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Post by TKennedy on Nov 23, 2022 13:33:36 GMT -5
   From a 2013 GP article by Jim Carlton--"Smith was just as candid about amplifiers and what he required. He worked with Everett Hull to design Ampeg’s Fountain of Sound amp, which was subsequently used by virtually every studio (and studio guitarist) in New York, including Art Ryerson, Bucky Pizzarelli, Don Arnone, Tony Mottola, George Barnes, and Joe Cinderella. Its speakers were aimed upward, inspired by Dizzy Gillespie’s horn, with its bent bell. “It kept the sound out of people’s ears, because in those days, people complained when things were too loud,” recalled Smith. “Today’s amps look like coke machines. So I had the speakers pointing straight up.” |
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Post by Russell Letson on Nov 23, 2022 13:45:21 GMT -5
Looks more like a Coffee Table of Sound--though I guess I wouldn't be putting any full coffee cups on it.
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
Posts: 19,910 
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Post by Dub on Nov 23, 2022 14:23:10 GMT -5
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
Posts: 19,910
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Post by Dub on Nov 23, 2022 14:33:48 GMT -5
From a 2013 GP article by Jim Carlton--"Smith was just as candid about amplifiers and what he required. He worked with Everett Hull to design Ampeg’s Fountain of Sound amp, which was subsequently used by virtually every studio (and studio guitarist) in New York, including Art Ryerson, Bucky Pizzarelli, Don Arnone, Tony Mottola, George Barnes, and Joe Cinderella. Its speakers were aimed upward, inspired by Dizzy Gillespie’s horn, with its bent bell. “It kept the sound out of people’s ears, because in those days, people complained when things were too loud,” recalled Smith. “Today’s amps look like coke machines. So I had the speakers pointing straight up.” Looks like this one went for $3,000. reverb.com/item/29918631-vintage-super-rare-ampeg-js-35-fountain-of-sound |
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Post by Village Idiot on Nov 23, 2022 22:46:15 GMT -5
I'm assuming it actually sounds pretty darned good. The design is an illustration of how times have changed. We've become a mobile society, so we don't want amps with legs anymore. Just like we'll take a suitcase over a portmanteau.  |
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Post by TKennedy on Nov 23, 2022 23:04:45 GMT -5
When I was in college in the early 60's we used to go to a supper club in downtown Denver called Shaners. Once a month or so a guy named Johnny Smith would sit in with the house band the Neil Bridge Trio. Neil on piano, bass and drums. Johnny would sit on a high stool and effortlessly produce this jaw dropping barrage of notes. We had no idea how famous he was and were not really into jazz but knew he was something special.
Later in med school I became friends with a guy learning jazz guitar and found out we had been listening to a legend. Johnny had left New York and had a music store in Colorado Springs. He used to enjoy coming up to Denver and sit in wth various groups.
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Post by howard lee on Nov 24, 2022 12:47:20 GMT -5
Ladies and germs, heeeeee-eeere's Johnny!
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Post by drlj on Nov 24, 2022 12:52:02 GMT -5
I kicked my amp over on it’s back.
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Post by RickW on Nov 24, 2022 19:30:48 GMT -5
Can you imagine hauling that thing around to gigs? First, I bet it weighed about a hundred pounds. And those stupid legs, unless they came off, would be a massive pain when trying to fit it in with everything else in the truck/trunk/van. Doesn’t look terribly stable like that, and I bet a few of those legs got snapped off.
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Post by TKennedy on Nov 24, 2022 19:32:57 GMT -5
I think it’s was just used in the studio.
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Post by drlj on Nov 24, 2022 19:47:26 GMT -5
According to information I have found online, he only used the Fountain of Sound at gigs and he said the audience didn’t appreciate an amp sending loud music right into their faces. He said the Fountain solved that problem.
It also said it had detachable legs.
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Post by John B on Nov 24, 2022 20:08:29 GMT -5
I would love one for the living room.
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Post by TKennedy on Nov 24, 2022 20:09:57 GMT -5
A little thread drift but as jazz is largely background in a typical restaurant/club setting volume is important as many customers are there to eat, drink, and chat in a classy environment.
Dave Roos did an around the world cruise gig on a high end line in the 70’s. Took almost a year I think.
He mainly played the first class lounge. He said the bosses told them to keep the volume low and absolutely NO vocals. Apparently there were a lot of business deals transacted in that venue and they wanted to encourage that.
They said when the singing starts it becomes a performance and folks start listening and quit talking. They didn’t want that.
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Post by Village Idiot on Nov 24, 2022 23:08:03 GMT -5
I would love one for the living room. You could get legs like that at a hardware store and make your own fountain of sound. |
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Post by John B on Nov 24, 2022 23:10:13 GMT -5
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