Benny Dacks Archive
Pumpkin Carving with thatwasthen 2010
Keeping in the holiday tradition, thatwasthen decided to get together once again with some close friends to carve up a few festive decorations.
Benny’s New Bass 1978 Kramer 250B
The New Bass 1978 Kramer 250B
I’ve recently purchased a new bass. I found a rare 1978 Kramer 250B at Baxter Northrup Music in Sherman Oaks, CA. The price and sound were too good to pass up. This has to be one of the heaviest instruments I have ever played. The sound is somewhere between a Fender American P-Bass and a Rickenbacker. I’m pretty sure one could throw this bass down a set of stairs, use it to slay a legion of zombies, and it would still be in tune.
From Wikipedia:
Introduced in 1976, early models featured the trademark “tuning fork head” aluminum-reinforced necks with a fretboard made of Ebonol–material similar to one used in bowling ball production. Other features of the necks included aluminum dots, and a zero fret made out of Petillo fretwire. Unlike Travis Bean, Kramer went beyond the idea of a neck forged entirely out of aluminum, due to both its weight and its feel. Instead, Kramer opted for wooden inserts in the aluminum necks. The inserts, set in epoxy, were usually Walnut or Maple. The bodies were usually made of high grade Walnut or Maple, with the earliest instruments made of exotic tonewoods including Koa, Afromosia, Swietenia, Shedua, and Bubinga. The hardware was top-notch as well: Schaller tuning keys and bridges; Schaller and DiMarzio pickups; custom-made strap pins; aluminum cavity covers. Kramer’s “alumi-neck” line lasted roughly until 1982.
Google and Topeka switch names
In an epic plot to grant fiber optic Internet to Kansas residents, Google has switched names with Topeka.
If you haven’t been to google.com recently, you will notice that it has been renamed. The search engine giant claims that this is part of an epic scheme to deploy installations of super fast fiber-optic Internet to random locations around the US.
The internet connections in Google, Kansas will be 1gb per second. This is over 100 times faster than any residential connection available.
“Don’t be fooled. Even Google recognizes that all roads lead to Kansas, not just yellow brick ones.” – Google Mayor Bill Bunten
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- Google.com’s new look.
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- Topeka, The Search Engine
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- Google, Kansas
Sources:
april fools =)
David Vorhaus Analogue Electronic Music 1979
The MANIAC
In this historical video excerpt, David Vorhaus talks about two of his analogue inventions – the MANIAC analogue sequencer, and the Kaleidophon from 1979.
The MANIAC (Multiphasic Analog Inter-Active Chromataphonic (sequencer)) was an analogue sequencer having variable step lengths, and the ability to split sequences into several smaller groupings giving considerable sonic potentiality. Addition and subtraction of events was possible, as well as the possibility to chromatically correct the output during performance. David could program his MANIAC sequencer to play a background rhythm or combination of musical events, to then improvise over the top with another instrument or synthesizer.
The Kaleidophon was a double-bass-like instrument using four velocity-sensitive ribbon controllers instead of strings. The instrument is played entirely using the left hand, leaving the right hand free to manipulate the sound via a number of controllers and a joystick.
David speaks about the processes of making electronic music, and the developments that such possibilities can provide for the imaginative electronic musician. This excerpt is taken from the BBC 1979 documentary entitled “The New Sound of Music” hosted by Michael Rodd.
The Show Must Go On
Itzhak Perlman
On Nov. 18, 1995, Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, came on stage to give a concert at Lincoln Center in New York City. If you have ever been to a Perlman concert, you know that getting on stage is no small achievement for him. He was stricken with polio as a child, and has braces on both legs and walks with the aid of two crutches.
To see him walk across the stage one step at a time, painfully and slowly, is a sight. He walks painfully, yet majestically, until he reaches his chair. Then he sits down, slowly, puts his crutches on the floor, undoes the clasps on his legs, tucks one foot back and extends the other foot forward. Then he bends down and picks up the violin, puts it under his chin, nods to the conductor and proceeds to play.
By now, the audience is used to this ritual. They sit quietly while he makes his way across the stage to his chair. They remain reverently silent while he undoes the clasps on his legs. They wait until he is ready to play. But this time, something went wrong. Just as he finished the first few bars, one of the strings on his violin broke. You could hear it snap – it went off like gunfire across the room. There was no mistaking what that sound meant. There was no mistaking what he had to do.
In the moment.
People who were there that night thought to themselves: “We figured that he would have to get up, put on the clasps again, pick up the crutches and limp his way off stage – to either find another violin or else find another string for this one… or wait for someone to bring him another.”
But he didn’t. Instead, he waited a moment, closed his eyes and then signaled the conductor to begin again. The orchestra began, and he played from where he had left off. And he played with such passion and such power and such purity as they had never heard before.
Of course, anyone knows that it is impossible to play a symphonic work with just three strings. I know that; you know that. But that night Itzhak Perlman refused to know that. You could see him modulating, changing, recomposing the piece in his head.
At one point, it sounded like he was de-tuning the strings to get new sounds from them that they had never made before.
When he finished, there was an awesome silence in the room. And then people rose and cheered. There was an extraordinary outburst of applause from every corner of the auditorium. We were all on our feet, screaming and cheering, doing everything we could to show how much we appreciated what he had done.
He smiled, wiped the sweat from his brow, raised his bow to quiet us, and then he said, not boastfully, but in a quiet, pensive, reverent tone, “You know, sometimes it is the artist’s task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left.”
What a powerful line that is. It has stayed in my mind ever since I heard it. And who knows? Perhaps that is the way of life – not just for an artist but for all of us. Here is a man who has prepared all his life to make music on a violin with four strings, who all of a sudden, in the middle of a concert, finds himself with only three strings, and the music he made that night with just three strings was more beautiful, more sacred, more memorable, than any that he had ever made before, when he had four strings.
So, perhaps our task in this shaky, fast-changing, bewildering world in which we live, is to make music, at first with all that we have, and then, when that is no longer possible, to make music with what we have left.
This article was found on jr.co.il (© 1996-2010 Jacob Richman)
Vintage Eliminator II Speakers and Shure Vocal Master
Our good friend Adam rescued these from his parents storage space. Dated around 1978, the speakers alone are enough to make any bass-head drool. I’m still researching this gear so if anyone has anything to add, please feel free to use the comment form (image uploads supported).
- 2x Eliminator II Loudspeakers (15″ + horn)
- 2x Shure Master Vocal
Here’s some info I dug up on the Shure Master Vocal from the manual.
Manufactured by
SHURE BROTHERS INC.
222 Hartrey Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60204 U. S. A.Amplifier Type: All silicon transistor mixer/power amplifier
Power Output: 100 watts RMS; 8ohm load
Voltage Gain: 60dhb Mic., 49db Inst. 8ohm load
Anti Feedback:
- 5,000 Hz.
- 2,200 Hz.
- 1,000 Hz.
- 155 Hz.
I haven’t been able to find anything on the speakers yet. Anyone?
Epic Beard Man
A new YouTube star has been born. Thomas “Slick”, age 67 launched his way into Internet stardom by absolutely pounding a heckler on the AC Transit Bus. Several onlookers watched as the two exchanged words. Eventually the scuffle broke out into a one sided beating. The attacker was subdued with minimal effort. Here’s the full story, interviews, and related image gallery.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Interviews with Tom:
Interview with Tom and the other guy.
Apparently, this is not Tom’s first altercation in front of a camera. Remember the crazy guy at the Oakland A’s game who took on multiple cops and a taser?
Epic Beard Man’s warm-up:
Epic Beard Man Punch Out
The Internet mob has already produced several parodies and jokes related to EBM (Epic Beard Man):
You can even find EBM on Facebook.
Rock Band Name Origins (A-Z)
I’ve decided to compile an A to Z list of famous Rock Band Name Origins.
Hello, My name is...
While browsing StumbleUpon, I came across an extensive list of band names (link at bottom) and their origins. Here are my favorites.
AC/DC – In the vogue of other anti-everything bands it stands for Against Christ/Devil’s Children.
BLACK SABBATH – from a 1960′s cheap horror movie starring Boris Karloff , suggesting a holy day of witchcraft.
CHEAP TRICK – they say the band members asked a Ouija Board what they should call themselves.
THE DEFTONES – Because when they started out, people thought they were so bad
that they called them tone deaf – transposed to def tones.
THE EAGLES – originally called TEEN KING AND THE EMERGENCIES , they liked the American sound of Eagles and the way it was aligned with THE BYRDS who had a great influence on them.
FOO FIGHTERS – a term used by World War II pilots to describe strange flying fireballs they sometimes saw.
GUNS ‘N’ ROSES - originally two bands L.A. GUNNS and HOLLYWOOD ROSES. Hollywood Roses was headed by Axl Rose, Tracii Guns headed the other band which also featured Slash. The two frequented clubs and played there and were friends.
HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH – from the nicknames of two friends of singer/guitarist Darius Rucker – one with owl-like eyes (Hootie), another with the puffy “Blowfish” cheeks.
JETHRO TULL – popular 70′s band that is named after the rather obscure inventor of the farmer’s seed drill.
KISS – According to Paul Stanley, Kiss just sounded dangerous (kiss of death) and sexy at the same time. Kiss denies the rumors that the name stands for “Kids In Service of Satan” or the saying “Keep It Simple Stupid.”(for Stew)
LED ZEPPELIN – Jimmy Page was drinking with Moon and Entwhistle, who were bitching about their band mates Daltrey and Townshend. They joked about the two of them starting a band with Jimmy, and one of them said “Yeah, that will go over like a lead balloon”. When Jimmy formed his own band, he remembered this and thought “Lead Zeppelin” would be good, both from that conversation and the heavy/light contradiction similar to the band named IRON BUTTERFLY. They decided to drop the “a” so Americans wouldn’t mispronounce it.
LYNYRD SKYNYRD – Named after Leonard Skinner, an annoying gym teacher/coach some of the members had in high school. Leonard is said to have moved on to sell real estate in Jacksonville, Florida.
MÖTLEY CRÜE – A friend said “What a Motley looking Crew” – motley meaning “of great variety” and once describing the appearance of a court jester. The re-spelling was their own invention using the umlauts (those funny dots over letters) came to them while they were partying & drinking Lowenbrau beer.
NIRVANA – In Buddhism it means the state of perfect blessedness attained through the annihilation of the self.
OASIS – local British origins: a Manchester cab company, a chain of women’s clothing stores, a local Indian restaurant and more likely a local club that The Beatles played in during their early years (the band are avowed Beatles fans)
PINK FLOYD – taken from the names of two Georgia bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council – from the early days when the band saw itself as a blues band.
RADIOHEAD – Named after a Talking Heads’ song called “Radio Head.”
STYX – named after the river of death found in Greek mythology and in Dante’s Inferno.
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS – named after the cult film favorite starring George C. Scott about “loonies.” The film is also referencing Don Quixote, by Miguel Cervantes. In the book, the title character says “they might be giants” when referring to the windmills he attempts to fight.
U2
- A type of spy plane used by the United States in the 1960′s – made famous when Gary Powers’ U2 plane was shot down over Russia and he was taken as a prisoner during the Cold War.
- U2 as in “you too” referring to the audience and its role in the musical experience
- 3) a U2 is an unemployment form in Ireland (see UB40)
VAN HALEN – after Alex and Eddie Van Halen – suggested by David Lee Roth as being better than their original name “Mammoth.” They might have been called ‘Daddy Longlegs’ if Gene Simmons of KISS had gotten his way – he partially financed and produced one of their original demo records and suggested names and artwork.
WHITE ZOMBIE – An old horror “B” movie.
ZZ TOP – taken from the name of a Texas Blues man ZZ Hill. Though a rumor is that they got their name by combining Zig Zag and Top, two well known brands of “cigarette” rolling papers.
Source: What’s in a Name?
Abbey Road Photo Session
We’ve been trying to brainstorm ideas for a new band photo to send out with our press kits. I thought I’d get the ball rolling with a little inspiration from The Beatles’ Abbey Road shoot. Here it is in it’s entirety. If anyone has any additional photos, send them to us!
