Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

[Rich_S]

I found them! Old gear pictures from 'way back when. Here's how my bedroom looked in ~1980.

Yes, that's a 100-watt head. Too bad the camera shop's slide scanner cut off the top.

The next year, after a bit of horse-trading, I'd cut it down a bit:

Those JMPs are one of each, a 2203 and a 2204. I bought the 2203 new at Manny's in NYC, then traded the Hiwatt/Ampeg full stack to a Rush fanatic for his 2204 half-stack.

Say what you want about Norlin-era (1978) Les Pauls, those 2 guitars are tied for 2nd place on my all-time "never shoulda sold it" list. They were actually quite different. The goldtop was a bit lighter, and had a maple neck, so it was brighter. Yes, those are DiMarzio Dual Sounds, with 2 coil-splitting pull-pots. The sunburst was heavier, with a mahogany neck, and had a more traditional LP sound.

There's a "never shoulda sold it" list for amps, too. The 2203 and the slant cab are #1 on that one.

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

As much as I love this hobby, "ultimate bedroom setup" does NOT bring to mind guitars...

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

My first pedalboard, circa 1981.

The top is 1/8" aluminum plate, and substitutes for all the pedals' backplates. All wiring is underneath, soldered onto the jacks and power connectors.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

As much as I love this hobby, "ultimate bedroom setup" does NOT bring to mind guitars...

Hey, this is the guitar shop. Keep that other stuff in the Soundroom where it belongs.

Besides, that Hiwatt had an Altair power attenuator up on top.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

Cool pics! For some reason, we don't see enough cool gear pictures from that time period. Those verticle input Marshall Master Volumes kinda define 1980.

It sucks to part with cool gear like that, but the fun part is building it back up in quality, rather than size and quantity.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

Look familiar? Thats my 1984 2203 and the matching JCM 800/lead-1960 bottom.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

This is the UN-ULTIMATE Bedroom setup. :laugh2: But for a 14 year old in
1981 I thought it was pretty cool. A plywood Harmony and a
(not pictured) Webcor reel to reel recorder (all Tube). Got Em' both outta
the garbage. Glad to return them to the trash when I got some real gear!
But I do wish I still had the webcor. :smack:

 

[JeffB]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

Way cool pics!

As much as I love me some Marshall's, I think I'd want that MXR more than anything right now!

 

[tone4days]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

rich, that pedal board is BAD A$$ !! ... i love the way the connections were all hidden for power and i/o ... very happenin' ... not very 'flexible', but once you got 'your sound' gear together, it must've been bullet-proof ...

cheers
t4d

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

T4D: That pedalboard's successor, Pedalboard #2 (no pics, stolen in Powelton Village in 1984) and Pedalboard #3 (below) survived a LOT of Drexel frat parties. Neither spilt beer nor lunatic jumping guitar player ever damaged one.

I've used this setup for years. In fact, the shell of #4 in being resurrected in my workshop shop right now, getting a new top with my most recent array of stompboxes.

You're right about the flexibility - you need to think out what you need in advance, play with placement, etc. Once you get it right, these things do not break. I always tried not to change them very often, and get 2 or 3 interations out of a top before I have to replace it. Actually, the baord I used most was 3A, where the tuner was moved up, and the 4 Boss boxes shown scootched over to make room for a GE-7.

After I'm done the intial mucking about in the goldtop PT's innards, and Seymour has come, dispensed his wisdom, and gone, I'm going to get back onto the pedalboard. I'll post pics when I'm done.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

i swear dude, if i EVER get back into pedals (i am currently still a rackmounted midiot) i WILL be commissioning a custom board from you ... that is EXACTLY what a board should be !!!! nicely done !!!

for me, it would probably be simple a wah, volume, sfx-01, sfx-03, and a multi-function time-based effects box (verb/chorus/delay)

t4d

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

Any time, buddy.

I got over the rack-mount thing and sold my SPX90 in about 1990. Stompboxes rule.

I'd love to have a sideline business building these things, but never have the time to market myself.

 

[sooperunkn]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

Say what you want about Norlin-era (1978) Les Pauls, those 2 guitars are tied for 2nd place on my all-time "never shoulda sold it" list. They were actually quite different. The goldtop was a bit lighter, and had a maple neck, so it was brighter. Yes, those are DiMarzio Dual Sounds, with 2 coil-splitting pull-pots. The sunburst was heavier, with a mahogany neck, and had a more traditional LP sound.

I agree man... I absolutely love my 1978 Les Paul Custom. It's got the maple neck AND ebony fretboard so she's definitely brighter than your average Paul. But she's a heavy bastard too (I call her "Fat Bottomed Girl") which I feel rounds/smoothes out the tone. She will always be my number 1 :dance:

 

[Hoss]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

cool pics guys!!!

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

Those pedal boards are amazing. Rock solid and very clean.

A full stack is hardly a "bedroom" setup, though. Your poor neighbors! Great pics, man.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

Those pedal boards are amazing. Rock solid and very clean.

A full stack is hardly a "bedroom" setup, though. Your poor neighbors! Great pics, man.

Note the unused Pignose on the book shelf, left. :laugh2:

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

Note the unused Pignose on the book shelf, left. :laugh2:

I didn't catch that before. Yeah, who's going to use a pignose when they have THAT sitting next to it?

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

Look familiar? Thats my 1984 2203 and the matching JCM 800/lead-1960 bottom.

Robert, I also had a 1984 JCM800 2203, but mine had a Marshall 2x12 cab with EVM-12Ls in it. The JMP 2203 was stolen, along with the van and all our other equipment (save my Strat) in spring of 1984. As soon as I graduated and started making real $$$, I bought the JCM 1/4 stack.

I always thought the JMP's looked better, though.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

I didn't catch that before. Yeah, who's going to use a pignose when they have THAT sitting next to it?

BTW I love the updated avatar. His name wouldn't be Julian, would it?

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Ultimate Bedroom Setup?

BTW I love the updated avatar. His name wouldn't be Julian, would it?

Thanks. Is there a reference I'm missing with "Julian?"


Crap! We're hijacking your thread! At least you're partially to blame.