eyeslikefire
I CAN SMELL EM!
SPINSTERWUN said:I was born in 1968. So, I guess this thread doesn't applt to me.
SPINSTER! MY MAN!
I would be my honor to read about your first gear encounters.
Post it brutha! Post it!
SPINSTER! MY MAN!
I would be my honor to read about your first gear encounters.
Post it brutha! Post it!
SPINSTERWUN
Active member
eyeslikefire said:
The first 2 pieces of recording gear I purchased was a used
Tascam 414 (?) 4-track and generic Radio Shack mic (model # unknown). 
Krakit
Rzzzzz!
Another one born in 1965 here
My first real instruments (I don't think that the recorder I was given in 4th grade was a real instrument, but I still have it.)
My first tape recorder was a Panasonic monophonic cassette.
1975
Harmony Acoustic Guitar
Still have for sentiment
Sears (Dan Electro) bass with lipstick pickup
Still have.
1979
UNIVOX Crumar with three voices (Piano, Honkey Tonk and Clav).
No longer have.
Hohner Melodica
Still have
Hohner Harmonica (key of C)
Still have
1982
I eventually picked up a Nomad 237 electric organ (bet you've never heard of it).
My first multitrack was an 8 track tape recorder (and I mean 8 track cartridge recorder, not a reel to reel). I was able to record two tracks at a time without erasing the other six tracks, course there wasn't any rewind, so it was a painstaking process.
Purchased a Korg K-1 monophonic synth
Still have
Mattel Synsonic electric drums
Still have
1983
Picked up a Rhodes and Moog Rogue (the same day). Still have the Rhodes, just sold the Moog.
Roland JX-8P
Still have
1985
Got myself a Fostex 250AV four track
Still have.
Tascam reel to reel two track
At this point I got very serious about music and recording. I went to the Center for the Media Arts in NYC. Got myself some work engineering at some studios. Opened my own tape duplication house (Gemini Tape Duplication) Became a professional musician and toured all over the continent until 1993.
Carl
My first real instruments (I don't think that the recorder I was given in 4th grade was a real instrument, but I still have it.)
My first tape recorder was a Panasonic monophonic cassette.
1975
Harmony Acoustic Guitar
Still have for sentiment
Sears (Dan Electro) bass with lipstick pickup
Still have.
1979
UNIVOX Crumar with three voices (Piano, Honkey Tonk and Clav).
No longer have.
Hohner Melodica
Still have
Hohner Harmonica (key of C)
Still have
1982
I eventually picked up a Nomad 237 electric organ (bet you've never heard of it).
My first multitrack was an 8 track tape recorder (and I mean 8 track cartridge recorder, not a reel to reel). I was able to record two tracks at a time without erasing the other six tracks, course there wasn't any rewind, so it was a painstaking process.
Purchased a Korg K-1 monophonic synth
Still have
Mattel Synsonic electric drums
Still have
1983
Picked up a Rhodes and Moog Rogue (the same day). Still have the Rhodes, just sold the Moog.
Roland JX-8P
Still have
1985
Got myself a Fostex 250AV four track
Still have.
Tascam reel to reel two track
At this point I got very serious about music and recording. I went to the Center for the Media Arts in NYC. Got myself some work engineering at some studios. Opened my own tape duplication house (Gemini Tape Duplication) Became a professional musician and toured all over the continent until 1993.
Carl
eyeslikefire
I CAN SMELL EM!
Holy shit man, I remember those!
Carl, was that 8 track recorder a Realistic?
My dad bought me a Realistic reel to reel back in '78 that I still have and sounds great by the way, And I remember them having an 8 track recorder.........
Man, my brother still has some old 8 tracks lying around filled with live recordings of various Discos
here in Miami.
Krakit
Rzzzzz!
I do believe that the 8 track was a Realistic (from good ol' Radio Whack).
A real pain in the butt to use (but when you're just a kid, what can you do?).
You would record something on the first stereo pair. Then you would arm the next pair while your first recording would loop back and record the next pair (I would use headphones to minimize bleed).
Every track had to be done in a complete take. Not punch ins or rewind. You had to listen for the lead in clicks (that you were smart enough to put on the first two tracks) and do the whole thing from beginning to end again.
Then, I'd mix down the finished product to a stereo cassette recorder. Spent whole weekends doing this sort of thing.
Carl
A real pain in the butt to use (but when you're just a kid, what can you do?).
You would record something on the first stereo pair. Then you would arm the next pair while your first recording would loop back and record the next pair (I would use headphones to minimize bleed).
Every track had to be done in a complete take. Not punch ins or rewind. You had to listen for the lead in clicks (that you were smart enough to put on the first two tracks) and do the whole thing from beginning to end again.
Then, I'd mix down the finished product to a stereo cassette recorder. Spent whole weekends doing this sort of thing.
Carl
Wide Awake
New member
My first electric guitar is still my main guitar. For my 16th birthday my father bought me a Goldtop Les Paul Standard. It sat in my closet for over ten years when I had given up the instrument and two years ago I took it out and I haven't put it down since. The new ones don't have a slim neck like this one....it's like butter. I've been offered outrageous amounts of money for it but I'll never sell it because it has way too much sentimental value.
My first amp was a slightly-modified MusicMan 210-65. A great amp...if you play country music I think Eric Clapton played one in the late-70's.
In the mid 80's I bought a Korg Polysix, and then a Roland D-50 and a Roland digital piano-RD250s. Those were exciting times when every piece of new MIDI gear seemed like a huge step forward. I still love and use the D-50. I also had an Atari 1040 ST for patch librarian and sequencing. Mine still works and I have thousands of patches stored on it.
My first amp was a slightly-modified MusicMan 210-65. A great amp...if you play country music
I think Eric Clapton played one in the late-70's.In the mid 80's I bought a Korg Polysix, and then a Roland D-50 and a Roland digital piano-RD250s. Those were exciting times when every piece of new MIDI gear seemed like a huge step forward. I still love and use the D-50. I also had an Atari 1040 ST for patch librarian and sequencing. Mine still works and I have thousands of patches stored on it.
D
DKMurphPr
New member
I'm feeling old, yet young
Born in 1956, but I didn't start playing guitar until I was about 35, shortly after buying my son his first guitar. I'm a lefty, they're hard to come by. I didn't start recording stuff until a couple years ago.
First guitar was a Kramer strat stlye, traded it in on an Epiphone Les Paul.
Currently have the Les Paul, an Epiphone John Lennon Casino, Washburn acoustic-electric, and Ovation acoustic-electric.
As for recording, started with the Tascam 414, gave it to my son when I bought the 424.
Now I have the Zoom MRS-4, gonna upgrade my mics with the proceeds from selling the 424.
Born in 1956, but I didn't start playing guitar until I was about 35, shortly after buying my son his first guitar. I'm a lefty, they're hard to come by. I didn't start recording stuff until a couple years ago.
First guitar was a Kramer strat stlye, traded it in on an Epiphone Les Paul.
Currently have the Les Paul, an Epiphone John Lennon Casino, Washburn acoustic-electric, and Ovation acoustic-electric.
As for recording, started with the Tascam 414, gave it to my son when I bought the 424.
Now I have the Zoom MRS-4, gonna upgrade my mics with the proceeds from selling the 424.
DS_Sultan
New member
Where to start, where to start...
OK, born 1960. Started playing piano and guitar when I was 13.
First guitar was an Ivar Johnson 6 string. (Anyone know that brand?)
Second guitar is a Martin D28 Satin with a two piece rosewood back. Fully intonated with gold Grover tuners. It is still my baby!
Third guitar was an SG, then a Gibson Les Paul with a specially made tuning bridge. (both are gone) Had another one but can't remember the model, was a Telecaster tho, cream color.
First bass was a Rickenbacker 4000 series, second was a Fender pearl P-Bass. (Again both are gone)
Next I have a Yamaha Classical guitar, an Applause elec/accoustic 12 string, and a Lyle Hummingbird 6 string. (still have these)
First amp was a Mashall 100 half stack with a single slant cabinet (4x12). Then I went to an Orange Amp head. Still have a pre-CBS Fneder Twin Reverb in mint condition!
First bass setup was a Cerwin Vega 18" bass-reflex cab with a 12" tweeter, the head was a Tapco CP-500 dual channel amp with an Intersound parametric preamp, rack mounted in an anvil case of course.
More recently I have added a Squire Strat and a Cort 4 string bass to my armada of intruments.
Have a Roland D-20 sequencer, an echo/delay effect (can't remember the name right now), an old wah-wah peddle etc...
First recorded onto a 4 track reel to reel, then to a cassette deck using Radio Shack mics. Then a Mackie 1202 mixer using 2 Sennheiser mic's.
Now on to a nice new DAW box with all the latest goodies on it.
Is that enough? I can post a pic of the axes if''n ya want...
OK, born 1960. Started playing piano and guitar when I was 13.
First guitar was an Ivar Johnson 6 string. (Anyone know that brand?)
Second guitar is a Martin D28 Satin with a two piece rosewood back. Fully intonated with gold Grover tuners. It is still my baby!
Third guitar was an SG, then a Gibson Les Paul with a specially made tuning bridge. (both are gone) Had another one but can't remember the model, was a Telecaster tho, cream color.
First bass was a Rickenbacker 4000 series, second was a Fender pearl P-Bass. (Again both are gone)
Next I have a Yamaha Classical guitar, an Applause elec/accoustic 12 string, and a Lyle Hummingbird 6 string. (still have these)
First amp was a Mashall 100 half stack with a single slant cabinet (4x12). Then I went to an Orange Amp head. Still have a pre-CBS Fneder Twin Reverb in mint condition!
First bass setup was a Cerwin Vega 18" bass-reflex cab with a 12" tweeter, the head was a Tapco CP-500 dual channel amp with an Intersound parametric preamp, rack mounted in an anvil case of course.
More recently I have added a Squire Strat and a Cort 4 string bass to my armada of intruments.
Have a Roland D-20 sequencer, an echo/delay effect (can't remember the name right now), an old wah-wah peddle etc...
First recorded onto a 4 track reel to reel, then to a cassette deck using Radio Shack mics. Then a Mackie 1202 mixer using 2 Sennheiser mic's.
Now on to a nice new DAW box with all the latest goodies on it.
Is that enough? I can post a pic of the axes if''n ya want...
Last edited:
P
Peter D
New member
I was born in 1951 and my first instrument was drums, but I never owned my first set until I was 14. It was a 3-piece Pearl (no floor tom) with Pastie high-hat and Zildjian hardware. My first guitar at age 15 was a Harmony Stella, my second was Yamaha F-75. Since then I've had a couple of Martins ( a 1953 D-28 and a 1967 D-45), a Fender Strat. Currently, I play a Seagull S-6 Cedar-top, a Squier Strat, Rogue A-model mandolin and use a Fostex X-55 4-Track and Boss BR-1180CD for recording.
Sennheiser
New member
Hey, I've got a Seagull S-6+. Very nice sounding and playing guitars.
They sound good on tape too. I like the fact that the are hand-crafted. They could charge half again what they are selling them for and it would still be a bargain.
They sound good on tape too. I like the fact that the are hand-crafted. They could charge half again what they are selling them for and it would still be a bargain.
A Reel Person
It's Too Funky in Here!!!
I'm v'61...
My very first guitar was some cheap old noname 'strat' copy,... put loosely,... that someone gave to me, when I was 13 ['74]. At first, it only had 5 strings, and the 6th tuning peg was broken. I played it like that for several years, and had to re-learn it all, when I eventually got the 6th string! A cheaper, cheesier guitar you'll never find. Eventually, later on, I gave it to my young brother-in-law, in his pre-teen days. He took it to his friend's house, and someone stepped on it, and snapped it in two. [Memories!...]
>My first serious guitar was the '82 Ibanez Blazer, which I still play today, in fact, it's right here, and never too far out of reach. Despite having many newer guitars, I still do most of my playingon the Blazer! [You never forget your first!...]
>My first bass was the Peavy T-40. That's one helluva nice bass, and super-heavy! It weighs a ton! In fact, I still have it, and it's in pristine like-new condition!
>My first 'taping' was tape-to-tape 'overdubs' on cassette. Very primitive and totally cheesy. The hiss was out-of-this world! I blew out at least one mic input by plugging my guitar into it, and overdriving the living hell out of it! It sounded really fat, until smoke came out of it! [Ah, those were the days!...]
>My first 'real' tape deck was the '82 Tascam 244 Portastudio, and I still have it today, it's sitting right here on my right. I've done many productions on that, and basically learned my recording chops on it. For a while, it served as an inhouse PA mixer, and I still use it occasionally today,... especially when reviewing all those old cassettes that were originally 4-tracked on it. Now it has a flaky track 3, that I have to dig into to repair,... someday. Probably just a loose connection or cold solder joint.
>I also had the Yamaha MM10 mixer and MA10 headphone amp, [not MH10...], as well as the Realistic Electronic Reverb. A cheaper and cheesier reverb will never be found. I still have this gear today, and will occasionally plug into the MA10 headphone amp, just for old time's sake.
>My first mics were the Teac ME-20's, electret condenser mics, and I still have them today, but I think they need repair to the cables. A little later, I got a Teac ME-80. Yep, still have it!
>My first guitar amp was the original Fender Champ, that served me well, but has been basically retired for many, many years, since the tubes developed a 'static hiss'. I still have it, though, and it's right here near my left foot, under my desk. Still works, too.
>My first effects were the DOD Overdrive/Preamp-250, Ibanez CP-9 compressor/limiter, and Cry Baby Wah.
-Aw heck, who am I fooling,... I still have ALL the gear I ever bought!
My very first guitar was some cheap old noname 'strat' copy,... put loosely,... that someone gave to me, when I was 13 ['74]. At first, it only had 5 strings, and the 6th tuning peg was broken. I played it like that for several years, and had to re-learn it all, when I eventually got the 6th string! A cheaper, cheesier guitar you'll never find. Eventually, later on, I gave it to my young brother-in-law, in his pre-teen days. He took it to his friend's house, and someone stepped on it, and snapped it in two. [Memories!...]
>My first serious guitar was the '82 Ibanez Blazer, which I still play today, in fact, it's right here, and never too far out of reach. Despite having many newer guitars, I still do most of my playingon the Blazer! [You never forget your first!...]
>My first bass was the Peavy T-40. That's one helluva nice bass, and super-heavy! It weighs a ton! In fact, I still have it, and it's in pristine like-new condition!
>My first 'taping' was tape-to-tape 'overdubs' on cassette. Very primitive and totally cheesy. The hiss was out-of-this world! I blew out at least one mic input by plugging my guitar into it, and overdriving the living hell out of it! It sounded really fat, until smoke came out of it! [Ah, those were the days!...]
>My first 'real' tape deck was the '82 Tascam 244 Portastudio, and I still have it today, it's sitting right here on my right. I've done many productions on that, and basically learned my recording chops on it. For a while, it served as an inhouse PA mixer, and I still use it occasionally today,... especially when reviewing all those old cassettes that were originally 4-tracked on it. Now it has a flaky track 3, that I have to dig into to repair,... someday. Probably just a loose connection or cold solder joint.
>I also had the Yamaha MM10 mixer and MA10 headphone amp, [not MH10...], as well as the Realistic Electronic Reverb. A cheaper and cheesier reverb will never be found. I still have this gear today, and will occasionally plug into the MA10 headphone amp, just for old time's sake.
>My first mics were the Teac ME-20's, electret condenser mics, and I still have them today, but I think they need repair to the cables. A little later, I got a Teac ME-80. Yep, still have it!
>My first guitar amp was the original Fender Champ, that served me well, but has been basically retired for many, many years, since the tubes developed a 'static hiss'. I still have it, though, and it's right here near my left foot, under my desk. Still works, too.
>My first effects were the DOD Overdrive/Preamp-250, Ibanez CP-9 compressor/limiter, and Cry Baby Wah.
-Aw heck, who am I fooling,... I still have ALL the gear I ever bought!
knightfly
GrouchyOldFartOnBatteries
Born 1945, and.... oh, hell forgot the rest - Oh, yeah;
Started piano in '50, trombone in '57, baritone horn in '60, folks bought an organ in '61, I bought my first Webcor 1/4" mono 1/2 track tape recorder in '61, wish I still had it - first guitar in 1966, a Czech handmade Tatra I classic - still got it, still plays great. Couple other crappo gtrs, then Yamaha SA-50 in '69, cause it kicked the crap outa the Gibson 335 it was copied from (even tho the Gibson would be worth a lot more as a collectible) then two Akai X360D reel-to-reels with a pair of (wow) Roberts mics (still have all that) <fast forward> bunch more stuff, keyboards, like a Synergy, Yamaha CS-40M, Crumar performer, Arp 16-voice piano, Hammond with 215 watt leslie, Yamaha DX7-II with E! mod, Hohner Clavinet (traded that for Fender P-bass, several more guitars/basses, Roland RS-9, XP-50, few dozen MIDI modules, 10 rack feet of processing gear, power amps, 5 mixers (still have 3) set of Fibes drums, set of Roland V-Customs with upgraded kick/snare/hat/extra tom, and probably a few dozen other things that slip an old fart's mind - about $75k last time I was brave enough to tally, which was before the Roland drums, DM-24 mixer, and 3-4 more guitars, Carvin Koa/maple 6-string fretless bass with the piezo option, gold hardware, no markers except 3-5-7-12, etc as side dots - Recording since '82 on a Tascam 38 and M1516 mixer, added Samplitude DAW about '97, DM-24 just recently, moving soon to 5.1 surround -
Worked as video tech for Memorex and a couple broadcast/CCTV sales places, then service mgr for an electronics firm in Hawaii that bought Ampex Hawaii, recorded first original single with a band in '82, got hooked by all the cool blinkenlites and big speakers and been hooked ever since... Besides Video and Audio engineering, hold two electrical licenses and Industrial Instrumentation Certification -
Sorry 'bout the length, but that's only a thumbnail sketch - remember long lives take longer to recount... Steve
Started piano in '50, trombone in '57, baritone horn in '60, folks bought an organ in '61, I bought my first Webcor 1/4" mono 1/2 track tape recorder in '61, wish I still had it - first guitar in 1966, a Czech handmade Tatra I classic - still got it, still plays great. Couple other crappo gtrs, then Yamaha SA-50 in '69, cause it kicked the crap outa the Gibson 335 it was copied from (even tho the Gibson would be worth a lot more as a collectible) then two Akai X360D reel-to-reels with a pair of (wow) Roberts mics (still have all that) <fast forward> bunch more stuff, keyboards, like a Synergy, Yamaha CS-40M, Crumar performer, Arp 16-voice piano, Hammond with 215 watt leslie, Yamaha DX7-II with E! mod, Hohner Clavinet (traded that for Fender P-bass, several more guitars/basses, Roland RS-9, XP-50, few dozen MIDI modules, 10 rack feet of processing gear, power amps, 5 mixers (still have 3) set of Fibes drums, set of Roland V-Customs with upgraded kick/snare/hat/extra tom, and probably a few dozen other things that slip an old fart's mind - about $75k last time I was brave enough to tally, which was before the Roland drums, DM-24 mixer, and 3-4 more guitars, Carvin Koa/maple 6-string fretless bass with the piezo option, gold hardware, no markers except 3-5-7-12, etc as side dots - Recording since '82 on a Tascam 38 and M1516 mixer, added Samplitude DAW about '97, DM-24 just recently, moving soon to 5.1 surround -
Worked as video tech for Memorex and a couple broadcast/CCTV sales places, then service mgr for an electronics firm in Hawaii that bought Ampex Hawaii, recorded first original single with a band in '82, got hooked by all the cool blinkenlites and big speakers and been hooked ever since... Besides Video and Audio engineering, hold two electrical licenses and Industrial Instrumentation Certification -
Sorry 'bout the length, but that's only a thumbnail sketch - remember long lives take longer to recount... Steve
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
Born in 51
1st guitar was a four pick-up Silvertone with a Silvertone twin-12. First recorder was a Sony stereo unit that I pinged back and forth on to overdub. Then I got one of the 3340s.
And speaking of weird old equipment.....what about the Mellotron. God that was awful. If the AC varied at all it went horrendously out of tune. We tried to use one on the road but it was impossible.
1st guitar was a four pick-up Silvertone with a Silvertone twin-12. First recorder was a Sony stereo unit that I pinged back and forth on to overdub. Then I got one of the 3340s.
And speaking of weird old equipment.....what about the Mellotron. God that was awful. If the AC varied at all it went horrendously out of tune. We tried to use one on the road but it was impossible.
P
Phyl
Guest
Born in 1954 - secretly sold an antique camera my father gave me and bought a cheap Montgomery Ward guitar (wanted to be Glen Campbell). Worked throught the first four Mel Bay books.
About a year later I got one of thse cheap Mustang style Fender Strat guitars and Vox amp. The Vox amp looked liked the ones the Beatles used, it had a 2x12 cabinet and separate head that fit on aluminum rack that rolled around on casters.
That Mustang only sounded good on the first four frets, but then I didn't even know how to spell "intonation" back then...
About a year later I got one of thse cheap Mustang style Fender Strat guitars and Vox amp. The Vox amp looked liked the ones the Beatles used, it had a 2x12 cabinet and separate head that fit on aluminum rack that rolled around on casters.
That Mustang only sounded good on the first four frets, but then I didn't even know how to spell "intonation" back then...
eyeslikefire
I CAN SMELL EM!
Badger
Active member
Lt. Bob said:
Heh....I always wanted one of those...came damn close to buying one too. BTW...A hammond will go out of tune with variation of the the AC cycle....they dont run for shit off of generators with out something to correct it.
DavidK
New member
I was born in 1964.
Had a lil violin, moved up to a big violin.
First cool gear: Radio Shack synth ( made a helicopter sound), Tascam ???, Sequential Circuits Six Track, Korg Poly 800, Yamaha DX21, QX21(sequencer) RX16 (drum Machine) FB40 (Tone module with 8 note polyphony), Digital Delay Stomp Box, radio shack Mixer (noisiest thing on the planet), Fostex 4-track (very cool),Roland Juno 8, Mini Moog, Alesis Midiverb, and..................
The legendary IVL Pitch-to-midi Interface. Worst Purchase of all time, 400 bucks. I plugged in a mic, played a note on my fiddle, and my DX21 would respond about 2 seconds later. That was 1987.
Had a lil violin, moved up to a big violin.
First cool gear: Radio Shack synth ( made a helicopter sound), Tascam ???, Sequential Circuits Six Track, Korg Poly 800, Yamaha DX21, QX21(sequencer) RX16 (drum Machine) FB40 (Tone module with 8 note polyphony), Digital Delay Stomp Box, radio shack Mixer (noisiest thing on the planet), Fostex 4-track (very cool),Roland Juno 8, Mini Moog, Alesis Midiverb, and..................
The legendary IVL Pitch-to-midi Interface. Worst Purchase of all time, 400 bucks. I plugged in a mic, played a note on my fiddle, and my DX21 would respond about 2 seconds later. That was 1987.
B
BenSurfin
New member
I started with a Webcor 7" reel to reel, mono only. It had the greatest sound-IT HAD TUBES! alas, twas abandoned in an attic 15 years ago.
First amp was a junk stereo (You know- the kind that played LPs)
with a 1/4' phone jack input. Turntable was shot and the amp was semi-blown-it only worked at full throttle-was total hard driven distortion I wish I could get now.
First guitar was a real no name-It really kicked ass-until a real guitarist played it for a few seconds and pointed out that the G string was about one fret out of tune at fret 12.
First bass-Still have it, still love it. Framus short scale, $69.95 in 1969
First Fuzz - BIG MUFF ! Killer fuzz! bought it for $5 from buddy who was never satisfied with anything (you know the type-cannot get the sound he wants out of a Marshall Etc.) It served me well from1971 to 1990 when it got ripped off.
Even with all of my talent, I still blame my equipment for not being a rock star.
First amp was a junk stereo (You know- the kind that played LPs)
with a 1/4' phone jack input. Turntable was shot and the amp was semi-blown-it only worked at full throttle-was total hard driven distortion I wish I could get now.
First guitar was a real no name-It really kicked ass-until a real guitarist played it for a few seconds and pointed out that the G string was about one fret out of tune at fret 12.
First bass-Still have it, still love it. Framus short scale, $69.95 in 1969
First Fuzz - BIG MUFF ! Killer fuzz! bought it for $5 from buddy who was never satisfied with anything (you know the type-cannot get the sound he wants out of a Marshall Etc.) It served me well from1971 to 1990 when it got ripped off.
Even with all of my talent, I still blame my equipment for not being a rock star.
eyeslikefire
I CAN SMELL EM!
Yeah don't we all....
knightfly
GrouchyOldFartOnBatteries
Yea, verily, and five-sooth... :=)