Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,084 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

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April 20, 2022 - 5:53am

#2351

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

More on GD/Amps/US Navy

I was close... if you google it you will get an answer pretty quick. Here is a quick quote from my first google land.

Rosie McGee was cracking up at her desk when Dennis "Wiz" Leonard walked in from lunch.

"What's the story?" Wiz asked McGee, then a receptionist and bookkeeper at Alembic, a California-based custom electric guitar, bass, and pre-amp company where Wiz worked as an audio engineer.

"Well, the Department of Defense just called me," she told him. "They were asking if we could defer the purchase of our next four 3500s, so they could get four."

Those amps were in high demand at Alembic. The 3500s, in particular, would be used in the Wall of Sound's vocal array tweeters, drum tweeters, and for Jerry Garcia's guitars. But was it just Alembic buying them up? A rumor was going around—a "urban myth," Wiz told me—that the US military was using Mac 3500s for sonar, specifically to listen for Soviet submarines.
April 20, 2022 - 5:40am

#2352

Gary Farseer

Joined:
August 1, 2015

Passing the Test

Isn't the goal here to be lighthearted? I try my best to not let the craziness of the world/media not get to me here? Isn't the goal here to be a kind prankster? They ask, "Are you kind?" Most of the flamers I look like as children, either actual age or not. Many are so deep in social media and issues that result thereof, they cannot see what it is doing to them. They are being handled, manipulated, and unwittingly abused by the profiteers. I try to stay away.

Jim, had no idea of the McIntosh amp issues. Thanks for that piece of info. As much as I love the music, it is just how they were. So real and fun which someone wrote, "creating their own iconography." The richness of their traditions and internal musical dialog that we love is an unending source of comfort as they lived it everyday for 30 years. I wish I had a shot at hearing even 50% of their music, but as I have written before, my OCD makes me wear out a great jam over and over instead of looking for the next one. Need to work on that for sure.

So Jim and Oro and many others, thanks for passing the test.

G
April 19, 2022 - 6:50pm

#2353

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

GFar

You are kind soul.. I appreciate all you provide here. Same goes to Oro. I think it would take a face to face to catch me up on all the technology (old or new) that the two of you bring for me to truly understand. As for old.. and I am sure you both know.. in either late 73 or early 74 (I think 73).. the GD got into a scuffle with DOD over equipment they were ordering that was desperately needed for national security. Apparently, the Macintosh amps they were buying in unprecedented numbers were needed both in general and more specifically by special, top secret subs that needed the clean sound and amplification to either detect enemy interference or better hear and make stealth the noise they were making. So they called the GD and tried to work out a way to either stall, postpone or barter a purchasing arrangement that would not jeopardize national security.

I think this is well known, and I apologize in advance for going on memory and surely confusing some of the information listed above as fact. ..but what is written is pretty close, if someone can clarify and correct it would not offend me in the least.

Hope I didn't write anything that was incorrect or in any way interpreted as insulting or offensive.

As for chainsaws and sawzaws to clear way for our living room WOS.. what could possibly be more fun.
April 19, 2022 - 6:05pm

#2354

Gary Farseer

Joined:
August 1, 2015

Sawzaw

Ah the sounds of my earliest fun dentist. "You dont need no gas!"

All my stereo stuff is old, always fussy. Running all old Yamaha into JBL (plus svs). Trying to get stuff cleaned and parts replaced. When it is on, it is quite the stereo indeed. I have an old yamaha eq that I hooked up when Dave's first show was released. Goes into Pre amp, then to a yamaha mx-830. The MX-830 is powering 4 jbl g300's and 2 jbl LX 600's. Running 6 speakers means the amp is running at 550 watts at 2 ohms. It cooks. The speakers all have same tweeters and mid ranges. The 300s run 8" woofers and the 600s have 10 inch woofers. It is old but as you say "in budget." Smile.

edit:
Then the svs has a 550 watt continous, 850 watt peak sledge. The svs I picked up a few years back for $399. I had to have a sub with an internal crossover. So out of preamp to svs (rca cables), then back into the preamp, then to amp. Having old yamaha means older connection points. Modern amps control the crossover themself and pump sub out already crossed over. I happen to run my internal sub amp at a cutoff of 82 hz. George Lucas uses 80 hz crossover in his THX sound systems. So I am slightly above that. I did some sampling of the room using the preamp features.

G
April 19, 2022 - 3:31pm

#2355

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Do you have any '74 Dijon?

Neanderthal's use chain saws.. a sophisticated audiophile attacks their living rooms delicately with a sawzaw.

I'm totally jealous.. I am blasting with my 20 year old Denon, similar age speakers with no intents on upgrading anytime soon. Budgets be budgets..
April 19, 2022 - 1:11pm

#2356

Gary Farseer

Joined:
August 1, 2015

Yeah

Can you imagine writing the real equipment book? With the constant upgrading of the system, that book would be multiple enormous volumes. Hope the Meyers have logged a lot of their research.

No 18's here. Of course not needed.

Back last year, Oro, you asked if I was running multiple subs. I am not. I have a 12" SVS Systems sub with built in Sledge D amp. It is like the rabbit, it is a thumper. Goes down to 13 or 15hz, so below the 20hz of human hearing. That is, if all memories about frequency response are still good. Starting to get the old enough to question my own thoughts at times.

I am still hoping for the day when we can listen to WoS through a system that takes us to the "Fare the Well" P.A.. Would have to be software based, but I look at it like 4K upcoding an HDTV signal.

Wow, FTW PA is now 7 years ago. Bet the Meyers' have gone way beyond that. I almost applied for a job at Meyer 7 years ago. Was in my career field. POTHead.

That 2015 system had multiple flying 18's. It also had a load balancing system. This was done by having 2 systems, intake and outake. That is, they had 100 microphones throughout the stadium to push into the analytics software. Of course, the output systems was not connected except thru analytics, to the input system to avoid feedback. Brilliant. The analytic input system could then be used to balance the PA by section of the of the stadium.

Sorry for interruption but I wanted find the article on pro sound web about 2015 FTW PA.

I did actually find it, but not by searching pro sound web, but by searching internet at large and it found it on the pro sound web site, even though pro sound web could not find it in its own search.

Let me know, maybe I can send lynk thru PM here, not sure if they cut that off.

Any way need to do a little work after lunch. I mean a little work.

G
April 19, 2022 - 12:24pm

#2357

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Ha

That’s what chain saws are for!

Gary, I think besides trying to keep up with Garcia, Phil was using that big system on stage to help fill in those near field areas (up front etc) we were discussing, the areas that didn’t get proper coverage from the PA?
What some refer to as the Phil Zone, though to me that’s was where both his stage sound and the PA sound merged and acoustically coupled.
But yeah, My spine tingles and can still feel rather than hear those sub frequencies in my DNA. (By sub I mean below the threshold of hearing, not a subwoofer). Those Meyers 18”s in the PA were ridiculous in the right spot, in the right venue etc.
Plus, it’s the Grateful Fucking Dead so why not go big!

PS, that Grateful Dead gear book is great, though a little dialed down.
April 19, 2022 - 12:07pm

#2358

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

I want what Phil's having...

Home version. 18"'s and 4"'s. If I move some things around, they should fit.
April 19, 2022 - 11:21am

#2359

Gary Farseer

Joined:
August 1, 2015

Oro

thanks for the write-up, input. Need a little time to read again and ponder. Think again we are speaking the same language but as 90% of communication is non verbal, some times the written language let's us down.

It seems I have the dead's equipment book, need to track that down. Not necessarily for this discussion but just to find it again...

Should have figured Phil would use Meyer systems. Using 18's onstage, wow!

Hope all well your way!

G
April 19, 2022 - 10:10am

#2360

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Phil’s Rig

As of late 82 or early 83 Phil was using 4 Meyers cabinets: (4 -18”, 4 -15”), 2 per cabinet powered by custom PIE amps, until they started not using speakers on stage in 92. (Which I didn’t like).

Not sure I get all what your saying? I agree that Soundboards do not sound natural for many reasons.
Perhaps your referring to the phenomena of Microphones not having frequency response to accurately record bass waves combing sub sonic frequencies at those kind of SPL levels?
Mic location can also make a big difference and was partly why Dan started the tapers section. Unless you have the right knowledge and equipment chances are a recording made too close will mot sound good.
Plus you have the physics: the lower the frequency, the longer the sound wave. If your too close you’ll not hear the fully formed bass note etc.
In fact if your too close much of the PA sound will blow right by you. You’ll also not properly experience stereo imaging. That’s why usually, the sound board or just before it was THE place to be. It was a trade off going up front: yeah you were up close and could see and hear their stage sound, but the PA mix was so above and beyond you that you missed a lot of info. Eventually they added little Meyers boxes, usually sitting on the front of the stage to add some vocals etc for those up close.
Nothing comes for free! Personally, like Bear, I didn’t like the stereo set up because of this. Unless you were in the right spot, you missed a lot of info, especially if you were sitting on the side!
This was the main reason Reserved seating sucked: nobody could sit where they wanted so if you were a sound nut like us, you often had to endure less than perfect sound/mixes.

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Currently Listening To...

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

OB

You are correct sir! It is only money and it seems to fly out the door faster and faster as time goes by.
Good to hear you enjoyed TTB.
Yes and the new box for 2024, not sure anyone had this on their radar. I am excited, as this is a big box with 8 shows from a great time period. Plus they get the Plangent treatment.

Okay, since I still don't have my #51, how about 9/8/73 (Dave's #38).

10/17/72 by the way was great again. What a box!

DV and Oro

I think you befriended an AI bot.

Mighty nice of you.

But, other than Bender, we probably don’t need any bots around here.

Drown AI bots in the pond

>:(((

Dead is capitalized, derp

Best song? Best show, ya AI schmucklicker

Uh...if you are a real person iced then

Welcome

I just flashed on john belushi smashing that guitar...

Ooopppsss

…Idiot! I am lol

Shoot

Shoot, I was burning this bot some CDs.

You guys are very kind

You’ll be rewarded when the bots are our masters.

Obviously the bots can get around reCRAPTCHA, yet the humans have to keep taking the quiz.

Picks of the day

Road trip

So far
11/11/67
Disc 3 of 51 thru Wharf Rat

I Robot

Better to mistake a robot for a person than a person for a robot.

Bots

I'm not tech savvy. What does a bot get out of posting here unless we go to their website like a spammer is trying to get you to do? "I'm not a smart man but I know what love (of the Grateful Dead) is." Gump!
Cheers

More road trip pix

Rest of 51 disc 3
5 15 70 road trips disc one. The TIFTOO is H O T

9/8/73

This gem of a pick has been the soundtrack many a day on my walk the dogs/exercise routine. The mix on this is really raw and robust, in a good way!!

#38 is in my top 10 from Dave and Comapny, actually top 5!

Rock on, gang

9/8/73

Hey Johnathan,

I agree, this is a great show and I haven't listened to it much. Didn't even remember that we get a double encore with Stella Blue and OMSN. Solid show. Need to hit the bonus disc on Monday.

I think I only had one double encore, in Alpine in 89. Oh yes, and it was spectacular!

Double encores I attended

7 18 82
7 22 84

Maybe one other

Three can keep a secret, if two of them are Dead.....

Morning rockers!!! Happy Sunday!!!

Triple encore: Toronto June 21 1984, New Orleans-Big Boss Man-Iko Iko. Hey now!!!!! Big fun.............

There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self......

Slightly big rainstorm heading my way................

Rock on,

Doc
There are three classes of men; lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor, and lovers of gain.......

My Triple Encore

Terrapin>OMSN, Werewolves
Bet you can guess which show.
Just look at my name.
Cheers

Show with no encore because the show is so good

5 4 77

I just listened to the 5 4 77 bonus disc

A m a z i n g

Triple Encore

Now that is impressive!

Might have to que up 7/8/78 tomorrow Firstshow. You in?

I always loved the anticipation of the encore.

Kind Of...

Just did 7-8-78 on tape (my earliest copy of the show from 1996 taken from an Italian boot CD on Red Robin label that cost my buddy $70! The sound is raw and unfiltered SBD and amazing) on July 16 to keep the cassette deck lubed, so I will defer to the 7-7-78 show from the box which has one of BC's favorite 1st sets. I heard some of the 7-7 show from the parking lot as I had to work and got there late with no ticket and no plan. Long story short I got chased out by security and ended being needed as a spare driver when my posse came out after the show. But I did have a ticket for the next night. Nothin' like jumpin' in with both feet!
Cheers

TTB

We made it to the show at The Armory in Minneapolis on Friday night. Big thanks to all for the nudge in the right direction.

Went on StubHub on Thursday night and bought two tickets on the floor in row 20 for $125 for the two of us. No brainer at that point.

What a venue, so much fun. We had a blast. Maybe 8,000 people. Sound was great. Huge bars surround the full length of the venue. Really cool, no waiting. Band was outstanding. So great to see a band live again. The anticipation, the living in the moment and being around all kinds of different people.
Teschedi and Trucks definitely know how to deliver live. Would love to see them again and can't wait to get back to the Armory.

Armory/ multiple encores

Place looks cool DV. Bigger looking than you’d think?
From outside, reminds me of old Syracuse War Memorial Aud.
Glad you dug it! Sounds like first time back to live music? Nice!

Multiple/encores? Ok, I’ll play lol
4/12/83
6/21/84 (3)
6/24/84
6/27/85
7/1/85
6/28/86
6/29/86
6/22/87
6/25/88
4/3/89
7/17/89 DB says only 1?
6/6/92
7/1/92
7/9/95

Ahhh, Good ole summer tour!

Armory

Yes OB, the place is great and good size on the inside. First paid concert for me in a long time. Great to be back.

Nice list of multiple encores.
Deadbase is incorrect, 7/17/89 had a double encore, We bid you Goodnight and JBG. We were there.

The 1st Red Rocks Shows

Trying to compare the July 7th & 8th, 1978 shows is like trying to pick your favorite child (or grandchild for some of us). Both shows have that crazy energy and all out playing that often characterizes last shows of a tour. And that follow up Aug 30-31, 1978 (Hey Dave! Release the hounds!) was the just exactly perfect style having just come from the studio for Shakedown Street. Quite a different beast altogether but no less satisfying. Finishing up 7-7 this morning at Dead volume and loving it. That NFA with a Nobody's twist in the middle is the stuff!
Cheers

Red Rocks 78

Hard to beat these shows, Firstshow.

Such an interesting little tour and then to end up at Red Rocks. What a box. Looking forward to more 78 in September!

The Dead always made it a priority to play in MN for most of the late 70s to 1989- Then never again. And not in my second home state WI.

8/13/75

Purely by chance, I found myself listening to the Great American Music Hall show from 8/13/75 today- without realising it was it's anniversary. I'm not pulling your leg here. As everyone knows, it is a great and unique show. If I was compiling my best 10 or 15 shows, I would make room for this one. It's a level playing field of excellence from the opening HSF triumvirate through to U.S Blues.

I also love the closing "Blues For Allah" which is so off the wall it's in a category of it's own. Seems more weird in the way "What's Become Of The Baby" was than anything else in their repertoire. Shame they didn't do more with it in the later years. It would have been perfect for Egypt.

Daverock

If you don’t have it,
8-13-75 vinyl sounds pretty good and I don’t think it’s even 180 g.

Just occured to me that I have all 3 FTV’s on vinyl.
Nice!

OFTV

And the remastered version sounds spectacular as well.

I will have to get it going on Thursday.

Don't forget Milking the Turkey.

Cnkd

Yes, it was listening to 8/13/75 on vinyl yesterday - it does sound really good. I have Two From The Vaults on vinyl, but not Three - I've been on the verge of getting it for some time.

While we are on the subject, I wondered what the quality of the vinyl was like on your copy of Daves 2 ?On the first few sides, every now and again there is a loud crackle type noise on a song. It's over immediately, but then reappears a few songs later - and again disappears a soon as I've registered it. The last few sides are fine all the way through.

Daverock

I don’t recall any issues with my DaP2 vinyl.
Do you have a gel stylus cleaner?
I got the Hudson Hi-Fi one and it seems to do a good job at removing dust and debris.

stylus cleaner

Cnkd - I'm not so sure about that...it's only that album that suffers in this way. Both the vinyl versions of 8/13/75 and 5/25/72, played this morning, are completely free of surface noise. Maybe I should get a better record cleaner.

8/13/75-OFTV

The beginning of the release of the vault tapes! Yes!

I beat the hell out of this release when I first got it in 91. And listening to the remastered version in 2024 still makes me smile. I can't get over how good the audio is on this release. From the iconic intro into Help Slip Franklins to the Blues for Allah finale. Love the Eyes into King Solomon's Marbles.

These are the kind of releases that keep me wanted more.

Also hit 6/14/76 from the Beacon, probably my favorite show from that Box.
Might have to hit the capitol theatre show from 6/19 today as well.

Be well out there.

1 from the vault

That was amazing when it came out on CD.
Of course, I couldn’t afford the CD (had to use my money on beer and cigarettes), so had to make a cassette copy of a friend’s CD.
Now I have the original CD, the remastered CD, and the vinyl.

Four From The Vault

It’s overdue Dave.

8/13/75

The first time I heard it was when they broadcast an hour of it on the radio shortly after the date they played it. I recorded that on a cassette. I think it became the basis of quite a well known bootleg in England called "Make Believe Ballroom".
I didn't know about the remastered version that has been mentioned as having been released this year. I am very happy with the vinyl version...I'll give it some thought.

Remastered OFTV

Daverock, it was remastered in 2007 to HDCD specs and it is a huge upgrade. This was the same timeframe they discovered Three From the Vault was produced and ready for release in the 1990s but never released.

At the time in the 1990s they were trying to have multi track releases as a separate track from the two track Dick's releases.
Long live Don Pearson!

Might As Well

Might as well hit Three from the Vault, 2/19/71 tomorrow!

Love

Love TFTV. I am so happy they cleaned up and released most of that Capitol Theatre run.

I will gladly queue up that show tomorrow (today, oh the time). I have so much freaking yard work to do that will help pass the time and take me to another place altogether while the work does itself.

Thanks DVikes.

Hello, hello, hello

Is there anybody in there?

Just keeping the page active,
So nod if you can hear me.

Alive and Well

Still alive Conekid.

Do you have a pick for us?

Finished Three from the Vault III over the weekend. Love that Smokestack and Easy Wind. Never understood why that wasn't played more live and zero times during Europe 72.

The Dead always kept you guessing and that was part of the fun.

Those Port Chester shows are special! Let's get the rest of them out.
I mean they don't compare to the Scranton show, do they?

A pick…..

Watch this is you’ve never seen it.

youtu.be/JVoetvW7HuY

?si=bn

C0AfGEPktIeleX

You’ll have to piece it back together.

Just keeping this page going

The “what are you listening to right now” page is the current place to be.

Conekid

Appreciate it.

Yes, we need a pick of the day. Conekid, couldn't piece together your last one.

Maybe we need a Gene pick or a Vincent pick?

The new box hasn't sold out yet. With just 10,000 copies, I thought this would sell out in 30 days. I am looking forward to the end of September.

DV

The lynk was to Hard Working Americans 2016 at Lockin’.
Good stuff.
No pick for now, I’m going to bed.

Study the past, if you would divine the future......

Hey rockers!!

August 26, 1971, because why not? The bittersweet end of an era. Not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning......

In this bright future you can't forget your past...........

Rock on,

Doc
When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness......

8/26/71

8/26/71 it is.

Thanks Doc.

4/30/88

This one is for Doc. 4/30/88 from the Frost. Maybe we could get OB to check this one out?

4/30

Sorry for being the erratic participant. Lot's going on, the summer when I was never home, exception being today.

I did manage to get this one loaded just in time to do start what turned out to be a big yardwork day with perfect weather.

First Let the Good Times Roll. A great late-era collaboration, Jerry and Bob get extra points for effort > Feel Like a Stranger. A great song to hear when 'it's just starting to kick in.' Let it grow, strong effort. Second set, fun, a good balance of energy and relaxed vibe. Sound seems more dialed in. Jerry is outstanding in parts, at home with Tiger.

88 is one of those years. The Healy tapes vary a bit, probably the peak of the ultra-mix before the multi-tracks of 89 / 90 and Don Pearson's increasing influence thereafter. I'm not a huge fan of dan's experiments with audience mics, (sorry) but after the first song or two the audience portion seems to behave itself.

A good show for the era. I like the 88 Greeks too, sort of similar.

Thanks dvikes, a new one for me. A good Jerry centric show.

Not even wrong.............

Morning, rockers!!

Day off, tending to my wife after round one of new chemo, all I have to say is......

1988?????!!!!!!

1968? Sign me up! 1978? On rare special occasions. 1988? Sorry, way too far outta my comfort zone...........

However, if folks dig it, great!!! Whatever floats your boat, as long as it doesn't hurt too much, break too many local laws, or create extra work for your local medical examiner...............

Time for more coffee, and 8/29/69.................

Doc
In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.....