GAS Music Caravan Pics

Scott F. · « **on:** 7 May 2006, 03:31 pm »

Hiya Guys,

Well, those of you that couldn't make the GAS Music Caravan missed one heck of a good time, although your checkbook is probably thanking you right now.

Here are some pics from the day long event. I apologize for the quality of the pics, I forgot my camera again so these are from my cell phone. I Photoshopped a few to brighten them up some.

First stop was the U-City Grille for breakfast. On the way in I noticed that something looked a little strange.

...uuuummm, I think I remember reading somewhere that plastic clothes hangers melted when they get hot

A quick pic on a beautiful St Louis spring morning from just outside Vintage Vinyl on the Loop

After Breakfast and Vintage Vinyl we cruised down to Webster Records and picked up some CDs

After Webster Records we made a stop at Euclid Records

After Euclid we went down the street and invaded Music For Pleasure. Heres a pics of all the guys.

MFP was getting ready for their big open house next Tuesday. They've got factory designers and reps coming in from Dynaudio, Krell and several other manufacturers.

The statement room was the usual Dynaudio Master Reference speakers ($120k) finished by Steinway in black laquer. They were being driven by the new Krell Evolution class A/B amps ($14k).

Hers a nice blurry pic of the new Krell CD/Pre plus the T+A tubed CD player. Hey Sturg, did you get a new watch?

Heres another blurry pic of the Solid Tech stands that use rubber bands for isolation.

..and here is a pic of the Krell Evolution amp and the $30k Transparent Carpet Cockroaches

This is the pic of the stop we didn't make to see Tim at The Sound Room

error 404...The Sound Room not found, sorry Tim

On our way down to The Record Exchange we stopped at a great little Italian place called Giancarlos and grabbed a sandwich and some brews.

Heres a pic of the guys just outside of the Record Exchange

and heres a pic of Mike D with his prized new possesion, his KISS clock

and finally, we finished up the day at Cookies Jazz and more where we saw a great act, the Dan Smith Quintet with guest vocalist Debby Lennon.

These guys were smokin'

JoshK · « **Reply #1 on:** 7 May 2006, 03:41 pm »

Sounds like a really fun day!

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 May 2006, 04:22 pm »

That KISS clock RULEZ!!!!!! ROCK-N-ROLL

Mike D · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 May 2006, 04:40 pm »

Thank you, Sturgus, for making that day happen. What a great idea!

DeadFish · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 May 2006, 05:07 pm »

Thanks for the pix, Scott!

What a wunnerful day! I for one had a great time seeing the sites and enjoying the company. Great agenda planning!! Just not enough hours in the day.

I have to admit, for some reason, I am sore as hell today. My fingers are kind of cramped up from flipping vinyl and cd's at so many places. Hard to believe I couldn't find the Who's 'Who Are You?' used at the 4 places I was at. Then again, I wouldn't have sold off the other 2 copies I bought of the album before...
But I looked, and scored some decent stuff that I actually had on my list to buy new 'when my ship comes in'.

Now I have to make a point, and I hope if any of the guys at MFP are reading, they don't hold this against me.
Looking at the picture of the lot of us in their 'statement' room, where is the pleasure on our faces?

No not OUR statment, theirs...
Okay, so I am just being wicked....

I'm just a guy who has learned to be happy with modest.
Man, just think how many more amps I could buy if I don't buy those big-ass speakers....

Guys, I think we found a workable format for future jaunts! It was a shame we didn't get to go to where brother Tim works, but about next time..... My point is, can we put this idea on rotation, with perhaps doing the music houses all another run, plus pick another hifi store to hit?
If we only plan ONE hifi store per session, we might just get it all fit in.
By all means, getting together and playing 'lose the last car' between stops, and getting to chow and chat, "Priceless."

It was a hoot!

Best Regards,

DeadFish

PS, and okay Mark, I'll take my beating and you have the right to pair my name to any goofy-ass used stuff that comes along.
Maybe I should take a new 'nam-de-A/C' as 'BottomFeeder.'

Scott F. · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 May 2006, 06:30 pm »

Oh, thats right, I forgot to mention, Deadfish went home with a new pair of Altec Boleros (that need a smidge of work).

The Record Exchange has boatloads of used gear. In fact Sturg and I orphaned a Sansui 6BQ5 integrated (HEY WILLIE ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION!). Its got a noisey channel but its pretty darned clean. We also left behind a nice little Thorens TD 166 and a pair of 12" full range drivers with Alnico magnets and two pair of vintage coaxials (12's and 8's).

And then there was the Ampex pro studio reel to reel. I may have to go back and see how much he wants for that one. If you are looking for a R2R, he's got one heck of a choice. I'd bet there were at least 30 of them to pick from.

One of these days I'm going to talk him out of the four Altec Velencias he's using for in-store sound.

Hey Bill, you and Mike should have stayed for Cookies. You would have really enjoyed it. The guy playing sax was blowing on a vintage Selmer (about 1958). Between his style (sort of a cross between Coltrane (but more melodic) and Dexter Gordon) and that rich, creamy sound of the Selmer, it was a fabulous listen. Mike, you'd have lover the horn player. It took a bit to get his lips working but after he warmed up, he was pretty darned good too.

Like I mentioned to Sturgus, now I know whty Russ Gentilly at WSIE keeps pimping Kim Portnoy on the piano. The word talented doesn't come close to touching how good this guy is.

sturgus · « **Reply #6 on:** 7 May 2006, 11:40 pm »

I would just like to say I had a great time. I think this is all do to great company. I spent a little to much money but it was for a good cause ( MY ADICTTION

). The show was very good and think Chris B. is in love with the older woman

. I hope that we can get together and do some other things like this. Mark, Scott and I were kicking around some ideas for a road trip tp KC or up to Klaus's place for a little listening. We also talked about trying to put together an audiofest here for local & regional manufacters. If anybody has any ideas on this throw them out there. If we start now maybe by next spring we could have a decent show. Hey Mark I hope you enjoy the tone arm.

steve k · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 May 2006, 12:56 am »

Looks like you guys had a blast! Mike, the KissClock is so YOU!

Deadfish, you read my mind. I saw those glum looks in the MFP shot and then the shot of the Krell amp. Then it all made sense. Can you say "tube lovers"?

You guys look like they took your pet puppy away.

BTW, Vintage Vinyl is having their 25th anniversary next Saturday if anyone wants to go back. They're having bands playing inside and outside all day.

I'm really sorry I missed this one. It was great weather too. I thought about you guys at the office. Glad you got some pics Scott. Next time.
steve

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #8 on:** 8 May 2006, 02:01 am »

Thanks for posting your photo's Scott...

Chris[/list:u]

bpape · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 May 2006, 03:17 am »

Looks like a good time was had by all. Sorry I missed it.

Anybody thinking about heading to MFP on Tuesday night for the open house? As long as I've lived here, I've never made it over there - sounds like the perfect time to go. Maybe meet early for some dinner then head over?

Bryan

sturgus · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 May 2006, 12:09 am »

Hey Bryan I can't meet you for dinner but I will see you there.
Sturgus

Mike D · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 May 2006, 01:50 pm »

I'd be happy to make another day of traveling to several different stores some time soon. Tonight I can't due to our year-end awards concert.

bpape · « **Reply #12 on:** 10 May 2006, 11:29 am »

Didn't miss a lot. Lots of people there and some good conversation. But, the room with the big Dyn's in it was very disappointing.

I"ve heard the step down from those before and know they can sound MUCH better than that. Likely a combination of the room and the Krell electronics.

Now I understand the 'lack of smiles' on some of the pics from last Saturday in that room

drummerwill · « **Reply #13 on:** 10 May 2006, 12:50 pm »

Guys ! You were in my neighborhood enjoying all my haunts and I was at the Soccer Park Selling T-shirts all day.
I've got to get down on Hampton to the Record Exchange, I've passed by many time but never stopped in, and they have used hardware too!
Glad to hear you guys had a great time, wish I could have been there.
We should try to talk to Za at Alpha Tech to visit his show room too, Za usually has a variety of New, Used and Vintage stuff.

Have fun
Willie

Bill Baker · « **Reply #14 on:** 10 May 2006, 01:22 pm »

Euclid Records --- how sweet is that. I wish I had a store arond here full of vinyl!! Actually, maybe it is better that I don't

Love that Kiss clock! Big Kiss fan from way back.

Plastic exhaust hanger - way too cool. Even most rednecks know better than that. I have seen them use dog choker collars but never a plastic anything. I wouldn't want to be behind that dude on the highway. The fumes would kill ya.

Looks like you guys had a great day out. I am only curious as to how those Dynaudios sounded with that large opening to the right of them. Room correction?

DeadFish · « **Reply #15 on:** 10 May 2006, 02:00 pm »

Many, many comments on yer comments:

Bill, it was a 'superb' day out. The Record Exchange used to be a public library! Oodles and oodles of stuff. Haven't seen so much vinyl since before cd's darkened our hifi supplies. Also, that 'openning' to the left of the Dynaudios is a window 'bump-out', so not too much of a hole.

Willie, by all means you TOO need to check out Record Exchange.
As Scott saith, I got some Altec Bolero's there 'on a lark' with one speaker not projecting NEAR as much sound as it was making last nite. Relatively easy fix (it must have been if I pulled it off!). I might even get brave to change out some of those caps inside. Not much in there, and wired with 22 (or so) guage solid wire. Definitely have room for a few boutique parts. Laying on their side on stands is where they shine, and I flipped one speaker's 10 inch driver with the 'passive radiator' so they are book-matched,
You can tell by the sound that the 19's are their big brother.

Bryan, you hit the nail on the head. The Dali Megalines I heard a coupla years ago far outshone what we heard saturday. One of my favorite criteria, that the speakers 'disapear', didn't happen.
I hope for their sake that there is something obviously wrong with the setup at MFP. I just didn't 'get it'.

And finally Mike: You ready to go again ALREADY??!

Yeah, you need MORE!

Life was good to me; great time.

Best Regards,
DeadFish

bpape · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 May 2006, 05:29 am »

Well, I'll just say that I'm 99% sure it wasn't the speakers that were the problem. There was no treatment in the room, the new Krell 'super' components driving, controlling, spinning, etc. And on top of it, like they need it, they were crossing them over to a REL sub.

When I heard the Evidence Tempations driven by a Rowland amp and an Audio Research pre - they sounded a WHOLE lot better than their big brothers did in that setup.

Bill Baker · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 May 2006, 12:00 pm »

I have a customer that has a pair of Evidence Temtations that he drives with a pair of Extreme Hurricanes. Even he doesn't use a sub. Do their big brothers need one?

Even the Special 25s I had a while back had very impressive bass for thier size

bpape · « **Reply #18 on:** 11 May 2006, 05:31 pm »

No. They really shouldn't need a sub. Plus, it's not like this was a HT demo room - purely 2 channel (well, 2.1). I'm just sitting there listing to the Masters, with a $15k Krell amp, who knows how much for the pre/pro and player, with all top of the line Transparent cables on it - $30k+ just for the speaker cables - and there's no magic, no music, and agree with Deadfish - certainly didn't disappear.

They did throw a nice large soundstage - as they should.