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Òåìà: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 22.09.2003 18:54 |
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Hey Michael i always wanted to know how you found out about Shamray and how it came that you work for them?You are from Canada,but why you moved to Moscow?Was it because Shamray wanted someone to make better buisness around the globe? |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 24.09.2003 12:57 |
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He got lost on his way to a gig | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 24.09.2003 16:17 |
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Eah, But I think That Michael Is allright! The worst thing in Shamray Workshop Is being Volodya Lavrent'yev! He's Cool guy, but there is a lot of mad guitarists and they want something! Allways! And He's duty is to meet them, listen to them, give them what they want, and kick them out from the Workshop(joke!) And it's not easy! I know? because I'm one of that mad guitarists! | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 24.09.2003 21:40 |
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guest
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Vladimir Lavrentiev is real hero, it's true! | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 25.09.2003 02:11 |
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Ìîñêâà |
the Workshop is a BUSY place! And I havent been hiding, just the last couple days ive been dealing with shipping guitars to Texas & London (England) plus designing new original active electronics, plus working on engineering drawings for new custom hardware, and the usual requests for drawings or supply info from the shop - plus i've been swamped by a pile of enquiries for really interesting new guitars (and then there is my regular projects that i am behind in, blueprints for the new line, building the new line website, plus updating the english web site, plus...) But tommorrow i'm staying home to get caught up on some things, & yes the story is on my to-do-list. Warning: its a long story... |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 25.09.2003 22:52 |
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We are ready! | |
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Òåìà: Once upon a time...
Âðåìÿ: 26.09.2003 01:30 |
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Ìîñêâà |
Well, technically I am a Canadian - from the west coast (Vancouver). I went to university in Canada, dropped out of university to travel Canada with a Rock and Roll Band for ten years, later got a gig as a technologist for the Canadian government, (Top Secret security clearance even!) then I got back into playing music, worked as a session player, worked as a recording engineer, designed some early digital recording systems, worked as a multimedia engineer, edited films, was a radio producer, designed and built recording studios all around the West Coast, and eventually got very busy doing record production back in Vancouver. I even managed to play a little Canadian rock and roll music while producing other bands.
But I didn’t actually come here to Moscow from Canada. I was enjoying life in New York City, my ‘adopted home town’ (I moved there in 1999) and that is actually where I met my wife Lena, who happened to be there on a vacation (she likes to travel the world, she has been to 24 countries and counting…) It was only after I met her that I decided to move to Moscow (in November 2001). Lena has lived here all her life, and suggested to me that life in Moscow would be just as interesting as life in New York or Vancouver. She was right, of course…
I guess I should start by admitting that I have been a guitar-addict since an early age. Ever since I first laid my hands on one, it was love at first sight. In the almost 30 years since, I have owned more than 200 of the world’s finest electric guitars (mostly Gibsons, Fenders, Rickenbackers, Gretschs, but also pretty much ‘one of each’ of every high quality guitar made). And my obsession with guitars wasn’t limited to just collecting them, playing them, selling them… I used to study them avidly, collect all the manufacturer’s literature, and make my own designs. I built my first instrument back in 1977, and have made one (from scratch) every decade or so since.
But I found out about Shamray entirely by accident. When I first moved here, I could only bring a few guitars, and so had to sell a bunch in the states. And when I got here, the first thing I decided was that I needed a “Les Paul” so I could finish up some recordings.
I checked out every LP for sale in Moscow, but I wasn’t too happy with any of them. It seems to me that Gibson only sends their “B-stock” over here, and of those, a lot of them are badly shop-worn from hanging around the shops for years. So, in desperation, I decided to shell out 500 bucks and join the Gibson Custom Direct Club, so they could build me the guitar I wanted, and ship it over to me. This turned out to be a big mistake, a long, drawn-out exercise in futility getting the people at Gibson to understand what I wanted. I wont go into the details, but you can read all about it on the “history” page at my TV-LP Shrine website: http://rockandroll.dns2go.com/michael/guitarpix/
Anyway it was actually about this time when I saw some mention of Shamray guitars at guitarist.ru - but at the time I was only interested in having Gibson build me a new guitar, and I didn’t think much of it. But anyway, as you can read at the ‘history’ link above, I did eventually get in touch with Shamray and visited his shop. I only had to play ONE of his guitars, that was enough to make me cancel my Gibson Custom Club membership, and order a Shamray Custom Shop guitar for myself.
Later, I decided that my recordings needed a solidbody bass (I had only brought my “Beatle Bass” with me from the USA) and I contracted with Shamray to build one of my original designs, loosely based on the “Bebb Mk. I” that I had built myself from scratch back in the 1980s. (I have always been really fussy about basses) You can read all about the Shamray Custom Shop “Bebb Mk II” at the “bebb-shrine” ( http://rockandroll.dns2go.com/michael/guitarpix/bebb2 ).
Anyway, I was SO impressed with the amazing job they did on my “Bebb-II” that I decided the time was right for Russia to begin to move to the very top of the “high-end” bass guitar market. So I presented a proposal to Shamray to have him build and market a line of Custom Shop Bass guitars based on some of my own original designs & construction methods. He agreed, with the proviso that also I assist him in marketing Shamray Custom Shop guitars world-wide. For a guitar-addict like me, its rather enjoyable work helping other guitarists around the world realize their dream-guitars
So now, I am officially employed here in Russia as a design and marketing consultant for the Shamray Custom Shop, and actually later this week we shall begin construction of the FIRST “ShamrayBass” prototype. We plan on building six prototypes, which we will be photographing for the new website http://shamraybass.com that will be coming online in a month or two, so that prospective Custom Shop bass clients can see for themselves some examples of the sort of wonderous new instruments we can create for them.
The ‘big deal’ about these instruments will be simply that they are designed to be ‘the best in the world’ – with new original pickups, electronics, and hardware designed and built right here in Russia. The best woods, the best construction methods, all the tone in the world, and no noise! Each bass totally hand-made, to fulfill precisely the desires of the customer. Full-custom, No limitations! |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 26.09.2003 18:56 |
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Yeah Yeah Yeah Hail!to Michael! |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 26.09.2003 21:30 |
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Wow,thanks Micheal!What a cool story!:) | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 27.09.2003 01:34 |
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Like I said, he got lost on wis way to a gig | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 27.09.2003 08:58 |
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Aleksandr Shamray
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Web, your story could be interesting too | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 05.08.2005 13:39 |
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Stein Andersen
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I Guess noone believed they'd see this thread surface again, but here goes! I looked at your TV-LP page, Michael, and dammit! You've got a Subway Rocket? I'm dripping with envy! That's one of my dream amps! Is it a Reverb Rocket? I'd SO like to get my hands on one of those, or maybe even a 1x12 Rocket 44. I'd love a Mesa/Boogie! |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 05.08.2005 13:47 |
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Why don't you buy one? What's so special about those, by the way...? | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 05.08.2005 14:30 |
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Stein Andersen
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Good question, really. Prices on eBay aren't too bad these days, I notice. Let's wait and see how my AX84 P1 build turns out first. | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 06.08.2005 01:09 |
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Ìîñêâà |
The subway rocket is an original one (not the reverb rocket, nor the stripped-down "subway blues"). |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 06.08.2005 11:43 |
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Ìîñêâà Ãèòàðà |
I'll wasrp this thread even further: You obviously like the VOX tonelabs. Do you have tha "stage edition" with foot pedals, or the "desk" model? How do they sound? Are the amp models "credible"? If you for instance compare it (plugged straight to the PA) to a no-nonsense tube amp like the Subway Rocket: Can you get a similar tone out of it? I suppose it doesn't sound AS good, but how close would you say it comes? The versatility of a good modeling preamp is also worth quite a lot, of course. But being a sceptic, I can't help thinking that "the real thing" (all tube) is a safer/better choice. Do you think a SMALL PA system, a couple of active studio monitors or even just a decent home hi-fi system and a Tonelab would be an adequate replacement for a small tube amp? (Well, I guess you just said you do, but I'd like to hear more about it.) Do you think the smaller VOX valvetronix modeling amps posess some of the same qualities as the Tonelabs into a small PA? How about a POD or any of the other amp modelers instead? ...Or a PC with a decent sound card, decent speakers and a software based amp modeler? It'd be cool if you (or anyone else too, for that matter) found time to elaborate a little on your experience with this kind of system. If it sounds good enough, it must be good to have such an arsenal of virtual amps and cabs for a plethora of different tones. Not to mention how easy it must be for a gigging guitarist to just bring his guitar and modeler and just plug in to the house PA and instantly get the sound he wants. TIA. |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 06.08.2005 11:58 |
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Ìîñêâà Ãèòàðà |
Actually, for a hobby home studio, a Tonelab, a Tascam pocketstudio, your PC and a couple of decent active studio minitors could set you up for life, I imagine. (You'd need a couple of mics and headphones too, perhaps, but anyway.) | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 07.08.2005 05:25 |
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@Stein Maybe you find this interresting http://www.atomicamps.com/ | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 07.08.2005 12:34 |
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Ìîñêâà Ãèòàðà |
Thanks. I actually saw a review of those in either Guitarist or Total Guitar a while ago. Not a bad idea, that. | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 07.08.2005 14:51 |
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Ìîñêâà |
I have both the desktop, and the "SE" models. For my purposes (gig conditions) they sound BETTER than any tube amp - they are far more tweakable, more versatile than even having six amps onstage, the tone is reliable, and i can always hear it perfectly ( in-ear monitors have a lot to do with that!) I have never tried any "valvetronics" amps, so i cant comment, but a Tonelab through any decent sound system is always going to sound excellent (within the limits of the sound systems capability) For recording, its nice to have a little one watt tube amp that can be CRANKED, to move some air over the strings and get some feedback sounds. But although i'm very fond of that - really it doesnt get used more than 0.5% of the time, i can do without it in a gig situation! I'm looking forward to 'the next generation" Tonelab SE (i have a small wish list of features i'd like added) but now that i have one, i cant imagine ever gigging with anything else |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 11.08.2005 09:06 |
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Ìîñêâà âîêàë |
Hi Michael, It sounds like you really like the Tonelab. Do you have any experience with the new Pod XT? I've heard great things about them, people using them live with a tube preamp and then direct to a PA. They love the versatility, not to mention the quick setup and takedown. (And no more throwing your back out humping cabs and heads) What's your take on them? |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 11.08.2005 12:04 |
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Ìîñêâà |
We had one at our rehearsal studio for a few hours (lead guitarist forgot his Tonelab SE at home, and swung by a music shop to borrow the Pod XT 'live' for the evening). It was a disaster! All the factory presets were useless, and it was EXTREMELY counter-intuitive to program (the exact opposite of the Tonelabs). Despite the fact that our bass player was extremely familiar with one (he has one at home!) - between the two of them they still couldnt get a single really decent sound the whole evening. Just a really harsh, 'digital', artifical sounding unit... i guess im really spoiled from playing my Tonelabs with their real 12Ax7s. On the plus side, if you have a few hours to spend programming it - it had lots of "way-out" effects algorithms, so im sure its capable of producing some extreme 'synthy' effects! But I did think its construction was VERY cheap and flimsy, i dont think its built for regular stage use. (the Tonelab SE is much more sturdily built!) |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 12.08.2005 05:54 |
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Ìîñêâà âîêàë |
Michael, Do you think the Pod would have sounded better with a tube preamp in front of it? |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 12.08.2005 13:27 |
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I had a pot xt ( sold it when i got a vettaII amp ) the pod is a preamp on its own so i dont think running a preamp in front of it would sound good at al. I have also use the pod through the power amp section of tube amp. It sounded like shit ! Im my opinion a pod only sounds good straight into the pa or if you use a good solid state power amp on it. | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 12.08.2005 18:00 |
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Ìîñêâà |
i dont think a tube preamp in front would help at all! the nice tube tone would just get all mushed up in its digital processing... | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 14.08.2005 06:42 |
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Ìîñêâà âîêàë |
I've never used a POD, but isn't running it in the effects loop of a tube amp the same as running it between a preamp and a power amp in a rack setup? I'm a footpedal user, so I'm not sure... | |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 14.08.2005 11:03 |
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Ìîñêâà |
Yes, any kind of "pod" (Line6, Tonelab, V-amp, Pandora, etc) can be used that way... though running in the effect loop, you probably would want to disable the amp and cab sims in your unit, and just run then as a "multiFX" unit (which kind of defeats the whole purpose!) Really "pods" are best utilized direct into a PA, (or for direct recording) since their effects are optimized for stereo! If you have a STEREO guitar amp, with stereo effects loops, that would be 'better'... |
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Òåìà: Re: Hey Michael tell us your Shamray-Story!
Âðåìÿ: 27.02.2024 08:11 |
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Amsterdam Guitar |
After completing the construction of my box blind, I turned to the innovative strategies outlined by Codex Executor to ensure it would stand the test of time and the harsh Michigan winters. https://codex.us.com | |
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