Request for some help....for the deployed troops (music gear related)

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vicenzajay

vicenzajay

Member
Hey guys...usually I hang out in the "mic" or "rack" forum...or over on Talkbass or Reaper's forums.....but I have a request for some help. (I'll post this over at Gearslutz/Talkbass as well).

I'm being deployed to the middle east for a year (leaving in a week), and in the course of preparation for this, I've been talking to a few of the people I might be replacing (obviously, assignments get changed in the command I am heading to, so I don't know where I'll end up).

In any case, I've been talking to an individual residing in the camp at Fallujah...I might very well be replacing him, but I don't know that for a fact. As luck would have it, he is also very interested in music and plays the guitar/sings. This has translated into his leading a worship band for the chapel services there (80 people or so a service) as well as helping organize the band efforts for several talent-show pickup rock bands sponsored by MWR there within the camp.

Here's the problem...they need some usable gear as they are "dying on the vine" so to speak. They have no guitar amp (using a beaten up keyboard combo right now) and their bass amp is a single 15 model that farts badly and is very undependable.

Of course I was excited to hear about the effort to provide a musical outlet (and the worship band effort as well). In fact, I'm really hoping that I actually do replace this particular individual as I can help cover some of what he's doing musically for the camp as well. I told him I would at least post the musical gear "needs" on the forums I frequent in order to see if they could get some help.

I suppose the help I'm requesting has to do with finding some usable amplifiers to send these guys....used, a bit broken in, new, it's all good....I can't afford to just buy 2 or 3 new amplifier systems myself to mail over there...but I thought that putting this out there might yield some help from someone with that "extra - sitting in the corner" item that they might be willing to send over. I would be willing to donate toward this effort as well if the best thing might be to "group-purchase" something and send it over there directly. From what he tells me, it's taking about 2 weeks to send packages his way (sometimes as much as a month) - really not too long of a transit time given the situation.

Anyway, if anyone has an idea or thinks they might want to help - great. If not, no worries - at least I tried. Reading his messages again, perhaps ideally it would be best to try to get them two guitar amps (one for the chapel) and one for the MWR/rehearsal stuff - and at least one bass amp....it seems the musicians are actually having instruments from home sent to them...so he didn't mention any "instrument" needs at all.

Thanks for reading this in any case...I actually leave in a week, so if something is coordinated after that timeframe, I'll have my wife relay the camp's MWR address, etc. for shipping the stuff.

Cheers,
Jay
 
how big are these rooms (as in, how loud an amp is needed)?
 
Antichef,

Not sure...I'll ask, but given the way this particular LCDR was talking...anything would help and/or be better than what was available to them right now. Even if all they have is a very rudimentary PA system, I think any "normal" guitar amplifier (read 25-100 watts and anywhere in between) would fit the bill.

Bass wise, most combos or amplification systems really probably need to target at least 100 watts and perhaps 200-300 (or more, with some speaker area) would be better given that the PA "systems" the military deals with are often sans subwoofers or anything that can actually drive the bass freqs.

Jay
 
what I have on hand doesn't look that helpful, but maybe a few of us can pool in and get a Vox AD50VT or something (or two?) and arrange for shipping directly there. Those are fairly durable and versatile enough to be useful to different players and different styles of music, while not being too expensive, and if you all had to use it for additional armor on the outside of a truck, no one would be shedding tears about that :)
 
Why not write letters to Carvin and Peavey and ask them for donations. Better yet get the Chaplain to write the letters explaining how it's for the church services. Make sure to ask them for everything:amps,guitars,and P.A. gear.
 
I'd be willing to donate my monitors (see my sales thread in Free Ads), nobody has expressed any interest so . . . two of them are powered too, they can push a reasonable amount of bass, nothing crazy as they are 12"s, but they work.

Only problem is these are heavy bastards, sending USPS even to APO/FPO ain't gonna be cheap. Is there anybody who can help arrange shipment for this stuff? I ain't too far from the bases in the Norfolk area, or even maybe Lejeune. The closest Army base though I think is AP Hill . . . or maybe I could drop them at Blackwater, if they don't shoot them to pieces, they could deliver in their black helicopters! :D

It would be nice to get an official receipt for tax purposes too :o
 
Everyone...

Thanks...great ideas....I'll be on the horn to the camp today and tomorrow, and I'll ask these questions as well. I'd be willing (ala antichef) to donate to the purchase and direct send option of something like the the Vox boxes as well.

Good idea about the letters...I'll try to get those in work as well, but to be completely honest, I'm chockerblocked trying to get ready to leave for a year beginning this next Sunday...and any free time is going to go directly to hanging with the family.

Anyway - I'll report back with addresses - receipt requests - mail options - etc. as soon as I hear back.

Jay
 
Man... there are just times when I wish I were rich...

I shall be praying for you, Jay.

~Shawn
 
Thanks, Shawn...

Appreciate the prayers. I sent all the questions off today...but I won't be able to get the replies until Wednesday morning - I'll reply back ASAP.

Jay
 
Bump....

Still waiting on military camp MWR address/receipt/mailing help information, etc.

Thanks,
Jay
 
vicenzajay said:
Still waiting on military camp MWR address/receipt/mailing help information, etc.

Thanks,
Jay
Click to expand...

No hurry for me, I'm just using them as footrests in the workshop right now . . . although a much better use would be ensuring that our troops have equal hearing loss in their left ears!




(I have "rifleman's ear", but I've never shot anything bigger than a .68 . . . paintball gun :o)
 
Hi Guys...

Heard back today....the address for this POC is:

LCDR Trey Glaze
MNF-W CREW Operations Officer
Camp Fallujah, Iraq
1 MHG G-3 CREW OPS
UNIT 42540
FPO AP 96426-2540


As far as mailing stuff goes, MWR over there thinks that it would be much easier (and cheaper) to just liaise (if possible) with a local MWR office on a base nearby. They can give appropriate "credit" and arrange shipping to the FPO address above without it costing the donator (if that makes sense).

As far as "needs" go, Trey's latest message highlighted the fact that the guitar amp (or better, amps) are really the highest "need" item as they are really hurting in that arena. Other things are "guitar cables", "mic cables", some acoustic guitar "jacks" as the ones over there are failing, small stuff like that. Those would be easy to mail Trey directly and he could get them to the appropriate venues/instruments/etc.

I actually depart Sunday myself - however, my training track will have me in the states for the next 5 weeks...I'll attempt to stay in the line here and help with any initiatives. I'd love to try to "suitcase" some solution for their guitars...that would be a huge boon for them as the few pictures that have been sent my way are showing electrics and acoustics plugging into a keyboard amp with a pedal in the line for the electric.

Speaking of PA...they do have a Behringer 24 channel board (hmm...), with that being the case, I would assume an inexpensive active DI box or two would greatly alleviate the amplifier need for the acoustic side of things. Just thinking out loud here on that score.

Edit - one more thing that he says is a huge need - a single 31-band EQ of inexpensive make just for having some sound-shaping for their PA...I pretty much gave away a very inexpensive Alesis unit just a year or so ago..rats.

More as I here more....and please keep the suggestions/ideas coming!

Jay
 
Last edited:
Bump...

I'm an NMPS...staring my deployment training track...anyone moved to actually move on any of this? If not, no worries, but I'd like to see if we could help the guys over there a little.

I'll have internet through Saturday - after that, they move me to WI and combat training (for Navy folks...that's a scary thought all on its own).

Jay
 
vicenzajay said:
I'm an NMPS...staring my deployment training track...anyone moved to actually move on any of this? If not, no worries, but I'd like to see if we could help the guys over there a little.

I'll have internet through Saturday - after that, they move me to WI and combat training (for Navy folks...that's a scary thought all on its own).

Jay
Click to expand...

Sure, but I don't know what an MWR is . . . :confused:

Cables are also not a problem, I have a ton of excess cables, but the "acoustic jack" concerns me. If we're talking acoustic-electric, often those are custom or sometimes contain electronics, but I have a couple of the Switchcraft jack that are often used for those I'll send along. I can build a couple of active DIs too. That stuff I can mail to the FPO above.

I would send my modified Peavey RAGE!, but it's not reliable enough for combat duty. Actually, the tube stage is broken at the moment :( But I have a friend with a Peavey 12" amp he might be able to part ways with, I think he works at Ft Belvoir VA, so he could send it from there . . . lemme ask.
 
I have a Behringer Dual 31 Band FBQ that is totally useless to me. But it'd work for them.

Catch me up on what I should do to get it from my studio to Iraq, and consider it done. I assume I send it to this Mr. Glaze character?

I've got a brother at West Point. Go army.

vicenzajay said:
Heard back today....the address for this POC is:

LCDR Trey Glaze
MNF-W CREW Operations Officer
Camp Fallujah, Iraq
1 MHG G-3 CREW OPS
UNIT 42540
FPO AP 96426-2540


As far as mailing stuff goes, MWR over there thinks that it would be much easier (and cheaper) to just liaise (if possible) with a local MWR office on a base nearby. They can give appropriate "credit" and arrange shipping to the FPO address above without it costing the donator (if that makes sense).

As far as "needs" go, Trey's latest message highlighted the fact that the guitar amp (or better, amps) are really the highest "need" item as they are really hurting in that arena. Other things are "guitar cables", "mic cables", some acoustic guitar "jacks" as the ones over there are failing, small stuff like that. Those would be easy to mail Trey directly and he could get them to the appropriate venues/instruments/etc.

I actually depart Sunday myself - however, my training track will have me in the states for the next 5 weeks...I'll attempt to stay in the line here and help with any initiatives. I'd love to try to "suitcase" some solution for their guitars...that would be a huge boon for them as the few pictures that have been sent my way are showing electrics and acoustics plugging into a keyboard amp with a pedal in the line for the electric.

Speaking of PA...they do have a Behringer 24 channel board (hmm...), with that being the case, I would assume an inexpensive active DI box or two would greatly alleviate the amplifier need for the acoustic side of things. Just thinking out loud here on that score.

Edit - one more thing that he says is a huge need - a single 31-band EQ of inexpensive make just for having some sound-shaping for their PA...I pretty much gave away a very inexpensive Alesis unit just a year or so ago..rats.

More as I here more....and please keep the suggestions/ideas coming!

Jay
Click to expand...
 
Jon,

mshilarious said:
Sure, but I don't know what an MWR is . . . :confused:

Cables are also not a problem, I have a ton of excess cables, but the "acoustic jack" concerns me. If we're talking acoustic-electric, often those are custom or sometimes contain electronics, but I have a couple of the Switchcraft jack that are often used for those I'll send along. I can build a couple of active DIs too. That stuff I can mail to the FPO above.

I would send my modified Peavey RAGE!, but it's not reliable enough for combat duty. Actually, the tube stage is broken at the moment :( But I have a friend with a Peavey 12" amp he might be able to part ways with, I think he works at Ft Belvoir VA, so he could send it from there . . . lemme ask.
Click to expand...

Sorry about the "MWR" without an explanation. Each military base will have a Morale, Welfare, and Recreation office that helps with support/entertainment/what have you for service members. The MWR "rep", if you will, in Iraq is suggesting that the cheapest way for stateside "help" to get sent in theater would be to check in (if possible) with an MWR office on a stateside military base. Ideally they could accept the donation (i.e. provide written proof for tax purposes) as well as send the items themselves to save the postage.

Great to hear from everyone today, by the way!

Jay
 
Actually,

starbuck26 said:
I have a Behringer Dual 31 Band FBQ that is totally useless to me. But it'd work for them.

Catch me up on what I should do to get it from my studio to Iraq, and consider it done. I assume I send it to this Mr. Glaze character?

I've got a brother at West Point. Go army.
Click to expand...

That's exactly the easiest way to do it - just send it to LCDR Glaze, and he'll get it to the camp's PA forthwith.

Thanks a million (in proxy) for this...it will certainly get used.

Jay
 
vicenzajay said:
Sorry about the "MWR" without an explanation. Each military base will have a Morale, Welfare, and Recreation office that helps with support/entertainment/what have you for service members. The MWR "rep", if you will, in Iraq is suggesting that the cheapest way for stateside "help" to get sent in theater would be to check in (if possible) with an MWR office on a stateside military base. Ideally they could accept the donation (i.e. provide written proof for tax purposes) as well as send the items themselves to save the postage.

Great to hear from everyone today, by the way!

Jay
Click to expand...

OK, I checked with my friend, he thinks he still has the amp, and he already donated his guitar (a nice '80s USA Tele, I don't think I could do that!) so he doesn't need the amp, and he's still at Belvoir. I'll have him check out connections there, and I'll ship some cables & junk this week.
 
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