12 Mar SoloDallas Lab “Revamped”
Update: re-updated the situation here. Finally, my old (super old!) 1969 (date) 1960A with original and great sounding 25W GreenBack Celestions G12M (pre Rola) has been completely restored.
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I am putting it on top of the 1971 1960B with G12H30. Little room will remain on top of these for multiple heads, and that breaks my heart lol.
However, these cabinets are all one needs to re-create the most addictive AC/DC (and classic rock) eras.
They do sound slightly different. Now I am beginning to believe that Back in Black – for example – was played with G12Ms and not G12H30s. However, it may be quite possible that combinations of those were used in different songs/albums.
To help you refresh your memory, this cabinet had been played – for example – in the whole Metro session:
1969 SG Standard, Metro JTM50 & 1969 Slanted Cabinet
and also, here:
1969 SG Custom, Metro JTM50 & 1969 Slanted Cabinet
and lastly (but there’s more, I’m simply posting samples from that session) the Korina SG.
Of note, the fact that the Korina having a stronger output pickup, it does drive quite well even on the weak JTM50:
1993 Korina, Metro JTM50 & 1969 Slanted Cabinet
You should be able to hear this cabinet as more crunchy, definitely more. Platt had even stated this (“… we preferred smaller speakers – 25W – as they crunched more easily….”).
There’s definitely a lot of old G12M in AC/DC recordings. Most likely, all the early era (including Let There Be Rock) is all played on G12Ms.
Supposedly, these pre Rola ones are the best ones out there. Will test them in more detail, with the microphone techniques I developed recently and A/B them against the G12H30s.
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Also, I went back to storage place and brought back a few more things. A 20W Lead & Bass reissue head (that I’ll be selling, won’t use it) and a super weird 1966 4×12 smaller cabinet from the ’70s that was converted (prior to my purchase) in a 4×10. Will have to open it and check what speakers there are inside. But I am positive it’s 4×10 speakers, as I had opened it last summer to check what was in there. Sounds pretty good and it’s very light. I will likely use this with the 1987 reissue head on top with my new band π
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I’m always trying to improve my “life conditions here” (lol) so I finally added the plexiglass console that I designed myself (didn’t take much, will get no cookie from the designers awards for sure). It just had to have the right dimensions.
So I moved one rack of guitars forward, next to the amps, so to gain room for playing and tutoring. Feels cosy and practical.
Will turn into a usual mess within today.
π
Fil
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Ryley
Posted at 03:04h, 13 MarchFil, why did u remove the “Metro” logo from the front of the head? π
SoloDallas
Posted at 11:47h, 13 MarchA bit bulky, I like smaller things π
Ryley
Posted at 15:14h, 13 Marchhahaha reminds me of what angus and malcolm used to do waayy back in the days. theres lots of pictures where their amp head had no logos in the studio
Kinglance
Posted at 21:21h, 12 MarchToday I went after my Marshall 1960 BX cab, a vintage old cab with Celestion G12M’s in. I bought it second hand. And bought it together with a Marshall Super Bass 100 watt. Bought it together for 1660 euro. But they are both treated very very well. I must say that cab, in combination with my Marshall JMP 50 watt, sounds amazing, really a vintage AC/DC sound :p
SoloDallas
Posted at 21:24h, 12 MarchJL, congratulations. That cab alone is a “score”. I love it. See above. As for the amp, it still is a great amp. See what you can do with it. You can either use it as is, or convert it into a “lead” (1959) or sell it.
Kinglance
Posted at 21:41h, 12 MarchThank you! I think I will hold it as it is. Converting seems cool too, but don’t know where and how to do that. Maybe in a musicshop? But I like it how it is. I’m thinking of selling my Marshall 1960 A cab. Since playing almost only AC/DC-style music I don’t need it anymore. I’ve got a lot of luck with my parents. Bought already a lot of very good material. They never were angry and supported me always. Even when it costed a lot! But I like making music. It relaxes me a lot. Will search a group too, motivated persons with the same passion, and want to make some own AC/DC-songs.
Lemmiwinks
Posted at 20:40h, 12 Marchow, your selling the lead and bass head eh? π What price?
SoloDallas
Posted at 21:03h, 12 MarchHave no idea, have to do a little research of market prices and will let you know π
ar2619Rob
Posted at 20:08h, 12 MarchCan’t wait to hear that ’69 cab, are there any previous recordings here or elsewhere?
SoloDallas
Posted at 20:16h, 12 MarchAll the Metro session and many super early videos of mine on youtube π
Bertaz
Posted at 16:15h, 06 Marchdid your wife just gave you the smallest room in the house…? π
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:14h, 07 MarchNot only the smallest one, but not even in the house! It’s the damn basement lol
headwhop26
Posted at 21:13h, 08 MarchAs I was studying this photo, Fil, I noticed these. Please take a look:
https://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/SellSword26/dallas-1.jpg
banane
Posted at 21:20h, 08 MarchLol…well, I’m also a heavy smoker…and all AC/DC members too π
ar2619Rob
Posted at 20:12h, 12 MarchI smoked (everything) from age 15 to 38 having failed to stay off them a few times. It takes a very brave man to die a smoking related death, give ’em up you owe it to your kids!
SoloDallas
Posted at 20:17h, 12 MarchTrue that. I started late, but smoked quite a lot.
banane
Posted at 20:29h, 12 MarchActually I wanted to quit with 40, but well…its really tough, after smoking for 25 years…
SoloDallas
Posted at 23:56h, 08 Marchlol true!!!! The whole family is always after me. And my smoking. I should really quit… imagine this. I started when I was 32 years old! That’s 10 years ago. I had never smoked before. But I was playing a lot with the band, live, and I just started, as they were all smoking in my face lol
I’ll show you the interface, I believe that’s what you want to see? PS you deserve two free shirts for your design.
headwhop26
Posted at 00:08h, 09 MarchI guess its better than Angus and Malcolm smoking like chimneys since they were 15!
Actually, I was circling the reflection of the Gibson Thunderbird (or at least thats what I think I see) in the mirror. I couldnt see it in any of the other pictures.
And thank you very much! Should I email you or Franz my address when the time comes?
If you ever need any more graphics work done– for shirts or the site or whatever– I’d be happy to help.
SoloDallas
Posted at 00:14h, 09 MarchYes please email your address to Franz π Oh the Thunderbird is a ’74 bass I have been having for ages. I was looking into a new logo for the website. Would you like to try?
headwhop26
Posted at 00:34h, 09 MarchI will email him right away!
Ohhhh, I think I may have seen a picture or two in the olden days on the “Solodallas Gear Page” that you had up for so long. That does ring a bell.
I’d love to, do you want me just to throw something out there, or were you looking for something specific?
banane
Posted at 07:04h, 09 MarchGot your Address. Shirts will be sent directly to you π
SoloDallas
Posted at 08:57h, 09 MarchLogo wise, I have nothing in mind specifically, however you’v already captured good things with the designs you made for the shirts. Basically, the current logo represents… nothing. It’s just the solodallas.net thing. I wanted something more representative of this place. Wood, pickups (metal), scratched wood, tubes, hot ones, amps grille cloth, knobs, guitars… those would be the key words. I had put together a number of pictures to “create” the logo, but those weren’t used. They are in my public flickr guitars images album, here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/solodallas/sets/72157619902809694/
and here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/solodallas/sets/72157623910036410/
feel free to have a look and/or download any of them. One is my hobbies folder, there is alot more than guitars!!!
headwhop26
Posted at 01:30h, 13 MarchI just thinking that if you could get a good, straight-on shot on a marshall head, I could make the banner look like an amp head sitting on top of the site. I might just sit down and bang out a couple of ideas.
banane
Posted at 10:14h, 13 MarchCan take some shots from my JMP. But Fil has a better Camera π Just straight from the front?
SoloDallas
Posted at 11:48h, 13 MarchDid you give a look to those links I posted? LOTS of stuff in there. I am thinking “wood pattern, metal with rust, grill cloth of various types… it’s all there”. Remember, won’t be for free, I am paying for a logo π
banane
Posted at 12:21h, 13 MarchYes, I did. Nice pix there π Well, what about just a vintage grey grill cloth with “SoloDallas.net” or even just “SoloDallas” in the same font as the Marshall logo on it?
SoloDallas
Posted at 13:51h, 13 MarchThat’s exactly what I had in mind. Exactly that ! π
banane
Posted at 07:00h, 09 March‘mornin…yeah, my wife is also always after me for quitting smoking. At least you started very late, I’m smoking since I’m 14 or so. Probably the Austrian highway government can build some kilometers of new highway out of my lungs then, hehe π
Well, really time to quit this, if it wouldn’t be so hard π
SoloDallas
Posted at 08:50h, 09 MarchMorgen!!!
rjofig
Posted at 14:15h, 09 MarchTake the plunge now, guys! I quit about 14 years ago, I’m really, really glad I did. Think of the vintage SG you could get if you set that cash aside, probably within 2 years if you’re a pack-a-day smoker like I was π
jakesg61
Posted at 12:17h, 13 MarchHow the decibles comming up from that basement havent brought the house down baffles me hehe
SoloDallas
Posted at 13:52h, 13 MarchAnswer: attenuator! I bring the sound down to almost headphones level π In the evening and at night though, I recert to Guitar Rig Pro 4 π
LedSabbath
Posted at 18:49h, 05 MarchI think you should demo that Telecaster in the bottom picture.
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:15h, 07 MarchI have special plans for that one… heheheh π
jakesg61
Posted at 12:20h, 13 MarchI was watching an interview with Angus Young, and he said in the earlier days they used to use a telecaster as a backup guitar if a string broke on one of the others, theres also a picture of him playing an ES 335 in the booklet that comes inside the highway to hell album cover
SoloDallas
Posted at 13:52h, 13 MarchAnd that’s why I have one too. Also, I am secretly in love with country music. The more rock/pop side of it.
Angusrocks
Posted at 18:19h, 13 MarchHi Fil,
yes, i like that kind of music, too. Sometimes i listen to that radiostation http://www.995thewolf.com/
and then i remember that night in Billys Bob Texas when a countryband was playing there.
Good good times !!!!
Hamps93
Posted at 17:33h, 05 MarchFil, I’d love to see (and hear) more of that SG Deluxe of yours! Looks totally badass π that SG + 2203 = love at first feel π
Kris
Posted at 16:32h, 05 MarchWhere can one buy that table of yours? I want one for my new room! π
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:15h, 07 MarchKris, I had that made for me π
Kris
Posted at 20:54h, 08 MarchOh darn. Well, come hell or high water, I have got to find a similar one! π
solocali
Posted at 23:38h, 02 MarchFil you have more vintage equipment than the Guitar Center vintage department in Vegas haha thats cool π
Devil'Fingers"
Posted at 20:26h, 02 MarchVibrato thread!!!
I put some links here with FANATASTIC examples of Angus’ vibrato:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYai8wdg7nE ( 3:33)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bsT1OBJ5mA (4:04)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSOBEo_wSBM (4:13 and forward) (better to see in slow down)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iWNjcgFfdg (4:36 and bit forward)
I know it’s not good article to post it in , but I hope you find interesting, and if somebody can see some other good examples , let’s post it here! π
jubaluba
Posted at 10:53h, 03 MarchA few more good views here. For example around 5:04 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr_SmnBG3LU
Devil'Fingers"
Posted at 17:52h, 03 MarchTHanks !
jubaluba
Posted at 20:36h, 04 MarchHave lost count on how many times I’ve seen these. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8geCFUwOko http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDyxeDNM2Gs
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:16h, 07 MarchThis stuff deserves a place of its own, it’s too valuable to get lost in here. Will do a post
Devil'Fingers"
Posted at 20:03h, 02 MarchYes it looks fantastic, and Fil is it located in your home?
06AngusSG
Posted at 17:19h, 02 MarchLooks better!! π Maybe you won’t look so cramped in your videos now.
I do understand the “mess in a day” thing though. That happens every time I clean my garage/woodshop/mechanic shop/guitar repair station/recording station/ect…. You get the picture!!!!
π
Hyce
Posted at 16:30h, 02 MarchIs that…. 26 guitars?
Dear lord man! If that doesn’t give me G.A.S. (because I’ve only got 1) then nothing will!
SoloDallas
Posted at 16:44h, 02 MarchSincerely, I have no idea how many I have. There’s more, but I consider them either projects or rejects (lol) and so they sit scattered around in other places. There’s a bit like 10 more around, some at the luthier shop (3 or 4) being worked on (3 are project guitars) and some other here, in another basement and a couple up at home. I used to own in the 100s (less than 100) when I had the studio. But I sold most of them (a few got stolen in the process, among which, a terrific 1950s Les Paul conversion, a mint 1961 SG Standard, and a few more, sigh)
Thundersnook
Posted at 16:26h, 02 MarchThis room definitely requires a fisheye-lens Fil! xD Great thing! Looks like being in a shop! Nice, bright environment! =)
rpatzelt
Posted at 14:58h, 02 MarchHa, ha Fil, that’s a brilliant design! You make the room larger through furniture transparency and mirrors and your gear seems to float in this holospace π
Tyler
Posted at 14:20h, 02 MarchI spot one of those 70’s sg deluxes there Fil, nice addition to the collection!
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:22h, 02 Marchyou bright eyes π
There quite a few things in there that none of you have seen yet, but I ain’t telling. Everything will come at its preper time π
ar2619Rob
Posted at 14:56h, 02 MarchI’m always trying to spot something we haven’t seen too (hi Tyler), but I’ve never seen an ES335 or similar. I would have expected you to have one of these in your armoury, have you tried and discarded one or just never fancied one? Or are you just hiding yours, lol.
I know that you’ve got a few single coils we haven’t seen too. I would like an old Strat or Tele some day but what I will have eventually (when I’ve got an arm and a leg to spare) is an ES355 TDSV such as this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R455KknvJgo&feature=related
I quite like Phil X, but maybe his style is not making the most of it.
Tyler
Posted at 15:26h, 02 MarchHey rob, that es355 is a beautiful guitar. Phil X is one lucky bastard, getting to try out all those vintage guitars! I would love to see that tele Fil, I’ve always had a thing for Tele’s!
headwhop26
Posted at 16:52h, 02 March:O I didnt know there were other Fretted Americana / Phil X fans in here! I love those videos,
And also, your lab is just too cool. Not only am I extremely envious of your entire computer battlestation, that SG sitting next to the cab blows my mind.
Iv always wondered, though, are those mirrors or windows on the wall to the right? Like, is this at your house?
SoloDallas
Posted at 16:41h, 02 MarchI used to have several 335s, but eventually I sold them all. The sound I wanted from the 335 was the one I wanted from a (good) Les Paul. Cutting, almost hollow at times… but if you hear the Metro sessions, with most LPs I try and get that sort of tone. So I sold them (I also needed money for the “black hole” studio). Also, they tended to feedback too easily at the volumes I used to play at π
Dobos ΓdΓ‘m
Posted at 21:36h, 02 MarchHave you ever tried an ES 339 ? It looks like a 335, but it’s about the size of a les paul (not like the 335 which has pretty big body). Looks like a great blues guitar for me π
Dobos ΓdΓ‘m
Posted at 21:38h, 02 Marchhttp://www.gibson.com/Files/aaFeaturesImages/gibson_comparison.jpg
That’s what I’m talking about. The middle one
headwhop26
Posted at 22:46h, 02 MarchOh god, thats so cool. Ive never even heard of one, but its like a little baby 335 π
nitroangus23
Posted at 23:26h, 02 MarchI like Phil X as well,very talented,that’s for sure.
Ant
Posted at 13:52h, 02 MarchI love that little amp on your desk, how good is it? or is it just a ornament lol
wheres your stormtrooper? π *cry*
SoloDallas
Posted at 13:55h, 02 MarchStormtrooper had to go and do some business lol
He left a few helmets in the room though π
Jokes apart, I have 5 stormtroopers. Two in the garage, one in another basement and one at the office lol No room for them here unfortunately.
That little amp on the consolle is actually working, and I did like it more than actual Marshall amps much more expensive than it until I got the recent JMPs!
Ant
Posted at 10:03h, 03 Marchyou got 5! 0.o lol you home is well guarded then….. or not hehe
i want one of them amps hehe
rpatzelt
Posted at 15:09h, 02 MarchHaa, I’ve spotted two helmets… so the guys are nearby. Maybe they are off duty and drink a cappuccino with Fil.
banane
Posted at 12:39h, 02 MarchReally a cool lab, Fil. Will make myself also such one, when Sonja went out to her own flat. Maybe with less guitars and amps, but basically like this. Looks like bedroom rockers paradise π
SoloDallas
Posted at 12:44h, 02 Marchhihihi π
Danke bro’! π