculM0MgD_nKKY7-IZgSEVz1vmOLZMR3VS70WMAJ8Fz-iaSed57RCCryVFRKTsvx-iQsyio5RX71o7BqnNJVFuAAb5vc1PE6tmR2BrIoIYdqJJpukKyaVig5Un1s-ipD/s640/6.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A" width="575" /></a></div><p>
The black rubber feet are from an early 1960s McGohan tube paging amp, which received much larger new rubber feet.</p><p>Here's a picture of the nicely muted LED power indicator lamp in action:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Wgkhj4CAeAC8PR2RzIx2qlPUYIEDqFRNx8jUIf4lg-Om2gMbJGfkwD3iGGtIaIHMg7CqILyLha0wgIk8FYfdNmnmMq76LShnDGud421u-8GaciVAvFnke6skMWdU4XveDbVU1BNVM6Lu/s1600/71.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Wgkhj4CAeAC8PR2RzIx2qlPUYIEDqFRNx8jUIf4lg-Om2gMbJGfkwD3iGGtIaIHMg7CqILyLha0wgIk8FYfdNmnmMq76LShnDGud421u-8GaciVAvFnke6skMWdU4XveDbVU1BNVM6Lu/s640/71.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A" width="575" /></a><br /></div><p>The LED indicator lamp is a redundant feature - the four vacuum tubes are themselves a sure way to tell if this amp is on. But it was fun to install, and there was already a hole in that spot, so why not? At first, I put in a neon lamp, but yow - that was noisy; the LED is dead quiet.<br /></p><p>One end of the chassis has the new RCA style audio input jacks. I had only black and red old fashioned Dymo label stock on hand, but they corresponded nicely with a vintage Switchcraft double-RCA cable with red and black coded plugs:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2wtQf8LeHcWUcemXpsTKJAwRzyav2BCoeJFsSMClNRlYs7_NCjlKG4EdrSt8P-jbAuLzIu_vTpY92cKfuWKKveoesT8c8eL85nUDC_iWmSajVLXkOivtk-OHdKf6neL2RvxGVSiSOLOU/s1600/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2wtQf8LeHcWUcemXpsTKJAwRzyav2BCoeJFsSMClNRlYs7_NCjlKG4EdrSt8P-jbAuLzIu_vTpY92cKfuWKKveoesT8c8eL85nUDC_iWmSajVLXkOivtk-OHdKf6neL2RvxGVSiSOLOU/s640/8.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A" width="575" /></a></div><p>
I like Dymo punch style labels, they're incredibly retro and vintagey looking, and certainly are era specific for this 1960s amp.<br /></p><p>A shot of the other end of the chassis:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xyB4fBw2SkRuA_W7GOkUKhs_O2F8MnqJYZb4l0w9lZTT3VZS4sV3h9d_RhfSMYJmbqrkCc1vVhNO7sBdY8Vn-infLrsq3DnTpkbj8_3U-JPcrewmXKaNDfoE7qJCEetyC2dD7g-w3Gwq/s1600/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xyB4fBw2SkRuA_W7GOkUKhs_O2F8MnqJYZb4l0w9lZTT3VZS4sV3h9d_RhfSMYJmbqrkCc1vVhNO7sBdY8Vn-infLrsq3DnTpkbj8_3U-JPcrewmXKaNDfoE7qJCEetyC2dD7g-w3Gwq/s640/9.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A" width="575" /></a></div>
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Close up - here you can see the bat lever of the miniature DPDT AC switch, the AC cable w/ strain relief, and new old stock fuse holder. Also, a good picture of the slot head brass wood screws and stainless trim washers I was lucky enough to find at our local "home town" True Value hardware store, only 10 blocks away:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT-FA7Oe6ZTjTbpkvcYKzHpsjDTC6pLb4jw_9ud4G11TiPp0eDrS0imwHKrdZeLkxl_YGe5SgmLdT-TrwQ5WvtyfxPQxJ9t1YMswi6E1OQHzj2A-mSN1pb7JRfeHThwXmoxxVFKlJCnM3/s1600/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT-FA7Oe6ZTjTbpkvcYKzHpsjDTC6pLb4jw_9ud4G11TiPp0eDrS0imwHKrdZeLkxl_YGe5SgmLdT-TrwQ5WvtyfxPQxJ9t1YMswi6E1OQHzj2A-mSN1pb7JRfeHThwXmoxxVFKlJCnM3/s640/10.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A" width="575" /></a></div>
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The power transformer, made by the Foster Transformer company, also in January 1962:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU31oDSBi9cIij1iMTyFsJplxgwmmNl9UFH7r_JHUlW0GhQ53XNHHFQzr3us3DFLg0OQ-5c_2f4Gf9YsgjEPt46svpQaXxyoPO-LyTGmHnGGnDCP2NaocQmiZzZmA0F7FLefCdptWVbTX/s1600/11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU31oDSBi9cIij1iMTyFsJplxgwmmNl9UFH7r_JHUlW0GhQ53XNHHFQzr3us3DFLg0OQ-5c_2f4Gf9YsgjEPt46svpQaXxyoPO-LyTGmHnGGnDCP2NaocQmiZzZmA0F7FLefCdptWVbTX/s640/11.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Foster Transformer, Class A" width="575" /></a></div>
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Another front view of the amp. The RCA 5Y3 rectifier and RCA 6EU7 driver tube are likely original. The General Electric 6BQ5 output tubes might be original equipment, or possibly replaced when the amp was serviced a few years ago. Note also the interesting speaker output terminals; I had to fabricate a pair of dedicated speaker cables, with two "+" fittings, and only one "-" fitting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCp4-znyGyzFMDU6cCeBkVXY9OheBl2VTyHBVatwyXIInfNXL7GztaOTOem8wt9E4Pkhh2997bcMyvmztohXzLFhuLpc3jcE03Rmz8h4bhx6Jzhi8-7_dg7ImdYwtLrjeSbh7XYAxZdjx/s1600/12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCp4-znyGyzFMDU6cCeBkVXY9OheBl2VTyHBVatwyXIInfNXL7GztaOTOem8wt9E4Pkhh2997bcMyvmztohXzLFhuLpc3jcE03Rmz8h4bhx6Jzhi8-7_dg7ImdYwtLrjeSbh7XYAxZdjx/s640/12.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A" width="575" /></a></div>
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Here's the back side again:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vrXf3whEnBRDCx_LYvJ51p1_-E1FA7BxVybIWZmjXDFqZHBz-c_sFyfgg9sW7Ccp1RuZp6a8rEfLDmZXwcTCmx-gAbfvFhmMnnWEus7dH5gOS__Z48d3HzoAqy8r01TwPsle4w0CIktK/s1600/13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1600" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vrXf3whEnBRDCx_LYvJ51p1_-E1FA7BxVybIWZmjXDFqZHBz-c_sFyfgg9sW7Ccp1RuZp6a8rEfLDmZXwcTCmx-gAbfvFhmMnnWEus7dH5gOS__Z48d3HzoAqy8r01TwPsle4w0CIktK/s640/13.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Midwest, coil, transformer, Class A" width="575" /></a></div><p>
In its original location in the console, the amp's knobs were pointing up, and the tubes and power transformer were sideways. The pins on the vacuum tubes are probably a lot happier now. Actually, since the rescue and re-purpose, this old tube amplifier seems to sound happier overall.<br /></p><p>Using an adapter cable, an iPhone was hooked up, with great results. In this picture, you can see the amp end of the speaker cable assembly:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0BTQ9fHr_JORpBndPjazsR1SNDp3gTk008JgO_5V3IF0RvSSZAcONjLzqlQPNR1MZktf8PJfthsyoKnKADSbCOZN5_xg0HKe5e5iJkOTK2sZna0FHjtTcwKeX0C8d22gzU88rUbN4466/s1600/14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0BTQ9fHr_JORpBndPjazsR1SNDp3gTk008JgO_5V3IF0RvSSZAcONjLzqlQPNR1MZktf8PJfthsyoKnKADSbCOZN5_xg0HKe5e5iJkOTK2sZna0FHjtTcwKeX0C8d22gzU88rUbN4466/s640/14.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A" width="575" /></a></div>
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The RCA RS-193 has been hooked up to a few different pairs of vintage speakers; here are three of them, with an Onkyo DX-1800 compact disc player as an audio source. First, a pair of late '70s JBL L19:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFibyKE8PmY54qc4nNKtKNO4O7BEAYpyeTMB24Z8xZnZ3CnwKrAyL9PB5LbmQBGBkMCCOJ6caNmMrnsW5FQG-cLPBOUfbAi7fXgpqD97_1D7gLql_jRGZhePVXcu0Y-2X2G0_yygxVfIG/s1600/15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFibyKE8PmY54qc4nNKtKNO4O7BEAYpyeTMB24Z8xZnZ3CnwKrAyL9PB5LbmQBGBkMCCOJ6caNmMrnsW5FQG-cLPBOUfbAi7fXgpqD97_1D7gLql_jRGZhePVXcu0Y-2X2G0_yygxVfIG/s640/15.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, JBL L19, Onkyp DX-1800, Class A" width="478" /></a></div>
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A pair of 1950s James B Lansing D123 12" full range in JBL cabinets, no tweeters:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-c1dCliL-4PA1dcdWCqkhwmuCM19KSlInmXGfxhn5Qa73quDuTG_QTtIH5gwiQ3Q6cIeEHW1Mt9MAtmjiKEWIfqENx-HticzKhTxRdJw-UsDjn2igK7IW63op6O-jJn3IX2Pvi6L0CLO/s1600/16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="vintage furniture, 1950s, 1960s, '60s, '50s, mid century, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-c1dCliL-4PA1dcdWCqkhwmuCM19KSlInmXGfxhn5Qa73quDuTG_QTtIH5gwiQ3Q6cIeEHW1Mt9MAtmjiKEWIfqENx-HticzKhTxRdJw-UsDjn2igK7IW63op6O-jJn3IX2Pvi6L0CLO/s640/16.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, JBL D123, Onkyo DX-1800, 1962, Guild M-65, 3/4, Class A" width="575" /></a></div>
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Sure, both sets of JBls sounded as awesome as they always do with almost any amplifier, but the most relatively astounding match up was with a pair of 1980s Radio Shack Minimus 7 mini speaks. I could go on about how honest and realistic everything sounded with this system, but you might not believe that a 3 to 5 watt per channel amplifier and tiny speakers could reproduce music so well. Guess what? They do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYKsJtweNpsI5rVTCXNv7zOpsexmgl_62ApAJF_HcnFgVv0f0GDTxq0PoajI2fC-k84No-hCfgz6-zRYlsjCfDXY7rAo9-CsgipZLXow2u_2gP6bDtrvOCDxsVz1L6eu3Jydhh-rzuUX1/s1600/17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="1600" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYKsJtweNpsI5rVTCXNv7zOpsexmgl_62ApAJF_HcnFgVv0f0GDTxq0PoajI2fC-k84No-hCfgz6-zRYlsjCfDXY7rAo9-CsgipZLXow2u_2gP6bDtrvOCDxsVz1L6eu3Jydhh-rzuUX1/s640/17.jpg" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier,, Radio Shack, Minimus 7, Onkyo DX-1800, Class A" width="575" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7ZgrKjlemr9glPb-s3xOa6x5JarAsWGE2dufBcOfaU2iXt0Jidvx8yBbENdj-ZV3o0rkUGAXLmaGEcOmfsHni66f5VGBQHeL2-TY5V0fmfhBMijZLy0UJ5qlXIV5ARyNvbqrHSudCYsh/s1600/2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford," border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1347" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7ZgrKjlemr9glPb-s3xOa6x5JarAsWGE2dufBcOfaU2iXt0Jidvx8yBbENdj-ZV3o0rkUGAXLmaGEcOmfsHni66f5VGBQHeL2-TY5V0fmfhBMijZLy0UJ5qlXIV5ARyNvbqrHSudCYsh/s640/2.png" title="Tube Amp on a Plank, RCA, Victor, RS-193, schematic, Single ended, tube amp, stereo, hi-fi, high fidelity, 6BQ5, EL84, 1960s, project, 6EU7, 5Y3, console tube amplifier, Class A" width="575" /></a></div>
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<b>The Circuit</b><br />
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Without going into a lengthy full analysis of the RS-193's circuit, a few key points are:<br />
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• The bass and treble controls are passive instead of active; that is, they are subtractive in their action, cut only, and since they don't boost bass and treble at their respective knee frequencies, it eliminates the possibility of any unwanted resonant peaks in the overall frequency response.<br />
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• Rather than "volume", there is a "loudness" control. Each channel's loudness potentiometer (1/2 of a double ganged 500K pot) is multi-tapped and connected to a sub-circuit between the driver amp and power output stages, which enables a variable EQ compensation effect (ie: Fletcher Munson curve) dependent upon the overall volume level.<br />
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• At roughly 56mA of plate current at idle through each of the 6BQ5/EL84 output tubes, this amp is firmly in Class A territory.<br />
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• With an 80uF electrolytic capacitor on the DC leg of the 5Y3 rectifier tube, the RS-193 has two to four times the primary B+ filter capacitance of most tube amplifiers with similar plate voltages, which helps to reduce hum and noise.<br />
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• Instead of two single-ended output transformers, each 6BQ5/EL84 is connected to the primaries of its own double-ended output transformer. The B+ voltage from the power supply is hooked up to the center tap, one primary leg is connected directly to the 6BQ5 plate, and the other leg, which acts as an additional filter choke, goes to the screen grid of each 6BQ5, through a dropping resistor (and also provides voltage to the plates of the 6EU7 driver tubes). This ingenious use of two double-primary output transformers, with their added AC ripple filtering, helps to keep the amplifier's noise floor down - a good thing in general, especially since single ended tube amps tend to have a bit more inherent noise than push-pull circuits.<br />
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All in all, a deceptively simple yet sophisticated, efficient, and tonally superior tube amplifier circuit design. This amp came along at the very end of the first tube audio era, just before transistors took over, and may well be the very last tube amplifier RCA ever designed and manufactured.<br />
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Click or tap on any photo above to see larger, higher def images. All photographs taken with a Lumix ZS25 pocket travel zoom camera. <br />
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<br />James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-75386808387670238672020-09-10T14:51:00.030-07:002021-12-05T21:30:55.812-08:00Installing a Rustic Plywood Plank Floor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH-DE2Z1pp4AgkN4hnAmkg9L_QHb1Cu6mLaKqThMzaqEruQNyqzS7BEkQ69EMj6RhJ2igAMVv37LgTKcWrIGzCB9Tbg8XvmoFBQeOJ1bDh8f33ejv2TrArYGzkOYKadQC89vH5DSb39Hb/s1600/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH-DE2Z1pp4AgkN4hnAmkg9L_QHb1Cu6mLaKqThMzaqEruQNyqzS7BEkQ69EMj6RhJ2igAMVv37LgTKcWrIGzCB9Tbg8XvmoFBQeOJ1bDh8f33ejv2TrArYGzkOYKadQC89vH5DSb39Hb/s640/1.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, 1963, Flexsteel, sofa, couch, vintage furniture, Navajo rug, modern framed print," width="575" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></span>his has to be said, even though it's an uncomfortable truth: wall to wall carpet is disgusting, unsanitary stuff. No amount of shampooing and vacuuming will ever get it clean, especially when living with kids and pets.<br />
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When it was time to coat over the also awful (but not unhealthy) offwhite / eggshell walls with brilliant pure white semi-gloss paint, it seemed like a good idea to finally replace the old carpet with something else - anything really, we hadn't decided yet, but not more carpet. In the next picture, during the repainting, the icky pile had already been taken up from half the living room and tossed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGyRkqk77pQgO18Jat_wXaY-fE_FALlp4TcIbrH0kNV7pCoBf7BoeZds1ZjKLQ5Bpti-Z9boXMlMS_CQa-10mneOTQX0pZY1ELFlE6SKBFqo5nKXuqbripcftVEjF9dUgTTGtlBmiwtqs/s1600/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGyRkqk77pQgO18Jat_wXaY-fE_FALlp4TcIbrH0kNV7pCoBf7BoeZds1ZjKLQ5Bpti-Z9boXMlMS_CQa-10mneOTQX0pZY1ELFlE6SKBFqo5nKXuqbripcftVEjF9dUgTTGtlBmiwtqs/s640/2.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, painting, pure white paint, remodel, remove, old, unsanitary, dirty, carpet" width="575" /></a></div>
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We put up with the dirt and germ catching floor
covering that came with this place for way too long, but other money-magnet things always
needed doing instead. It was an incredibly joyous event when it all went out the door. If we'd waited two or thee more years, it would have grown legs and walked out by itself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVCOHlo2prThA-NVHfss9EYuFpCDyIsjM22Gr6u-b81mZhR3-kn3-tvYWX0KBSw1OKth0tbH8xhgVj-cvsoAxKsLSQ2BGGYGCNSvLOtHbJ0EMBsj5qdnBtND9ZtctfQ-3BZYOw282eHT1/s1600/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVCOHlo2prThA-NVHfss9EYuFpCDyIsjM22Gr6u-b81mZhR3-kn3-tvYWX0KBSw1OKth0tbH8xhgVj-cvsoAxKsLSQ2BGGYGCNSvLOtHbJ0EMBsj5qdnBtND9ZtctfQ-3BZYOw282eHT1/s640/3.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, painting, pure white paint, remodel, remove, old, unsanitary, dirty, carpet" width="575" /></a></div>
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When we did this a couple years ago, there wasn't much interest in cut plywood floors then. If you google "plywood plank floor" now, you'll find tons of info.<br />
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By the time we'd gotten the floor down to a swept and vacuumed, staple and nail free particle sub flooring, without rusty and dangerous carpet tack strips (big job in itself), we had decided on the idea of ripped plywood planking, and got started right away. We went to Mike's Discount Lumber in north Eugene and picked up 7 sheets of 1/2" A-C sanded-top fir plywood, and some 2x4s. Also stopped at Jerry's Home Improvement and got a Kreg Rip-Cut saw attachment and a new carbide tipped blade for the vintage 1980s USA Black And Decker.<br />
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On the side deck, which also needs replacing or sanding and staining, an impromptu ripping jig was set up with the new 2x4s, basically cut in half and screwed down to the deck boards:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUWmYRFeTp9fxUp4lYqHdp3i6vQombRKt3Vz6pc4Cr7MymWDgvtnF-qcX_YqVCqJX9qZIXDOp0PhM6qiC4r_IVxYhY_IH92eXqkG6U4cvxzH_yPv-A55SrThhnveP4qIGWIMvGroFXqnk/s1600/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1273" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUWmYRFeTp9fxUp4lYqHdp3i6vQombRKt3Vz6pc4Cr7MymWDgvtnF-qcX_YqVCqJX9qZIXDOp0PhM6qiC4r_IVxYhY_IH92eXqkG6U4cvxzH_yPv-A55SrThhnveP4qIGWIMvGroFXqnk/s640/4.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, plywood cutting jig, vintage black and decker saw, Kreg rip cut," width="575" /></a></div>
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It took a few minutes to figure out how to attach the Rip-Cut to the saw, and set the rip width. I settled on 8" cuts, for a real "plank-y" look, like what thick solid wood floors in old warehouses and grain mills look like. Due to the width of the blade cuts, this made five 8" planks, and one 7 3/8" plank from each sheet of plywood. Three narrower rows of planks were interspersed through the room, and aren't very noticeable.<br />
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Each sheet was held onto the jig by a really simple method. A 1 1/2" wood screw was driven down into the 2x4 right at the edge of the sheet, with the counter-sunk head of the screw about half way down the thickness of the sheet. Then, a moderate tap of the hammer on the opposite side of the sheet dug the plywood into the head of the exposed screw, gripping it well enough so the sheet didn't move while running the saw+Rip-Cut assembly down the length of the plywood. See below at the front left corner, near a made in Switzerland Bosch drill-driver:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnW80DWzNB7H1810h7nXTWCFWrS5lIq4IXvcAg269a0x_MfhYd76ZugIVLDwirdboRSzYXDP7LI5p9R_ywHkWco76A7wGwdXqwlvfvFC-CBs4aZuFQT-XNmD0RqiuQI_tLEzdGO8fCVM9/s1600/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnW80DWzNB7H1810h7nXTWCFWrS5lIq4IXvcAg269a0x_MfhYd76ZugIVLDwirdboRSzYXDP7LI5p9R_ywHkWco76A7wGwdXqwlvfvFC-CBs4aZuFQT-XNmD0RqiuQI_tLEzdGO8fCVM9/s640/5.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, plywood cutting jig, vintage black and decker saw, Kreg rip cut, Bosch drill driver," width="575" /></a></div>
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After a plank was ripped from the sheet, the remaining plywood was moved over to the edge of the jig, and the securing screw was moved to its new location next to the sheet.<br />
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The saw blade was set for about a 5/8" cut depth, and down the sheet we went - really slick and very accurate cuts, every time. It's best to not stop during the length of the cut, just one long sweep at a constant rate of travel. It really helps to have a brand new, super sharp blade, too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ2CZEsAG17AyBaIivn5hsfCCS2L3VwrQa_uUFPzk-gVg9GrLvCyl_yI6yhz6oqcU27PR-ddlsXtxcZRzZIw-zN4rTJ5XM7VnOQaBF4S4j8gHkj_7x9hrf80Ej8EoD22BZHxEeUG0pTvP/s1600/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ2CZEsAG17AyBaIivn5hsfCCS2L3VwrQa_uUFPzk-gVg9GrLvCyl_yI6yhz6oqcU27PR-ddlsXtxcZRzZIw-zN4rTJ5XM7VnOQaBF4S4j8gHkj_7x9hrf80Ej8EoD22BZHxEeUG0pTvP/s640/6.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, plywood cutting jig, vintage black and decker saw, Kreg rip cut," width="575" /></a></div>
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Here's a picture of the very end of a long rip. In this case, we're doing a much narrower cut, essentially re-ripping previously cut planks, to fit the space between the next to last row of planks, and the "far" wall - more on that later. I was on the deck to take this photo, but I always stood to the left of the saw while walking it down the plywood.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUV1rmQuACzpMX6C0JL8CQdLfwLY8mdfxuub30l1AOkA0Bz2MLThnWDY_63EnK8v2LWujtBx1Pl-fofJg19k8oZ9hgbEjIEQedID5Qw9AvtF1FWctiPj7_KrnqZQ6UhYYBv0aIOLP6xf36/s1600/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUV1rmQuACzpMX6C0JL8CQdLfwLY8mdfxuub30l1AOkA0Bz2MLThnWDY_63EnK8v2LWujtBx1Pl-fofJg19k8oZ9hgbEjIEQedID5Qw9AvtF1FWctiPj7_KrnqZQ6UhYYBv0aIOLP6xf36/s640/7.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, plywood cutting jig, vintage black and decker saw, Kreg rip cut," width="575" /></a></div>
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After ripping each plank, it was put on a pair of sawhorses, and sawdust was brushed off. We piled up two sheets worth of planks - 12 - here at a time, before going to the edge sanding stage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDq6-T8ZklK6mBLLpjv8vIeCvklwIe_KyFbLJSU-QavlYSQksSKp-WZka25yZGMK25guoneZYRDMtZgecimiXQ0JqAlmLbM_a_SwP1u7MCpSMchbT0SmJtDGW7cwK3XA168qEUeYB5KGT/s1600/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDq6-T8ZklK6mBLLpjv8vIeCvklwIe_KyFbLJSU-QavlYSQksSKp-WZka25yZGMK25guoneZYRDMtZgecimiXQ0JqAlmLbM_a_SwP1u7MCpSMchbT0SmJtDGW7cwK3XA168qEUeYB5KGT/s640/8.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, planks on sawhorses, canoe" width="575" /></a></div>
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While on the horses, any thin un-sawn bits were removed with a new blade in a Stanley knife.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMs44hCt79w3HjGuIIgGS6HCJ9V7iXQQ2p4IfaXacz_L0Grdzmu5nMl_aP6tNrWaPHIP0XLrblhJGDUQEpEQp6Syq1WSt8Uta1_SYG6tlvzbq8u1DKbsQykMrepipR63IUW31ky4Bhwxw/s1600/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1449" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMs44hCt79w3HjGuIIgGS6HCJ9V7iXQQ2p4IfaXacz_L0Grdzmu5nMl_aP6tNrWaPHIP0XLrblhJGDUQEpEQp6Syq1WSt8Uta1_SYG6tlvzbq8u1DKbsQykMrepipR63IUW31ky4Bhwxw/s640/9.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, Stanley knife, rip cut plywood" width="575" /></a></div>
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It always helps to have willing and conscientious help. Here's our 17 year old doing all the edge sanding - creating even and consistent rounded chamfers on all edges. He also did a once over on the top surface, removing any burrs and micro splinters, to ensure max smoothness.</div>
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Pro tip: if you pay by the hour, not by the piece, you'll end up with better results. We both agreed to $20 an hour (wages in your area might differ), and not be in a hurry, taking enough time to get the job done well. End of job bonuses are always appreciated, too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzjkVBpmGLsxtSwYx-uRETQ-Y0eaF0f7Qy_IlrPUgvu5X_GjljkrJaqtM8oEbM_J6ELDV79zaTWumPMbPnCENVqIujzR_9yYiCSS4l_tDVo8IQSXeBc_WO7Qy0xGEStkVmFwH954V146P/s1600/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzjkVBpmGLsxtSwYx-uRETQ-Y0eaF0f7Qy_IlrPUgvu5X_GjljkrJaqtM8oEbM_J6ELDV79zaTWumPMbPnCENVqIujzR_9yYiCSS4l_tDVo8IQSXeBc_WO7Qy0xGEStkVmFwH954V146P/s640/10.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, sanding, plywood plank, Tayo, teenage worker" width="575" /></a></div>
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In the photo above, you can see the ripping jig on the old deck. Alternately sharing the working space turned out well for both workers - while I was ripping planks, The Kid had a break, and when he was sanding, I did other things, like messing with a <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2018/04/restyling-ugly-epiphone-les-paul-junior.html" target="_blank">then current guitar project</a>. </div>
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After edge sanding, each plank was taken indoors and stacked in the living room, out of the wet western Oregon night dew. Most of the stacks were for full width 8" planks, and one had the narrower ones.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuWJ4-qOe7PXXSnS-AGpQEiV5HgmCE10r8qVCssDMDesoZBx_Y1AblEn_qjvgpUHAGbdJAd1V3qIwFZAt5MQjj6Qg-vF9AFWgQA5taCnXBjfHZPkLmzycTA59yFE0QnXQKlM7G6kOuV2G/s1600/11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuWJ4-qOe7PXXSnS-AGpQEiV5HgmCE10r8qVCssDMDesoZBx_Y1AblEn_qjvgpUHAGbdJAd1V3qIwFZAt5MQjj6Qg-vF9AFWgQA5taCnXBjfHZPkLmzycTA59yFE0QnXQKlM7G6kOuV2G/s640/11.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, planks, stacks, remodel, new flooring, bare particle sub floor," width="575" /></a></div>
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After de-carpeting the floor, we moved a few things back into the room, and hung out on a rug sitting on top of the particle board. At this point the kitchen was full of stuff like the piano,
TV, guitar amps, and other oddments. </div>
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Before laying down the planks and fastening them to the existing layers of sub-floor, we did a test fit, to see how close we were at estimating how much space would be left over at the far wall, for the narrowest row of planks. It ended up being around 6", but since no room is exact dimensionally or perfectly rectangular, each of the planks along the far wall was individually measured for width and re-ripped - see the 7th picture, above, of a plank getting cut down again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkSssMvzIa-ZSGZM5eXIut1sLaObln35CCwTePbS1Gi1caRTTF37L_xpzYt1uXuufFDNKhX2CNBSpjJRtexxDYbh33TCZseX51nG7jOZgM2QsgucFB5l94egbUUCv0s4z3vy71K31Wj2o/s1600/12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkSssMvzIa-ZSGZM5eXIut1sLaObln35CCwTePbS1Gi1caRTTF37L_xpzYt1uXuufFDNKhX2CNBSpjJRtexxDYbh33TCZseX51nG7jOZgM2QsgucFB5l94egbUUCv0s4z3vy71K31Wj2o/s640/12.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, test measuring, planks, remodel, new flooring," width="575" /></a></div>
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Note the totally weird fake fireplace in the photo above. Not 100% phony - it's got ceramic faux logs with gas burner jets, and an electric ignition switch on the wall. We covered it up with a piece of paneling, painted that gloss white, and put the piano in front of it.<br />
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Below is the only picture I took of the big 10" cut off saw that friend John loaned us. It was used to - guess what? - cut off the planks into shorter lengths, as needed to create a random appearing plank laying arrangement. Even though I put a brand new fine tooth blade on it, the first cut was jagged and splintery - very discouraging.<br />
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I remembered about putting masking tape on the tops and bottoms of the tuner holes in guitar headstocks, prior to reaming them out to a larger bore to fit cast tuning machines, to avoid splintering the finish. So we tried making a cut with tape over the penciled in cut lines, and hooray - that also worked on plywood planks:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvjHslgQQUZOPh5Q-wEYC9lgMR_dguuPpPIcHwKyzJcGgFQjur_Na4WNfULSbnSxyHKlOsmcfIbdYEelRa6Sh2oyzrAbAer-Mv4gsn5UgQFkLYGLZ2M9NoByiurgfe95U405mmtX5BWeA/s1600/13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvjHslgQQUZOPh5Q-wEYC9lgMR_dguuPpPIcHwKyzJcGgFQjur_Na4WNfULSbnSxyHKlOsmcfIbdYEelRa6Sh2oyzrAbAer-Mv4gsn5UgQFkLYGLZ2M9NoByiurgfe95U405mmtX5BWeA/s640/13.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, cut off saw, masking tape, reduce splinter, new floor project, plank, plywood," width="575" /></a></div>
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After each length cut, I did rounded edge sanding on the ends of the planklets.<br />
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One great reason for doing projects like this is getting to use tools that you normally wouldn't - I'd never handled a cut off saw or a pneumatic nail gun, and it was fun learning new skills.<br />
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We were going to rent those tools, but friend, expert tool guru, and all around nice guy John insisted on loaning them to us, and was on hand for some quick and deep instruction. He actually laid the first row of planks, describing each step and tossing in helpful tips. Plywood planks were a new concept for him too, but he'd had a lot of experience with other materials.<br />
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This a good time to describe this room, which has an unusual layout: basically 17' square, there's a quasi-hallway running down one side of it from the front door and stairway, back to the kitchen and rest of the bottom floor. This semi hallway is separated from the rest of the room by a strange 1/2 height wall, with a 6' wide doorway/opening in the middle, leaving a 13' wide by 17' long livable space.<br />
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The first plank was placed in front of the "doorway" to the room, and centered in the opening. Then, two other planks were cut down to fit on either side. Each plank got a good squirm of builder's adhesive on its bottom side, then laid down and nailed in place. Starting with the second row, a 16 oz hammer knocking against a short piece of 2x4 was used to bend the plank sideways to ensure as tight a fit as possible against the previous row - then, stepping on the new plank to hold it in place, pin nails were shot to secure it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT4JcvtctTd3bgKUn81azDA838lveT5MR-SG8zhn7INRlPQAGE2DPHqgDLteWxh6U7Z4op8kUg4SP62cRWOpUYOoQR6qLlDA-WgNwEMLaKI3joBPZtbkzJwZqUq_jhZi2ZFxGNLAEMBis/s1600/14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1499" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT4JcvtctTd3bgKUn81azDA838lveT5MR-SG8zhn7INRlPQAGE2DPHqgDLteWxh6U7Z4op8kUg4SP62cRWOpUYOoQR6qLlDA-WgNwEMLaKI3joBPZtbkzJwZqUq_jhZi2ZFxGNLAEMBis/s640/14.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, plywood, plank, install flooring, nail gun, pneumatic, laying planks," width="575" /></a></div>
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In the picture above, you can see the still-okay '80s vinyl tiles covering the "hallway" part of the room. There was an evil looking trim plate covering the transition between the tiles and the carpet - that was tossed. After the planks were laid, a 4 1/2" wide piece of hemlock moulding with one radiused edge became the new transition plate, covering the jagged edge of the tiles nicely. Also note the stains on the particle board sub-floor; part of our philosophy here is clean and sanitary new materials and paint totally covering up old sins.<br />
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Below, there's already six rows of planks laid, with the 7th row started. I would talk about the process of randomizing the plank pattern, but I actually shut off my mind for this step of the installation. Doing a balancing act between esthetics and the need to minimize cutting to avoid having too many short pieces toward the end of the project, I sort of entered a zen like mental space. It was like one long improvisational guitar solo, with the only contact with real time being the interface with the tools, doing steps in order, and working safely. Having a couple extra sheets of plywood would have ensured having fewer left over small pieces, but it was more fun this way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5WltZcWN86T2deJbN-dPHTKNZawwyqRI0KDI-L_lollS0yT5i81-ksyGW2Zc9NDK3JsoYxKFXvVDE0ckL45Im8GUqZisYaXIKnLOgfxxIMqVDuHpeGmIE-GZnuloQzmMfGPKMFHqTjZD/s1600/15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5WltZcWN86T2deJbN-dPHTKNZawwyqRI0KDI-L_lollS0yT5i81-ksyGW2Zc9NDK3JsoYxKFXvVDE0ckL45Im8GUqZisYaXIKnLOgfxxIMqVDuHpeGmIE-GZnuloQzmMfGPKMFHqTjZD/s640/15.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, laying, planks, plywood, pneumatic, nail gun, air hose, remodel, new flooring" width="575" /></a></div>
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Also fun was, toward the end of the plank laying, bringing in some furniture and having a place to relax and scope out the scene. Notice the white painted piece of paneling I'd mentioned earlier, that eventually covered the fake-o fireplace.<br />
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A 10 oz trim hammer was used periodically to drive any pin nails that didn't get down at least flush with the plank tops. Pins that haven't been driven deep enough can be found by running your hand lightly along the plank surfaces.<br />
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Same exact time, a view in the other direction. We're almost out of planks at this point. And yes, we have an old fashioned land line telephone - the wireless signal here in the South Hills can be bad sometimes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCa3HhN7qidl2wUMCWLF2QDItNv6v_F7ahk3MrGGvgK8N9IvWI5M9-B49MlaaybX_9RzLj3A4xwTVFRJsvxUh7djoJ5HA72X-Uk7_fWZqz7qiQd4CINQ1bHREEUPhIlaCRLyZ4AEn6s1F/s1600/17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCa3HhN7qidl2wUMCWLF2QDItNv6v_F7ahk3MrGGvgK8N9IvWI5M9-B49MlaaybX_9RzLj3A4xwTVFRJsvxUh7djoJ5HA72X-Uk7_fWZqz7qiQd4CINQ1bHREEUPhIlaCRLyZ4AEn6s1F/s640/17.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, laying, plywood, planks, install, new flooring, remodel, air hose, vintage swedish rug," width="575" /></a></div>
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Next photo - here's some left overs from intentionally cutting out the "footballs" (wood knot covering plugs) from the planks. Highest quality A - C grade plywood has few to none of these plugs on the top surface, but the stuff we got from the discount lumber place had a bit more. Luckily we had enough planks clear of footballs to get the job done.<br />
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You can also see in this picture how tightly we were able to get the planks to fit together - a testimony to the accuracy of the Kreg Rip-Cut and new blade on a high quality vintage saw, and also a great edge sanding job by The Kid: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizw60JS6XLzS6IJgwe2XJLdGudFZfJoBr8tOEFPmI8HrhSkdbFUFuU96cYTTiz3smBs6jtz2oazx9em7bLthDqQowkf_g23mC6IfMNo8FUuKsgSCPocsReE1YpcluDD6cRkEl5z9sy7tmf/s1600/18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizw60JS6XLzS6IJgwe2XJLdGudFZfJoBr8tOEFPmI8HrhSkdbFUFuU96cYTTiz3smBs6jtz2oazx9em7bLthDqQowkf_g23mC6IfMNo8FUuKsgSCPocsReE1YpcluDD6cRkEl5z9sy7tmf/s640/18.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, plywood sheet, footballs, knot plugs, plywood, plank" width="575" /></a></div>
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The only ply plank floor I'd ever seen was at a fixed up old farmhouse south of Creswell, Oregon. The owner had ripped 3/4" coastal Douglas fir plywood planks, and laid them down without bothering to round off the edges or getting a tight fit - there were a lot of gaps, really rustic. Then, he had painted the whole floor high gloss white, and the end result was beautiful; it was hard to get my satellite TV repair service call done, I kept looking at that wonderful floor.<br />
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We considered painting our own plywood floor, but settled on using plain old fashioned clear shellac. Totally natural, non-toxic, and dries really fast - all important attributes for us, and we also needed to get back into the living room quickly, since rain was in the extended weather forecast.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnx34i47ecdSGvxoMgJrVXrRMmnk6puy6yfYH8-vCHqEcFX32LpghZ60bYoarSp32FexVveKWq_eCvp54IzeCVUVlZIFG1bAI_b0svSJgbP3TnshZF5Awo-KtxEpMae8CsNeUyp-GPzPD/s1600/19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnx34i47ecdSGvxoMgJrVXrRMmnk6puy6yfYH8-vCHqEcFX32LpghZ60bYoarSp32FexVveKWq_eCvp54IzeCVUVlZIFG1bAI_b0svSJgbP3TnshZF5Awo-KtxEpMae8CsNeUyp-GPzPD/s640/19.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, bulls eye, clear, shellac, one gallon, remodel, project," width="575" /></a></div>
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Here's a picture below showing the difference in coloring between a row of planks already shellacked, and bare uncoated wood. Even though the shellac we used was clear and not the unfiltered amber variety, it really knocked down the naturally pink cast of the western red fir plywood:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImMTMQAaRYhlutnUbhVPI_77GbbNEGGQ4ASzFbsNU-moDh1V2lTvE5iNOjmwK0TiFqYdU9u8iQZ6g5fCu25zIT2MP-Gs3eL7qT8-CmWoLeQ0a_LLkTAUARddM8mDvd5DjlROjxZ0QB2nP/s1600/20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImMTMQAaRYhlutnUbhVPI_77GbbNEGGQ4ASzFbsNU-moDh1V2lTvE5iNOjmwK0TiFqYdU9u8iQZ6g5fCu25zIT2MP-Gs3eL7qT8-CmWoLeQ0a_LLkTAUARddM8mDvd5DjlROjxZ0QB2nP/s640/20.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, brush on, bulls eye, clear, shellac, plywood, plank, floor, remodel, project," width="575" /></a></div>
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All three of us here shared the shellacking process, and we got each coat done fairly quickly. <br />
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The floor after one coat of shellac:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDdAJPs1QSmKT5wCC_iDit_EObskimALgSUe0EBk3-CEQJ9vRHt1GC7bgobccBR4mCHyixChPkspzZUWghzFIpudlWyhfQ3hegeu1w4SaP46nLgXfMMyZKKY64Ub0Ur0WSbwCT7VFNaTR/s1600/21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDdAJPs1QSmKT5wCC_iDit_EObskimALgSUe0EBk3-CEQJ9vRHt1GC7bgobccBR4mCHyixChPkspzZUWghzFIpudlWyhfQ3hegeu1w4SaP46nLgXfMMyZKKY64Ub0Ur0WSbwCT7VFNaTR/s640/21.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, brush on, bulls eye, clear, shellac, plywood, plank, floor, remodel, project," width="575" /></a></div>
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Another view:<br />
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Here it is with two coats of shellac:<br />
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The plan was to have at least three coats of shellac, preferably four, but time was running out due to the weather changing. Two turned out to be enough, since most of the traffic areas are covered with wool rugs.<br />
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Sometime during the flooring job, a total eclipse of the sun occurred. Here's a picture of how the sunlight looked on a plywood plank, filtered through the leaves of an oak tree while the eclipse was happening:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMY9FfclyJw0NkhBNYjvVhk55aflvDI3B1Sq3vLFdn07eQ9a0yr269iNDQ8kJYPQkQ2hAC-CR2LbwuWqzfSJiLtDWQLsqOtSK4h5MLOIEjTBA0VxKxox_k6VpPPAGctHM_mHqPyGcJeMAd/s1600/24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMY9FfclyJw0NkhBNYjvVhk55aflvDI3B1Sq3vLFdn07eQ9a0yr269iNDQ8kJYPQkQ2hAC-CR2LbwuWqzfSJiLtDWQLsqOtSK4h5MLOIEjTBA0VxKxox_k6VpPPAGctHM_mHqPyGcJeMAd/s640/24.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, total eclipse, sun, sunlight, filtered through leaves" width="575" /></a></div>
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After giving the shellac three days to dry, we put on trim moulding around the walls, on top of the plywood flooring. This is pine trim stock; it's usually painted, but its varied color fits in nice and unrefined with the rustic floor.<br />
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Note the light in this photo - the sky was full of dark and swiftly moving clouds. Rain was coming in, and I was working fast to get all the outside steps done before it hit. I didn't stop and take any pictures of the moulding installation, and it was well after dark when the last trim nail was in place.<br />
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Not too late to take a well deserved break, open up a beer, and set up a place to sit and soak up the new atmosphere and ambience, while listening to the rain on the high ceilinged roof.<br />
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In total, after purchasing the paint for the walls and some brushes and new rollers, seven sheets of plywood and a couple 2x4s, nine 8' strips of pine moulding, some hand tools, the Rip-Cut attachment and new blades for both saws, some clips of pin nails and a few tubes of adhesive, 2 1/2 gallons of shellac, well earned pay for The Kid and a quantity of micro-brews for John, we spent a bit more than $600 on our living room renewal project. We could have saved a bit here and there, but that's still a whole lot less than it would have cost with almost any other sort of flooring.<br />
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A couple weeks later, we got two very hand-made-ish looking low pile wool rugs, one 8' x 10', and another 5' x 8', to suit various room arrangements. To get some sense of scale here, the 1963 Flexsteel sofa below is 7' long.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegX6ibDguabUR3kivmfJbWhI03m4H0Xj0H_YXl5HdicVd7Qa4GLdsr2ySGlv7Y2wOFd9bJwspZK3YhEEROqLCfZIK7wdMFPefVLxwzBoSdZ2Og-WqUCXdk3fkoNWljaSSAIuysm2jt8u4/s1600/27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegX6ibDguabUR3kivmfJbWhI03m4H0Xj0H_YXl5HdicVd7Qa4GLdsr2ySGlv7Y2wOFd9bJwspZK3YhEEROqLCfZIK7wdMFPefVLxwzBoSdZ2Og-WqUCXdk3fkoNWljaSSAIuysm2jt8u4/s640/27.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, floor, wool rug, vintage furniture, 1963, Flexsteel, sofa, couch, blond end table, remodel, project, shellac, plywood plank, bulls eye," width="575" /></a></div><p>
We installed a long curtain rod along the front window wall, and put four panels of semi sheer white gauzy looking curtains on it.<br />
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After a month passed, the new plywood plank floor didn't seem new anymore. Three months on, we had forgotten the old carpet ever existed, and having a nice, fresh and sanitary living room felt normal.</p><p>On Christmas Eve day it snowed. Unusually for this part of Oregon, Christmas morning was sunny, with lots of light coming in reflecting off half a foot of new snowfall outside, and we had a happy, bright, and cheerful holiday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhhaHO8JrDMiKDzYIrWal0PaqDk4yfKGblObxHdEHVcXH-QPSjJ0yC7C8xFCkdej-1d4N38LLZJJwTYHgK0vgMSJ3mwc5Bc9pKCI95fAe1k4uf50vF_gtjkrf5E2gj_sKFEnOpNNpwTn8/s1600/29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhhaHO8JrDMiKDzYIrWal0PaqDk4yfKGblObxHdEHVcXH-QPSjJ0yC7C8xFCkdej-1d4N38LLZJJwTYHgK0vgMSJ3mwc5Bc9pKCI95fAe1k4uf50vF_gtjkrf5E2gj_sKFEnOpNNpwTn8/s640/29.jpg" title="Installing, rustic, plywood plank floor, plywood, plank, floor, remodel, project, bulls eye, shellac, 1957, flexsteel, sofa, couch, vintage furniture, Christmas, tree, presents, remodel, project," width="575" /></a></div><p>
</p><p><br /></p>James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-38758034777874852322020-09-08T12:49:00.001-07:002021-04-06T21:49:16.808-07:00Peavey Pacer Tube Amp Conversion Project, Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWw621b5ihGLBc9S3UL5tQE5n4C14Vh3sDRS3Lea77FWHMVsHkF9Dw9OqrrgGVYvtst5egIfg1las4MpkUbBMlQjFP22EI9cyNcEoHXj8_cHCL73lQlApvtgw3GmdzWmp4I20OduJrpT6/s1600/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts," border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1499" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWw621b5ihGLBc9S3UL5tQE5n4C14Vh3sDRS3Lea77FWHMVsHkF9Dw9OqrrgGVYvtst5egIfg1las4MpkUbBMlQjFP22EI9cyNcEoHXj8_cHCL73lQlApvtgw3GmdzWmp4I20OduJrpT6/s640/1.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, plywood, baffle, replacement" width="575" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></span>n <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2018/04/peavey-pacer-project-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a><a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2018/04/peavey-pacer-project-part-1.html" target="_blank"> of the Peavey Pacer Tube Amp Conversion Project</a>, we bought a really cheap Pacer, which the seller admitted didn't work very well. The main goal at the time was to rescue the very nice sounding Eminence / Carvin British Series 12" speaker that was in it. Here's how the Pacer looked when it first came home:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbp59xqlt_LLylJlM9crARK7L1r3wqTrcL0kogHr5zpg3hFZgGe-T9QHECid34lrDBsFRh61TmOOW3MxHsZZxhCFt4AFYOP4Ha1mPD_Fv2QnDSnxWFAMp7Ts8f9v2Fd2_U5p0I1r93ryz/s1600/Pacer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts," border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1034" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbp59xqlt_LLylJlM9crARK7L1r3wqTrcL0kogHr5zpg3hFZgGe-T9QHECid34lrDBsFRh61TmOOW3MxHsZZxhCFt4AFYOP4Ha1mPD_Fv2QnDSnxWFAMp7Ts8f9v2Fd2_U5p0I1r93ryz/s640/Pacer.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, broken, need repair," width="525" /></a></div>
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The Pacer's amp section was eventually successfully repaired. However, while it was busted, I decided to salvage the excellent quality light weight jointed pine cabinet, and turn the chassis into a simple tube amp. So even though it now worked well, it was still taken apart, and the working - and very much alive and loud - circuit components were sold, and the horrible looking and super heavy baffle board was given to a junk-loving neighbor:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dDQyX9zVvVlYg2XKjtf4NwaGzW0Dx7_P7Hkvpv1HGMpYP40wmuTjiHohOBZyjxk2098CDoKo81fjg0hefL_31fEVq6KKxZ4tp_P3M0m214qNNVp3tpH71lCFzgpaNsTWfYzY1K1fq4kx/s1600/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts," border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1414" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dDQyX9zVvVlYg2XKjtf4NwaGzW0Dx7_P7Hkvpv1HGMpYP40wmuTjiHohOBZyjxk2098CDoKo81fjg0hefL_31fEVq6KKxZ4tp_P3M0m214qNNVp3tpH71lCFzgpaNsTWfYzY1K1fq4kx/s640/2.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, particle board baffle, ugly" width="575" /></a></div>
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Before it was cut smaller, I should have taken a photo of the replacement baffle, which came from an ancient (and dead) electronic organ. It was so old that the speaker cutout hole was larger than any made in the last 60 years at least, but luckily the mounting screw + T-nut diameter was almost the right size. After trimming the board to fit the Pacer cab, I shortened the left over pieces, to make a "rattle strip" frame on the front of the baffle, which was glued and stapled to the baffle:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILJaArbFEKpeQuPwsq1stL9WsLbRVOFYwA6JwmvTHRaMp88dfnnpNsmjWv44tnMJa1ZgI5zY1Sljuhbnmyr7xs93nRjSzIwHtdN8YOl4D7I33rencgExbZpHLcTdPsNb82gfFwUO5XenN/s1600/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts," border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILJaArbFEKpeQuPwsq1stL9WsLbRVOFYwA6JwmvTHRaMp88dfnnpNsmjWv44tnMJa1ZgI5zY1Sljuhbnmyr7xs93nRjSzIwHtdN8YOl4D7I33rencgExbZpHLcTdPsNb82gfFwUO5XenN/s640/3.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, replacement, Plywood, baffle, board," width="575" /></a></div>
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Not shown is another smaller piece of leftover plywood attached at the upper left of the baffle to hold a logo badge.<br />
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Here's a picture of how much the new modern, larger T-nuts hung over the organ speaker baffle cutout - only three out of four tines took a grip into the plywood:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJGwTzzXyE3jD4obqoN86IzrDySwspdt837VdR_CPeYBH3oKnEVOon-bfQt0GqxlFCL_rwfwo85qbgTfaVCUqzY_yxKKdaHg6BVwbGiGZNHDYQD9qSk-bZVrvQIStvUqLcKGYiJwMHSdu/s1600/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts," border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJGwTzzXyE3jD4obqoN86IzrDySwspdt837VdR_CPeYBH3oKnEVOon-bfQt0GqxlFCL_rwfwo85qbgTfaVCUqzY_yxKKdaHg6BVwbGiGZNHDYQD9qSk-bZVrvQIStvUqLcKGYiJwMHSdu/s640/4.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, Tnut, T-nut, T nut, baffle board, old plywood" width="575" /></a></div>
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That old plywood is amazing - void free fir plies, extremely light weight and almost zero flex. Nobody makes plywood like that anymore:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhle2xeR-qZ7xegbNjxanoB9Ks6LAa9OdVewQ18wnJlX3OIPtDEdWPtj8-DgIRptxpHwihJb6SH5iCyN-Xe4HU5Y7lrh4_l-xunYjV0hTqz3MM_mko3ehSoZpHjTuOdcD-qT_mAx1rnh2jv/s1600/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts," border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhle2xeR-qZ7xegbNjxanoB9Ks6LAa9OdVewQ18wnJlX3OIPtDEdWPtj8-DgIRptxpHwihJb6SH5iCyN-Xe4HU5Y7lrh4_l-xunYjV0hTqz3MM_mko3ehSoZpHjTuOdcD-qT_mAx1rnh2jv/s640/5.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project,, Tnut, T-nut, T nut, old plywood, baffle, board" width="575" /></a></div>
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A new machine screw + washer, one of four holding the speaker down onto the baffle:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4GnLLdZfOFWY_QC4YXTaQYYUP1_K3-eZL4L0T7-ZjA5ZSC_L6MJxWEErZaf_fp46I1MWYDEd4RTpptbEKcvpQVnw3hLpNJKKfmDT9huDpIwHS5l-NKFilzQGPUSl5u9LZ6-lXFpwytzR/s1600/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, plywood, baffle, board, replacement" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4GnLLdZfOFWY_QC4YXTaQYYUP1_K3-eZL4L0T7-ZjA5ZSC_L6MJxWEErZaf_fp46I1MWYDEd4RTpptbEKcvpQVnw3hLpNJKKfmDT9huDpIwHS5l-NKFilzQGPUSl5u9LZ6-lXFpwytzR/s640/6.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, machine screw, speaker, Altec, Lansing, 417 8C, 12"" width="575" /></a></div>
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This particular 12" speaker is a much used and well loved early '70s Altec Lansing 417-8C, re-coned badly by a place I won't mention:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCT46B6v9H1zhQFNAKfCkmJQYyUv3TYnv9NIj3KTZWwILlUMH6xEcxiPnRU3POlw0c3WnsB8PdK5-9Np8oxf_LKRf14pQgB_eCn4bctG8yS-xGiCgrrCPDe9UJcXPlKvwV2_5R9t7LxFC/s1600/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, old plywood" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCT46B6v9H1zhQFNAKfCkmJQYyUv3TYnv9NIj3KTZWwILlUMH6xEcxiPnRU3POlw0c3WnsB8PdK5-9Np8oxf_LKRf14pQgB_eCn4bctG8yS-xGiCgrrCPDe9UJcXPlKvwV2_5R9t7LxFC/s640/7.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, baffle, board, speaker, Altec, Lansing, 417 8C" width="575" /></a></div>
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When I first got the Altec, it was new, minty, not a scratch on it. If you ever wondered why many older guitar amp speakers are beat to sh*t, it's from heavy gigging during the waning days of the now bygone saloon and roadhouse era.<br />
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Often one-nighters, when the show was over the cables would get rolled up and shoved into the bottom of the amp, whatever effects pedals were also thrown in there, along with a beat up Unidyne 545 (later an SM57) vocal mic, and the amp (either a 1965 Fender Pro Reverb or a '64 Deluxe Reverb) would get humped out to the parking lot and tossed into the trunk. The wear on this Altec is from about 450- 500 gigs over a 5 year period:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyDIHfpVVZP5qyi-9TUpVDw0S3eLvuRn5Cz5K6zG5oYUgZPXJtMsBmATKNLcuMzY4SoJqt-QhV4fattuyg5Lzz2AlgJLcni-6_IPxt06zm29l9MYeEokqZ7wY6oDBVLfu3HrG8Lx6tB-f/s1600/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, old plywood, baffle board, Kim Ciria," border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyDIHfpVVZP5qyi-9TUpVDw0S3eLvuRn5Cz5K6zG5oYUgZPXJtMsBmATKNLcuMzY4SoJqt-QhV4fattuyg5Lzz2AlgJLcni-6_IPxt06zm29l9MYeEokqZ7wY6oDBVLfu3HrG8Lx6tB-f/s640/8.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, plywood, baffle, speaker, Altec, Lansing, 417 8C," width="575" /></a></div>
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My guitars looked almost as bad.<br />
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Here's what the magnet structure of an Altec 417 looks like under the sheet metal cover. What you see isn't the super powerful Alnico magnet, it's an iron basket surrounding the magnet and concentrates the magnetic field for higher efficiency, according to some scientific principles I don't pretend to know. "I only drive these race cars, ma'am, I don't design 'em!" (quote from A.J. Foyt):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TCtAK4fdGzXsEwEHsiXwhbeDpEa31Uv8nDukTFfh6mnl2lZtdv1Gv8gEQasqbulARAm2CI6UxJdHnxUwnZrxbz7A-PfZH7TMRo3Q6bQTaoG-HfB09oNriqE4nCPKkeUxXzNA9IKvUmSS/s1600/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, magnetic structure" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TCtAK4fdGzXsEwEHsiXwhbeDpEa31Uv8nDukTFfh6mnl2lZtdv1Gv8gEQasqbulARAm2CI6UxJdHnxUwnZrxbz7A-PfZH7TMRo3Q6bQTaoG-HfB09oNriqE4nCPKkeUxXzNA9IKvUmSS/s640/9.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, Altec, Lansing, 417 8C. Alnico, speaker, magnet, under bell cover," width="575" /></a></div>
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Note the old blue Arrow stapler in the above picture - that's going to get used when the grill cloth gets attached to the baffle.<br />
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Here's the beautiful grill fabric, unrolled right after getting it in the mail from friend David in Massachusetts. This material also came from an ancient organ, but still in really nice shape:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg126dPqZJ0wQuHAfI0rU5o14nFXC9Sgfo6uv1gwdXokeXnV3gUeqAyYodvKbt-KHH-fy0ixYIz27kLlS1pTNglGKUhCRqSQvz_HWiSQV6xFC9CwB9yiasOQxu74I-0tMGB50TuRsCcH217/s1600/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, 12"," border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg126dPqZJ0wQuHAfI0rU5o14nFXC9Sgfo6uv1gwdXokeXnV3gUeqAyYodvKbt-KHH-fy0ixYIz27kLlS1pTNglGKUhCRqSQvz_HWiSQV6xFC9CwB9yiasOQxu74I-0tMGB50TuRsCcH217/s640/10.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, speaker, guitar, amplifier, organ, grill, cloth," width="575" /></a></div>
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I put that cloth under a heavy rug for about a week, and most but not all the kinky bends in the fabric settled down.<br />
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Sorry, didn't take photos of the grill cloth attachment process, which was an hour and a half sweaty wrestling contest between me, the material, the baffle, and the staple gun. After three long rounds, I finally won the match.<br />
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Check out the really ugly glue residue left behind after the original front control panel plate was removed:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNSP-MYEKpIbC6zzRgcH_s5YuBdspNG9XOVO4GZ210FifnfaXNHikvEU4jTbhNUcTKLGt0n9RgSNJmQHVDxYicb7ya8l87PAPhLMdWUSrH4mZT4gACMUUsuo8NNyFfZ0vcG2HPhKFUdlW/s1600/11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, 12"," border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNSP-MYEKpIbC6zzRgcH_s5YuBdspNG9XOVO4GZ210FifnfaXNHikvEU4jTbhNUcTKLGt0n9RgSNJmQHVDxYicb7ya8l87PAPhLMdWUSrH4mZT4gACMUUsuo8NNyFfZ0vcG2HPhKFUdlW/s640/11.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, speaker, guitar, amplifier, organ, grill, cloth, baffle,control panel," width="575" /></a></div>
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Actually, I kept getting dissatisfied with the way the weave didn't want to lay straight, so the staples were pulled, and we started 'rasslin again. In the next picture, you can see a few of those staples. After getting the cloth on as straight and as tight as possible, a metal straightedge was placed on the back of the baffle, and the cloth was neatly trimmed with a new blade in a Stanley knife.<br />
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I was going to paint the baffle black prior to putting the cloth on, like most other guitar amp speaker boards, but the grill material looked best in front of the natural golden color of old fir. Note the "semi- floating" baffle attachment to the three cleats on the cabinet sides:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdg-Yp6i1P_JplWY0izqBNM6vjDdVSUdg7pb97uswbz5-sOMG5aBHeNb5d4Xlv-8SF0gRUMh-XPWEvEM2tNIL9N7ma1IMpSXmu64ul-DrpJJtw1-2p_eBTZDPPQEoRdXclMF7GX6zTQuNw/s1600/12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, 12", cabinet, pine, jointed, joined, plywood, cleats," border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdg-Yp6i1P_JplWY0izqBNM6vjDdVSUdg7pb97uswbz5-sOMG5aBHeNb5d4Xlv-8SF0gRUMh-XPWEvEM2tNIL9N7ma1IMpSXmu64ul-DrpJJtw1-2p_eBTZDPPQEoRdXclMF7GX6zTQuNw/s640/12.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, speaker, guitar, amplifier, baffle, back, Eminence, Carvin, British Series, 12", pine cabinet," width="575" /></a></div>
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Here's a close up of a machine screw holding the Carvin/Eminence to the baffle, and a wood screw attaching the board to the cleats:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCl-C2DH0Sn86aQjb_AOocVPWY945xzMIKxytWEBI8t-BK-Z360Ula9KgfFcvHJHrNTdnNxS0UTEUBMXp5yMucinyZWnLunpdgVKApzWJSsKvEuL0G-9aRNoZGQoRMquOxw5RBa6_G_4R/s1600/13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, 12", machine screw, wood screw," border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCl-C2DH0Sn86aQjb_AOocVPWY945xzMIKxytWEBI8t-BK-Z360Ula9KgfFcvHJHrNTdnNxS0UTEUBMXp5yMucinyZWnLunpdgVKApzWJSsKvEuL0G-9aRNoZGQoRMquOxw5RBa6_G_4R/s640/13.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, speaker, guitar, amplifier, pine, cabinet, cleat, baffle, back," width="575" /></a></div>
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A still life portrait, with guitar, home brew amp and overdrive pedal, and ex-Pacer cab:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ66tb0tk7nQYcRNj7859EVB0nzNVsmRvWfldQiKQILLjYECscAlq6Wd6pUyz_8egw0QCuQOtuWNQIjXYSF5rLP_jeb6W12E5Xw4hQYBaZAUtmfFwNwQEbwuR6sU1WLS3-cjkk1Jv-RvL/s1600/14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, 12", replacement plywood baffle, pine cabinet," border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1455" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ66tb0tk7nQYcRNj7859EVB0nzNVsmRvWfldQiKQILLjYECscAlq6Wd6pUyz_8egw0QCuQOtuWNQIjXYSF5rLP_jeb6W12E5Xw4hQYBaZAUtmfFwNwQEbwuR6sU1WLS3-cjkk1Jv-RvL/s640/14.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, speaker, guitar, amplifier, Stratocaster, home brew pedal, overdrive, tube pa amp, hammond speaker cabinet" width="575" /></a></div>
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This upside down picture shows a possible component layout. The power transformer (also old ex organ amp), with 660VAC no-load on the secondaries, used to power 4x 6K6 output tubes, as well as 3x 6SN7 preamps + inverter and a 5U4 rectifier. It should (hope!) provide enough current to do a cathode biased 20 - 25W push pull 6L6GC circuit:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAHLfYNrOL2WOqrbTTnljvsuOWqy49sURVLUlT9343DxpFEoaMnnNrkfAOCAUThIghFQcY5RgYxr9LGl4cxjoEJom83S1m_Akr_5a9gPpIoJdXckHrB6DMw3kV8c97wiUE6UnkknGM8W6/s1600/15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, 12"," border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAHLfYNrOL2WOqrbTTnljvsuOWqy49sURVLUlT9343DxpFEoaMnnNrkfAOCAUThIghFQcY5RgYxr9LGl4cxjoEJom83S1m_Akr_5a9gPpIoJdXckHrB6DMw3kV8c97wiUE6UnkknGM8W6/s640/15.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, speaker, guitar, amplifier, transformer, speaker, power, chassis, layout, Carvin British series, Eminence," width="575" /></a></div>
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Penciling in the location of the tube sockets. It shouldn't be too hard to drill out their holes with a step bit, since the chassis is aluminum. The mounting holes for the power transformer will be reinforced with steel straps inside the lightweight metal chassis.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCX8T69yJoNxQEs0hwpQVMot2wi3kUqVdnJtWlO-WLQcURFfUYoFnnLqIPSI4KQdEnMCsEKY7PD6bR18aQrsPf0pJqdM6NP6NC0TWruVhXcq7jBCrMJCg6-o-H5XBYpTm5Md2L23JnLEv/s1600/16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, 12"," border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1491" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCX8T69yJoNxQEs0hwpQVMot2wi3kUqVdnJtWlO-WLQcURFfUYoFnnLqIPSI4KQdEnMCsEKY7PD6bR18aQrsPf0pJqdM6NP6NC0TWruVhXcq7jBCrMJCg6-o-H5XBYpTm5Md2L23JnLEv/s640/16.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, speaker, guitar, amplifier, tube sockets, layout, aluminum, chassis," width="575" /></a></div>
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The awful dried up glue on the chassis front was bugging me, but removing it was a chore. 97% alcohol didn't faze it, and neither did GooGone or GoofOff or whatever that household solvent is. In the end, the job needed 3 grades of sandpaper, followed with steel wool, always sanding and scrubbing in the same longitudinal direction:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-fyFMe51mo7IZATxtmKqnvTu04yMYTD3ga8hzdhzcAEMD4NkPQsqWF0DA9GNBXUso_LblSuiWzrIgM7J7xTuaffFY_-Iadwp9zHcVojC-7HEN62sWGd-YTf4JerDM5whiZnRzAQ2gb9H/s1600/17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, 12"," border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1491" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-fyFMe51mo7IZATxtmKqnvTu04yMYTD3ga8hzdhzcAEMD4NkPQsqWF0DA9GNBXUso_LblSuiWzrIgM7J7xTuaffFY_-Iadwp9zHcVojC-7HEN62sWGd-YTf4JerDM5whiZnRzAQ2gb9H/s640/17.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, speaker, guitar, amplifier, aluminum, chassis, control, panel, sanding, steel wool," width="575" /></a></div>
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One end of the front of the chassis had gotten whanged in the past; some aggressive sanding made the ding almost gone. Hopefully whatever paint we end up using on the control panel will cover the remnants:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUvIQe-UIqw3vW134Zxsse7LAe-NQ6n3XtOxhbQqQgQomuJ-CMLwNY3vTNxB58YXIdyxJMlhuZCZ37vyWtPtH51CDjapxb1Z_Vb9kUPDVYG_P_LDOqjO9tpYFm_JAu3iXj0QvjmPJ7Fwr/s1600/18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, 12"," border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUvIQe-UIqw3vW134Zxsse7LAe-NQ6n3XtOxhbQqQgQomuJ-CMLwNY3vTNxB58YXIdyxJMlhuZCZ37vyWtPtH51CDjapxb1Z_Vb9kUPDVYG_P_LDOqjO9tpYFm_JAu3iXj0QvjmPJ7Fwr/s640/18.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, speaker, guitar, amplifier, aluminum, chassis, control, panel, sanding, steel wool," width="575" /></a></div>
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Removing the dried up zombie adhesive took a lot of time and effort - because of that, the rear panel plate will stay on, as is.<br />
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A view down at the power indicator lamp end of the front panel:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdJiwxeg3srQeGXgmoqMZaffMruxhhuWkSjSim4pccqntI1U3O4iVal4rYQuJDV_GOx0WdSyQ4CryCuG1PDiJKJ9NJz3NwLbaCTVfHihLtPmYsAnGYLFMP0b4nKW3mxeQVpOdiIFidprI/s1600/19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, 12"," border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdJiwxeg3srQeGXgmoqMZaffMruxhhuWkSjSim4pccqntI1U3O4iVal4rYQuJDV_GOx0WdSyQ4CryCuG1PDiJKJ9NJz3NwLbaCTVfHihLtPmYsAnGYLFMP0b4nKW3mxeQVpOdiIFidprI/s640/19.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, speaker, guitar, amplifier, aluminum, chassis, control, panel, sanding, steel wool," width="575" /></a></div>
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This last picture shows a possible control layout mock up. From left to right: two input jacks, volume, treble, middle, bass, presence, two as-yet unknown switches or controls (or maybe just nickle plated sheet metal plugs), and power-on lamp. Those vintage Davies maroon knobs go well with the color of the grill fabric:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtqDslDn9FlfUsnGmz8goZoDCY4izZVc6VUe4CZzdiITrb9tzb5rbdBvbS_o8K77qeIrjiU51t66zbZd00pe7_JnW2Z85o1i40vdJttvyyAplOrn9cyy87u0yBu2KV2fZJJOoVx9hDc7Q/s1600/20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guitar, amplifier, vacuum tube, tubes, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, organ, organ amp parts, 12"," border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtqDslDn9FlfUsnGmz8goZoDCY4izZVc6VUe4CZzdiITrb9tzb5rbdBvbS_o8K77qeIrjiU51t66zbZd00pe7_JnW2Z85o1i40vdJttvyyAplOrn9cyy87u0yBu2KV2fZJJOoVx9hDc7Q/s640/20.jpg" title="Peavey, Pacer, tube, amp, conversion, project, speaker, guitar, amplifier, Davies, knobs, maroon, vintage, control panel, grill cloth, baffle," width="575" /></a></div>
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The Saab logo thing, which fell off a 1975 Saab 99 Combi Coupe I used to have, is either a joke, or maybe a keeper.<br />
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Okay, that's all folks, until next time, when we start drilling attachment holes in the chassis for the transformers and tube sockets.<br />
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For the beginning of this project, see <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2018/04/peavey-pacer-project-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>. <br />
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Click or tap on any photo above for larger, higher def images.<br />
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<br />James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8600101050837366134.post-60208398618080090912020-09-02T17:54:00.004-07:002022-01-30T13:29:36.889-08:00Testing Early '80s Malaysian and Japanese TI RC4558P Opamps With a Modded Tube Screamer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNI68SaLHEGBvOYcLYB2Qp0ELu6wka-itaPYZ8jAUc7G1mAa_Kst5D2nG7_FvENJDc6M2F2EL8R0EXj754LjCpyPNR_PDcii2unAFGmWOf6vpdWV8wv1EJFkTHq_NcUSYlBNU15gskXJv/s1600/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TS5, operational amplifier, overdrive, effects, pedal, OD, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, guitar, tube amp, tube amplifier, Maxxon, Ibanez UE300," border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNI68SaLHEGBvOYcLYB2Qp0ELu6wka-itaPYZ8jAUc7G1mAa_Kst5D2nG7_FvENJDc6M2F2EL8R0EXj754LjCpyPNR_PDcii2unAFGmWOf6vpdWV8wv1EJFkTHq_NcUSYlBNU15gskXJv/s640/4.jpg" title="Testing, early '80s, Malaysian, Japanese, Texas Instruments, TI, RC4558P, opamp, IC, JRC4558, Japan, Ibanez, Tube Screamer, TS808, TS9" width="575" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span></span>ne sort of thing we have here at the Alley Gadget Shop is gadgets. Lots of them. Everything from a small, beautifully hand forged cable pulley made for an ancient French bicycle, to odd assorted guitar parts, obsolete Macintosh computers, and old tube amps and other vintage audio gear from the last century. Some work, most need repair, and a few are unfixable; and whatever is really dead often gets <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2017/01/home-brew-music-stuff.html" target="_blank">repurposed</a> or dismantled for usable parts rather than just <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2016/10/sometimes-not-recycling-feels-better.html" target="_blank">getting tossed</a>.<br />
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Case in point was an interesting (and ugly) looking but totally defunct audio unit from the 1980s. Didn't work, no way it was ever going to be fixed, so we poked around for salvageable stuff. Besides a power cable, fuse holder, knobs and some assorted oddments, there were a few various integrated circuit chips, all in sockets. Most were 4558 type dual operational amplifier (opamp) ICs.<br />
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Texas Instruments RC4558P, made in Malaysia, 49th week of 1982: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOqLTJ7ueggZ7dnPITZItzc6IirGAdFrqC1E6lc-dfjPZGBV35hxZfKCTug1oLsX3lxCyd-8vwGKBBNIpLhXKFWFzltiCbjnpd-mBgKNXH21lOTqAG6aj6t4NsDOxYGc9hDP3j_tGDJRH/s1600/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TS5, operational amplifier, overdrive, effects, pedal, OD, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, guitar, tube amp, tube amplifier, Maxxon, Ibanez UE300," border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOqLTJ7ueggZ7dnPITZItzc6IirGAdFrqC1E6lc-dfjPZGBV35hxZfKCTug1oLsX3lxCyd-8vwGKBBNIpLhXKFWFzltiCbjnpd-mBgKNXH21lOTqAG6aj6t4NsDOxYGc9hDP3j_tGDJRH/s640/5.jpg" title="Testing, early '80s, Malaysian, Japanese, Texas Instruments, TI, RC4558P, opamp, IC, JRC4558, Japan, Ibanez, Tube Screamer, TS808, TS9, test" width="575" /></a></div>
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Texas Instruments RC4558P, contract manufactured for TI by Japan Radio Corporation, 31st week of 1982:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXrg-e1J0E-H1wqoOusgqtllSwX-jTE9NL9wxkLahLqH1ySFJmGDyVutsN6wDmp1Von3oInueG5Iu5XnHHS9ruE2NypA1bcsWGq_deVVo3y7a70x0UthrsSJqxPfkIJHyUeZ6-n3Illqp/s1600/P1160440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TS5, operational amplifier, overdrive, effects, pedal, OD, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, guitar, tube amp, tube amplifier, Maxxon, Ibanez UE300," border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXrg-e1J0E-H1wqoOusgqtllSwX-jTE9NL9wxkLahLqH1ySFJmGDyVutsN6wDmp1Von3oInueG5Iu5XnHHS9ruE2NypA1bcsWGq_deVVo3y7a70x0UthrsSJqxPfkIJHyUeZ6-n3Illqp/s640/P1160440.jpg" title="Testing, early '80s, Malaysian, Japanese, Texas Instruments, TI, RC4558P, opamp, IC, JRC4558, Japan, Ibanez, Tube Screamer, TS808, TS9, test" width="575" /></a></div>
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Texas Instruments RC4558P, made in Malaysia, 1st week of 1983:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEnuRyqMNJEYBTW9h_tvkuif5sjecFHcPRv3DNazM7EkXu7v0Qog6HcG7pweA2bTg9zjgtrpNUBQ71p1WCBxR46H0IjglRlY3a9iMccpuDjQhfap3FSxXqyTbW_2n7RLIBYEF94a08urn/s1600/P1160438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TS5, operational amplifier, overdrive, effects, pedal, OD, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, guitar, tube amp, tube amplifier, Maxxon, Ibanez UE300," border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEnuRyqMNJEYBTW9h_tvkuif5sjecFHcPRv3DNazM7EkXu7v0Qog6HcG7pweA2bTg9zjgtrpNUBQ71p1WCBxR46H0IjglRlY3a9iMccpuDjQhfap3FSxXqyTbW_2n7RLIBYEF94a08urn/s640/P1160438.jpg" title="Testing, early '80s, Malaysian, Japanese, Texas Instruments, TI, RC4558P, opamp, IC, JRC4558, Japan, Ibanez, Tube Screamer, TS808, TS9, test" width="575" /></a></div>
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Other component manufacture date codes in this circuit, all from mid '82 to early '83, and a QC sticker on the chassis dated April 1983, correlates with the IC codes.<br />
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It might be a good idea to test those ICs, and see what shape they're in. But how?<br />
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<b>Making a Temporary Test Rig</b><br />
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Hanging around the audio and art production space at the ol' Gadget Shop, is a mid-'90s Ibanez TS5 Soundtank series Tube Screamer, with TS808 circuit mods expertly done by David in Massachusetts. It's as good as any Screamer I've ever plugged into, tonally indistinguishable from the really great sounding 808 T.S. section in a stock early '80s <a href="https://origaminightlamp.blogspot.com/2015/07/maxxon-ibanez-ue-300.html" target="_blank">Ibanez UE 300 multi-effector</a> I happen to own and use.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc5Xe2VGjei2JIgsOv-jffYGwjZRNx0xUCVcyNfHkzY7-1oscl3ZasPi6q7UFxaSbKz4nOpnpos0l1GYZrVXWdqKnnJhN6so5otBsGvCun8_1Cn9SxmVP_En4Yr6LBZuVSnVE9qjKTdPx/s1600/Little+Screamer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TS5, operational amplifier, overdrive, effects, pedal, OD, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, guitar, tube amp, tube amplifier, Kim Ciria, Maxxon, Ibanez UE300," border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc5Xe2VGjei2JIgsOv-jffYGwjZRNx0xUCVcyNfHkzY7-1oscl3ZasPi6q7UFxaSbKz4nOpnpos0l1GYZrVXWdqKnnJhN6so5otBsGvCun8_1Cn9SxmVP_En4Yr6LBZuVSnVE9qjKTdPx/s640/Little+Screamer.jpg" title="Testing, early '80s, Malaysian, Japanese, Texas Instruments, TI, RC4558P, opamp, IC, JRC4558, Japan, Ibanez, Tube Screamer, TS808, TS9, TS5,test" width="575" /></a></div>
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When he did the mods, David installed a socket for the 4558 IC, and popped in a newer production TI RC4558P:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijn1qMgdPS8z1SxHk7YeHldKoXwGQ4_d4jaDMEZfbEI-5je5-hW2XFPBAZF3ClKzyncR0kPvopnFiLggqjqFWMjBTwp__sSUOtO8tqB24mg_OM2sRmhvloP_gPCOtRDUmTKgUY_mFWrBgm/s1600/RC4558+TS5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TS5, operational amplifier, overdrive, effects, pedal, OD, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, guitar, tube amp, tube amplifier, Maxxon, Ibanez UE300," border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijn1qMgdPS8z1SxHk7YeHldKoXwGQ4_d4jaDMEZfbEI-5je5-hW2XFPBAZF3ClKzyncR0kPvopnFiLggqjqFWMjBTwp__sSUOtO8tqB24mg_OM2sRmhvloP_gPCOtRDUmTKgUY_mFWrBgm/s640/RC4558+TS5.jpg" title="Testing, early '80s, Malaysian, Japanese, Texas Instruments, TI, RC4558P, opamp, IC, JRC4558, Japan, Ibanez, Tube Screamer, TS808, TS9, test" width="575" /></a></div>
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This makes it easy try out different ICs, and we took advantage of the socket to perform real time audio functionality testing on the three different sub-types of the Texas Instruments RC4558P that were salvaged.<br />
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To make a handy temporary test rig, the bottom plate and the control knobs were removed from the modded TS5 Tube Screamer, and the component board dropped smoothly away from the pedal body, allowing easy access to the IC socket:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcsXw7fC_6fVqwJl8z2_Xg_7ZKfbQDfTYhmpdTD11zAHaVwXr3QrGoXgdvTphyuCmU8u0o3j07SxxSZhjuYyZaHPaLDfyTGWDVxrQT4AX1H1uhbX0EDgr7J9mm3QsGGwYWMZMhjVhbMtn/s1600/LadyBugPedal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TS5, operational amplifier, overdrive, effects, pedal, OD, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, guitar, tube amp, tube amplifier, Maxxon, Kim Ciria, Ibanez UE300," border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcsXw7fC_6fVqwJl8z2_Xg_7ZKfbQDfTYhmpdTD11zAHaVwXr3QrGoXgdvTphyuCmU8u0o3j07SxxSZhjuYyZaHPaLDfyTGWDVxrQT4AX1H1uhbX0EDgr7J9mm3QsGGwYWMZMhjVhbMtn/s640/LadyBugPedal.jpg" title="Testing, early '80s, Malaysian, Japanese, Texas Instruments, TI, RC4558P, opamp, IC, JRC4558, Japan, Ibanez, Tube Screamer, TS808, TS9, test" width="575" /></a></div>
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An AC adapter was plugged in, the Screamer's output hooked up to an amp, and one by one we tested 24 RC4558P opamp ICs, including the one already in the TS5, while playing a variety of diverse sounding guitars:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW36N_LkqKJ1P92zRP8khFXugvSZMbwHq0nl_wVEwM5ADZvPuFSeyhIizTcAEWkSSZKCRdzwTjmhw63rvbm6MXOVZAz2oRD2z5Oq6PS2t5rhoGPW5bUdGBUK6aC-QUhUWAswsh7paZzuH/s1600/Usual+Suspects.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Testing, early '80s, Malaysian, Japanese, Texas Instruments, TI, RC4558P, opamp, IC, JRC4558, Japan, Ibanez, Tube Screamer, TS808, TS9, test, TS5, operational amplifier, overdrive, effects, pedal, OD, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, guitar, tube amp, tube amplifier, Maxxon, Ibanez UE300," border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1296" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW36N_LkqKJ1P92zRP8khFXugvSZMbwHq0nl_wVEwM5ADZvPuFSeyhIizTcAEWkSSZKCRdzwTjmhw63rvbm6MXOVZAz2oRD2z5Oq6PS2t5rhoGPW5bUdGBUK6aC-QUhUWAswsh7paZzuH/s640/Usual+Suspects.png" title="Yamaha CSF 60, CSF60, 1977, '77. Gibson Les Paul Special, Blond, TV Special, 1995, '95 Fender, MIJ, Stratocaster, '50s Series, gold anodized pickguard, 1959, '59, Danelectro, double cutaway, electric guitar, guitar, Silvertone" width="575" /></a></div>
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We didn't bother reassembling the TS5 between each RC4558P test - just turned the amp volume down, shut off the AC strip the pedal power supply was plugged into, swapped the chip, and powered it all back on again. This way, testing impressions stayed fresh from chip to chip - it took longer to switch guitars than it did ICs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvYLrArWtykcNWQUZzT0K_AriOl7sgRJy08IQKS8pcH_1dI_X-WS2U1Cs9QLiiCpKiJDRIGYVFfZ3nVyQ-BR94qtgu3ovlcxkYKv8A7xDSYiC3wRZhnnx6jVW4MbVWMVZg84QryHGnWWk/s1600/P1160468.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TS5, operational amplifier, overdrive, effects, pedal, OD, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, guitar, tube amp, tube amplifier, Kim Ciria, Maxxon, Ibanez UE300," border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvYLrArWtykcNWQUZzT0K_AriOl7sgRJy08IQKS8pcH_1dI_X-WS2U1Cs9QLiiCpKiJDRIGYVFfZ3nVyQ-BR94qtgu3ovlcxkYKv8A7xDSYiC3wRZhnnx6jVW4MbVWMVZg84QryHGnWWk/s640/P1160468.jpg" title="Testing, early '80s, Malaysian, Japanese, Texas Instruments, TI, RC4558P, opamp, IC, JRC4558, Japan, Ibanez, Tube Screamer, TS808, TS9, test" width="575" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39S5KdxMGsX-Y8RPFCN-j63rd2oxtRCpiGFK3NZoD-0wX_f6tg8J2P2TlSwWqTlvDSb0ITiY2QNODnR4zmie_XSHrQ-AkxFriKCA0yRx89ACXMZ8fUE4IE1Z67ydygzc1IN6beexM_WaV/s1600/P1160466.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TS5, operational amplifier, overdrive, effects, pedal, OD, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, guitar, tube amp, tube amplifier, Kim Ciria, Maxxon, Ibanez UE300," border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39S5KdxMGsX-Y8RPFCN-j63rd2oxtRCpiGFK3NZoD-0wX_f6tg8J2P2TlSwWqTlvDSb0ITiY2QNODnR4zmie_XSHrQ-AkxFriKCA0yRx89ACXMZ8fUE4IE1Z67ydygzc1IN6beexM_WaV/s640/P1160466.jpg" title="Testing, early '80s, Malaysian, Japanese, Texas Instruments, TI, RC4558P, opamp, IC, JRC4558, Japan, Ibanez, Tube Screamer, TS808, TS9, test" width="575" /></a></div>
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<b>Test Results, and a Cold Marguerita</b><br />
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Obviously, doing real time in-circuit testing of dual opamps, using an improvised and fairly inexpensive test rig, is by its nature non-scientific - we're not going to get any key parameter measurements like Vos, CMRR, Iq, etc. Our main goal was operational functionality testing - does a particular IC actually work, without any issues, in a typical example of a well known overdrive pedal circuit?<br />
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Main takeaways from today's testing:<br />
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1) With only one failure, all of the opamp ICs evaluated checked out okay, with the TS5's overdrive effect behaving itself in a predictable manner throughout the range of each of the three control pots.<br />
2) All four TI RC4558P variants sounded fine in-circuit, with no fatal
audio flaws: tonal and/or level degradation, glitches, or weird sonic
artifacts.<br />
3) There appeared to be very subtle audio differences between the four sub types of TI RC4558P we had, mainly in the overall amplification levels and possibly slightly differing low-end coloration. A couple times we went back and did multiple A/B comparisons between two particular ICs, just to make sure we weren't imagining those slight variations.<br />
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It might have been nice to have other brands, sub types and eras of 4558
chips, in order to compare them with the 1980s Texas Instruments ICs on
hand. Possibly 4558s from other makers might have differing audio characteristics, and that's an idea for further testing in the future. But heck, forget about all that. It's late afternoon on a gorgeous and hot summer day - doesn't a nice cold marguerita sound like just the thing right now? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9w0uuPj9hkKjK1M02K_6FozBqG2T0aS6R6sft6bKW7h7g3kKjOkzX9fV1p1VtrJpoOdzU_LLxLNZp_rYupNwp5KpDf1L4so-dBiHJpPS7FrcCrbDsOerlPVMybdm97_vmV3qm2UNoO0sg/s1600/Marg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9w0uuPj9hkKjK1M02K_6FozBqG2T0aS6R6sft6bKW7h7g3kKjOkzX9fV1p1VtrJpoOdzU_LLxLNZp_rYupNwp5KpDf1L4so-dBiHJpPS7FrcCrbDsOerlPVMybdm97_vmV3qm2UNoO0sg/s400/Marg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yum, looks good...<br />
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* * * </div><p>
<br />
If
you're at all interested in obtaining one or more of the vintage 1980s Texas
Instruments RC4558P tested in the above article, please consider
going over to the right hand sidebar of this blog, find the orange
rectangle, and click through to the <a href="https://reverb.com/shop/jims-gear-depot-53" target="_blank">Alley Gadget Shop</a>'s internet store at Reverb.</p><p>Note: as of July 2021, all of the vintage TI RC4558P ICs for sale had been sold. I hope everyone who acquired one is having fun with pedal projects!<br />
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<br />James Aoyamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14290789717443541572noreply@blogger.com0