Great picture Ian. I actually miss the old days of being surrounded by stacks of keyboards. Granted it is far easier these days since pretty much any sound needed can be accomplished by a single or at the very most two keyboards. But I feel sorry for the newer keyboardists of today because they didn't get to experience what it was like to turn knobs and move sliders in order to program a synth for the next song on the set list, all while playing the song in progress. It was a lot more work, and WAY more satisfying.
Years ago I was in a band that covered Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, etc. and had quite a rig. In front of me was a Rhodes, which supported an ARP Odyssey on the left and a Minimoog on the right. To my left was a Mellotron with the standard tape set, above that was a Wurlitzer EP200 and on top a Korg Poly-Ensemble S. To my right was another Mellotron with the 1/4" tape conversion (I made my own custom tapes with a Tascam 2340 reel to reel deck). On top of that Mellotron was a Crumar T3 double manual organ and above that a Korg MaxiKorg synth. Behind me was a Hammond M3 running through two Leslie 145's. The other keyboards ran through two EV Voice of the Theater cabinets and Kustom radial horns. It took a Dodge stretch van and part of the band van just to haul my gear.
Dave, you would have needed your own stage.
The maximum keyboards I was using at one one point was six.
I had the Hammond B-3, the Jupiter 8 sitting on top, the Rhodes with the Roland SH-2000 on top, the Wurlitzer with a Minimoog on top.
The B-3 went through two Leslie 147RV, the Rhodes had it's own speakers, the SH-2000 went into a Fender Princeton (that was mic'd) and the Wurlitzer and Minimoog were in one of my two modified Fender Twins.
The darn organ was the monster, at over 400 lbs...four people to move it...it, the Leslies, and the Rhodes Suitcase (it was a Mark I)stayed with the PA and a few other things in a big storage shed...I took the Wurly home with me, as well as the Jupiter 8, the SH-2000 and the Minimoog.
Man, you made your own Mellotron tapes? Pretty cool. I've never owned a 'Tron, but I have played them quite a bit...a real special technique was needed due to the tape length and it's need to rewind.
Having your own tapes was quite a feat...you could then have your own completely customized sounds and sound mixtures?
I also remember seeing you demo an "ahead-of-it's time" digital piano/keyboard that used something called "DRAKE" technology.
Maybe it was by GEM? I seem to remember it was something like, Promega 3? Is that right?
I do remember the demonstration was done with complete professionalism, and you did an excellent job showcasing the instrument.
I appreciate a good demo, as that's what I've been doing for the past 25 years or so.
The Promega (?) was a fascinating and powerful instrument...ahhhh, here it is; I found it.
http://www.generalmusic.us/promega3.htm Again, a fine job, Dave.
Ian
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