My Belated Introduction!

[cellistic]

Hi All,

Looks like you're a fairly tight knit group here! Nice to see, actually.

My name's Rob, and I'm an American implant in London. Having done a few years on the eastern seaboard for school and work, I decided to move to the friendlier side of the pond to pursue (among other things) the opportunities in sound engineering and music. I'm just putting the ribbon on an album project with a local contemporary chamber group, and excited about the results.

I have been a professional recording engineer for 12 years, a classical musician for 20, and have Recording Arts and Saxophone Performance Degrees from Peabody Conservatory/Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. Since moving here I have picked up the cello and am currently working on my grade 6. I'm a firm believer in constant (yes, all the time) eartraining and find this to be the key to a happy musical life.

At the moment (as some of you might know), I've got the good foundations for a system that I'm looking to upgrade. Last year I purchased an immaculate Systemdek IIX 900; the version with the original acrylic platter. Mounted on it is a Rega RB250 modded with the Michell Technoweight, self-installed cardas cartridge cable that leads out to custom Phono leads using Gotham GAC-4 (a phenomenal line-level cable; I dare you to find better for twenty times the price). Cartridge is an Ortofon 2M Blue.

Elsewhere, I'm looking to upgrade a trusty Creek CAS4040.

Happy to answer anyone's questions, otherwise thanks for the hospitality.

[cellistic]

This is going to be a frustratingly verbose reply, heads up...

Given my vocation, I generally work to find the value in all music as I might be called to work on something of that Genre someday. In my opinion, if I don't like something, I've simply not found the element that makes it enjoyable to others (as every piece of music is loved by someone).

Lately, I've been revisiting Beethoven - found some lovely vinyl of Arthur Schnabel playing the sonatas, Rubinstein doing the concertos, and so on. I'm cautiously a fan of 20th century stuff, but am working my way backwards and finding a lot of wonderful stuff.

On the non-classical front, I'm a big fan of experimental music (electronic or otherwise), as well as your typical smattering of rock-stuff. I've got Eno/Moebius/Rodelius sitting next to coldplay, next to some great Californian stoner/psych rock. Basically, anything where the passion shows through and an artist is really making an attempt to grow themselves musically and share it with the world - a hard thing to do when we're all ruled by the almighty pound.

Same as before, any questions, just ask.

[MartinT]

Hi Rob and welcome to AoS. It's always good when a professional musician joins as we can learn so much from you. One thing strikes me immediately is how eclectic your tastes are. I also know from other musicians that you listen differently. When you're ready, show us a photo of your system (and your instruments) in the gallery area :)

[The Grand Wazoo]

Hi Rob,
Thanks a lot for your introduction & I apologise if our earlier meeting seemed a little brusque to you.

.....if I don't like something, I've simply not found the element that makes it enjoyable to others....
Is something I wholeheartedly applaud and is a rule I like to try to adhere to, although I got a little crazy when Alex made us all listen to Britney Spears the other week for The Album Club!
So what amp and speakers are you currently using?

Welcome to AoS Rob!

Cheers

[Alex_UK]

Hi Rob, welcome from me too and as Chris suggests, please take no offence from me giving you a bit of grief in the classifieds section - we just like to encourage the community spirit rather than just be a board of adverts. ;) Yes, we are a fairly tight knit group, but I would hate to think we are too cliquey - we love to see new people join, give us a great intro like yours and get involved and have fun - remember all of us were new here once!

And don't worry, Britney was a one off in the Album Club - you arrived at just the right time to not have to suffer her like the rest did! :lol:

Most of all, AoS is about enjoying yourself, so get stuck in and good luck on the amplifier hunt.

All the best. :)

[keiths]

Hi Rob - welcome from me too :wave:

[Reid Malenfant]

Hi Rob, a warm welcome to AoS from me also :) Excellent introduction by the way!

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

[jostber]

Welcome to here! Can you tell us what grade 6 is related to learning the cello? A cello album like the Bach recordings by Janos Starker is a fine way to make a hifi show it's potential.

[Tarzan]

Hi Rob, and welcome to the forum-ummm Gotham GAC4- where can you buy this stuff, do like the Gotham stuff l must say:)

[Spectral Morn]

Welcome to AOS Rob


Regards D S D L

[cellistic]

Can you tell us what grade 6 is related to learning the cello? A cello album like the Bach recordings by Janos Starker is a fine way to make a hifi show it's potential.

Hi Jostber - Basically in the UK there's two 'schools' of standardised classical music pedagogy - the Royal Board (ABRSM) and Trinity Guildhall. These are designed to give students an easy progression through the basics. Each has 8 grades, and once you hit grade 8, you're *roughly* ready for university study.

So, this means I have the cello technique of your average 12 year old :) It's a very interesting thing to have been a musician for 20 years and to start from scratch again. Fourtunately, the cello is the most beautiful instrument ever made, so it's well worth it :)

[cellistic]

Hi Rob, and welcome to the forum-ummm Gotham GAC4- where can you buy this stuff, do like the Gotham stuff l must say:)

Hi Tarzan - Gotham Cable is in my opinion as far as anyone need go in terms of line-level analogue cable. I got a couple of rolls while I was still in the states from a new distributor, a lovely guy named Lew Frisch. In the EU, I imagine you could either try the manufacturer directly, or just ask them for a distributor in your area:

http://www.gotham.ch/de/index.php

Hope you like soldering though! This stuff, especially GAC-4 will put anyone's clean soldering skills to the test. There are two shields, each wrapped in opposite directions around four conductors (two for hot, two for cold). Helps to get those amply sized Neutrik XLR connectors for it. The copper in the conductors is stunning - something like 96 individual strands in each 22 gauge conductor. If you fan it out, it feels like hair more than wire.