I remember going to the big disco clubs in the mid 70's and marveling at the wonderful sound systems these clubs had. Did Altec embrace this era and what sort of systems would one have expected to hear there ???
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I remember going to the big disco clubs in the mid 70's and marveling at the wonderful sound systems these clubs had. Did Altec embrace this era and what sort of systems would one have expected to hear there ???
Jukebox extension speakers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alien_Shore
Seriously, the Seeburg DDS1 would have to be improved dramatically to even be considered an inadequate disco speaker.
Search the name Richard Long, he designed many of the notable disco systems here in the Northeast back in the day. He was a big proponent of the 4520 double scoop and 2395 slant plate horn..................... probably my favorite vintage JBL combination.
EDIT: Had to go dig thru some old jukebox books so i could get the models right. The DDS1 was designed to be a cosmetic match for the Fleetwood, Electra, Mustang, and Discotheque Jr jukeboxes from Seeburg's "Discotheque" series. If you search out any of these models from 1962-68/69, you'll see that they use the same grill materials, trim, heavy cabinetry, and ugly as sin formica covering as the DDS1 extension speakers.
Thank you Bowtie--I had assumed alien_Shore was joking in his post. :). So you are saying that the JBL brand was the big player in disco pro sound systems of that era, at least on the east coast??
Actually, i think most of the BIG systems were pretty much custom, and you'd find individual components from all the major players like Altec, Electrovoice, Gauss, JBL, even Cerwin Vega and Heil/Sunn etc. being used.
Back in the day, manufacturers were fairly generous with cabinet plans. Those "W" bins that you see being used on the bottom end of the RLA-7 system were fairly popular, go fairly low when used in multiples of 2 or more at SPL's that have to be felt to be believed. I think the plans for the ones we built came from EV, but i've seen touring sound companies with the same "W" horns with JBL logo's pasted on them. But, i don't believe any of the big name companies ever produced those cabinets themselves.
Yeah, glad the humor was apparent. But seriously, from what I've read, by the time Disco was in its heyday (78-82?), JBL was dominating, Altec was declining.Quote:
Originally Posted by cls500
The pros here can tell you what you're looking to know - I would expect that most respectable disco installs would have been custom work for pro sound reinforcement contractors, and most of the loudspeakers would have been JBL.
I really wasn't sure, those things get a lot of unjustified love, and a lot of folks think they're actually "disco" speakers. I suppose that in the mid 60's they were quite substantial for a jukebox extension speaker. For me, in terms of hifi or sound reinforcement, they were gaudy formica covered albatross'.Quote:
Yeah, glad the humor was apparent.
I would think that Altecs would be a little delicate for a disco, with the power of the amps of this era. Imagine all the DJ's who would have tried to throw 1000 watts into a pair of Altecs, they probably would have started on fire. Reminds of a time when I had a "tech" come out to test and hook up some crossovers for my M19's. He walked in the house and looked at them and said "what kind of sub woofer is that, I bet they can handle a ton of power" I politely said no they are actually very efficient and only need a couple of watts to get very loud. He looked at me like I was crazy, I gave him some money, and asked him nicely to leave....
ROFL!Quote:
Originally Posted by bowtie427ss
Quote for a tagline!!
Consider an all 9440 powered Stanley Screamer system........................Quote:
I would think that Altecs would be a little delicate for a disco
During the short period of the Disco Era JBL was the choice for it's SPL and their rear loaded horn characteristic.Suffice to say I used the A-8 on small intimate dance floor up to 4 if necessary. Of course there is no comparison in sound quality,
The Altec hands down was much better.We must remember when James B Lansing started his own company after leaving Altec. He had to come up with a new product different from the 416 and 515.
I have to argue that JBL was the choice. Yes their WAS a lot of it. Also a lot of Cerwin Vega. Custom enclosures were the norm and yes many JBL loaded. But some of the biggest discos in the country had Eminence in the subs.
Paradise Garage sound system,circa late 70's. - Speakerplans.com Forums - Page 1
Thank you Old Guy. That article on the Paradise Garage was just what I was looking for. Had no idea sound science was so advanced during the Disco era; also did not realize the DJ controlled so much of the sound system ( I thought they just played records !! :)). My fondest 1970's Disco memory is of going to a large, freestanding club in San Antonio Tx called "The Last National Bank" and wondering how they got that sound; now I have some idea. Thanks again...
Too bad after all of that great sound engineering, it was still just Disco.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jLGa4X5H2c
Of all of the Disco musak out there, I actually have two of these guys' albums. :)
not once have i seen an altec in a disco.
not once have i been to a disco.
except a bar/restaurant that
was marketed toward 'executives' as such.
worked there for a year and a half.
they managed to clear a 15' x 15'
spot in the bar.
had 8 jbl 4311's,
pointed at that little spot.
--------------------------------------
mine would be some of the younger males on the street i lived on,Quote:
My fond est 1970's Disco memory is of ...
marching down the street, with disco records aflame on sticks,
as recommended by a local radio station ...
------------------------------------------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Guy
frank didn't get much airplay where i lived.
i do remember this song.
played on the radio for about 2 weeks,
then back to the regular rotation of billy joel,
post aynsley dunbar journey, foreigner,
and bob seger ...
Back in the late '70s or so, I read some magazine article on "stereo systems of the stars". Zappa was one of the featured artists. He had a fairly low-rent system. But the thing I remember most about the photo was the "Bambi" album prominently displayed next to his turntable. No idea if it belonged to Moon, Dweezle, or was a shared family resource.
I've often wondered what HT/Hi-Fi systems prominent sound engineers go for...Quote:
Originally Posted by wws944
i'd read that robert fine/wilma cozart had marantz amp's with bozak speakers at home.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alien_Shore
Studio 54.......
Quote:
The club had a superb sound system, built and designed by some of the best people in the business - RLA [Richard Long & Associates]. Richard was also the one who was responsible for the sound system at the Paradise Garage, a system that still today is said to have been the best system ever in the world.
The equipment at Studio 54 were comprised of 6 3-way "Waldorf" horn loaded/bass reflex main bass boxes, 6 "Bertha/Levan" bass horns, 4 "Z" tweeter arrays & 2 "Ultima" 3-way full range boxes. This system also included the now famous RLA X-3000 DJ crossover. This sound system was the reason for this and many other clubs during this era's success.
Richard is unfortunately no longer with us today, but some of the RLA designs, electronics and speaker boxes are available from the New York based company GSA [Gary Stewart Audio]. GSA can help you if you're interested in building a sound system similar to the one in '54'.
Also, in the GSA shop they still have a bunch of things from the original Studio 54.
By the way, the original "Man in the Moon" sign is told to be installed in the existing Studio 54 club in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas these days.
Paradise Garage- Paradise Garage Lighting and Sound System
the Waldorf is basically an optimized Jensen Imperial with dual 15s, tad1601 was the preference from my understanding...
the Bertha/Levan, a variation on the Shearer horn project
as far as the players of the day, remember Acoustilog, Rosner Sound, mancuso