Well, I've been a busy boy! Nowhere near Ken level, but since COVID hit....
......As many of you know, I took a part time Sales Gorilla position over at Alpha Tech, trying to help Zaw downsize his hoard.
The store was forced to move, and the closing for the move coincided with the COVID shutdown of the entire city, which worked out well for us. My friend Rick and I (along with Zaw and the crew) spent about 4 weeks clearing, tossing, moving, sorting, and dealing with his 20 year accumulation at the store, along with prepping the new place, moving in, getting set up, etc.
With the legendary Mike Missel as the head tech now, things are humming along nicely, and people's stuff is getting fixed and out the door!
With the advent of COVID, all of my work with the Symphony and their recording engineer, along with my corporate AV work evaporated, so I went full time at Alpha, and will remain there until the summer is over, if not further.
In terms of audio, I've been making big moves!
I turned loose an entire Crown stack (SL2, FM2, PL4, all in wood cases), and my McIntosh C26/2105 combo, ADS L/1290s, Legacy Audio Monitors, and some other goodies. Those funds have helped pay off my credit cards, acquire more gear I'll actually USE, and get some top level tube stuff fixed up:
I got my McIntosh MC-30 monoblocks recapped and refurbished by the highly talented Alex Martin of Iowa:
I snagged myself a couple more nice turntables (because I need several more holes in the head):
A Fairchild 412 with model 280 transcription arm (seller's pic):
An original Technics SP-10 with Audio Technica AT1005 tonearm:
AND....a Loricraft PRC3 Record Cleaning Machine!
Also, while out pickin' with Zaw one weekend, I snagged myself what may be the first ever ElectroVoice Patrician IV (they were introduced in 1954, as far as I understand, and this one has the inner horn nailed in, and other prototype/early production signs). I got it up off the church dais, into my Suburban, out of my Suburban, and into my living room all alone-I thought I was going to collapse from heatstroke loading that sucker! I was able to unload a couple days later when it was cooler (and at night!)
Living Room Mono system, here I come! My other Patrician (yes, there is ANOTHER) is too ugly for living room placement.
I also paid a visit to our local GAS woodworker extraordinaire, Gabe, and saw the beautiful progress he's making on my Russco Studio Pro B plinths!
And just two days ago, I stumbled into two boxes of LaserDiscs from the early years of the LD, in the home of a 47 year employee of Magnavox corporation, was given them, and amongst the contents was this sealed copy of the Beatles Let It Be-the documentary!
Today was my first day back as an audio engineer since March, and the Pan Galactic Team (another coworker and I) recorded audio for video of local talented musicians playing beautiful chamber music at The Sheldon with Joe Mason (the DJ from KSHE and KSD) serving as producer! Joe and I are friends, and it was great to actually get to work together on a shoot! And, it was an absolute pleasure to enjoy some live music again. We audiophiles are so obsessed with the recreation of a "live" sensation, or at least linear reproduction of what's on the disc/tape/bitstream, that we often forget just how engaging The Real Thing can be!
I hope all you guys and gals are well! I'm looking forward to a gathering sometime when it's a bit safer to hobnob with those likeminded individuals whom I count as friends!
