EKO Cobra(s)

For no reason at all (really: we don't need one, we don't have the money, we don't have the space, etc.), we've been looking at 12 string electric guitars, specifically at a model made in the 60s by EKO called The Cobra, which shows up on eBay all the time and routinely sells for less than $500.

Does anyone know what the story is with these? Why are they so cheap? And what's the best sounding model? From what we've found (on eBay right now), there are single coil, dual single coil and dual humbucker versions of this thing.

Hmm... maybe we should get them all. Hey, wait a minute!

Bent Fest this weekend!

Don't forget-- April 26th - 28th at Eyebeam (21st b/t 10th and 11th). Click here for directions, etc.



Hope to see you there!!



Fast forward to 2:25-- it's The Shamblers (for one second)!

We've moved past Snood, finally.

Nowadays, we're hooked on:

Desktop Tower Defense
More Rooms
Jellyfish

Which ones do you play at work?

Our shows this past weekend

This was our set from Thursday night at The Bender Loft in Williamsburg. We played some of it again on Friday at the beautiful Union Theological Seminary in Harlem. Thanks to everyone who came out and sang along.

Still don't know the words? Be sure to stop by our ever-expanding Multiply page, with MP3s from our weekly practices, albums, etc. Big update coming there late Saturday night...

eBay pick of the day: AM500

American Tapes 500 box set


#48 of 100. Feedback for days.

Great eBay phrasery, pt. 3

This might be a cheap shot--knocking the text and terms of an eBay listing from the Russian Federation-- but I can't help myself:

"Russian vintage RARE Electronic synthesizer FAEMI MINI 1960's years. For this long time the synthesizer was very well kept. The synthesizer has few surpluses."

OK, pretty funny, right? "1960's years"? "Surpluses"? But there's more:

"This synthesizer completely the worker."

"The synthesizer has a belt by means of which you can hang up a synthesizer on a neck."

"It is probably possible to connect to this synthesizer in addition acoustics, the amplifier or a microphone."

"Earlier such synthesizers used during Soviet times for different concerts."

"The synthesizer has a native cover."

And then there's this:

"The synthesizer never opened. The synthesizer has a protective seal (in a photo)"

Great! A non-Polivox, NOS Russian synth from the 60s with an elegant, novel keytar solution. And it's "completely the worker." Who wouldn't want this thing?

Well, the auction does have a couple contradictory terms:

"FAEMI (produced at Kachkanar radio factory, 1979)"

So it isn't from the "1960's years"? And this gem:

"Due to continuous modification of the instruments described above, there may be some changes in their circuitry and design, which are not mentioned in the present description."

What does this mean? That (a) the model line varies from unit to unit, or (b) this particular synth has been modified in some way, nulling its "never been opened" claim, or (c) both?

And there's the power supply (220v, Russian standard plug) and the shipping terms ("Shipping will be 90 .00 $," "delivery during 4-2 weeks") to deal with...

Still, with all of that in mind, I can't stop myself from bidding on this thing. A 9v whiteface Russian Casio with selectable "drawbar" footing? In what looks like a binoculars case? Dude, yes.

Be check out Viktor's other auctions! Russian radios, Russian cameras, Russian microphones, most all of them from the "1970 years"!

Pizza party!

Here are Thee Iran-Contras having a pizza party in Knoxville:

Roy Smeck

eBay pick of the day: Mu-Tron DDL 1173

Mu-Tron DDL 1173


How do you spell rare? D-D-L. Let's all bid on this and then parcel it out as a time share. Sound good?

Flier for our 4/19 show

4/19 show details

We're playing a loft party in Williamsburg on 4/19. Here are the details from the hosts:

---

Address: 29 Wythe (near corner of N 13th)
Doors: 7:30
Set times:

imanant 8:00

The Shamblers 9:00

Dracula Zombie USA 10:00

Bling Kong 11:00

Door: $5
Beer: $2 or $3 depending on what kind of kegs we end up getting. We might also get some booze. People can BYOB if they want, but no smokin'!

---

Tell your friends! Hope to see you there!

Spring cleaning sale

We'll be putting a decent amount of home studio gear on eBay in the coming days, all with either low reserve prices or sensible Buy It Nows. Obviously, there'll be a post with links when the auctions are up, but off the top of my head, here's some of what we're selling:

An FMR Audio RNP

FMR RNC x2 with Funk Logic faceplate and two insert cables

Presonus Tube Pre x2 (one needs a gain pot replaced)

An Altec NOALA compressor (mystery FET compressor)

A Boss RDD-10 digital reverb

An Oberheim DX for parts

We're selling off a good number of LPs and CDs, too. If you're in the market for, say, Beck's "Golden Feelings" album, we may be your best bet.

Anyway, details soon!

Shamblers bumper sticker

Come out to one of our shows this month (4/19 in Williamsburg, 4/20 in Harlem) to get yours!

eBay pick of the day: Pulse Instruments PI-6500

Pulse Instruments PI-6500 Pattern Generator


What does it do? I don't know, but if you've got 4 empty spaces on your rack and would rather fill them with something a little more Con Brio than Funk Logic, buy this thing.

Jess loses her mind

Jess, so excited for her new sewing station, gets ahead of herself.

Our new organ

We bought a Gibson G-201. Thanks Tei!

Our new monitors

We bought a pair of Yamaha HS50s

eBay pick of the day: this guy's stuff

Home studio peripherals





As I'd mentioned in the last post, and as you'll see in the photos tomorrow, we're moving things around in our little studio, and are looking to upgrade here and there in the meantime. Amazingly, we're in the market for everything this guy is selling: a remote, a recall mixer, monitor controls and a second computer screen. And, with only a day and change left, all of his auctions are still reasonably priced-- his 20" Cinema Display has a Buy It Now of $500; Apple's Buy It Now is $600.

On an unrelated note, did anyone see the new "Lunchbox" styled casings that Doepfer debuted at Messe?


Finally! A customizable guitar synth interface that doesn't involve hex pickups!

Studio overhaul

Sorry for the lack of postings recently. We're in the throws of Spring Cleaning. Big changes in the studio. Photos soon.


In the meantime, head on over to The Shamblers Multiply page and listen to our newest playlist, "March 31st Practice." Great new songs, and a couple of reworkings, too ("Giant Insect From Mars" set to the chords of "Teenagers From Mars," for example).

Other Shamblers news: we're playing on 4/18 and 4/19 in Williamsburg (details soon) and have a Shamblers bumper sticker at the printers. No joke. Look for it on the 18th.