The first installment of the monthly video lessons from Killer guitarist Scott Gailor. Scott will push you to think differently, learn more and be the guitarist you want to be.
Guitar Radio Show is honored to have him as part of the family.
Check out Scott latest disc “Technicolor Monochrome” at http://www.scottgailor.com/new-products/scott-gailor-technicolormonochrome-cd
500 Words History of the Transformer
If the names Otto Blathy, Miksa Deri, Karoly Zipernowsky, Lucien Gaulard, Sebastian Ferranti or William Stanley don’t sound familiar, don’t feel bad there isn’t a quiz later.
But without the efforts of Blathy, Miksa, Zipernowsky,Gaulard Ferranti and Stanley we may not have the transformer as we know it.
Even though the properties of a transformer were discovered in the 1830s they weren’t produced in any number until 1886 when William Stanley developed a reliable transformer for George Westinghouse.
What is a transformer any way? Good question. Simply put “a transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors – the transformer’s coils.” (Thank Edison Tech Center for that simple definition).
Transformers are used to bring up or down an AC electrical circuit and it can also be used to convert AC power into DC power.
What does that mean for musicians?
According to transformer mastermind Sergio Hamernik:
“Transformers are the key to providing that unique signature tone. It’s the transformers that differentiate one amp brand or sound from another. Here’s another way to look at it – all amp builders have to deal with the same limited choices from a small pool of vacuum tube manufacturers and other off-the-shelf component requirements (resistors, capacitors, etc.). This is NOT so with the transformers. Although there are plenty of generic transformer designs available that service the “power requirements” of an amp, you wouldn’t want to use these awful-sounding devices in your guitar amps. Likewise it’s not a coincidence that most of the best-sounding amp builders, modifiers, and repair techs begin their craft and finish it with enviable distinction, relying on their choice of transformers.”
(Text from 300guitars.com)
Structurally, transformer isn’t that different than a guitar pickup. Transformers are essentially flat bar steel, wound with “magnetic” wire, some sort of frame to hold the entire mechanism together and ideally some sort of housing.
Functionally, however, they are quite different:
“In a transformer, two coils are arranged concentrically so that the magnetic field generated by the current in one coil induces a voltage in the other. This physical principle can only be applied in AC systems, as only a time-varying magnetic field is able to induce a voltage. By using a different number of winding turns in the two coils, a higher or lower voltage can be obtained.
The ability to transform from one voltage level to another one was the main reason for the breakthrough of AC three-phase transmission and distribution systems. These AC systems operate at a frequency high enough that human short perception does not see the time variation (“flickering”) and low enough that switching equipment can be operated safely. The best compromise was the well-known 50 or 60Hz of the today’s mains supplies.”
(Text ABB.com producer of large scale electrical systems)
He’s Played Woodstock, Carnegie Hall and everywhere in between. He’s a Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Austin City Limits Hall of Fame inductee and Nashville Music Hall of Fame Inductee. He’s played with arguably two of the most important Blues guitarists of all time and we were lucky enough sit down with him at the famed Austin Vintage Guitars http://www.austinvintageguitars.com in Austin Texas to talk about his career and his new residency at the NEW Antone’s http://www.antonesnightclub.com here in Austin.
For much more on Tommy- http://tommyshannon.com
Here’s Tommy reuniting with Chris Layton-
Happy Friday all and enjoy this great interview with the great Greg Martin form 12/14
For more on Jim and the book- http://www.stringsofmemories.com/contact-the-author.html
Go get the book- http://www.amazon.com/Strings-Memories-Jim-LaDiana-ebook/dp/B00GNHRKV6
Heres a flash back episode with the interesting and always candid Paul Reed Smith. Enjoy!
Who said rock guys don’t have a sense of humor? All day on Wednesday 3/2/16 the Foo Fighters were trending hard amidst the rumors of a break up. In response to the hype (cleverly & possibly self produced) the band poked fun at themselves (and us mostly) about what Dave and his “one finger” could do on his/it’s own without the guys and who the band would use to replace Dave. This video proves that Rock bands and Rock music are/is supposed to be fun. At least the Foo Fighters remember that and they’re trying to remind us. Thanks guys.
While the name Donald Leslie may not be as well known as some people in the music world perhaps he should be.
Donald Leslie invented the Leslie speaker in order to help emulate the sound of a pipe organ when used with a Hammond Organ.
Lauren’s Hammond was an engineering student and had attended Cornell University. Hammond worked as a freelance inventor and amongst his many inventions were an early version of 3D movies, automatic transmissions, clocks, and an electric bridge table that automatically shuffled cards.
Hammond first patented his organ in 1934 and in 1940 Hammond was awarded the Franklin Institute’s John Price Weatherill Medal for discovery or invention in the physical sciences.
In 1937 Donald Leslie took it upon himself to improve what he thought were some of the shortcomings of Hammond’s original design. Leslie felt the original Hammond sound was “dull, shrill and still”.
Leslie eventually developed a speaker cabinet that featured a special rotating speaker that produced a lush, wobbling effect by means of the Doppler effect as the speaker passed by openings in the cabinet.
Hammond was none too happy about Leslie’s efforts and subsequently modified successive generations of the Hammond organ to be incompatible with Leslie’s speaker cabinets. Hammond went so far as to forbid his dealerships from selling Leslie’s speaker cabinets.
Although Leslie was thwarted in his efforts to impress Hammond, Leslie would eventually manufacture speakers for other organ companies including Wurlitzer, Conn, Thomas and Baldwin. Despite Leslie’s close association with Hammond organs he once said “I hate those damn things”.
in 1965 Leslie sold his company to CBS and for a brief period Fender produced a rotating speaker cabinet as well did Mesa Boogie.
By an ironic turn of fate after both the Hammond Corporation and Leslie were eventually bought by Suzuki Music which produces modern versions of Hammond Organs and rotating speaker cabinets.
For those who may not have the luxury of having a full load in crew at their beck and call Leslie makes portable guitar and organ specific rotating speaker emulators that are well worth checking out.
Lauren’s Hammond eventually passed on in 1973 and held pattens in multiple fields including guided missile controls, infrared light-sensing devices, gyroscopes and even his own rotating speaker cabinet assembly.
Donald Leslie would eventually pass on in 2004 but not before being inducted into the American Music Conference Hall of Fame in 2003.
The Leslie’s sound is unmistakeable, just listen to Booker T and the MG’s thick, pulsing, lush sounding organ riff on Green Onions it’s right there.
Legend has it that the late jazz great Jimmy Smith loved the sound of the Hammond B-3 organ he locked himself away in a warehouse for a year so he could master playing the instrument.
While I’ve only been able to touch briefly on this fascinating subject for more information check out http://hammondorganco.com/about-us/company-profile/ and http://www.nndb.com/people/710/000061527/
It’s a Blues Double Header, first up the great Tinsley Ellis-
http://www.tinsleyellis.com
We talk about The Blues, touring, guitars and his latest release “Tough Love”
Then we sit down for a chat with Kelly Richey- https://kellyrichey.com and her latest projects including her latest “Shakedown Soul”
Arlan Ettinger of Guernsey’s, who’ll host an auction of over 250 celebrity-owed and historic guitars this weekend at Bohemian National Hall in New York (also available online).
“I don’t know if it’s strange” he says, of shelling out so much money for,say,a guitar played by Eddie Van Halen in 1982, which you can own for an estimated $60-80,000.
This is a cool and amazing opportunity so totally go check it out.
-Dee Winchester
The Marilyn Guitar, signed by Keith Richards, Frank Zappa, Merle Haggard, and many others. Estimated value: $10K – $1MM.
http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/news/a42510/guitar-auction-guernseys/
