great magnet gear
Here’s the big list. Things rotate in and out all the time so there may be some new prizes not here, yadda-yadda. Just ask if you have any questions about specific gear, k?
signal routing
- All devices accessible via fully-balanced, military-gauge 1/4″ patch bays
analog multitracking
- Otari MX5050 1/2″ 8-track
analog mix printing
- Ampex AG-350 1/4″ 2-track—
This is the solid-state version of the 350 and the first solid-state machine Ampex made, circa 1965.
analog tracking+mixing+summing
- Aries Apollo 24 channel, 8-bus recording console
analog outboard preamps
- Eisen Audiotechnik LBN283 (2)
Prototype Neve 1272 clones with a big, open sound - FMR Audio RNP Preamp (2)
- Seventh Circle Audio A12 (2)
API 312 clone - TNP Audio ACMP-73 Preamp and EQ
Neve 1073 channel strip clone - True Systems P-Solo Mic preamp
- Cloud Microphones CL-2
Adds 25db clean boost and an impedance boost to any ribbon or dynamic microphone
analog outboard line-level processing
- Valley People 610 Stereo/Dual Mono compressor/expander (2)
A rare-ish and undervalued beauty - FMR Audio RNC Compressor (2)
- Chameleon Labs 7720 Stereo/Dual-Mono Compressor
An SSL 2-bus compressor clone - Intersound PRV-1 Analog Reverb
Classic spring reverb with an EQ and (unintentional) overdrive section that sound great on their own
ribbon mics
- Shiny Box 23C (2)
Modified with Lundahl transformers and domestic-made ribbon motors
condenser mics
- Chameleon Labs TS-2 Large Diaphragm Multipattern Tube Condenser
- Chameleon Labs TS-1 Small Diaphragm Multipattern Tube Condensers (2)
- ADK Humburg Large-Diaphragm Cardioids (2)
- Oktava MK012 Small-Diaphragm Cardioids (2)
Modified to Neumann KM84 specs - Groove Tubes GT Convertible
dynamic mics
- Audix D1 hypercardioid dynamic snare mic
- Audix D2 hypercardioid dynamic rack tom mics (2)
- Audix D4 hypercardioid dynamic floor tom mic
- Audix D6 cardioid dynamic kick drum mic
- Sure SM-7B Broadcast Microphone
- Sure SM57 Hypercardioid (3)
- Sure SM58 Hypercardioid (3)
- Sennheiser e609 Hypercardoid (2)
- AKG D112 Hypercardioid (2)
- Blue Ball Phantom-Powered Dynamic
digital multitracking+editing etc.
- Mac Pro Tower
2010 Sequoia version, quad processors, 24GB RAM - MacBook Pro
2012, 2.6GHz Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM - Pro Tools
Current version, always - Ableton Live v9
- MOTU Digital Performer v7
digital input/output
- RME HDSP9652 PCI card
- RME ADI-2 two-channel AD/DA
- Black Lion Audio-modified MOTU 2408 MkIII eight-channel AD/DA (2)
- M-Audio Keystation 88es
88-note velocity-sensitive USB/MIDI keyboard, semi-weighted action
plugins
- Universal Audio UAD-1 Card
Various plugins activated – ask - WAVES Audio Plugins
Various plugins activated – ask - Slate Digital “Everything” Suite
A subscription service with an ever-growing list of amazing plugins - IK Multimedia Amplitube v4
With lots of custom shop amp models activated – ask - Tornado Wall of Sound Guitar Power Amp/Cabinet/Microphone Modeler
Just incredible – ask - Tons of other paid-for and freeware plugs
monitoring
- A|D|S Passive 2-way Monitors
- Adcom GFA-545 power amplifier
- AKG K-271 MkII Headphones
- Sony MDR-V700 Headphones (2)
- Sennheiser HD212 Monitoring Headphones (5)
Budget ‘phones for full-band live tracking - Nady HPA-4 Headphone amplifiers (2)
direct boxes
- ProCo Transformer Balanced Passive DI
- Radial JD1 Balanced Passive DI
- TNP Audio ACMP-73 Preamp and EQ
- FMR Audio RNP Preamp (2)
- True Systems P-Solo Mic preamp
- Some utilitarian Behringer and A.R.T. active DI boxes
re-amping
- Radial Engineering X-Amp
- Little Labs STD Signal Transmission Device (2)
guitar and bass amps
- 1972 Traynor YBA-1 Bassmaster all-tube 50-watt head
Widely touted as the “poor man’s plexi, particularly with the proper circuit modifications which I have had done by my amazing amp tech. - 1968 Fender Twin Reverb
Silverface plate, but again modified by my amp tech back to a Blackface-correct circuit - 196? Valco Head (unbranded)
Most would recognize this as the widely-loved Sears Silvertone made famous by Jimmy Page etc. This one never left the Valco factory in Chicago and as such remained unbranded. Modified by my amp tech for an extra stage of all-tube cascading gain for the: Best. Overdrive. Ever. Seriously. - Randall RG100 Head
Classic brutal FET-based solid-state distortion as-heard on tons of classic metal albums such as “Shout at the Devil”, “Tooth and Nail” and “Vulgar Display of Power”…in green tolex no less. Tubes, schmoobs. - 2006 Li’l Dawg Amps “Champster” HEAD
A killer line out, Hammond 3-watt output transformer, N.O.S. RCA tubes. Slaves nicely to bigger amps. - 195? Make-Unknown teeny-tiny tube combo with 6″ alnico speaker
- Quilter Tone Block
An amazingly “tube-like” (I don’t say that lightly) class-D power amp with some solid-state analog mojo on the front end to power your pedals or guitar preamp. - Blackheart Killer Ant 1-Watt Guitar Amp
Marshall circuit modified by yours-truly to use the speaker output at levels minute enough to serve as a guitar DI or line-level amp with output transformer mojo intact.
guitar pedals
- MXR – Phase 90
The “Van Halen” model with switchable “script” mode - Voodoo Labs – Tremolo
- Blackout Effectors – Special Twosome Deluxe
The mother of all fuzz pedals – no joke - Pigtronix – Echolution 2
…and the mother of all delay pedals - JHS Pedals – Angry Charlie
Crazy-accurate early Van Halen overdrive sounds in a solid-state pedal - JHS Pedals – Tone Job
A lovely hi-fi guitar preamp/buffer/EQ pedal - VFE – Merman
The king of the Klon clones IMHO - Randall RRED
The same FET distortion circuit mentioned in regards to the Randall RG100 amp earlier in this list - Electro-Harmonix – B9
Crazy organ tones - Electro-Harmonix -Ravish Sitar
Crazy sitar tones - Electro-Harmonix -Pitch Fork
Crazy pitch shifting - Carl Martin – Headroom
Real spring reverb in a stomp box? Um, YES PLEASE.
instrument speaker cabinets
- Marshall 1960 TV 4×12″
Loaded with Celestion Vintage 30s - 2×12″ cab originally from my ’68 Fender Twin Combo
Speakers replaced with Weber Signature Ceramics - 196? Sunn 1×15 Bass Cab
w/new 300-watt Peavey Black Widow Speaker - Avatar Closed-Back 1-12
Loaded with the mighty 300-watt Celestion BN12-300X neodymium magnet speaker and double front-ported for nearly full-range reproduction and massive output in a cabinet you can easily lift with one hand. Crazy-versatile and great for modeler amps or anything else.
other musical instruments
- M-Audio Keystation 88es
88-note velocity-sensitive USB/MIDI keyboard, semi-weighted action - 196? Ludwig domestic Drum Kit
Birch rack tom, floor tom & kick. Chrome-plated brass snare (which sounds awesome) - Ziljian A-Custom Crash Cymbals—15″ and 17″
- Zildjian ZBT Ride.
This cheap-ass ride is better than you think for recording purposes - Tabla Drums (pair)
- Doumbek Drum
- Misc. Percussion
way too many damn guitars
I will admit I have a problem. Check out my porn-like photo gallery below…