Hello From Hastings

[addict]

Hello,

I'm Paul from ABC Audio

I was/am a bit of a collector of hifi. I started off with a Leak Stereo 20 a Leak Varislope pre and a pair of Ram loudspeakers I bought from Denis Trickett of the Hifi Curiosity shop in Bell Street in NW1. (Does anyone remember Denis) and a Meridian 206 CD player.

I then couldn't stop and ended up with systems like Audio Research Ref 600 monos and Soundlab A1's.

my main income was CCTV consultancy and installation specialising in Mobile CCTV for the Police and Local authorities. Also If you drive or walk through Westminter and see a CCTV sign I designed, supplied and installed them.

I knew Andrew Harrison who lived around the corner from me in Crystal palace who I took my first product round to him to have a listen. It was an SPJ Turntable. I sold a few. Then I heard the MSB Power DAC and I'm still here now.

Oh! I forgot I've just joined the Handlebar Club http://www.handlebarclub.co.uk
And my wife sells retro lingerie and will be opening a new shop early in the new year.

There that about sums me up.

I originally posted in the wrong bit. Sorry chaps. (I blame the Man Flu!)

[Reid Malenfant]

Hi Paul, looks like you eventually got here :eyebrows: Welcome to AoS, even though it looks like a year + that you joined :)

You don't want to be listening to any of that ARC stuff... Not good for the wallet ;)

All the best & I hope you enjoy your stay :cool:

[addict]

Thanks mark,

I got shot of the Ref 600's I went for a pair of Gryphon Ref 1000 monos after that. I liked them a lot.

[Reid Malenfant]

:) Now let me think... Gryphon, rather good stuff that generally runs in class A or is switchable to AB? Fair sized heatsinking, or as most would say "what's all this alumuminium about" :eyebrows: No kidding...

Expensive european stuff, I can't remember the country of origin in all honesty :scratch:

But top end kit :cool:

[addict]

Gryphon is from Denmark.

But now I have what happens to be in the house. Which is normally what I sell.

[Alex_UK]

Great intro Paul - Welcome to AoS.

I never thought the handlebar club was going to be that! ;) Are you doing your bit for Movember?

What sort of music are you into?

Hope you enjoy the forum. :)

[John]

Some lovelly gear be great if you could show us some pictures

[Reid Malenfant]

Ahhhh, trade member now I see :) All is making more sense ;)

Must be a bit of a bug*er having some superb kit in only to see it vanish into the ether upon purchase :doh:

Sweet memories eh? :eyebrows:

[jazzpiano]

Welcome Paul. I don't think you wanna mention the retro lingerie bit to this lot, or this will be the thread that never ends.

Just Kidding & Best,
Barry

[addict]

I wasn't always in the the Hifi trade.

As a distributor equipment doesn't change too much. I may buy myself a pair of speakers to use with my gear then sell them when the change fancies.

I've had a handlebar for about a year now. but I have donated. I'll post some pictures soon.

You may have see me at Whittlebury with my wife who looks like she's an extra from foals war.

I don't want to make my intro an advert so I won't go on about my gear here.

here are a couple more links to business I'm invalid with.
http://www.whatkatiedid.com/
http://www.secretsinlace.com/category/Bettie_Page_Vintage_Lingerie_Collection

[Spectral Morn]

Welcome to AOS Paul

I know Paul and he is very much one of the good guys both as a member of the audio trade and as an individual too. I don't know his wife very well but the couple of times I have met her at Whittelbury she is a lovely lady. Pass on my best wishes to her Paul re the new business.


Regards D S D L

[MaccaAu]

Heya Paul nice to meet u :)

[addict]

thanks for the hello's.

Hello Macca AU, some hifi down under I've never heard of. I will have to do some searching. Did you go to the recent Australian hifi show?

Hello John, I'll look through my computers to see if i can get some photos posted. I'm on the Avantgarde Acoustic gallery under the title "welcome to sunny st leonards on sea"

So what music do I like?

I was bought up in NW London (Marylebone and Ladbroke grove on big council estates) My stepdad was West Indian form the small Island of Dominica. So in the 70's every other weekend we had a party in our flat. People used to bring in these giant homemade speakers and valve amps and double Garrard Decks, then proceeded to play Dub Reggae all night. So as you can appreciate my musical tastes tend to be on the Dub/Ska and 80's UK Reaggae. Then I discovered the Clash as they were my local band and also more mainstream Madness and the Specials. (Sort out you differences Mr Dammers!)

But then i discovered Electro starting with Herbie Hancock "Rokit" and then onto Afrika Bambata and the Soul Sonic Force "planet Rock" being a 12/13 year old when this stuff came in was pretty mind blowing even a little tame to todays standards. The Planet Rock track then lead me to Karaftwerk as its sampled from Trans Europe Express.

I eventually became board with all this and found my way back to my Roots and went to a few concerts in Brockwell park where I saw the style council perform and we all threw mud at Paul cos he had sold out. Bring back the Jam!

When I left school I got into the club scene did a few chemical experiments did a couple of Raves and discovered Pink Floyd. Which then lead to Jimmi Hendrix and then to the Albino Brothers and found the Blues.

At 19 I kept getting turned away from night clubs in the West End. And after getting embarrassed in front of my then girlfriend by a group of surly bouncers I happened to walk pass Ronnie Scotts and thought we would give that a go. They let us in. It was £40 membership I think and then £5 entry. Ronnie Scott was still Alive and introduced the band and insulted the Audience (traditional)
Then Roy Ayres came on! That moment changed my Musical taste from then on. Jazz! more then that Jazz Fusion!!!! how could someone be so funky playing a blinking xylaphone? Amazing. The Song "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" became the first Dance at my Wedding. 18 years ago.

So forgot about all the clubs like the WAG Club (Whisky a gogo) in Wardour Street and the Hyppodrome and others and just went to Ronnie Scotts. Saw some amazing people there good and bad but always well arranged and they served Newcastle Brown Ale! Bonus.

During that time I worked at the Blue Orchid Night club in croydon as the cellar man. And at Cinatras in Croydon at Weekends as bar manager (pay £10 and Drink as much as you like) So Ronnies was a welcome relief.

I then came to be assistant Manager at Scarletts Nightclub in South Croydon a small private members club. Owned by Mickey Brett who later acme Angelina and Brad Pitts bodyguard. So my days at Ronnie Scotts came to an end.

Now I have quite an eclectic mix of musical tastes like most of us. So I'm not to fussy. But If I can get a live recording then i would nearly always choose to buy it.

When the children started to arrive My wife and I decided to move out of London, so we ended up in Hasting. theres a great Music vibe here and loads of old rockers and musicians here (mainly because it was so cheap to live) Which means i go to a few Pub gigs and always an enjoyable gig is Buick 6 at the FILO (first inn last out) Great band fronted by Rodger Hubbard http://www.rogerhubbard.co.uk/


So really any live recording I enjoy and my fave album at the moment is Karaftwerk Minimum Maximum.

So When I've done demos at shows I nearly always play the clash. Super Black market Clash "Robber Dub" Kraftwerk and a bit of Jazz like My Jelly Lord.

I hope you see where I'm coming from. Anyone is welcome round my place. I suppose I might have to set up a bake off sometime.

Oh and the best coffee is in Italy but the nearest here no mater how expensive your machine is. It's Nespresso purple. So if anyone comes over you can judge for yourself.

[addict]

A friend of mine just told me the Blockheads were playing at Ronnie Scotts.

The swine could have told me before hand. Especially as he had been invited!