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Hi: I just picked up a late 60's Shure Vocal Master PA head and speakers, but the spring reverb is acting wonky. Even with the reverb intensity cranked there's only a very subtle (or no) reverb effect, and engaging the reverb adds some noise and darkness to the signal. However, plugging or removing ...

I've got two Pine amps (one I've had for 15 years) and seen/used a dozen others over the years. They are cheap but decent, and have a wide variety of features (6V6 output tubes in some, 50C5 (?) in others. Some with tremolo, some without. Some with single 6" speakers, some with dual 12") The speaker...

Are you sure it isn't the test tone? Should be a button near the talkback mic button on the right hand side.

The inserts on the Topaz are reversed from standard, but the inputs are normal. Do you get any action on the meters when running a signal? They should be moving even if you've accidentally pressed the wrong monitoring button for example. Long shot is the power supply needing a rebuild (as mine did s...

I have a T and the great thing about this model is how easy it is to run it through some pedals to tweak the sound as you like it. I've been using a Danelectro Rocky Road (Leslie simulator) for the past year and it adds just the right amount of wobble and shimmer. A touch of reverb from the amp and ...

I have the Model 80 which (I believe) is the previous version of the R8. On mine there is a spring loaded plastic "arm" just below the playback head which when engaged covers the head. The arm is more like a channel to guide the tape. The problem is, as you've discovered, you need to add enough slac...

Don't the home hi-fi units output a blend of the wet and dry signal? Is there a way to get a 100% wet signal out of them? If not, how do you work around it?

I'm not sure about some of the others, but the Spacexpander has a switch for reverb only (100% wet) operation. Full manual here, btw.

The Fisher K-10 spring reverb is another decent unit. Designed for home hi-fi but used in many studios over the last 45 years.

My fantasy studio would be entirely made of Ampeg and Ampex gear. Two great tastes that go great together.

Does anyone have any info on Foster mics? I picked up this dynamic for $25, but I can't find anything about it or other Foster mics (this one reads A&F by Foster). I understand that Foster is the parent company of Fostex, but that's about it. The model is MC-70TD, and it has a Music/Voice slider. ht...

For general purpose head cleaning, get some Q-tips and 99% medicinal alcohol. Most alcohol on the shelf at the drug store is in the 70% range, so you need to ask the pharmacist for the good stuff. Wet the q-tip with the alcohol and scrub each of the heads and any guides the tape touches, using new q...

Still in the tape echo ballpark, I picked up a Korg Stage Echo SE-500 yesterday and am having a blast with it. Combining the playback heads is a very cool effect, and I'm amazed at the smoothness and sensitivity of the speed control. What a great 30 year old design. I've cleaned the heads and might ...

I've got to recommend this music blog for tracking down the more obscure reggae stuff (including 7 Joe Gibbs releases):

http://youandmeonajamboree.blogspot.com

Awesome post and amazing mix. More please!

guitars are just not part of their culture the way they are to us western folks I'm sure they are using the same assembly line, computer designed and controlled manufacturing process that Fender uses in their U.S., Mexican, and Japanese factories. I don't see what cultural relativity has to do with...