Lots of tubes and transistors. The service techs must be treated like kings to keep it operating. Knowledge of that stuff is slowly disappearing.
Recording 50's style
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Here is another example, but of the '60s & '70s style in the modern New York. It's the Daptone analog studio tour. The home of Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Charles Bradley, The Budos Band and others. My favorite place in Helsinki is the Timmion studio. I admire these guys for what they are doing! This is a true independent label, here is something from the last LP. Everything recorded in Finland (100% analog). |
I have a friend with a small pro studio, and his gear (2" reel-to-reel 16/24 trk. recorder, vintage and contemporary mics, Altec A7 monitors) includes tube and transistor stuff from the 1950's to the present. Mics, mic pre-amps, limiters, compressors, recorder electronics, mixing console, etc. Guess which technology requires the most upkeep. Not the tubes, the transistors. |
Dave Edmunds put out his debut solo album (after having put out a couple in his band Love Sculpture) Rockpile (album title, not his later band with Nick Lowe of the same name) in 1970, and had a hit with its’ single "I Hear You Knocking" (a remake of the Smiley Lewis song, on which Dave plays every instrument. He pounded on a cardboard box to create the 2/4 back beat ;-). He used the money made to buy into a small studio in Wales (his home country), Rockfield. He spent the next few years experimenting, learning how to produce music in the style of Sun Records owner/recording engineer/producer Sam Phillips. He also discovered how to create the Phil Spector Wall Of Sound, as can be heard on Daves' album Subtle As A Flying Mallet. Listen to it to hear his incredible recording of the Chantels' fantastic 1958 hit "Maybe". Absolutely breathtaking! Dave is a master in the style, producing albums for The Stray Cats, The Everly Brothers, Carl Perkins, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and his own Rockpile. For a taste of his work, pick up a copy of his Get It album. Pure 100 proof American Rock ’n’ Roll, 1950’s style. |