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Spot the SVDS! Update: SVDS found in LTBR movie!

11 Nov Spot the SVDS! Update: SVDS found in LTBR movie!

Begin Update
Our member Dries found the Schaffer-Vega Diversity System in the “Let there be Rock” movie, filmed in Paris 9th December 1979.
It has been always told that Angus was cabled during this legendary show, but thanks to Dries now we actually see a Schaffer-Vega Diversity System there:

ou6ole

And a modified version of this image, brighten up, gamma correction and another gamma correction run on the SVDS area:

This opens a whole new field of questions for us. The unit is definitely switched on. Why leave a device running when its not in use?
Did it break right before the show and went left running but unused?
Or did the transmitter had a problem and they placed it right next to the receiver and plugged a guitar cable into the transmitter?

What do you think?

Fil and I decided to reward member Dries for this spectacular finding with two solodallas.com T-Shirts. Many thanks, mate!

End Update

As promised, here we go: You found an original Schaffer-Vega Diversity System in a video or picture?
Like this one below?

e18g6669

Just post the link here in the comments, so we have them all together in one place.

I’ll start with a finding from member Emplexador, Jeff Lynne and ELO. Gibson LP through Marshalls

ELO, June 1978 Wembley – SVDS @ 0:41 and 2:13:

ELO, 1978 Osaka, Japan – SVDS @ 1:48:

And some more great findings from member Emplexador:

Bob Seger, San Diego, CA 1978 – SVDS RECEIVER @ 2:18

Bob Seger, Largo, Maryland 1980 – SVDS @ 1:00 and 2:03
(Very close caption of the transmitter! Uploader disabled embedding, please click on link to play)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOYppTlU42U

Good one where you can appreciate the newfound freedom of movement from SVDS. Heart at Ontario Motor Speedway, California, March 1978.

SVDS transmitters throughout and receivers 0:42, 0:47, 1:10+

And finally, Angus was found too, again by Member Emplexador:

Angus Young, Apollo Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland. April 30, 1978. SVDS x10 transmitter located at bottom of strap. 720p HD

Angus Young, ”Veronika – Countdown”, Rijnhal, Arnhem, Holland. July 13, 1979. SVDS x10 transmitter located top of strap (above shoulder). 720p HD

Angus Young, Apollo Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland. April 30, 1978. 720p HD, clear views of encased x10 transmitter starting @ 1:35

And more findings by Member Emplexador:
Nile Rodgers playing his lucite strat. Pouch mounted SVDS x10 TX @ 2:05

Rolling Stones, Movie “Let’s spend the night together”, SVDS x10 transmitters used by Keith, Ronnie and Mick (18:41)
(Screenshot/Movie not included due to copyright, but I saw it)

Found by Member rugster:
Piece of Angus’ cream colored X10 transmitter visible taped to Guitar strap near guitar from “Let there be Rock” movie, the scene where each band member comes out of the caravan:
(Though Angus did NOT use the SVDS in the gig they filmed due it needed repair)
pict1257

avatar
Franz Farklas
banane@exception.at

I'm born 1970, a big AC/DC fan since 1982, when I got the "Back in Black" cassette tape together with a little cassette player from my grandpa. Fully classic rock addicted, don't like "modern" music styles like HipHop. 2009 I got a Gibson SG standard ebony, learning to play AC/DC songs from tabs and videos since then. Beside that, I'm a totally computer addicted guy and Linux Server specialist. Working as internet server and network admin and part-time IT consultant. So, when I'm not behind my guitar, I'm behind the keyboard :-) Feel free to contact me at ICQ 71095781 or MSN banane@exception.at or skype ffarklas@exception.at.

128 Comments
  • avatar
    Dries
    Posted at 01:06h, 25 May

    Hmm. Noticed another little, yet important thing. If you use a 10-20m cable and plug a fairly low output T-top humbucker straight in the marshall, the guitar gets really really muddy when the volume is rolled off. The long cables do suck a fair bit of high tones when the volume is below 8-9, and high tones are needed to cut in the mix. Now when a wireless device is used, this problem is solved. Cable is short, and the transmitter has a high input impedance.

    But on LTBR the movie, as everybody noticed, Ang uses a very long cable. Now I can tell, with this lenght there is really a buffer needed to support the pickup signal over the long distance, otherwise the sound would be really dull sounding when he goes into rhythm mode. I have a strong suspicion that the guitar did had a built in buffer, because the buffer needs to be as close as possible to the guitar in the chain.

    What do you guys think of it?

    • avatar
      Ant
      Posted at 01:22h, 25 May

      what buffer could he use though in the guitar?

      dont think the TX cus its to big and on the last performance it was taped to his strap

  • avatar
    drucker
    Posted at 00:26h, 20 November

    There is an svds in the pic in fact its just about the only item that isnt pointed out

    Eddie Van Halen & his Schaffer-Vega DIversity System

    • avatar
      SoloDallas
      Posted at 08:17h, 20 November

      Yes that is a known picture.
      The SVDS had been thought of being neutral to the sound of VH, mostly because no one knew what a SVDS sounded like! If it was for me, that picture would have only one big, fat finger pointing to the godly SVDS!!!

      • avatar
        drucker
        Posted at 10:06h, 20 November

        its weird because sooo many people also chase eddie van halens guitar tone like it is a crack addiction and yet the SVDS is clearly overlooked as part of his signal chain , there are also pics of the band in the studio recording Van halen 1 and the SVDS is right clearly behind eddie in the pics.
        I couldnt get my pic to to show for some reason it only showed as text ?

        • avatar
          SoloDallas
          Posted at 10:33h, 20 November

          Fixed the image for ya 🙂 img tags seem to be lower case(?). I know. I think the SVDS will be a great thing for the world to uncover (further). And of course, the replica 😀 At least, we do hope so and we believe in it!

          • avatar
            drucker
            Posted at 11:24h, 20 November

            Thanks for fixing the pic Fil
            I would bet that if all the eddie van halen nuts catch wind of the fact that eddie was using an SVDS then sooner or later you will get a a LOT of orders for the SVDS replica from them as well
            I dont know for a fact that the SVDS was part of eddies tone but sooner or later an EVH fan will try it out and it will be discovered one way or the other

  • avatar
    ebonysg
    Posted at 22:38h, 08 January

    Look at 38:13 at live at Paris for the Marshall amps malcom used at the concert. It looks like a jmp. It’s the bassists amp heads on the other side of the drums. Sorry it’s late but only trying to help (lol) 😉

  • avatar
    Ant
    Posted at 00:18h, 27 December

    so just to get this straight lol

    Angus used the Red SG in the first performance with the vega and then on cord on the second performance with the custom (black) SG

    correct me if you think im wrong 😉

    • avatar
      Dries
      Posted at 00:44h, 27 December

      Angus used the red sg in both shows, but in the dvd show, he used the red one until whole lotta rosie. When you see the backstage, you can spot the vega receiver. In this part of the video angus is also using the red sg, what means that this whole part is beiing recorder from the first show.

      Question is now; Was the vega being used in the first show, and is the audio on the dvd from the first show?

      • avatar
        tjtristan
        Posted at 01:05h, 27 December

        Well Probably not (entirely) because the sound from whole lotta rosie is the same as what you see on the video (when his string breaks he stops playing and you also hear that) so it’s impossible that part is from the other show. I do believe however that other parts (certainly video and maybe audio) were from the other concert. But it’s pretty hard to tell which parts are from what show ;).

        • avatar
          Dries
          Posted at 01:08h, 27 December

          You’re right. Maybe the vega was indeed used on both shows in combination with the long lead. This would make more sense, because his tone is really “muffled” on this one. ( long lead damps highs )

          • avatar
            Ant
            Posted at 01:20h, 27 December

            the whole thing is just one big patch up mixed video

            yeah the audio matches the video, best of both performances put togeather 😛

            • avatar
              Ant
              Posted at 01:22h, 27 December

              *yeah the audio matches the video* i meant for the whole lotta rosie part of the comment 🙂

  • avatar
    Dries
    Posted at 00:43h, 30 November

    Oh damn… Watch closely again to the image where you can see the schaffer vega.

    What guitar is Angus wearing? Right.. the cherry red SG, with trapezoid inlays, and NOT the custom! if he walks away from taking oxygen, there IS something you can see hanging on his strap, looks to be its surrounded with foam.

    So this part of the movie is from the previous concert..

    • avatar
      Dries
      Posted at 00:45h, 30 November

      What means that the SV is certainly used on the afternoon show

    • avatar
      powersurge
      Posted at 03:13h, 30 November

      the power of editing 😉

    • avatar
      Ant
      Posted at 23:45h, 26 December

      Just catching up on this!

      Yep its true, my gf (Beth) got me the DVD for christmas 😀 and i skip to this part

      i suspect then the audio recordings was taken from first performance when they had the vega working, this would make sense to me

  • avatar
    KyleSG
    Posted at 00:04h, 30 November

    Although if you noticed in the song LRBR….watch from 3:13 on where it shows a far shot of the stage and you see him from far away now using his red guitar for the song and it also looks like he has no chord attached. So he might have used is wireless for the first show if that is footage from it.

  • avatar
    rugster
    Posted at 23:46h, 29 November

    The more you watch the movie, the more indescrepancies you find, they’re everywhere. On the one hand you just want to watch & enjoy but on the other you can’t help but want to know what was filmed where and why 🙂 Still just about the best live show(s) ever caught on film. Thank god somebody took the decision to record it when they did.

  • avatar
    powersurge
    Posted at 22:59h, 29 November

    i hope every one know that “let the be rock the movie” was filmed in more than one place. about 90% of it was recorded December 9, 1979 Pavilion de Paris, Paris, France (both shows that day) as well as another show (dont know). watch the movie and keep your eye on the stage. it differs (there are two different stages) maybe they recorded the show they did in the intro part of the movie.

    rock on!

  • avatar
    DEAV_SG
    Posted at 21:39h, 16 November

    Why when I search the internet SVDS not find it?
    nothing else comes out this website

    • avatar
      banane
      Posted at 22:21h, 16 November

      Yes, this is practically not documented. Angus mentioned it in a few interviews, that’s all. Was a long way to discover it 🙂

  • avatar
    Kinglance
    Posted at 14:23h, 14 November

    Hey, I think I found the SVDS on a pic in the book “AC/DC: High voltage rock ‘n roll, Ultimate illustrated history. The pic dates from a concert in ’78. I don’t know if this a new thing and if u are something with this. If u want I can scan the pic and post it.

    • avatar
      SoloDallas
      Posted at 14:49h, 14 November

      JL,
      is it a black and white pic of Angus with amps on the right and SVDS above it? SHould be already there in the post “Marshall history of amps”

      • avatar
        Kinglance
        Posted at 15:16h, 14 November

        Indeed!! I checked and it’s the same pic… The SVDS is visible on the bass amps or cabinets. My fault, srry!!

  • avatar
    banane
    Posted at 13:08h, 14 November

    Did another update to the posting, inserted a brightened version of the LTBR movie screenshot. Looks like the front output is NOT plugged. Hm…

    • avatar
      SoloDallas
      Posted at 13:20h, 14 November

      Wouldn’t be a problem, the rear has two modes, line and mic. Line would still boost some, from the TX. And I think Angus in the early days of SVDS used mainly the rear output, as shown in a B&W pic somewhere here

      • avatar
        banane
        Posted at 13:25h, 14 November

        Ah yes, understand, if the line mode still boost a bit, then this was surely his choice. Yes, the early pics show always the front out unplugged.
        And boy, is he thin… 🙂

  • avatar
    KyleSG
    Posted at 06:56h, 12 November

    Here’s some bootleg sound clips from the afternoon show……They don’t sound near as good as the recordings of the night show but maybe we can see if there’s any difference in sound for each one.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/acdchighvoltageaudio#p/search/6/2K63cOgdD88 highway to hell

    http://www.youtube.com/user/acdchighvoltageaudio#p/search/5/NpFoaIpuclw live wire

    http://www.youtube.com/user/acdchighvoltageaudio#p/search/1/e_z_8bXslEA TNT

    http://www.youtube.com/user/acdchighvoltageaudio#p/search/2/rK9L6o6f7e0 Rosie

    • avatar
      tjtristan
      Posted at 11:31h, 12 November

      You know that the whole video is a combo of both shows don’t you?
      Look closely to the song “rocker” right after whole lotta rosie (where he swapped guitars), you’ll see some shots are not from the same concert!

      • avatar
        rjofig
        Posted at 15:48h, 12 November

        I know the part you’re talking about; Is it a combo or perhaps the filmmakers edited in a video piece from an earlier song, before the guitar swap, and kept the audio? cheers

        • avatar
          SGACE
          Posted at 15:50h, 12 November

          +1

        • avatar
          tjtristan
          Posted at 15:57h, 12 November

          Well that is the thing. The video is from the song rocker so it must be from the other concert that day. The thing you don’t know is that what else did they swap video/audio wise. Nobody knows, so certain songs could be from the other concert that day.

          • avatar
            rjofig
            Posted at 17:20h, 12 November

            Yeah, my first thought when I saw it was, they stitched in a piece of a song where it happened to look like they were playing rocker; I didn’t know they played two shows in that day.
            how Angus managed to play two shows in a row, with that much energy, is unbelievable; that oxygen tank should be in his backpack 🙂

            • avatar
              tjtristan
              Posted at 17:23h, 12 November

              If you look close you can even see he has his Red SG when he’s on the oxygen, so it must be from the other show. Confirms my theory that the recording is just a mix of both concerts that day.

              • avatar
                SoloDallas
                Posted at 19:20h, 12 November

                Good call on that theory. I am almost sure it is so. Much of the footage you see on the movie is not only off sync, but literally “different parts”!

            • avatar
              rugster
              Posted at 11:35h, 13 November

              There were bits swapped around for sure. If you look at the end of Bad boy boogie where Angus is on his knees, what he is playing on screen doesn’t match the sound (just for a few seconds, most people wouldn’t notice it i’m sure.

              Remember this was a theatrical release made in the late 70’s, never intended to be watched at home. I’m sure the editors didn’t imagine a bunch of geeks would be analysing it 30 years later. 😉

    • avatar
      SoloDallas
      Posted at 13:18h, 15 November

      I seem to hear the SVDS here. I think it may be SVDS, Marshall 2203s on G12-65s.

      • avatar
        SGACE
        Posted at 13:55h, 15 November

        65’s for sure !!
        I am thinking that from this concert (maybe a bit before) and onwards Angus started hidding his amps!!!

      • avatar
        Dries
        Posted at 17:58h, 15 November

        But it sounds really different than any other gig. I’m wondering where all the cabinets were?

  • avatar
    KyleSG
    Posted at 04:35h, 12 November

    Well there was a 4pm and 8mp show that day….. Maybe the SVDS broke during the first show which they never recorded and then it was just left on between shows?

  • avatar
    Dries
    Posted at 22:28h, 03 November

    http://i41.tinypic.com/ou6ole.png

    The SV at the ’79 paris concert!!

    • avatar
      banane
      Posted at 22:37h, 03 November

      Whoah! THATS a finding! and its even switched on! Thats my personal favourite finding after all. Very great, Dries! But where do you see the transmitter you mention in the other comment?

      • avatar
        Dries
        Posted at 22:56h, 03 November

        Not. but it must be close to it. They wouldn’t turn on the SV if they aren’t using it?

        wooow. Still can’t believe this

        • avatar
          banane
          Posted at 23:40h, 03 November

          Yes, I got goosebumps too 🙂 Well, maybe the transmitter broke right before the show? Or it was attached to another Guitar, see one ofthe above pics where Angus leave the caravan and Angus had to change the guitar. If something happened right before the show, nobody would mind turning the receiver off.
          On the other side, you can be right. Maybe radio problems forced them to put the tx right to the rx. Or even a mix of both, tx antenna broke or something. But thats VERY interesting, the greatest SVDS finding so far!

          • avatar
            Dries
            Posted at 00:06h, 04 November

            He must used some kind of boost. What a tone 🙁
            The tone I’m looking soo long for now.!

            The only thing what you’ve get with only a 2203 and a decent guitar is the sound what 100.000’s guitar players are showing of on youtube or some kind of vids.. I’m so hard trying to get a live sound thats unique.

            Hopefully the vega replica will change that.

            I’m also wondering what Angus’ reaction would be if you show this picture to him in a interview. Must been a great night for the band

            • avatar
              SoloDallas
              Posted at 10:49h, 11 November

              I had missed this entirely. This is BIG. I wrote Mr. Schaffer right now. We need more info on this!

              • avatar
                SGACE
                Posted at 11:36h, 11 November

                The SVDS is on that means that it was working.. therefore Franz assumption maybe it is right… after all we know that in this concert Angus had a problem with the wireless…
                Dries very good finding indeed…

                • avatar
                  banane
                  Posted at 11:40h, 11 November

                  Yes, could really be. On the other side, what if something broke 2 minutes before the show and they hastily plugged a guitar cable in the amp and just left the SVDS running?

                  But then the ears must decide, and as Dries said, there must be some kind of boost, which I agree to.

                  • avatar
                    SGACE
                    Posted at 11:52h, 11 November

                    Nah, whats the point to have it on? The sound is the proof.. 100% boosted just like SVDS..

                    • avatar
                      rugster
                      Posted at 16:55h, 11 November

                      Do I get a T-shirt for discovering the TX on Angus’s strap before the show 😉 (just kidding)

                      It does indeed throw up a few questions. It would be great to find the facts behind all this. Hopefully we will get to the bottom of it and find out for sure exactly what was being used that night.

                    • avatar
                      Ant
                      Posted at 23:05h, 11 November

                      they had 2 shows that day didnt they?

                      one at 4pm then again at 8 given its night time when there comin out of the caravan, i suspect it was used just as a boost due to wireless issues!

                    • avatar
                      banane
                      Posted at 00:26h, 12 November

                      Yes, they had 2 shows. Dont know which one was recorded in the movie.

                      But yes, it was surely used for boosting, but that works only over wireless. so there must be a reason why Angus is cabled.

                    • avatar
                      banane
                      Posted at 00:32h, 12 November

                      Lol 🙂
                      Yes, I will try to work a bit more on the pic to gain more details. We need to see if a cable goes from the SVDS to the amps.

                    • avatar
                      nitroangus23
                      Posted at 01:34h, 12 November

                      Does this help any banane?

                      http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae333/nitroass23/brighter.png

                      I brightened it up,and tried to make the SVDS more visible, although given the picture size/resolution, it’s not possible to make it much better.

                      lol just an attempt,thought I’d give it a shot.

                      Would be nice to have a larger screen shot from the Bluray version of the show.

                    • avatar
                      SoloDallas
                      Posted at 19:23h, 12 November

                      I asked Mr. Schaffer about this. But he’s in Mexico right now and has limited connection time on his iPad.

                    • avatar
                      06AngusSG
                      Posted at 21:35h, 12 November

                      Hey this IS really cool. I know I haven’t been actively here but I still have been following.

                      I just got done going throught this frame by frame on the Blue-Ray and unfortunately….. the picture does not reveal anything else. I would ove to see how why the svds is used here!!!

                    • avatar
                      banane
                      Posted at 12:44h, 14 November

                      Hm, when I compare your brightened up pic with Fil’s SVDS above, it seems like the front output is plugged. Otherwise we would see a reflection from the nut below the “Monitor” level tuner. Or what do you think?

            • avatar
              banane
              Posted at 00:27h, 12 November

              Dries, please drop me a mail to banane@exception.at for the shirt delievery 🙂

          • avatar
            Fenson
            Posted at 01:40h, 13 November

            We can imagine that the SVDS broked down and that is why he played with a cable but would not it be logical to think they had a second just in case the first gets damaged ?
            Several amplifiers, several guitars but one SVDS ??
            Knowing how the cable is a “handicap” for Angus …

            • avatar
              Ant
              Posted at 11:14h, 14 November

              SVDS were very expensive those days 😛

              • avatar
                SoloDallas
                Posted at 11:20h, 14 November

                Original SVDSs are just as expensive nowadays 😀

                • avatar
                  banane
                  Posted at 11:23h, 14 November

                  But the costs will come down to earth shortly 😀

                  • avatar
                    SoloDallas
                    Posted at 11:30h, 14 November

                    Oh for that matter, even below earth! (laughs)

                    • avatar
                      Ant
                      Posted at 12:36h, 14 November

                      ……..Hell

                      /../

        • avatar
          Dave4433
          Posted at 23:24h, 12 November

          For some reason i tend to see the transmitter right next to the reciever :

          http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc512/dave44331/brighter1.png

          right there. But i’m probably wrong, because it would just be to easy and obvious 😀

  • avatar
    rugster
    Posted at 15:49h, 12 October

    Franz, is it possible to upload still pictures here?

    • avatar
      banane
      Posted at 16:06h, 12 October

      Not really, you can either upload them elsewhere (flickr, imageshack) and link to it in the comment, or, if you want to see it in the posting, mail it to me: banane@exception.at

      • avatar
        rugster
        Posted at 16:31h, 12 October

        Cheers 🙂

        Its just a couple of pictures of Angus. I was watching the let there be rock DVD last night and I noticed as he left the dressing room/ caravan that he had what looked like the transmitter attached to his strap, so it seems he was intending to use the SVDS at the Paris show, even at this late stage. Just thought it was interesting.

        If you get a chance have a look yourself & see what you think 🙂

        • avatar
          Atomic'76
          Posted at 20:58h, 12 October

          There is a Let There Be Rock dvd out now? When did they release that? A few years ago I was trying to find it and was told it wasn’t available on dvd. Guess I better add that to my list! 🙂

          • avatar
            rugster
            Posted at 22:26h, 12 October

            Yes, DVD & Blu-ray. Definately worth getting 🙂

            • avatar
              Emplexador
              Posted at 00:13h, 13 October

              the entire film is on youtube:

              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLpRXleBET8

              comments: lots of vintage footage is only now getting put on youtube. You will be surprised at what is available in the past few months. Most videos/movies available on the Web…STAY AWAY from Russian URLs (websites ending in .RU) if you value your computer and its contents.

              • avatar
                Ant
                Posted at 13:39h, 13 October

                wow! im surprised its still on there!!

                i thought there was a 15min limit on vids this is like 1H 30+ lol

        • avatar
          banane
          Posted at 07:00h, 13 October

          Posting updated with one of your photos. Indeed, there is a cream colored little box taped to the guitar strap, thats very likely the X10 transmitter. Nice finding.
          Funny though that he didnt use the SVDS during the filmed gig because they had technical problems with it. Probably this scene was filmed filmed earlier.

          Or Angus slipped on a banana peel right after this scene and fell on the transmitter 😉

          • avatar
            rugster
            Posted at 08:56h, 13 October

            Yeah, I thought it was interesting. There was some mystery as to why he didn’t use the SVDS for the Paris show. Must have been technical difficulties as you say. I remember reading there were 2 shows that day, the second one being the one that was filmed. Maybee he used it on the first? Who knows! 🙂

            • avatar
              Emplexador
              Posted at 22:46h, 15 October

              first thing that comes to mind is interference. There would be at least two TXs. Possible these early units where being used worldwide with american configuration. In a big city like Paris, interference possible. That’s the only last minute unforseen that I can imagine. These units do not fail at the last moment and there’s always a backup.

              • avatar
                banane
                Posted at 22:57h, 15 October

                Yes, could be. Have some Cetec Vega R66 from the 80s, one of it also receives a tv station, very silent, but you can hear it.

  • avatar
    Emplexador
    Posted at 04:21h, 12 October

    SVDS x10 transmitters used by Keith, Ronnie and Mick (18:41)

    http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTY5MTA0MTQw.html

    Let’s Spend the Night Together is a live concert film, documenting The Rolling Stones’ 1981 North American Tour. It was directed by Hal Ashby, and released to cinemas in 1983, then subsequently released on VHS. It was released in New Zealand & Australia with the alternative title Time Is On Our Side on VHS and is currently available on DVD in Japan, Australia and New Zealand (as L.S.T.N.T from STUDIO CANAL/UNIVERSAL).

    The film was released as Rocks Off in Germany in 1982 with slightly different footage and the additional song “When the Whip Comes Down” (following “Under My Thumb”) from Sun Devil Stadium 13 December 1981.

    Lions Gate Entertainment released the film on DVD in the United States on November 2, 2010.

    • avatar
      banane
      Posted at 09:05h, 12 October

      Now thats a really cool finding! Thanks!

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