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Life Before Al Gore Invented the Internets......
- Thread starter R Briere
- Start date
man, all this stuff looks pretty cool, when I started playing, well, it was 2008, so not much needs to be said.
It always fascinates me to see the replies from the young folks when seeing what we Geezers grew up on. 
I used to play High School Gyms with my Premier 1x12 and its Mighty 25 watts. The PA was a 35 watt Bogen that had a single twelve in a cab on each side of the stage....and packed up like a Suitcase. And Guess what??? We were ....."Too Loud".
One thing I'd like to slip in here is that every post I put up is for the benefit of those getting started or Newbies. With all due respect to everyone who does, I don't post the gear that I own or the things I've done....or still hope to do. Why? Because the Music Industry is Dying.....and one reason for that is that Young People think they need to Spend a million bucks to get started. You don't. Just listen to what the nice Geezers share with you....and find a local music store that you'll need as you grow. History repeats itself......but Uke's are currently one of the biggest selling items out there....and there's a reason for that.
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I used to play High School Gyms with my Premier 1x12 and its Mighty 25 watts. The PA was a 35 watt Bogen that had a single twelve in a cab on each side of the stage....and packed up like a Suitcase. And Guess what??? We were ....."Too Loud".
One thing I'd like to slip in here is that every post I put up is for the benefit of those getting started or Newbies. With all due respect to everyone who does, I don't post the gear that I own or the things I've done....or still hope to do. Why? Because the Music Industry is Dying.....and one reason for that is that Young People think they need to Spend a million bucks to get started. You don't. Just listen to what the nice Geezers share with you....and find a local music store that you'll need as you grow. History repeats itself......but Uke's are currently one of the biggest selling items out there....and there's a reason for that.
....
I had some no name Japanese bass and amp at 15 in 1970 before getting a Gibson EB3L at 16, and a Plush amp soon thereafter.
Silvertone Bass Amp purchased 1968. My first "bass" amp.
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...and this bass (but in silver instead of sunburst).
...and I learned songs by using a similar "phonograph" to that which Ric5 posted. Except mine was a 4 speed. 33-1/3 rpm's. 45 rpm's, 78rpm's and 16 rpm's like this...
That Silvertone was available as a 6x10. Quite a nice amp.
Ampeg, Fender, Marshall and Magnatone catalogs were available. Soon Sunn, Kustom and Acoustic followed.
There certainly was less junk you think you need now. People actually played their instruments with hand control. Compressors were for studios.
My brother and I received a guitar, a bass and one amp to share for Christmas in 1976. They were ordered out of the Montgomery Wards catalog. I remember getting Music Emporium and Carvin Catalogs in the mail.
Yep.I used to play High School Gyms with my Premier 1x12 and its Mighty 25 watts. The PA was a 35 watt Bogen that had a single twelve in a cab on each side of the stage....and packed up like a Suitcase. And Guess what??? We were ....."Too Loud".
We played the same Bogen, but with a pair of Atlas sound columns.
I sold off the sound columns and replaced them with those clunky PA bull horns.
Years later, the lowly sound column evolved into the "vertical line array".
Now, Bose is issuing the sound column idea with their itty-bitty drivers and separate subwoofer.
Just something about looking through a catalog as opposed to the internet that makes it magical....still like looking at musicians friend catalog a lot. Being 26 though, I much prefer the internet when I want to make a serious purchase....more honest reviews on there 
Shure Vocal Master. Columns of little speaks.
That's all we had. Vocals only. Backline raging two cab Sunn 2000s or two cab SVT, guitarist with Marshall.
I believe you're thinking of the 1485 guitar amp.
1483 = 1x15 bass amp
1484 = 2x12 guitar amp
1485 = 6x10 guitar amp
Not quite the rich history as some of you guys. Wasn't born until '72, started playing in '84. Still no internet, you had the local music store and catalogs. My first rig was a Squier P-bass and a Fender Sidekick, which was about a 50 watt SS combo with a 15 in it...was plenty loud.
After 5 lessons I coukd hold down a root and fifth and simple walking part and we had a family band put together and were out gigging the local bars, supper clubs and VFW's etc. making $50 a night, sometimes a little more.
Between the family band and the one that followed, I played literally hundreds of gigs on that rig. It's still by far the highest ratio if gig $ earned vs. gear $ spent I've ever had. Here almost 30 years later, local watering holes want to give you the same $50.
Our PA system was an old Garnet, or maybe Gretch, something with a G anyway. I'll find out this Christmas. They thought I might be interested in some of our old gear. I think one or two items might be tubes, maybe the old PA amp...we'll see. I don't know what was in the speakers but they made sound. My parents still have all that gear in their basement and as far as I know it still works, or will work with a little tlc/recap.
After 5 lessons I coukd hold down a root and fifth and simple walking part and we had a family band put together and were out gigging the local bars, supper clubs and VFW's etc. making $50 a night, sometimes a little more.
Between the family band and the one that followed, I played literally hundreds of gigs on that rig. It's still by far the highest ratio if gig $ earned vs. gear $ spent I've ever had. Here almost 30 years later, local watering holes want to give you the same $50.
Our PA system was an old Garnet, or maybe Gretch, something with a G anyway. I'll find out this Christmas. They thought I might be interested in some of our old gear. I think one or two items might be tubes, maybe the old PA amp...we'll see. I don't know what was in the speakers but they made sound. My parents still have all that gear in their basement and as far as I know it still works, or will work with a little tlc/recap.
Life was so much simpler then.....back in the Sixties. There was only ONE Catalog that Truly Mattered to the Budding Bassist.....the SEARS Catalog!!! I Remember sitting in my room and looking at these incredible deals and high quality Instruments for HOURS at a time. Life Was Simple. Life was Good. Chicks LOVED Bass Players!!!
If you were REALLY Lucky there was a Sears Store right Downtown and you could tie a Drool Bucket under your Chin and just Walk Right in......There was the STUFF!!!! Holy Moosepoops!!! If the Salesman "LIKED" you (not a button or an app, an Emotion often resulting in Smiles and Kindness) he might let you TOUCH the bass or rub your hand across the Amp with the built in PRE-AMP! And 5 TUBES!!! You could plug a bass, a guitar, an accordion AND a Mic into the Same Amp!!! It Said so Right on the Amp!!! Are You Kidding Me!!??
Now THIS was life! THIS Was Living!!!
PS: I couldn't find a pic with the bass so I had to hang my head in shame and post the GUITAR in the Case......but I DID plug my Bass into an Amp in a Case.....and it was Wayyyyyyyy Cool!
I literally have the exact guitar and amp/case in the picture on the right. If I can remember, I'll post a pic when I get home.
...and this bass (but in silver instead of sunburst).
Hah! Used to have the 6 string gtr version of that. What model was that anyway?
GT
Memory Lane is such a Sweet Street. Seeing the Teisco's makes me think of "Don Tepper". He owned a weird store that sold pretty much ONLY Teisco stuff...along with Yarn, batteries, nick-knacks, Velvet pics of Elvis, KY Jelly and other weird stuff.....but ALWAYS had a dozen UGLY guitars and basses we would laugh at. I'm not laughing any more. 
I should have bought them all.
I should have bought them all.
Bass gear sure has come a long way. I don't have any gear left over from before Algore inventing the internet, but I do have several items dating after his invention of global warming.
Hey bkbirge, is that a Hammond M3? What's the white chicken head knob do? I had one of those years ago, but mine didn't have that.
Yep, it's an M3. The chicken head knob is an aftermarket (but still same time period I think) install of a drawbar preset system, like flute for upper manual and oboe for bottom, etc. Can't remember the name offhand, something like Select'Or or Select O'matic or some such. I usually leave it in the setting that lets me mess with the drawbars on the fly.
The one I have also has a switch on the left for an awesome tube driven spring reverb tank on an external speaker.
Here's an improv blues tune sans 'verb where it is featured...
And here's one with the reverb kit being used...
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