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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2357.0. "Demeter (?) amps" by EZ2GET::STEWART (Balanced on the biggest wave) Mon Oct 21 1991 12:47

    
    I saw the last US show of the Bonnie Raitt tour last night, from up
    close.  I noticed that Bonnie was playing through an amp I've never
    seen anywere else.  There's nothing remarkable about that, except that
    she was getting a great, gritty, ballsy, slide tone, from the middle
    pickup of her strat.
    
    The amp was configured as a mini-stack, with a small 2x12 (I think)
    slant front cabinet and head, with wire mesh speaker covers and grey
    tolex over the rest.  Anyone know any more about Bonnie's setup or this
    amp?
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
2357.1reviewed in GPRICKS::CALCAGNIMusician's Friend - wife's enemyMon Oct 21 1991 15:056
    Demeter is a small shop making hand-built amps, in the tradition
    of Dumble, Rivera, early Mesa, etc.  The guy's name is Demeter, as
    you would imagine.  There was a review in Dave Hick's GP column,
    roughly a year ago? (I'm guessing, will try to dig up the exact
    issue for you).  Three "channels' (clean, overdriven, hi-gain)
    and expensive.
2357.2MEMORY::RATTEYMon Oct 21 1991 15:073
    
    
    	Did you notice if the cab was loaded with JBL's ??
2357.3we're probably talking $5k, right?EZ2GET::STEWARTBalanced on the biggest waveMon Oct 21 1991 15:2414
    
    
    I was a little too distracted by Darryl Hannah (Jackson Browne brought
    her) who was about 20 feet away, to be real concerned about equipment
    internals...
    
    FWIW, the cones were entirely black.  For some reason I expected Bonnie
    to be playing through some sort of Fender amp.  But she got great tone
    out of that little Demeter.  I liked it even better than what I've
    heard on her CDs.
    
    Bonnie's guitar player (forgot his name) had a rack driving a Hughes &
    Kettner cabinet.  It sounded OK...
    
2357.4more on Bonnie's gearRICKS::CALCAGNIMusician's Friend - wife's enemyMon Oct 21 1991 18:0110
    Bonnie used a Jim Kelley FACS amp for years, up until the switch to
    Demeter on the latest album and tour.  So what you're hearing on "Nick
    of Time" and earlier is the Kelley.  Admittedly, a very Fender'ish
    sounding amp.  I personally don't detect much if any change in her
    sound on the new album.
    
    There's a Jim Kelley amp note in here somewhere, where I had posted some
    more details about this amp.
    
    /rick
2357.5Jackson Browne, Tone Meister?RGB::ROSTI Had A Torrid Affair With GeraldoMon Oct 21 1991 18:094
    Hey Rick, waddabout the Vox AC30 of Jackson Browne's that she plugs in
    the liner notes of the new album...
    
    						Brian
2357.6Still thinkin of "Dirty Woman"JENEVR::SAKELARISMon Oct 21 1991 19:014
    I'd like to hear more elaboration on Daryll Hannah, not that I'm
    disinterested in amps. Bonnie's pretty cool lookin too. 
    
    "sakman"
2357.7Bonnie IS lookin' very fineEZ2GET::STEWARTBalanced on the biggest waveMon Oct 21 1991 19:597
    
    
    Yeah, I was gonna mention how great Darryl looked, but I couldn't find
    the Darryl Hannah note...  just as well, don't want to screw up my shot
    at the Supreme Court.
    
    
2357.8Supreme GigLEDS::BURATIFender BenderMon Oct 21 1991 20:059
    If you've been responding to this conference, you have no shot at the
    Supreme Court.

    Back a couple of years ago I say Bonnie using what looked like a
    blackface Vibrolux Reverb. Anybody know what that Fender was that she
    foresaked for the Demeter stack?

    --rjb (waiting for a previously entered note to raise some hell. I may
    have to get rough here)
2357.9nice tone.....ROYALT::BUSENBARKTue Oct 22 1991 10:2310
    Ron,
    
    	That was probably a Jim Kelley Facs amp as they are similiar in
    size and looks if you saw it a couple of years ago. I seem to remember
    having someone tell me that she used a Kelley when she did her "Nick of
    Time" tour in New England....
    
    
    							Rick
    
2357.10know your amp knobsLEDS::BURATIFender BenderTue Oct 22 1991 12:4715
    Rick,

    Uh, I caught a good enough shot of it on TV to clearly see the Fender
    logo. In all respects it looked like a Deluxe or a Vibrolux as I could
    see only 3 controls on the normal channel (oh, to be politically correct
    I should say the "vibrato challenged" channel). I couldn't quite tell if
    there was a middle control on the vibrato channel. (I taped it and ran
    it back a few times). It appeared to be a bit large for a Deluxe. Of
    course, maybe she used her studio stuff in LA (Tonight Show) and she
    tours with newer, more reliable stuff.

    BTW, I've never heard of Jim Kelley amps.

    --ron
2357.11"vibrato challenged", I love it!RICKS::CALCAGNIMusician's Friend - wife's enemyTue Oct 22 1991 13:086
    Maybe it was a an NBC "house" amp or something.  I've seen dozens
    of bass players on the Tonight Show, Today, Letterman, etc. using
    the what looks like the same SVT.
    
    Bonnie's main amp for years was definitely a Kelley, up until the
    recent switch to Demeter.
2357.12A little larger than a Vibrolux......ROYALT::BUSENBARKTue Oct 22 1991 13:2725
    Ron,

	I thought you were refering to a concert you saw her play,yeah 
a Fender logo wouldn't be found on a Kelley. :^) I remember seeing her on TV
with what seemed to be some sort of smallish Fender Tweed and she got some
great tones. :^)    (SNL?)

>Of course, maybe she used her studio stuff in LA (Tonight Show) and she
>   tours with newer, more reliable stuff.

>   BTW, I've never heard of Jim Kelley amps.

 	I seem to remember reading something in Aspen's book about Kelley
amp's. And there is a note somewhere in the conference. However Jim Kelley
designed and built some real reliable hardware.  His amp design had 4 6v6's
(double Deluxe)active tone circuits,with channel switching/load box's etc.
And unlike alot of "today's" amp's he was interested in getting power 
section distortion instead of preamp style distortion. He had alot of 
impressive ideas,but lost interest after while.....
	My impression of the piece I remember playing through was it was 
a great Strat/blues amp.  I'd suspect you'd like it.....But they are rare
and go for top dollars as Jim Kelley got out of buisness years ago. 

							Rick
                          
2357.13FREEBE::REAUMEsiZZle on |||6|||Wed Oct 23 1991 12:4416
     
      ... I always seem to take an interest in these off-brand amplifiers.
    I had seen the Demeters in last years buyers guide and they seem to be 
    tied together as Demeter/Innovative Audio Systems this year. I've never
    seen one in a store. But then again they are not cheap and the amp
    market isn't really booming these days. 
      Regarding the Kelley amp and the 6V6 power tubes - All the more
    reason for me to love my Kitty Hawk M5 that cost me $175. I really
    think this is my favorite sounding all-tube amp. The M1 has a little
    bit more edge to it and acts more British w/EL34's. But the M5
    is really warm and fat. I would think any of the 6V6 amps in decent
    working order would have some of these characteristics. 
      I think the Demeter all-tube amps are EL34's though.
    
    							-B()()M-