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We all love having people --and even on rare occasion musicians--come over and hear our audio systems. Today was a little out of the ordinary because Tomasso--my substitute guitar teacher while my regular teacher was touring Europe with his group doing the music of John Zorn--is not only a musician but very well versed in electronics because his dad builds tube guitar amps. Mention single-ended tube amplifiers and Tomasso instantly knew what they are and aren't they usually just a couple of watts. He looks at my cj amplifier and asks which tube is the phase splitter and about the circuit design, etc.? In fact, it was funny to see Tomasso's face instantly light up the first time he came over to my apartment and saw all the tube electronics in my system, not to mention the reel-to-reel deck. Heidi says why don't you have him over just to listen to music? Women. Always right. .
And Tomasso had a real treat listening to two different cartridges as well as reel-to-reel. We started out with LPs and the Charisma Reference MC2 cartridge but switched over to the A95 because the Charisma just needs more hours and tweaking. We started off the afternoon listening session with some 45 rpm reissues of Grant Green and Barney Kessell and a few others; we followed this with the original release of Bola Sete's acoustic guitar and his eyes just lit up. Tomasso asked about the recording techniques, the microphones (I know he wants to his own recording in analog) they had used, whether the recordings were two-track and marveled in general at what RVG and Roy DuNann had put down on tape. He also expressed his unsolicited preference and pretty much how I feel, for Roy's over Rudy's recordings.
Then we put on tape and Tomasso's eyes became big as saucers. We started with Waltz for Debby and he was suitably impressed but then I put on Kenny Burrell's Midnight Blue and that sealed the deal. He asked for another jazz tape before finishing with rock. But besides the sound, Tomasso just marveled at how different each recording sounded. I think if I didn't have to go back to work, we'd still be listening. You know--pack your toothbrush.
And Tomasso had a real treat listening to two different cartridges as well as reel-to-reel. We started out with LPs and the Charisma Reference MC2 cartridge but switched over to the A95 because the Charisma just needs more hours and tweaking. We started off the afternoon listening session with some 45 rpm reissues of Grant Green and Barney Kessell and a few others; we followed this with the original release of Bola Sete's acoustic guitar and his eyes just lit up. Tomasso asked about the recording techniques, the microphones (I know he wants to his own recording in analog) they had used, whether the recordings were two-track and marveled in general at what RVG and Roy DuNann had put down on tape. He also expressed his unsolicited preference and pretty much how I feel, for Roy's over Rudy's recordings.
Then we put on tape and Tomasso's eyes became big as saucers. We started with Waltz for Debby and he was suitably impressed but then I put on Kenny Burrell's Midnight Blue and that sealed the deal. He asked for another jazz tape before finishing with rock. But besides the sound, Tomasso just marveled at how different each recording sounded. I think if I didn't have to go back to work, we'd still be listening. You know--pack your toothbrush.
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