Check out Dave's guitar fills on this recent performance of SOS

[JanBerryFarm]

Just for the record, isn't that kind of what I began with? A guy blows a lick, he chuckles, works on it, and moves on.

Then a flamer comes in all defensive and abrupt, calling names, insulting and vulgar, twisting things.

Marks is a great guitarist. Stebbins is a gentleman.

This is a terrific site, sans the flamer.

I thought flaming died with the Cabinessence Chatroom. Evidently not.

[Mikie]

Now where's my can of "Troll-B-Gone* spray??  

[JanBerryFarm]

Now where's my can of "Troll-B-Gone* spray??  

Case in point.

Will somebody clue this guy on being pleasant? Please?

[SBonilla]

What the hell's "JanBerryFarm?  And what does that avatar depict? Is it Beach Boys/Jan & Dean related? How is breakfast significant here?

Just curious. Don't get upset, meat!

KnottsBerryFarm?

Right. I'm not claiming it's clever. It's just what it is. All that is this, I guess.
I can change it, if it offends anyone. No biggie.

No, it's fine. That's just what came to mind when I saw it.

[Jon Stebbins]

Now where's my can of "Troll-B-Gone* spray??  

Case in point.

Will somebody clue this guy on being pleasant? Please?

Mikie's a good guy, and a hardcore fan who bleeds Beach Boys when he cuts himself shaving. He's a little grumpy sometimes because he's old like me. You guys should have a (virtual) beer and bury the hatchet...not in each other.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Mikie's a good guy, and a hardcore fan who bleeds Beach Boys when he cuts himself shaving. He's a little grumpy sometimes because he's old like me. You guys should have a (virtual) beer and bury the hatchet...not in each other.

^This


Oh, and for the record, I 'd at the username.

[Mikie]

Hey Jon, has David indicated to you which show(s) he's liked the best so far on this 50th Anniversary tour? Any specific venue? Maybe one of the West Coast shows?

[JanBerryFarm]

ok, guys. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm easy. But I'm not a pushover.

I'm all about exchange of ideas and information. But not about calling people out on typos, 'n' stuff.

Stebbins, sir, can you verify that Brian actually used a Showman amp back in the day, rather than a Bassman.

Bassmans (even then) are notoriously underpowered for bass, and most often ended up being used for guitar.

For the record, Brian often used Ampeg amps. Check out the huge rig he was playing through in Sacto in the Beach Boys Concert Lp pics.
Huge 2-15 cabinet, which was uncommon at that point, I think.

[JanBerryFarm]

You guys should have a (virtual) beer and bury the hatchet...not in each other.

Okay, as long as he cools it with those mouse jokes.

(sorry. Couldn't resist) 

[Jon Stebbins]

Hey Jon, has David indicated to you which show(s) he's liked the best so far on this 50th Anniversary tour? Any specific venue? Maybe one of the West Coast shows?

That's a great question that I'll be sure to ask him. Unbelievable to think they are only 26 shows in and it looks like they are going to do something like 75 before the tour is done. Wow!

[Jon Stebbins]

Stebbins, sir, can you verify that Brian actually used a Showman amp back in the day, rather than a Bassman.

Bassmans (even then) are notoriously underpowered for bass, and most often ended up being used for guitar.

For the record, Brian often used Ampeg amps. Check out the huge rig he was playing through in Sacto in the Beach Boys Concert Lp pics.
Huge 2-15 cabinet, which was uncommon at that point, I think.

Working on an answer to this. Photo evidence is always best. The photo I posted from '63 looks like he's playing through a black face Fender (bassman or showman).

[JanBerryFarm]

Stebbins, sir, can you verify that Brian actually used a Showman amp back in the day, rather than a Bassman.

Bassmans (even then) are notoriously underpowered for bass, and most often ended up being used for guitar.

For the record, Brian often used Ampeg amps. Check out the huge rig he was playing through in Sacto in the Beach Boys Concert Lp pics.
Huge 2-15 cabinet, which was uncommon at that point, I think.

Working on an answer to this. Photo evidence is always best. The photo I posted from '63 looks like he's playing through a black face Fender (bassman or showman).

Gotta love that pic. But it's a bit difficult with all those coil cords 'n' stuff. But, no blackface era amps there. Those are what we call 'brown face' Fenders, or, blondes. Pretty much those amps are from the Beach Boys early days before the blackfaced amps got going. See the white knobs? Not many blackface amps with white knobs. A handful, perhaps, but these aren't them. Those are early brownface Showmans. Bassmans didn't have that many knobs.

Possibly, the one to the left with the oxblood grill could be a Bassman, but it's hard to tell who's really plugged into it.  Looks like Brian is, but who can really say for sure. Gotta remember that in those days, the frantic nature of playing quickies on stage with three or four other bands sharing the stage, they didn't always play through their own amps, and probably didn't worry too much about who was plugged into which amp.

In this picture, I think those are the Beach Boys personal amps, they hung onto the head with the oxblood grill for quite a long time, well after Fender had changed to the lighter grill. I've seen that head in a lot of pictures.

It's also interesting that in many cases, They only had two amps on stage, and they just plugged both guitars through one amp. I think that's the case at the Tami show. Al and Carl both using one Fender amp. A Shomman with JBL's, no doubt.

[Jon Stebbins]

Stebbins, sir, can you verify that Brian actually used a Showman amp back in the day, rather than a Bassman.

Bassmans (even then) are notoriously underpowered for bass, and most often ended up being used for guitar.

For the record, Brian often used Ampeg amps. Check out the huge rig he was playing through in Sacto in the Beach Boys Concert Lp pics.
Huge 2-15 cabinet, which was uncommon at that point, I think.

Working on an answer to this. Photo evidence is always best. The photo I posted from '63 looks like he's playing through a black face Fender (bassman or showman).

Gotta love that pic. But it's a bit difficult with all those coil cords 'n' stuff. But, no blackface era amps there. Those are what we call 'brown face' Fenders, or, blondes. Pretty much those amps are from the Beach Boys early days before the blackfaced amps got going. See the white knobs? Not many blackface amps with white knobs. A handful, perhaps, but these aren't them. Those are early brownface Showmans. Bassmans didn't have that many knobs.

OK so there you go, looks like Brian has the non-coil chord going to the brown faced showman (or bassman).

BTW...this odd stage set up with three amps bunched on one side of Dennis isn't all that odd because they are playing a Show Of Stars gig where something like 10 act's equipment is piled onto stage at once therefore they boys just have a little nook of space to set up. Something like Sacramento where it was basically them and maybe one opening act allowed them to spread the gear out in a more balanced way. I'd bet the amps are Brian/Carl/Dave left to right (note Carl is nearly hidden, but standing between Brian and Dave).

[JanBerryFarm]

NOTE: I added a bit more info to my last post, but yeah...it LOOKS like Brian is using the amp at the far left, whatever that amp is. Appears to be a Bassman, but very well could be a Showman, I don't have my microscope handy. Also remember that sometimes an amp head might be plugged into a completely different cabinet, OR, one amp might be driving another amp for added power.

Did you ever look carefully at the huge black and white picture on pages 60-61in Badmans book, of the Beach Boys on stage from BEHIND? Check it out. One of their amps (the one on page 60) doesn't even have the speaker plugged in!

Odd.

[the professor]

By the way, Sirius radio live set has Dave burning solos something fierce. . . . . .

I am starting to hear more and more of his guitar parts on the album too: he does 2 tracks on the title cut, one in the "your summer dream" style.  I think he does all the solos, with the Skunk decorating with some lofty high notes here and there.  You guitar gods with good ears can catalog him song by song, of the 7 he plays on.  As for his vocals, the professor will continue to trust his ears over the listings; I am very willing to imagine what we scholars call scribal error in the transmission of information.  Foe me, Dave had added his signature style and recalled the early BB records wherever he could.  I am hoping for a full on Moondawd style somewhere on the next album, though.

My impression is that all the BB love this album and their work on it, and that's what means the most to a fan like me--especially if it goes to number 1.

[Jon Stebbins]

NOTE: I added a bit more info to my last post, but yeah...it LOOKS like Brian is using the amp at the far left, whatever that amp is. Appears to be a Bassman, but very well could be a Showman, I don't have my microscope handy. Also remember that sometimes an amp head might be plugged into a completely different cabinet, OR, one amp might be driving another amp for added power.

Did you ever look carefully at the huge black and white picture on pages 60-61in Badmans book, of the Beach Boys on stage from BEHIND? Check it out. One of their amps (the one on page 60) doesn't even have the speaker plugged in!

Odd.

...and they often used the outboard reverb units too, so there was even more patching and plugging. But I agree I think these are their regular amps, and in an era when there was a lot of just using whatever was there...it seems the BB's were relatively picky and stuck to the Fender amps and gear (with a Rickenbacker element on the horizon).

[MBE]

Dave has brought a great punk attitude to their sound this tour. Great 1963 shot.

[JanBerryFarm]

It's interesting to note that the amp that Brian appears to be plugged into is sitting atop a cabinet that appears to have JBL speakers. Normally, Brownface Bassmans from that era didn't come with JBLS.

Then again, I'm sure if the Beach Boys wanted JBL's, the got JBL's.

It's also key to remember that back in the day, more often than not, bands had to plug their vocal mics into Fender amps because the 'sound reinforcement' industry at that time, didn't have their act together at all.

The Beach Boys seem to have been one of the earliest R&R bands to successfully address that problem and were probably only forced to such indignities at the very earliest shows.

The Beach Boys were/are a class act.

[Mikie]

Here's a shot from the Hollywood Bowl, October 19, 1963, a couple of months after Dave left the road.  Might be the same Fender amps.

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,13152.0.html

[guitarfool2002]

These from the closed circuit "Lost Concert" show another version of the BB's backline of amps and reverb units:





The first photo is probably the most telling. From left, behind Al is the Ampeg atop an Ampeg cabinet. Next on the floor is a white Tolex Reverb Unit. Then, in the center, is an oxblood cloth white Tolex Fender Bassman atop what looks like a standard 2x12 white Tolex cabinet (this wasn't a factory match, obviously). Carl can be seen walking back to this amp during the show, I'm assuming that was his. Next on the floor is a brown Tolex Reverb Unit. Then to the far right sits a Fender Deluxe, or what looks like a Fender Showman, sitting on a larger 2x15 cabinet (I think...).

This show wasn't too long after the earlier photo posted with David, in historical terms. The Bassman head was smaller as it only had volume-bass-treble controls for each channel (normal/bass) and a "presence" knob to the far right. These were popular guitar amps - Brian Setzer uses one all the time, for one. This same amp is in both concerts. The head is much smaller on a Bassman. The Showman, far right, had a vibrato channel, which accounts for the two extra knobs fpr "speed" and "intensity" on the vibrato channel - thus, the bigger width of the Showman (and Tremolux) as shown atop that massive cabinet.

Obviously David is in the early shot and is gone for the TV concert, but the Fender backline remained somewhat the same.  

I always laugh at whoever placed those microphones because they have them tilted toward the amp heads - which no sound comes from - rather than at or near the speakers, where you would normally have them. I don't get that decision, and you're losing at least half of the volume and tone of the amp by mic'ing that way. Yet the concert still sounded good! Smaller stage - Go figure.

This obviously doesn't answer the questions exactly from the first pic with David, because the amps are blocked out, but it's more fuel to the discussion, hopefully.

[JanBerryFarm]

Here's a shot from the Hollywood Bowl, October 19, 1963, a couple of months after Dave left the road.  Might be the same Fender amps.

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,13152.0.html

They are the same amps, overall. Notice the one lone head with oxblood grill. It's probably a hold over from the Beach Boys very first batch of Fender amps; as seen in the pictures taken at the Bel Air Bay Club. Must have been one heck of an amp, if they held onto it that long.

[JanBerryFarm]

These from the closed circuit "Lost Concert" show another version of the BB's backline of amps and reverb units:





The first photo is probably the most telling. From left, behind Al is the Ampeg atop an Ampeg cabinet. Next on the floor is a white Tolex Reverb Unit. Then, in the center, is an oxblood cloth white Tolex Fender Bassman atop what looks like a standard 2x12 white Tolex cabinet (this wasn't a factory match, obviously). Carl can be seen walking back to this amp during the show, I'm assuming that was his. Next on the floor is a brown Tolex Reverb Unit. Then to the far right sits a Fender Deluxe, or what looks like a Fender Deluxe, sitting on a larger 2x15 cabinet (I think...).

This show wasn't too long after the earlier photo posted with David, in historical terms. The Bassman head was smaller as it only had volume-bass-treble controls for each channel (normal/bass) and a "presence" knob to the far right. These were popular guitar amps - Brian Setzer uses one all the time, for one. This same amp is in both concerts. The head is much smaller on a Bassman. The Showman, far right, had a vibrato channel, which accounts for the two extra knobs fpr "speed" and "intensity" on the vibrato channel - thus, the bigger width of the Showman (and Tremolux) as shown atop that massive cabinet.

Obviously David is in the early shot and is gone for the TV concert, but the Fender backline remained somewhat the same.  

I always laugh at whoever placed those microphones because they have them tilted toward the amp heads - which no sound comes from - rather than at or near the speakers, where you would normally have them. I don't get that decision, and you're losing at least half of the volume and tone of the amp by mic'ing that way. Yet the concert still sounded good! Smaller stage - Go figure.

This obviously doesn't answer the questions exactly from the first pic with David, because the amps are blocked out, but it's more fuel to the discussion, hopefully.

Good work. Have to say however, that there are no Fender Deluxe amps on stage here. The Amp sitting on the 2x15 cabinet behind mike is probabaly a Showman. 'Deluxe' amps were small combo amps with a single 12. To my knowlege there never was a Deluxe 'piggyback' amphead.

[Mikie]

True dat.

Great post, GF!

If I need to edit my Beach Boys equipment list, please let me know, guys. Be nice to have an accurate reference for equipment.


And mics that they used on the road would be a nice addition. Same as studio mics? I know they used the Telefuckin omni-directional mics when recording the Sacramento concert in 1964....

[guitarfool2002]

These from the closed circuit "Lost Concert" show another version of the BB's backline of amps and reverb units:





The first photo is probably the most telling. From left, behind Al is the Ampeg atop an Ampeg cabinet. Next on the floor is a white Tolex Reverb Unit. Then, in the center, is an oxblood cloth white Tolex Fender Bassman atop what looks like a standard 2x12 white Tolex cabinet (this wasn't a factory match, obviously). Carl can be seen walking back to this amp during the show, I'm assuming that was his. Next on the floor is a brown Tolex Reverb Unit. Then to the far right sits a Fender Deluxe, or what looks like a Fender Deluxe, sitting on a larger 2x15 cabinet (I think...).

This show wasn't too long after the earlier photo posted with David, in historical terms. The Bassman head was smaller as it only had volume-bass-treble controls for each channel (normal/bass) and a "presence" knob to the far right. These were popular guitar amps - Brian Setzer uses one all the time, for one. This same amp is in both concerts. The head is much smaller on a Bassman. The Showman, far right, had a vibrato channel, which accounts for the two extra knobs fpr "speed" and "intensity" on the vibrato channel - thus, the bigger width of the Showman (and Tremolux) as shown atop that massive cabinet.

Obviously David is in the early shot and is gone for the TV concert, but the Fender backline remained somewhat the same.  

I always laugh at whoever placed those microphones because they have them tilted toward the amp heads - which no sound comes from - rather than at or near the speakers, where you would normally have them. I don't get that decision, and you're losing at least half of the volume and tone of the amp by mic'ing that way. Yet the concert still sounded good! Smaller stage - Go figure.

This obviously doesn't answer the questions exactly from the first pic with David, because the amps are blocked out, but it's more fuel to the discussion, hopefully.

Good work. Have to say however, that there are no Fender Deluxe amps on stage here. The Amp sitting on the 2x15 cabinet behind mike is probabaly a Showman. 'Deluxe' amps were small combo amps with a single 12. To my knowlege there never was a Deluxe 'piggyback' amphead.

Right, that's a Typo on my part - I meant Showman. I own a blackface Bandmaster with 2x12 cabinet, I should have proof-read that post.

Showman!

[JanBerryFarm]

I always laugh at whoever placed those microphones because they have them tilted toward the amp heads - which no sound comes from - rather than at or near the speakers, where you would normally have them. I don't get that decision, and you're losing at least half of the volume and tone of the amp by mic'ing that way. Yet the concert still sounded good! Smaller stage - Go figure.

Ah! not so fast. Those are expensive ribbon mics; the kind you see Brian singing into on the cover of BEACH BOYS CONCERT. They're basically high quality studio mics that don't 'aim' at a speaker or a sound source like a ball mic or a SM57. They receive their sound at the side, not the top.

So it makes sense that they are placed in that configuration. Besides, even if they are placed slightly off axis, it's probably on purpose. Those are expensive and sensative mics. The engineers would place them carefully to avoid potential damage, since they are primarily vocal mics and not particularly designed for blasting guitar.

They're perfectly placed actually, to avoid 'beaming' from the speaker cones, which tend to be a bit harsh when miced point blank.

I'm glad they used those mics. The audio for the Lost Concert is quite pleasing.